Seeing the World Through Service

March 2, 2012-Meisha


Since I was an adolescent, taking African Dance classes, I wanted to travel to Africa.  I didn’t know how though! And thought it was a formidable goal.  However, thanks to the Peace Corps, I have now lived in two African countries (Benin and South Africa) and traveled to more than ten.

Benefits of Volunteering Overseas

Peace Corps Volunteers secretly admit to each other that we benefit just at much (and maybe even more) from our service as our host communities.  Why? 

Support Services: Most programs offer some form of training before the start of your service.  Peace Corps training is 3-months in your country of assignment and covers culture, history, language, health, safety, and technical skills for your work assignment.   This type of training will familiarize you with your new community, making your transition a bit easier. 

The language classes will also ensure you can communicate in the national or local language spoken in your community. I learned French (and Mina—one of the local languages spoken in Benin and Togo) while serving in Benin, which made traveling across the primarily French speaking West Africa easier. And although I am now serving in English speaking South Africa, I am learning Tswana (which is spoken in South Africa and Botswana).

Before you depart, all programs will also ensure you have the appropriate vaccinations and medications to keep you healthy during your service. Medical care or access to medical facilities is also provided during service.

Cultural Immersion: Volunteering helps remove many of the barriers, such as lack of trust, which prevent foreigners from integrating into a community.  Local communities will already have a basic level of trust for the volunteer based on the organization’s reputation and interactions with previous volunteers. Living in local communities and on a local level, as many volunteers do, will further establish a trusting relationship. Volunteering also allows the time to fully immerse into a community to become integrated.

Although, not something that happens overnight, once integrated into a community volunteers gain access to a world that tourist, backpackers, and even expats living in the same area will never experience.

In Benin, enjoying a game of Uno with my next door neighbors

Save Money: The Peace Corps is one of the few programs that covers all of your travel expenses and provides a living allowance during your service. Even if you do have to cover your travel and expenses during your service, it is usually less than if you were to organize the trip on your own.  You can fundraise to cover your cost.  There are also a few grants available for voluntourism, such as Travelocity’s Travel for Good program. If you do pay out of pocket for your travel, you may be able to write-off on your taxes a portion of the expenses related to your service.

You Still Get to Travel: Most programs will give you the flexibility to arrange your own travel back to your home of record.  This allows you to travel in the region where you served before returning home.  Traveling within a region, in particular land travel in Africa and South America and air travel in Asia is relatively inexpensive.  Depending on the duration of your service you will also be given vacation days or time to travel independently.  During my service in Benin I was able to see most of West Africa through vacations and travel after my service.

Plus, since volunteers live on the same level as locals, you will learn how to navigate the developing world like locals.  Traveling “locally” saves money, provides a great opportunity to interact with locals, and makes for great stories to share with your friends at home. I promise you will never forget an African bush taxi ride or a South American cross-country bus ride!

"Traveling" in Mali

Increase Your Network: Volunteers not only become a member of the community where they serve, but a part of their volunteer community.  The strong bonds I formed with my fellow volunteers have developed into lifelong friendships!  My Peace Corps friends and the larger Peace Corps community have been helpful for everything from job searching to establishing contacts overseas before traveling.

Gain Professional Experience: Now more then ever, companies are looking to hire candidates with international experience.  With programs in everything from business to agriculture, volunteering is a great way to acquire international experience in your field. Adapting to a new culture and working with limited resources will also hone intangible skills that companies value such as flexibility, leadership, creative problem, “can do attitude,” and entrepreneurialism.

Make an Impact: Most importantly volunteering overseas gives you the opportunity to leave an everlasting impact on someone’s life or make a difference in a community!  During my first service I helped a community get a water pump installed.  One member of the community was so grateful that she named her daughter after me.  I am figuratively and literally forever connected to this community!

Beniniese School Children in a School Where I Donated Computers

International Volunteer Programs

Not everyone has two years available to serve in the Peace Corps.  Fortunately, there are numerous organizations that offer recent graduates and professionals the opportunity to serve abroad for shorter periods   Here are a few programs to consider:

• Amigos de las Americas
• CDC Development Solutions
• Child Family Health International
• Cross Cultural Solutions
• Global Citizens Network
• Global Service Corps
• Habitat for Humanity
•  IFESH
• Projects Abroad

Disclaimer
The contents of this post are solely written by me and only express my own personal views. This post does not represent the views of the United States Government or the Peace Corps.

“I wish I could do that…” Why can’t you?

February 29, 2012--BrittanyS

For many of us, when it comes to going abroad, perhaps the hardest step to take is the first one.  You have to decide to go.  Once that decision has been made, the rest will follow.  I know you may be thinking “Easier said than done.”  I can agree with that, after all, actions speak louder than words.  But clichés aside, to that I say it’s not as hard as you think.

Like with most other things worth doing or having, the going abroad pursuit comes with its own obstacles.  But the biggest obstacle is YOU.  Fret not, if you are reading this, that alone means there is hope for you yet. :-)  So here’s a little help overcoming the little naysayer resting on your shoulder.  Let’s discuss the top 5 reasons we decide to stay at home.

1.      "I don’t speak their language."

Well, you’re in luck.  If you can read THIS, then you speak the most powerful language in the world: ENGLISH.  Not only is English the official language in several countries around the world, (even ones you might not readily think about like the Philippines or many African countries) but (American) English is the world’s business language.  As a result, at least proficiency in it is sought in countries that either have high international tourist revenue or countries that do heavy trading with English speaking countries.  Either way, speaking English will take you far.  HOWEVER, please do NOT be THAT ignorant American (or other nationality) that thinks everyone should worship the ground you walk on because you speak English, be real.  If the country does not have English as one of its official languages, don’t expect everyone to speak English.  It is common courtesy to at least ATTEMPT to speak the local language.  They will appreciate your efforts, you will learn something new that you can impress your friends or insult your enemies with, and in some situations, it will help you out when the other person doesn't speak English.

2.     "There isn’t anyone there that looks like me and/or shares my culture."

Even though it may be a huge step for you to decide to go abroad, you (more than likely) will not be a trailblazer.  We are here!  We are also great resources for just about anything: jobs, hair, food, shopping, dating, etc.  Anything you can think of, at least one expat woman of color in that country has experienced it.  You can learn from our mistakes and benefit from our successes.  We got your back ;-)

3.     "I have too many bills to be able to take a vacation like that.  Plus I have a significant other and/or child(ren)."

Maybe you have too many bills for a VACATION, but what about to move to another country for EMPLOYMENT (which in my eyes is still somewhat of a vacation)?  The cost of living abroad can be considerably cheaper if you play your cards right AND, in some cases you might even end up making something considerably close to what you were making at home.  You know what that means?  More money to pay your bills/debt.  It also means you don’t have a lot of expenses abroad so that’s money leftover to take a vacation somewhere else!  As far as your family is concerned, bring’em all, “and your little DOG, too!!!!”  While you are doing your homework on different countries, investigate their family policy.  Some places even give priority to family units.  There are international schools (and other options) that have instruction in English if you are worried about your child(ren)’s education.  There are even some places that will allow you and your partner to work together, but don't tell them that if you don't want them crowding you. 

4.     "I heard they don’t like (insert your country/race/ethnicity here)."

REALITY:  where you are RIGHT NOW, someone probably doesn’t like you because you are a woman and/or of color.  Your genetic makeup includes the two categories of people discriminated against the most.  *shrug* That’s life.  Hold your head up high and be proud to be who you are, no matter where you are.  Don’t let someone else’s preferences hold you back.  Besides, what one dislikes, the other adores!  You might find yourself to be the local celebrity!

5.     "What am I gonna eat over there?  I heard they eat dog/raw octopus/bugs, etc."

Yes maybe (some) people do.  But that’s doesn’t mean YOU have to!  Think about popular foods in your country.  Do you like them ALL?  Just like you don’t have to eat them there, you don’t have to eat them in (insert your desired country here).  Food is a cultural marker, even down to the way it is consumed.  Some places use hands, others chopsticks or forks.  Some chew like wild horses, others nibble like rabbits.  You’d be surprised at how similar your food culture can be to other places in the world, and even more so how easy it is to adapt to someone else’s without losing yours.  Hey, if you can stomach McDonald's , a food that practically has no expiration date (something food is SUPPOSED to have right?) then you can eat another culture’s food.  I’m sure whenever I mention “chitlins” (chitterlings, or pig intestines) to some people, they think THAT’S weird, but what’s weird to some is normal to others.  You might like their “weird” food.

The Choice to Live the Life of Travel

The Choice to Live the Life of Travel

January 14, 2012— by Cha Jones

I was about three month’s old when I took my first trip to Mexico and before I was even a year old I had traveled with my paternal grandmother to see my aunt in Detroit, MI. So, actually I have been traveling all my life. I guess I didn’t have a choice in the matter, I just learned to live the life that has been given to me.

I turned thirty-three years of age two days prior to me moving to Korea to teach English as a second language. On the brink of turning thirty-six I am trying to decide my next steps, but I know that I am in no position to give up this life of adventure and travel. There is so much of the world to see, and I have only taken my first taste of what the world has to offer.

Walking in their footprints

Even though I am not the first person in my family to travel and/or live abroad, I am the first and only person to travel and live abroad without any support system. My aunt traveled to Africa when I was in high school, and I had an uncle who was in the marines who has lived in many countries. However, when you fully submerse yourself into a culture and actually live abroad it is totally different than visiting and/or having any government support backing you. When you live in a country and you become part of their economy you get to see the country just as the locals see it. We actually have a saying for the military who reside in Korea, “We live in Korea while the military lives on Korea.”  There is a huge difference. When you live in the country you use the money, you live in the hosting, you pay bills, you eat the food (well most people do, just not me), you pay taxes, you interact with the people, and even though many military people do some of the things I’ve listed, the biggest difference is that they still have a safe haven to return to, the military base, where they can get everything they need and want just like living in America.

Sunrise Peak, Jeju Island, South Korea

Being an inspiration for others

I will never forget when I took my first vacation in Korea. During my summer break a co-worker and I went to what Korean’s believe to be their Hawaii, Jeju Island, which is a decent size island just southwest of the Korean peninsula. It was a wonderful trip.

On our second day we decided to take a day tour which took up to a place called Sunrise Peak. Sunrise Peak is about a twenty minute climb up the side of a small mountain. The hike included walking in the pouring rain, up some very narrow and steep steps. As I took each step I thought about all the people whom I was carrying on my shoulders, the people who would never leave their cities, states, and not to mention their country. I was taking these small steps in a foreign country for all my relatives and friends. Even the pictures I took were more for those whom I would be providing a small glimpse into another world. It’s my hope that as I venture out of my comfort zone, I not only open a window to the world of travel, but that I am able to inspire so many more people to do the same.

Making the choice to travel

In America, most people travel on vacation and many people don’t really travel outside of the popular tourist spots because of time and/or money. For me, I believe it was my destiny to travel. I have lived in all the American cities that I have ever desired to live in, and I have actually been to thirty-nine of the fifty states as well as Puerto Rico2x. I simply love traveling.

At the age of twenty-five I thought that I wanted to settled down and do my part by buying into the whole “American Dream.” So, I bought a house and started a business, and lived a semi-stable life for about four years, but there was always something missing... a void to travel. In the four years I was decorating, throwing parties, planting seeds and watering grass, but I was also unfulfilled. The only time I was able to travel was on my birthday to Miami, FL and to visit my mother in Nebraska. Other than that, I was too busy trying to secure my next check or making sure I could keep up my investment, all while thinking to myself, “Is this what they call the American Dream?” more like, “Suffering in contentment.”

However, I remember my first trip to Maui when I was eighteen; I told my aunt that I should be a nomad and island hop. Aren’t we so perceptive in our youth? If only I had known then what I know now, I would have followed the dream that I wrote out on the napkin while sitting on the beach whale watching. At eighteen, I had a plan and it involved the adventures of traveling, and a little hustling, but that wasn’t the important part. The point of the matter is that in my own little way I knew that I was suppose to go places, see things, and experience what this huge world has to offer.

7 Lessons Learned from a Pint-Sized Traveler

February 2012- eternitysojourner 


When I imagined my life as a traveler, I saw myself solo, wearing a backpack, volunteering for Peace Corps or the like. I never imagined I would be traveling married, wearing a baby sling, loving life as a stay-at-home mama. While many may forfeit relationships and family for the freedom of travel, I’ve found great fulfillment in traveling as a family!

Many people dread even sharing a flight with a baby, much less traveling with one. Yes, there’s an extra little person to consider, an extra bag to carry, extra gear, and, once they hit the golden age of two years old, an extra flight ticket as well, but traveling with a baby isn’t all bad and the experience has a lot to teach us all. Here are just a few lessons learned from our little star trekker!

1. Take the time to plan.
Many wanderlust travelers love to “travel on the fly” and just “wing” their way through a new destination. You can stumble on a hotel and create (and recreate) your itinerary as you go but with a child, you realize that a tad more planning can save a lot of headaches, long walks, and wasted time. Taking the time to research your travel plans and accommodations are the most important points. While the low-budget traveler may always opt for the cheapest flight itinerary, traveling with a baby warrants that you examine your flight schedule closely. Bed times and nap times are sacred and should be guarded as such. Be mindful of layovers, flight transfers, and travel times, if you want to smooth out the already challenging airtime.

2. There's a season for everything...including an upgrade!
In the interest of saving money, child-less travelers may opt for hostels, street food, and public transportation. However, traveling with a baby definitely warrants adding a star to your accommodations, a rented car or taxi, and inclusive breakfast deals. Yes, you may have to shorten your trip to balance out the budget but you’re more likely to enjoy a well-rested, healthy, and energetic stay as a result.

3. Familiar routines are orienting.
Young children are especially sensitive to routines and rhythms. If you have morning or night rituals, like stretching, meditation/prayer, reading, etc., maintaining your practice while travel can help you to feel centered and whole as you discover the day. You also may find that you rest better at night and meet the day feeling recharged and ready!

4. The early bird catches the worm.
If you fear oversleeping, there’s no better alarm than a young child! You’ll be sure to catch all of what early rising offers: watching the sun rise, visiting museums and cultural attractions before peak crowds (or peak heat), and the best pickings at the breakfast buffet! ;) Additionally, you have a full day of touring ahead, way before worrying about closing hours.

5. Mid-day siestas are not just for Spain.
I’ve recently rediscovered how refreshing naps can be! These are especially critical if you started your day early. In warm climate regions, the mid-day is the best time to take a break indoors and avoid blazing heat. Even if you’re not tired, you can use the break as an opportunity to restrategize your afternoon and evening plans, so you have a game plan for tackling the second half!

6. Always keep a snack packed.
Travel can be as unpredictable as life itself. Even the best itineraries are not immune to traffic jams, road detours, checkpoints, getting lost, etc. Keeping a healthy snack can help you ride the currents of an unexpected delay, stretch the time in between meals, and steer clear of temper tantrum meltdown. And don’t forget to pack your water bottle and stay well-hydrated!

7. There's more good in the world than you might have noticed.
Traveling with a (calm) baby is almost guaranteed to evoke a smile, or at least a smirk out of others. In nearly every culture, babies are cherished and to see strangers express warmth and kindness to you and your child reminds you that the world is not so bad a place after all. Yes, there’s corruption and war, chaos and injustice, but there’s still mercy and love, generosity and compassion, and none teach us this better than a pure little being.

Without a doubt, traveling can be a shared adventure. In some ways, you get to see less because of higher travel costs, slower pace of activity, selective outings, etc., but seeing the world through new eyes also allows you to see more. “Settling down” might mean “slowing down” but it doesn’t mean “staying still”. ;)

I’m Leaving For the Year…Who Cares?

Campaign Decrease International Checked Baggage

February-Contributing Writer 

Last fall many of the American airlines changed their baggage policies and the International checked baggage policy was just one of the policies that were changed. So, if you are currently traveling to or from the United States on an International flight, then you are only allowed one checked bag. WHAT! When I was preparing to travel back to the United States from Korea and I read that, I was floored. Many people who travel overseas are staying for a lengthy about of time unless they are traveling for business. So, why are they changing the baggage policies? Well, could it be to increase revenue?

Be prepared to pay anywhere from $70 to $400 for your checked baggage.

More and more people are beginning to move overseas for school, work, and better living opportunities and the limiting on baggage is another way to increase revenue for the airlines and make the public pay. As if we aren’t taxed enough in the midst of an economic crisis.

What are you going to do about it?

Well, I am actually pretty upset about this change, and I am one of those people who think that you should fight for what you believe in. So, I can’t just let this happen while sitting around and complaining, because I’m no victim. However, I am wise enough to know that change doesn’t happen because one has a personal issue with something, change happens when the masses have a personal issue with something. So, what am I going to do about it? Well, I am starting a campaign, Campaign Decrease International Checked Baggage; this will be a FB campaign and email write in campaign. I urge you to hit "Like" on the new FB campaing page and then send an email to each of the airlines expressing your discontent."Like" us on The Campaign International Baggage

United Airlines Baggage Policy--->click

American Airlines Baggage Policy--->click

Delta Airlines: Baggage Policy--->click

Don't Settle For Less While Paying More!!!

I am asking you, if you too have a problem with accepting with change to send an email to United, Delta, and American Airlines requesting for them to change their policies.

I am not sure what will happen, but I know that there is power in numbers.