Comments on: Five Expectations to Avoid Before Volunteering Abroad http://matadornetwork.com/change/five-expectations-to-avoid-before-volunteering-abroad/ travel culture worldwide Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Radhika Raman http://matadornetwork.com/change/five-expectations-to-avoid-before-volunteering-abroad/#comment-93099 Radhika Raman Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:24:00 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=203#comment-93099 How I wish I read this article before going to Mexico! I was there for a relatively short period of time (only two months), but I am seriously considering returning to the same place where I volunteered for the upcoming summer. I managed to learn all of these things through trial and error. I find that simply taking a deep breath and stepping back during my most frustrating moments helped me so much more. And "getting it done" isn't so important in the grand scheme of things. The relationships and exchanges I had were what changed me as a person. The depressing (but true) truth of short-term volunteering abroad is that many times, it seems to boost your own personal satisfaction more than it helps the people you intend to serve. (My university facilitated my volunteering, so it was definitely not the Peace Corps.) How I wish I read this article before going to Mexico! I was there for a relatively short period of time (only two months), but I am seriously considering returning to the same place where I volunteered for the upcoming summer. I managed to learn all of these things through trial and error.

I find that simply taking a deep breath and stepping back during my most frustrating moments helped me so much more. And “getting it done” isn’t so important in the grand scheme of things. The relationships and exchanges I had were what changed me as a person.

The depressing (but true) truth of short-term volunteering abroad is that many times, it seems to boost your own personal satisfaction more than it helps the people you intend to serve. (My university facilitated my volunteering, so it was definitely not the Peace Corps.)

]]> By: Radhika Raman http://matadornetwork.com/change/five-expectations-to-avoid-before-volunteering-abroad/#comment-93098 Radhika Raman Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:24:00 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=203#comment-93098 How I wish I read this article before going to Mexico! I was there for a relatively short period of time (only two months), but I am seriously considering returning to the same place where I volunteered for the upcoming summer. I managed to learn all of these things through trial and error. I find that simply taking a deep breath and stepping back during my most frustrating moments helped me so much more. And "getting it done" isn't so important in the grand scheme of things. The relationships and exchanges I had were what changed me as a person. The depressing (but true) truth of short-term volunteering abroad is that many times, it seems to boost your own personal satisfaction more than it helps the people you intend to serve. (My university facilitated my volunteering, so it was definitely not the Peace Corps.) How I wish I read this article before going to Mexico! I was there for a relatively short period of time (only two months), but I am seriously considering returning to the same place where I volunteered for the upcoming summer. I managed to learn all of these things through trial and error.

I find that simply taking a deep breath and stepping back during my most frustrating moments helped me so much more. And “getting it done” isn’t so important in the grand scheme of things. The relationships and exchanges I had were what changed me as a person.

The depressing (but true) truth of short-term volunteering abroad is that many times, it seems to boost your own personal satisfaction more than it helps the people you intend to serve. (My university facilitated my volunteering, so it was definitely not the Peace Corps.)

]]> By: Radhika Raman http://matadornetwork.com/change/five-expectations-to-avoid-before-volunteering-abroad/#comment-93100 Radhika Raman Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:24:00 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=203#comment-93100 How I wish I read this article before going to Mexico! I was there for a relatively short period of time (only two months), but I am seriously considering returning to the same place where I volunteered for the upcoming summer. I managed to learn all of these things through trial and error. I find that simply taking a deep breath and stepping back during my most frustrating moments helped me so much more. And "getting it done" isn't so important in the grand scheme of things. The relationships and exchanges I had were what changed me as a person. The depressing (but true) truth of short-term volunteering abroad is that many times, it seems to boost your own personal satisfaction more than it helps the people you intend to serve. (My university facilitated my volunteering, so it was definitely not the Peace Corps.) How I wish I read this article before going to Mexico! I was there for a relatively short period of time (only two months), but I am seriously considering returning to the same place where I volunteered for the upcoming summer. I managed to learn all of these things through trial and error.

I find that simply taking a deep breath and stepping back during my most frustrating moments helped me so much more. And “getting it done” isn’t so important in the grand scheme of things. The relationships and exchanges I had were what changed me as a person.

The depressing (but true) truth of short-term volunteering abroad is that many times, it seems to boost your own personal satisfaction more than it helps the people you intend to serve. (My university facilitated my volunteering, so it was definitely not the Peace Corps.)

]]> By: Radhika Raman http://matadornetwork.com/change/five-expectations-to-avoid-before-volunteering-abroad/#comment-93101 Radhika Raman Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:24:00 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=203#comment-93101 How I wish I read this article before going to Mexico! I was there for a relatively short period of time (only two months), but I am seriously considering returning to the same place where I volunteered for the upcoming summer. I managed to learn all of these things through trial and error. I find that simply taking a deep breath and stepping back during my most frustrating moments helped me so much more. And "getting it done" isn't so important in the grand scheme of things. The relationships and exchanges I had were what changed me as a person. The depressing (but true) truth of short-term volunteering abroad is that many times, it seems to boost your own personal satisfaction more than it helps the people you intend to serve. (My university facilitated my volunteering, so it was definitely not the Peace Corps.) How I wish I read this article before going to Mexico! I was there for a relatively short period of time (only two months), but I am seriously considering returning to the same place where I volunteered for the upcoming summer. I managed to learn all of these things through trial and error.

I find that simply taking a deep breath and stepping back during my most frustrating moments helped me so much more. And “getting it done” isn’t so important in the grand scheme of things. The relationships and exchanges I had were what changed me as a person.

The depressing (but true) truth of short-term volunteering abroad is that many times, it seems to boost your own personal satisfaction more than it helps the people you intend to serve. (My university facilitated my volunteering, so it was definitely not the Peace Corps.)

]]> By: Bernie Allen http://matadornetwork.com/change/five-expectations-to-avoid-before-volunteering-abroad/#comment-48927 Bernie Allen Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:49:08 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=203#comment-48927 I'm currently reading this article from my home in the jungle town of Bandarban, close to the Bangladesh - Burmese border, just over one year into a two year placement. Personally my greatest challenge to my tolerance levels has to be my living conditions. Washing in a bowl never can be anything apart from that, but the joy of integrating into the local community more than offsets any inconvenience. While periods of isolation from a western culture can create loneliness, Internet access (even erratic) offers a means to re-establish connection. The trick is not to depend or crave that which will be in abundance again soon, and to appreciate you'll not always have exposure to your host culture. I’m currently reading this article from my home in the jungle town of Bandarban, close to the Bangladesh – Burmese border, just over one year into a two year placement. Personally my greatest challenge to my tolerance levels has to be my living conditions. Washing in a bowl never can be anything apart from that, but the joy of integrating into the local community more than offsets any inconvenience.

While periods of isolation from a western culture can create loneliness, Internet access (even erratic) offers a means to re-establish connection. The trick is not to depend or crave that which will be in abundance again soon, and to appreciate you’ll not always have exposure to your host culture.

]]> By: 5 Things You Should Know Before Joining the Peace Corps http://matadornetwork.com/change/five-expectations-to-avoid-before-volunteering-abroad/#comment-48792 5 Things You Should Know Before Joining the Peace Corps Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:13:25 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=203#comment-48792 [...] the commitment to the Peace Corps? A short-term volunteer placement also requires planning. Read “Five Expectations to Avoid Before Volunteering Abroad” to prepare [...] [...] the commitment to the Peace Corps? A short-term volunteer placement also requires planning. Read “Five Expectations to Avoid Before Volunteering Abroad” to prepare [...]

]]> By: Hal http://matadornetwork.com/change/five-expectations-to-avoid-before-volunteering-abroad/#comment-46477 Hal Mon, 04 May 2009 21:13:34 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=203#comment-46477 Right on, Alix. I just finished up my first long-term volunteer experience, and I think you've really summed it up here. Especially feelin' ya on #2 and #4. All you potential volunteers out there, don't read this and get discouraged! Instead, take what Alix has to say to heart and you'll likely have an even better time during your assignment. Right on, Alix. I just finished up my first long-term volunteer experience, and I think you’ve really summed it up here. Especially feelin’ ya on #2 and #4.

All you potential volunteers out there, don’t read this and get discouraged! Instead, take what Alix has to say to heart and you’ll likely have an even better time during your assignment.

]]> By: Abbie http://matadornetwork.com/change/five-expectations-to-avoid-before-volunteering-abroad/#comment-46716 Abbie Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:05:36 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=203#comment-46716 That's great advice - I'm volunteering abroad in July so this info. was very helpful for me! That’s great advice – I’m volunteering abroad in July so this info. was very helpful for me!

]]> By: Benjamin http://matadornetwork.com/change/five-expectations-to-avoid-before-volunteering-abroad/#comment-46694 Benjamin Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:26:20 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=203#comment-46694 Some of the best advice a traveler of any kind could get! Some of the best advice a traveler of any kind could get!

]]> By: Tim Taylor http://matadornetwork.com/change/five-expectations-to-avoid-before-volunteering-abroad/#comment-46682 Tim Taylor Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:20:52 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=203#comment-46682 Awesome article! Alix sounds like a really wise world-traveller, and with a bit of abroad experience under my own belt (currently finishing up a year living and studying in Cairo, Egypt), I think she hit the nail on the head with all her main points. Nice work! Awesome article!

Alix sounds like a really wise world-traveller, and with a bit of abroad experience under my own belt (currently finishing up a year living and studying in Cairo, Egypt), I think she hit the nail on the head with all her main points.

Nice work!

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