GSPIA Interns’ blogs

Blog Post 3
As of right now, my favourite experience  in Norway, outside the context of the embassy, was hiking in Jotunheimen National Park, a southern mountain range that is recognized as Norway’s best hiking and fishing spots. Within this gigantic park, there are a variety of hiking trails that allow individuals to hike long distances while camping on the way. Norway permits camping anywhere for free, however not in the neighbour’s yard unfortunately, so many Norwegians camp while they hike.
However, because I’m an unprepared Canadian intern (and I only had a weekend to hike), I had to reluctantly base myself in a small Norwegian camp to hike Besseggen. Besseggen is a mountain ridge and one of the most popular hikes in Norway, not to mention absolutely stunning. The combination of white snowy mountain peaks (yes, i walked through snow in July) with turquoise blue glacier waters was a sight of a lifetime. I would absolutely recommend it since it is not far from Oslo (four hours), very accessible, and the hike only takes 5 to 8 hours. This is not to say that it’s a simple hike. Once i finished the hike, i could barely walk for a week in which i looked like I was permanently stuck in a sumo pose. Furthermore, at some points you’re climbing, and I mean climbing, vertically up the mountain, which was incredibly daunting. This is not to dissuade those that would otherwise do the hike, people (and kids) from all different ages and body type do the hike so it’s completely manageable.

An interesting sight, other than the scenery, is the considerable change in friendliness by Norwegians once they’re hiking. As it is quite well known, Norwegians while very nice people, are not initially the most friendly people in the world. Like Canadians, they tend to keep to themselves and do not overtly show signs of friendliness. However, once they’re hiking, or skiing as I have heard, they often smile and engage in friendly conversation. It was an interesting transition and sort of felt like they were in their element and were happy to share it.
If you are going to do the hike, and you’re on a budget, bring food, snacks, and water to avoid paying the high prices if you re staying in a cabin at the camp. Also, bring warm clothes and wear layers since it’s in the mountains (did i mention there’s still snow) and can get frigidly cold with the wind. The layers help because you’ll likely need to adjust your temperature to avoid overheating. Lastly, don’t forget your camera, if you’re like me, you’ll end up taking too many pictures to count.

GSPIA Blog #1
I’ve been living in Latvia for almost two months now, and it’s been a great experience so far. I’m living in the Quiet Center-it is a little bit away from the Old Town, on the edge of a park in the embassy district. I’ve met many of the other embassy interns, and there is a good group of us that gets together regularly.
I’ve learned a few words of Latvian-enough to get by at the grocery store and ordering lunch. However, a large portion of the population speaks Russian as their native language, and even most Latvians will be fairly fluent, as a result of the history of Soviet Occupation. That doesn’t mean that all Latvians want to speak Russian, and so I generally try to open with Latvian, switch to English (which a lot of people also speak) and if all else fails revert back to my (very rusty) Russian vocabulary and gestures.  In a sense, there are a lot of similarities between the language politics of Canada, and the language politics of Latvia.
In terms of work, I feel like I’m learning something new every day. The smaller size of the embassy (8 staff and the Ambassador) means that I have gotten to work on projects in trade, political affairs, and public outreach. There is a second Canadian intern, who arrived in June, and there has been enough work for both of us, despite the small size of the embassy. Latvia has held the Presidency of the European Council since January, and there have been lots of meeting and events to report on, most notably including the Eastern Partnership Summit. As a non-EU country, we are not as actively involved, but there are many spin-off think tank events that we’ve attended. Additionally, we’ve had the opportunity to attend a few events related to security in the region, which is a huge concern for the Baltics right now. A lot of these discussions focus on NATO presence and how to combat Russian propaganda. As someone who has never been very interested in defense issues, this opportunity has given me the opportunity to explore topics I probably never would have touched otherwise.
In June, Latvia held their presidential elections. The president is elected by the Saiema (parliament) in a secret ballot. It’s a very long process, so I spent most of the day watching the elections, getting commentary from one of my colleagues who knows the names and biographies of almost everyone in the Saeima. Her knowledge of people and history never ceases to amaze me, and I am always grateful that she takes the time to explain cultural and political nuances to me.
Of course, June was also the month of Canada Day celebration preparations.  Although I didn’t help very much with the guest list or invitations, I participated in some planning meetings. The morning of Canada Day, I attended the opening on a museum exhibit on “Latvians in Canada” which had a lot of historical momentos from people who had immigrated to Canada. For our official Canada Day reception, we held the celebration at the National Theatre. Over 150 people attended, including many ambassadors and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I was in charge of official photo taking for the event, and spent most of the evening running around snapping photos.
I could probably write another three pages on things I’ve learned since I arrived, but I’ll leave it at this for now.
Until next time,
Natalie

Post 1

A GSPIAn Abroad: Argentina
As my time here in Argentina comes to an end, I thought I would sit down and finally put pen to paper and capture some of my experiences of living and working in Buenos Aires. Like the many interns before me who have packed their lives into a suitcase and traveled halfway across the globe, this was an experience like no other for me. In the following trilogy of posts, I hope to accomplish a few things. First, I’ll try and give you an idea of what exactly makes Argentina the way it is, which is without a doubt easier said than done. Second, you’ll get a look at what has kept me busy as the Junior Political Analyst at Canada’s embassy to Argentina and Paraguay. Finally, I’ll take a final look back at my four months in Argentina, and try and think about what it might all mean moving forward.
Part I – The Country
There is only really one word that came to mind when thought about the one word that can best describe Argentina to someone who has never experienced it firsthand: complicated. As soon as I stepped off the plane, I knew that things were going to be interesting when the customs agent wasn’t able to find the information she needed about Argentina’s embassy in Ottawa, even though I myself had been there just a few weeks earlier. However, following my assertion that Argentina does in fact have diplomatic representation in Canada’s capital, my visa was recognized as legitimate, and I had officially arrived.
The first thing that strikes you about the city of Buenos Aires is the size. It’s a city that just sprawls out in every direction, rightfully earning its place among South America’s largest urban areas. However, it is undoubtedly a beautiful city, and certainly deserves its reputation as the ‘Paris of South America’. But even though it may look beautiful on the surface, with towering classical buildings lining the wide, tree covered avenues, as city home to nearly thirteen million, Buenos Aires is dominated by a uniquely Argentine brand of organized chaos. To get to work on time in the early morning rush hour, you’ll need to find a spot in the neatly organized lines that wrap around almost every block, all while waiting for a bus that works its way through the city at its own pace, without any trace of a set schedule. Posters advertising anything from politicians running for re-election, the latest summer blockbuster, and even the weekly specials at nearby supermarkets are plastered over every available surface, while cafes, bookstores, and flower stalls all spill out onto the streets, inviting passersby to sit and watch the chaos fly past.
Even if life in Argentina is complicated, the people who face it every single day do so with unrivaled passion. Argentines are without a doubt passionate about a number of important things. First of all, football is not simply a sport in Argentina, it’s a religion. Every morning, you’ll find footballers on the front page of every newspaper, and every night millions are glued to their TVs. Within my first few weeks, the two biggest clubs in Argentina, La Boca and River Plate, who both call Buenos Aires home, faced each other, with the match ending early following incident involving fans, pepper spray, and visiting team. Needless to say, fans were devastated, and the story continued to make headlines for days.
It should come as no surprise that besides Pope Francis, Diego Maradona is perhaps the most famous living Argentine, and if you were to ask anyone on the streets of Buenos Aires, the greatest player to ever have played the beautiful game, with Lionel Messi not far behind. Ranking a close third would be Argentina’s iconic president, Christina Fernandez de Kirchner, who has led her country through a complicated time in Argentine history, and has yet again reached another major turning point. With 2015 as an election year, the intricacies of Argentina’s political and economic situation are on full display, and with President Kirchner ineligible for re-election, the passionate complexity of Argentine politics have already engulfed the nation months before the first ballots are set to be cast.
Finally, one thing that many people often forget, myself included, is just how large Argentina is. Although not much compares to the vast stretches of mountains, prairies and forests that fall between Canada’s coasts, I can say that Argentina certainly hosts more than its fair share of natural wonders. Luckily, I was able to escape the city on a few occasions and see some of the most famous features firsthand. A few weeks after my arrival, I climbed on board a bus and drove fifteen hours through the night. By morning, I had hit the high Andes at their peak, Mount Aconcagua, the highest point in the Americas.
A few months later, I was on the move again, this time further south. After an eleven-hour flight, you might think it’s safe to assume there isn’t much further south you can go. But, after three more hours in the air, I was in El Calafate, in the heart of Patagonia, and home to Glacier National Park. Finally, after another hour in the air, Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, sitting between the snow-capped peaks of Tierra del Fuego and the frigid waters of the Beagle Channel.
And there you have it. A brief introduction to Argentina, the country that many love, but few truly understand. But of course, spending time enjoying the city and the country was only half of my Argentine experience, and the real work started as soon as I set foot in the embassy.

Je m’envole de Montréal vers la Turquie le 25 avril, une semaine environ avant le début de mon stage. Lors de mon escale à Munich, le 26 avril au matin, en attente de l’embarquement du vol vers Ankara, j’y rencontre mon prédécesseur de l’ÉSAPI, Rob, avec lequel je m’étais lié d’amitié à Ottawa. Celui-ci, qui a achevé son stage mais qui a été ensuite embauché comme travailleur temporaire à l’ambassade pour quelques mois, est de retour de voyage en Allemagne et à Malte. Quel coup de chance!

Grâce à Rob, j’ai également la chance d’avoir déjà un logement à Ankara. C’est qu’il a accepté de me céder sa chambre dans l’appartement qu’il partageait avec Sara, d’Espagne, et Koen, des Pays-Bas, tous deux stagiaires à leur ambassade respective. Le loyer y est abordable, mais surtout, en y habitant je ne serai qu’à cinq minutes de marche environ de l’ambassade. Difficile de demander mieux, surtout qu’aucune recherche de logement n’ait été requise!

Rob et moi arrivons donc à Ankara en après-midi. À l’aéroport, j’ai la chance d’être accueilli par ma superviseure, Monica, qui est venue spécialement avec sa voiture, ainsi que mon amie Lucie, qui travaille à l’ambassade. Rob en profite pour monter à bord et ainsi se mérite un transport gratuit vers la ville.

Ensemble, nous nous lançons sur la route reliant l’aéroport et la ville, et ainsi j’ai mes premières impressions du pays. Je vois défiler les panneaux en turc, une langue que je n’ai malheureusement pas eu le temps d’étudier avant ma venue, et j’observe les styles architecturaux, les habitudes de conduite des Turcs, les voitures qui peuplent la route, enfin le style vestimentaire et la démarche des piétons. Malgré le décalage, je m’en trouve fasciné.

Ma première activité, le soir même, est on ne peut plus canadienne : mon ami Frédéric, le conjoint de Lucie, doit prendre part à une joute de hockey. Il est excellent joueur de ligue amateur au Canada, mais ici, il fait partie de la deuxième ligue du pays. Beau témoignage de son talent, du faible calibre de la ligue turque, c’est selon. Notre amitié remonte à treize ans environ, mais c’est la première fois depuis une dizaine d’années que nous habiterons dans la même ville.

Voilà un séjour qui commence sous le signe de la chance : la chance d’avoir de bons amis sur place, un logement bien situé qu’on n’a pas dû chercher, et la chance de savourer une première bouchée de Turquie sous la forme d’une partie de hockey. Cela commence bien mon «  aventurque »!

International Liaising: Lessons in Networking
Governments, organizations and companies are run by people.  Success in working with and for these entities is therefore dependent upon your ability to successfully create, establish and maintain relationships with individuals. This lesson was driven home to me during my internship in Singapore. Within the trade division trade commissioners rely on a list of contacts both within Canada and Singapore to successfully undertake their jobs. And, within the Public and Political Affairs Branch networking is also essential. For example, in 2014 the High Commission of Canada ran an exhibit show casing Canada’s Arctic. This exhibit was undertaken in partnership with the National Library of Singapore. In 2015 the contacts and relationships established during the Arctic Exhibit were utilized and expanded upon for the “Diversity in Words” exhibit planned to commemorate SG 50 (Singapore’s National Holiday marking 50 years of independence). Moving throughout five locations in Singapore the “Diversity in Words” exhibit was made possible by a network of contacts in Singapore that were established in the previous year.
As a young professional getting your feet wet for the first time in the civil service navigating the “networking game” can be a perilous task. As such during my last month of my internship I compiled a list of tips from the experts who I had the opportunity to work with throughout my time at the High Commission of Canada Singapore. For my last post I thought it may be useful to share these words of wisdom.
Technical Advice: How to Navigate an Official Event

• Take limited advantage of free food and beverages

During the few events I was lucky enough to attend with the Head of Mission (HOM) I noticed one thing: she did not eat anything and was only ever seen drinking water. Advice from savvy trade commissioners was to only have a glass or two of wine and never eat anything that you couldn’t manage with just a napkin and your fingers. If you are drinking an alcoholic beverage it is also best to do it at the back of the room. Discretion is key. Eat something before you arrive. Nothing says “I am a starving intern” like gobbling down everything you can get your hands on.

• Leave the event before the slow trickle of stragglers begins

A trade commission advised me that it is easiest and best to talk to who you want to early on. Near the end of the event be sure to leave 10-15 minutes before the scheduled ending of the event and before the room begins to empty noticeably. This makes it easier to avoid awkward conversations that you can’t really get out of.
Big Picture Advice Straight from the Horses Mouth:

• Know your target

In some, if not most cultures, networks are based on hierarchy.  If you are the first secretary at an embassy, for example, your network will generally not include other Heads of Missions or very senior officials, business people, etc.
It is a two way street:
Networks flourish if you share information both ways.  You have to be able to contribute, not just receive.  You also need to follow through on any commitments you make if you want to sustain the relationship.

• Keep the good vibes rolling

You also need to keep in touch regularly with those contacts who are most important to your work.  Contacting someone you met two years ago but haven’t spoken to since to ask for something usually results in no or a very brief response.

• Sometimes it’s just the thought that counts

If there are people you would like to keep “active” in your network but you don’t have any current reason to contact them, inviting them to events (even if you know that they will decline), helps keep the connection alive.

Je suis présentement à mi-chemin de mon stage et le ton de mon travail a complètement changé. D’abord, ma superviseure vient tout juste de partir, alors les dernières semaines ont été complètement occupées par le besoin de créer des récapitulatifs et des rapports qui permettront de faciliter l’intégration de sa successeure. En plus de cette succession, toute notre section, qui s’occupe de la communication externe, a été occupée par la Fête du Canada. Ainsi, j’ai dû créer du contenu spécifique à la Fête du Canada pour la page Facebook, mais également des ébauches de discours qui seraient prononcés par l’ambassadeur dans les médias et lors d’évènements en plus de communiqués de presse et autres types de communication. Tout cela nous a tenus bien occupés.

Je dois avouer que durant cette période, j’ai eu un peu de difficulté à m’habituer à la façon de travailler de certains de mes collègues vietnamiens. Je crois qu’il s’agit de mon plus grand choc culturel. Cependant, tout cela s’est estompé, car nous avons réussi à nous faire comprendre et à nous adapter.

J’ai eu la chance de participer à une célébration de la Fête du Canada non-officielle et décontractée à laquelle beaucoup de familles d’expatriés vivants à Hanoï se sont jointes. J’ai eu la chance de voir l’ampleur des Canadiens qui vivent à Hanoï et toutes les raisons qui les ont poussés à déménager et s’installer à l’étranger. Durant cette période, il y avait également beaucoup de soirées et d’événements organisés par des diplomates. Durant celles-ci, j’ai pu rencontrer des expatriés venant de plusieurs pays à travers le monde comprenant le Canada et occupant différents postes au sein de diverses organisations. Cela m’a permis de découvrir ce que font les différentes missions diplomatiques, organisations internationales et ONG au Vietnam et comment ceux-ci opèrent dans les pays étrangers.

La période de l’été dans une ambassade canadienne est très particulière, car il y a un grand roulement de personnel. Environ un tiers des employés canadiens quitte le Vietnam, souvent vers la fin juin et les remplaçants n’arrivent qu’au début août. Donc, durant un mois, il existe un certain vide et cela est également le cas pour les autres missions diplomatiques.

J’ai réussi à développer des capacités de base en vietnamien en dehors du classique « bonjour » et « merci ». Il est primordial de savoir compter, pour pouvoir acheter ou marchander ici. Je reconnais aussi les différents plats et je suis donc capable de faire des choix en ce qui à trait à ce que j’aimerais manger. J’ai fait un long chemin depuis mes débuts et aller manger est maintenant un plaisir plutôt qu’une aventure terrifiante! Il y a tant à découvrir à Hanoï et à l’extérieur. Je ne rentre jamais directement à mon appartement, je tente toujours de découvrir un nouveau resto ou un nouveau quarter d’Hanoï, car chacun à son charme propre. Cela m’attriste de savoir que je ne pourrais pas tout goûter (la nourriture est délicieuse!) et tout voir. Je fais des voyages à l’extérieur d’Hanoï toutes les fins de semaine, je recommande chaudement Sapa et Mai Chau, c’est un tout autre Vietnam!

J’ai aussi réussi à me faire des amies vietnamiennes qui m’ont amenée voir les lotus en fleur et un autre avec qui je découvre de nouveaux quartiers de la ville tous les mardis. Rencontrer de nouvelles personnes est toujours intéressant, car visiter un pays c’est aussi apprendre à connaître ses habitants.

Je suis attristée de constater qu’il me reste à peine un peu plus qu’un mois et demi. Tout passe trop vite et j’aimerais pouvoir ralentir le temps.

Le mois d’août en Islande nous a ramené un cycle solaire plus proche de ce que nous connaissons au Canada. De jour en jour, le soleil recommence à se coucher à des heures «normales» et à mesure que nous nous rapprochons du solstice d’hiver, il ne se lèvera plus que pour quelques heures.
Je suis heureux d’avoir eu trois mois pour visiter l’Islande. Des gens de l’extérieur pourraient croire que la petitesse du pays permet de le parcourir en quelques jours. C’est mal connaître l’Islande. Il y a tant à voir et tant à faire dans ce pays qu’on n’a jamais l’impression d’en avoir fait le tour. J’ai eu la chance de visiter les célèbres Westfjörds à la fin juillet (et de prendre l’avion pour m’y rendre), la région la plus sauvage d’Islande. Les paysages qu’on y découvre sont absolument époustouflants. Je planifie également un petit voyage dans l’est de l’île à la fin août. Au menu : Des lagons où des glaciers couleur saphir viennent s’émietter, les flancs escarpés de volcans encore fumants et des cavernes secrètes où l’on se baigne dans des sources thermales. Rien que ça !
Mon temps à l’ambassade est presque écoulé. Quelle aventure cela aura été. Juillet et août m’ont permis de me concentrer sur des sujets comme l’Arctique et la création de liens avec la société civile islandaise. J’ai pu participer à plusieurs événements de réseautage qui m’ont amené à comprendre la subtilité du travail de diplomate. Des événements comme la visite d’un cinéaste canadien, la tenue de festivals auxquels s’associe l’ambassade où le vernissage d’un nouveau livre sont tous autant d’opportunités pour créer de nouvelles relations qui pourront se transformer plus tard en solides partenariats. Il ne faut jamais sous-estimer l’importance de ces rencontres impromptues ou de ces verres de vin partagés de manière désinvolte à des événements qui ne sont pas toujours catégorisés comme « événement de réseautage ». Le travail au bureau n’est véritablement qu’un pan du travail d’une mission diplomatique.
Je quitte la scène diplomatique de Reykjavik le cœur lourd. J’aurais apprécié continuer à découvrir la politique de ce pays étonnant. Les relations de l’Islande avec l’UE, le Conseil de l’Arctique ou les autres pays nordiques sont elles aussi palpitantes à suivre. L’Islande est un petit État qui doit parfois mettre beaucoup d’énergie à s’assurer d’être pris au sérieux sur la scène internationale. Les gens à l’ambassade me manqueront également. Cette petite équipe s’est révélée extrêmement attachante, un peu comme un microcosme de l’Islande en général : Plus on y passe du temps, plus on s’y plaît. Je ne crois pas revenir véritablement à la maison en septembre, je crois plutôt sauter d’un « chez moi » à un autre, en m’étant fait un nouveau en Islande.

Singapore is a rapidly expanding, dynamic and complex city. Within the last fifty years it has experienced unprecedented levels of growth and expansion. Speak to any Singaporean native or veteran ex-pat and you will receive anecdotal confirmation of this. In a short half century it has pulled itself up by the boot straps and developed into one of the world’s major commercial hubs, the fourth largest financial center and one of the busiest container ports in the world. As a foreigner embarking into the hustle and bustle of the Red Dot the streets are clean and safe, the buses and trains run on time and everything “works”. And yet despite this seemingly flawless transition into the Europe of Asia Singapore still, by Canadian standards, lags behind in a few fundamental ways. An outdated penal code which still utilizes caning as a form of legal corporate punishment, exclusionary access to public housing, strict censorship laws and laws against male homosexuality. The hot water always turns on but if you are a gay man forget about living openly and if you are unmarried under the age of 35 forget about living in government subsidized housing.  Current policies, laws and attitudes range from bizarre (FYI chewing gum is outlawed, yes OUTLAWED) to inhumane. If this is simply a cultural difference me in all of Canadianness cannot understand or just part of growing pains I am not sure. However, navigating this is part and parcel of what the High Commission of Canada Singapore does.
In Singapore the maintenance of human rights is all about achieving a balancing act. In 1993 at the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, the then Foreign Minister Won Kang Seng said “The promotion of human rights by all countries has always been selective. Concern for human rights has always been balance against other national interests”. This kind of balance is essential to the government of Singapore. While participating in an EU dialogue I was sent briefing notes to prepare for the meeting I was allowed to sit in on which echoed this sentiment with vibrant clarity. The State has acknowledged that progress that has been made in Singapore has been the result of staunch adherence to fundamental principles. One of these principles holds that a trade-off between certain rights is inevitable. The government of Singapore holds firm that the adherence to a universal standard of human rights is necessary; however, the interpretation and implementation of these rights cannot be divorced from the societal context. Secondly, the government of Singapore believes staunchly in pragmatism.  That is to maintain an equilibrium between economic imperatives, social harmony and human rights difficult choices must be made between one right and another and adjustments had to be made at the margins.
From the 11 floor of 1 George Street (with stunning views of the Singapore River) the High Commission of Canada, Singapore treads the line of maintaining strong diplomatic ties while gently (and with the utmost sensitivity) promoting Canadian values such pluralism, diversity, and human rights. The nudging works to push the government of Singapore in the direction of political liberalization.  Some of this nudging takes place through supporting selective campaigns undertaken by NGOs in Singapore. Campaigns that are clearly in line with Canadian values, such as women’s rights, are supported

On my first day of work: Through much difficulty I had managed to find an apartment close enough to the High Commission that I could walk to work. 20 minutes in the brisk morning air in Canada can have the wonderful side effect of waking up the senses, increasing your heart rate and invigorating you for a productive work day. I was mistaken in thinking that the side effects would be the same here in Singapore. A 20 minute walk in morning air of Singapore meant arriving at my first day of work hot, sweaty and dishevelled.  After this journey my first order of business was to get a bus pass and map out a route.
Throughout my first month here in Singapore I have endured the nagging humidity and managed to make it to the corners of this diverse and manageably large city-state. In the first month I have: taken in performances at Esplanade; soaked up the sun at Sentosa; enjoyed the views of Marina Bays Sands; listened to live music in the Botanical Gardens; and shuffled through the chaos of China Town and Little India. As a foreigner traversing Singapore there is much to see and do; however in my adventures in this great city there is one commonality that I have noticed. Like Canada, Singapore is a city comprised not of a homogenous culture. Here in Singapore multiculturalism is the norm. Living here you notice this while commuting on the MRT. The signs and recordings which direct you which way to go appear in English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese. Entire pockets of the city which are located only blocks apart from each other possess a distinct cultural flavor that is not “Singaporean”. The crowded bazars of Little India have the uncanny way of making one feel more like they are in Delhi than Singapore. The bustling restaurants, shisha joints and carpet stores on Arab Street buzz in view of the stunning Sultan Mosque have the appeal of the Middle East more than Southeast Asia. And the wet markets and hawker centers of China Town which thrive under strings of paper laterns seem to betray the reality that one is in the Little Red Dot. Here in Singapore English is the official language; however, it is not the English you will hear on a bus in Ottawa. “Singlish” as it is called is an entirely different dialect that can confuse the senses while you awkwardly bumble through ordering your lunch time fix of yong tau foo.
Though this is a common thread that both Canada and Singapore share the way in which multiculturalism is managed is entirely different. While undertaking work at the High Commission this became abundantly apparent. While working on a project for the Singapore International Film Festival I was invited to sit in a meeting with my supervisor. The leads were looking for input from the High Commission to work as an intermediary between film companies and talent in Canada to bring to the festival in Singapore. This is part and parcel of the work that the High Commission does to promote Canada and Canadian values in Singapore. During the discussion the issue of “sensitive material” was brought up. It was understood that whatever material the High Commission sent would be in line with the laws of Singapore. The Film Acts of 1981 governs the importation, creation, distribution and exhibition of films in Singapore. A film which is rated as Not Allowed for all Ratings (NAR) has content which “undermines national interest or erodes the moral fabric of society”. Content that is deemed to do this can include: themes that undermine national interest, contain language that denigrates religion or is religiously profane; shows real sexual activities; explicitly promotes and normalises the “homosexual lifestyle”; contains explicit homosexual activity; or  glorifies drug and substance abuse (just to name a few).  To me as a Canadian, it seems several of these themes and the notion of censorship at all infringes on what Canadians thoughtlessly enjoy.
As a small, multiracial and densely populated city State, the Singaporean government claims that social harmony forms a vital and irreplaceable foundation of the country’s survival and development. It is widely considered that if social cohesion is ruptured it will not be restored easily and therefore social harmony ranks above all other values. An example on the ground could mean that all rallies which have an attendance of larger than 5 people must be granted a license. The process which determines whether or not these licenses are issued however is not transparent.
As a Canadian in Singapore working to promote Canadian values there is a thin line to tread. As an analyst in the Public and Political Affairs section one must be conscious of this line and gently nudge the envelope. This is the balancing act foreign service officers must perform while working in Singapore, a balancing act that interning in the High Commission gives you a front row seat to watch. Which brings me to my first lesson as an intern in Singapore. Diplomacy in action: gently nudge when circumstances allow.

April 14, 2015
Well time at the Embassy here in Hanoi is rapidly wrapping up, as I finish my placement in two days. Reflecting back on my time, I can say that this was an experience that pushed me out of my comfort zones in a few different ways. Firstly, the work that I was doing at the Embassy consisted of tasks I’ve never had experience in before. Working with social media, digital diplomacy, and publicity is not something I’ve ever had to deal with directly before, and that pushed me a little out of my comfort zone in terms of developing new ways of communicating and using different social media tools. Secondly, I had forgotten the ups and downs of living abroad as more than just a backpacker – of having to adapt and make a mini-life for oneself in a foreign place, without the comforts of your home, friends, and family. There were definitely days that I longed for a reliable internet connection, the certainty that my clothes weren’t going mouldy, and quinoa. But I think that’s what the kids these days label #firstworldproblems. Despite those moments, I am going to miss the calmness, kindness, and laid-back nature of Vietnamese people. I’m going to miss seeing people giving alms at the pagodas and temples, and the spirit of community that people share. I’m even going to miss the adrenalin rush that you get almost every time you cross a road.

In my last week at the Embassy, I was able to do a bit of work on the Human Rights file that is provided to the Government of Canada on the state of human rights in Vietnam. Unfortunately, the report instructions came in only days before I am supposed to leave, and so I will sadly not be able to have too much time to work on it. Despite that, I was able to still do some very interesting work regarding the human rights climate in Vietnam. Specifically, I was reading into the areas in which Vietnam has shown progress in supporting human rights, compared to the areas that are still in need of more serious commitments. Religious freedom is an area of concern, as is journalistic freedom and internet freedom. Although I didn’t get a chance to really work in depth on these issues, it is truly fascinating to see how the Government attempts to suppress dissent, how the citizens react (or don’t react), and to discuss the anticipated outcomes with colleagues at the Embassy.

Of course, the embassy internship was a great experience for me, and I am really thankful that GSPIA has been able to support students in going on these placements. It has been so interesting to get an insider’s look at life in the foreign service. Over the past four months, I’ve been able to have many great conversations regarding Canada’s role abroad. Out of this, I am sure I have developed a more nuanced understanding of the way Canada engages bilaterally, not only with Vietnam, but more generally around the world.

I was lucky enough to travel around the region a little bit, and spent some time in Laos and Cambodia. I was surprised at just how different the countries are from Vietnam, most obviously the economic growth of Vietnam compared to its neighbours. It is clear that Vietnam is a quickly developing country with rapid growth. The poverty in Laos and Cambodia is more blatant than in Vietnam, as well as things such as lacking infrastructure and unemployment. I am leaving Vietnam with some deep thoughts on the reasons behind this, and the role, if any, Vietnam could play in helping to economically strengthen the region. I am also considering my own role as a tourist, and whether there is such a thing as responsible tourism, and what that might look like. Ethically, I am uncomfortable with the idea that Laos and Cambodia seem to depend mainly on tourism, and many people in the cities derive their livelihood solely from tourists. I think that more sustainable and empowering ways of economic growth need to be established and supported. It was really troublesome, especially in places like temples and pagodas, to see so many tourists who were disrespectful of the culture, which they had traveled to see. The commodification and consumption of culture in this way seems to be extremely unsustainable as an economic model, as well as damaging to the cultural heritage of these countries.

Despite this, the process of introspection was also something I am thankful to have had in my embassy experience. Overall, I will really miss Southeast Asia, the friends I made in Vietnam, and of course the food and coffee.