Photo courtesy of Jennifer Mizgata
A few weeks ago I posted my top 10 suggestions on how to be a successful long-term volunteer. Number 8 was to make sure you are honest with yourself about what kind of environment you can work in. This is important if you plan to come for an extended amount of time. If you are unhappy because, for example, you miss everything from home or because you can’t get used to the cultural differences, time will drag, you may get depressed and you will most likely not accomplish what you came here to do. So it’s important to do your homework before choosing a location. Here I offer five things to think about if you are planning a long-term trip.
1. Climate. I am from Massachusetts, where there are four seasons, ranging from really hot to really cold. Being that I am someone who thrives on change, one of the hardest things for me to get used to here (in the mid-highlands of Nicaragua) is that there are only two temperatures: warm or hot. Okay, sometimes it rains and sometimes it doesn’t. But you get the picture: If you like the cold, don’t go to the beach. If you love the heat, stay away from the mountains.
2. Food options. In the bigger cities almost anything is available. But in the more remote areas, things like whole wheat bread, green-leaf lettuce and peanut butter are unheard of. Also, if you are going to live with a family, you are usually expected to eat most meals with them and they will most likely cook the typical local cuisine for all three meals.
3. The national economy. Almost anywhere is Latin America is cheaper than the United States or Europe. But some of the more developed countries are much more expensive than the lesser ones. For those of you who need to live off of a shoe-string budget, you should figure out average monthly living expenses before landing here with only $100 in your pocket.
4. Local development. The big cities offer everything from malls and movie theaters to fancy restaurants of all flavors. But some of the smaller villages might not have places where you can buy your favorite kind of toothpaste, internet cafes might close at 7 p.m. and you might not have running water 24 hours a day. Think about what amenities and/or recreational activities you can or cannot live without.
5. Level of immersion. Touristy places sometimes have more options for volunteer organizations. However, there is often a trade-off. In places where there are lots of others trying to “make a difference,” the amount of impact you have can often feel like less. Also, as I mentioned in the “Top 10 Ways to be a Successful Long-Term Volunteer” post, if you choose to live in a non-touristy town be prepared to feel uncomfortable a lot of the time. If the locals are not accustomed to seeing foreigners, they will stare and might even make rude or (what feels like) strange comments. It is not usually to be malicious but it can get aggravating. (For more about this, check out last week’s post about the Celebrity Phenomenon.)
Latest posts by emily337
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- Challenging Gender Norms - November 4th, 2009
- Challenging Cultural Norms - October 29th, 2009
- Please Stop Staring… I am NOT a Celebrity - October 7th, 2009
- Top 10 Ways to be a Successful Long-Term Volunteer - September 23rd, 2009
- Don’t Stop Talking…Ever! - September 16th, 2009
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