“Vol-cationing” is a great way to see the world, share talents, and make a difference. Here is a list of websites Nancy Glidden used to learn about her trips:
www.sierraclub.org
www.morethanenglish.com
www.crossculturalsolutions.org
www.rozaliaproject.org
www.volunteerhq.org
www.goeco.org
www.projects-abroad.org
www.biosphere-expeditions.org
www.responsibletravel.com
“Let me see if I’ve got this right?” said our incredulous financial advisor. “You PAID to work in the rain?”
We laughed, for she was right to be incredulous. My husband, Art and I had to pay a fee and purchase airline tickets to participate in a Sierra Club trip where we would volunteer to work in New York City parks for a week. In return, volunteers would be treated to a personalized tour of the city led by the trip organizer, an enthusiastic New York city native.
Over the years, my husband and I have taken several volunteer vacations — or “vol-cations” as they are called — to celebrate milestones like anniversaries. In some instances, we pay a fee to participate. In others we just pay for airfare. In all instances we receive a place to stay, meals and lasting memories.
In the New York trip, volunteers from around the United States and Canada were housed in a youth hostel’s spartan accommodations. Each morning we walked to the parks to weed paths, repair fencing, spread mulch and collect litter.
In off hours we had a unique and thorough walking tour of the city. We also went to a Philharmonic concert and an off Broadway show. On a day we got rained out we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. All told, the trip was an excellent trade-off, including a bit of pleasant outside work with congenial people in exchange for a week in one of the world’s most fascinating cities.
We also have traveled to Spain twice to volunteer in a conversational English program called Pueblo Ingles or “English Village.” The program pairs native English speakers from around the world with Spaniards wanting to improve their conversational English.
Many of the Spaniards have important jobs in business or government. Conversational English is an increasingly important skill for people doing business in Europe. Participants meet in either Madrid or Barcelona. (We have visited both cities through the program.) A bus takes everyone to a remote town or resort for an intensive week of conversation. Volunteers just need to get to the starting point. The days are long - at least 12 hours - but the participants are lively, interesting, hardworking people from around the world. English improves. Cultural exchanges are made. Friendships are forged.
One volunteer vacation, to celebrate turning 60, was a real stretch for us. We chose it, in part, because it was outside our comfort zone. It also put us in a country we’ve never visited, nor ever thought we would. We spent a week in Russia as volunteers for Cross-Cultural Solutions. The program serves disabled adults, students and senior citizens.
In some settings we played games or did crafts with children, in others we helped participants improve their English. In all our settings we provided activities and stimulus unavailable otherwise. This time the exchange was a little different from previous trips. In exchange for our time and money, we got an inside view of a country shrouded in sinister mystery for most of our lives. We met real people. We heard their stories, and shared ours. The program offered several cultural activities. They offered language study and a presentation on Russian folklore. There was a visit to a small, historic village and a walking tour of Yaroslavl. One of the most moving activities was a talk about the post-war childhood of one of the staff. We came away with a profound sense of gratitude and an even deeper commitment to share our blessings and bounty with others.
We soon are heading to Cape Town, South Africa for a week working as volunteers with International Volunteer Headquarters. IVHQ partners with Dreams to Reality to help underprivileged South Africans achieve educational and employment goals. We will be teaching English.
The memories and friends we’ve made on our vol-cations are priceless. If you are considering going on a similar trip, my advice is simple: Do it. All you need is a sense of adventure, an interest in different cultures, a willingness to work hard, and a bit of money and time.
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