Tired of the “nine to five?” Thinking of leaving the daily grind for something more rewarding? Here are my top 10 suggestions for those of you who thinking of trying your hand in Latin America.
10. Don’t listen to the people who tell you that you’re foolish for leaving your “stable” job, your great apartment, or your life as you know it. If you’re feeling the itch to get the heck out of there, now is the time! You will only regret what you never had the guts to do.
9. Save your money. You can get by on very little here, yes, but you’ll want a cushion in case anything happens. Plus, many organizations require donations for administrative costs and the resources it takes to orient volunteers.
8. Be honest with yourself about what kind of environment you can work in. If you choose to live in a non-touristy town be prepared to feel uncomfortable a lot of the time. Also, lots of folks think they want to be “totally immersed” but after the 27th day of rice and beans for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you might think twice about living in the remote highlands.
7. Learn a lot of Spanish before you come. Volunteering means working with the community which means communication is a necessity.
6. Match your existing skills and interests with the work that the organization is doing. A lot of programs (especially the smaller ones) don’t have the resources to teach you a whole new set of skills. It will be a better experience all around if you bring something to the table.
5. On the flipside, don’t come here thinking you know everything. Nobody likes a know-it-all. But in Latin America, the “Imperialist/Yankee know-it-alls” are detested. (In fact, studying up on the history of Latin American politics isn’t a bad idea.) Ask lots of questions, and listen to what the locals have to say.
4. Treat your volunteer position as if it’s a real job. Organizations rely on volunteers because they often don’t have the resources to pay employees. If you have the attitude that you can do whatever you want because you are “volunteering your time” people will not like you. And they might ask you to leave.
3. Expect things to take double, triple or even quadruple the time it takes in more developed countries. And try not to get discouraged about this. Life is slower down here, mainly because the technology that speeds up our lives often doesn’t exist.
2. Hit the ground running, but cut yourself some slack at the same time. It takes a lot of time to learn the language and the cultural norms. But everyone likes a go-getter and you will become more involved more quickly if you take the initiative.
1. Don’t be shy. Speak up even if you can’t find the Spanish words. Act when you see the need. There is a whole lot of need down here and if you are always on the lookout for ways you can help, you will undoubtedly be a successful agent for change.
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