From Ice To Tropical

Ok, since Rabbit Day Weekend (aka Easter) has come and gone, back to the writing.  As I said in my last post, I've decided to focus on short term volunteer projects.  These past few weeks have been tumultuous at best, but have brought about a new view on things for me.  One key word I began to zone in on was focus.  I needed to bring myself back to center a few weeks ago, and am continuing to focus my direction and energy accordingly.

With the summarized backstory in place, the short term volunteer project has been teetering between a 3 week stint and a year long or more adventure.  I know myself too well and I long discovered that I can be very impulsive, so I'm trying my absolute hardest to just focus on a short term project that will quench the different facets of my thirst; not to say though that I haven't done research on a possible longer and more perpetual volunteering adventure.  But that post will come soon enough; some times I find myself having to reign in my spirit just alittle so an ounce of logic can take hold.

Coming back to the short term projects.... like I said in my last post, there are thousands of endeavors going on throughout the world.

So I had to ask myself four questions:
             1)  Where would I like to go?
             2)  What field would I best serve in?
             3)  How much would it cost?
             4)  Where would I get the money?


To answer the first question took some time.  If you had the chance to go anywhere in the world to help others, where would it be?  Peru?  Timbuktu? Bosnia?  I was stuck between Iceland and Costa Rica.  I know, they're two very different places with completely different cultures.  Unfortunately Iceland gave way to Costa Rica, more so because of plane ticket costs.  To fly to Central America is about half as much as it is to fly to Iceland; yet the land of fire and ice is definitely somewhere I'd like to volunteer in at some point down the line.

Narrowing down the location was almost as hard as figuring out what I wanted to help out with; granted some projects demand more time than others. After doing alot of introspection, I've decided on farming and agricultural sustainability.  In other words, send me to the fields to learn, work and build!!  There's a beauty in nature and a serenity that only She can bring us at times; we have so much to learn from her.

Now costs I've noticed have been a bit of a mix bag.  One thing that I've discovered (which correct me if I'm wrong) is that international non-profits tend to be cheaper in costs than American ones.  I don't know why that is or if it's completely accurate, but from all the scouring I've done, it's something that I've taken note of.  I'm still doing some last minute research on my top three non profits, but so far with plane ticket and all, most of these agencies are hovering around the $1,000 mark.

Of course I've struggled with the idea of actually paying to volunteer somewhere; why would you have to PAY to help others out?  That has been a question I've tangoed with for a minute, but after reading up on some non-profits, I discovered that yes, some very little money has to go to maintain the organization, but that most will go to the host families.  Most organizations lay out at the very beginning their handling of funds, but if ever any questions arise, most of the ones I've read on are willing to go into further detail.

The next logical step aside from finding dates that could fit in well with my job schedule is how would I raise the funds?  I was thinking about just saving up for it and tackling this on my own.  After talking to a few close friends however, I've decided that if I could raise around half of the costs, perhaps I could reach out for help from friends, family and just those good samaritans who wish to help out others in need.  As much as I have juggled with the idea of reaching out to others for help with funding, it's occured to me that it's the best step for one big reason: all the extra funds I raise can go directly to my host family, from my hand to theirs.  I know that on my own I don't have the financial means to scrounge up the extra money for my hosts apart of what's asked from me, but with the help of others who knows how much could be gathered.

So there you have it, my tentative blue print for my volunteer project this year.  It's still in its infancy phase because there are a few factors in play like approved days off at work and application confirmation from the non profit; both of these steps alone will take about a month, but I'm hoping that it'll be both quick and painless.  Yet when all that's said and done, the adventure will continue onward.  I'll keep you posted next week on the happenings of it all.

Helping Out One Day At A Time

So my apologies for the small little gap in my posts; I had one last surgical adjustment to do and now I'm back on track!  I remember how I said that I wanted to go to Portland, Vancouver and Seattle this year as my annual getaway misadventure.  Another idea though popped in my mind: international volunteering efforts. 

These last few silent weeks I've had some time to think about things like work, happiness, challenges, all that good stuff.  My biggest desire?  To find fulfillment.  I'm not talking about instant gratification or limelight or anything like that.  I want that kind of fulfillment that just explodes in my soul, the kind that brings you such inner peace and happiness that you can't help but spread it around like wildfire.  Volunteering abroad would bring me closer to that nirvana that I seek.  Not only would I be helping those less fortunate, but I temporaritly get immersed in their culture, language, way of life; I walk in as one man and walk out as another.

I started to sign up for the Peace Corps last year, only to have to back down for a few personal reasons.  Being part of the Peace Corps is still on my bucket list, but with the help of sites like idealist.org, I've been able to find volunteering opportunities that can fit into my current situation.  I never knew much about short term volunteering projects until this year, and at first I was very wary about these situations.  I tend to be a very long term kind of guy; I like to start things and see them to completion.  However with projects like rebuilding communities or teaching children english or whatever, they're lifelong commitments.  I know that right now I can't dedicate such long term efforts to causes like these, even though I'd love to, so I finally came to terms with the idea of helping out in smaller, short term endeavors.  In the end, anything that we do big or small that helps others, will bring positive energy to this world.

So why am I bringing this up on a bucket list of traveling adventures?  Well because it is a traveling adventure, but it's also a personal journey that I wish to take.  Since this has become a big focus for me, I hope to dedicate more posts about this process as the weeks go by.  I can't wait to share more of this with everyone!

PS - Sorry for the short post, but I will have more information as the end of the month approaches.