La Vida Idealist

All bound by a shared love of Kiva.org and its “Loans that Change Lives,” Kiva Fellows – many of whom have never met each other in person unless part of the same training group in San Francisco – keep in touch via mass emails for a multitude of reasons ranging from simple camaraderie to more serious, work-related questions.   That is why I knew reaching out to them for tips would not only really useful, but relatively easy to do.

For volunteers already in the field or those soon to embark, I hope the following list can help you prepare for the awesomely random and fun adventures awaiting you – and help you avoid some of the less fun ones.  Because really, at the end of the day, all that my three-day hospital visit in Bolivia really served for was a good story.  I think I’d rather have dodged that bullet!

Tips are followed with who they came from, what Kiva Fellows class they are in, and the country they are serving in.

33 Tips from Kiva Fellows in Latin America:

1. Invest in a good map and learn the major landmarks. Addresses might not exist and Google maps will almost certainly be confusing and/or inaccessible. (Meg, KF9 Nicaragua)
2. People love talking about their country/city/town. Be prepared to talk about where you have visited and where you want to visit, over and over again. (Meg, KF9 Nicaragua)
3. Peruvians (at least in Cusco) salute each other with a kiss on the cheek. (Sheethal, KF9 Peru)
4. It’s more respectful to call Incan ruins “archeological sites.” (Sheethal, KF9 Peru)
5. When you get on a combi (collective taxi), squeeze in and hope for the best. (Sheethal, KF9 Peru)
6. If you can’t figure out the bus you need to take to work every day, just walk the entire route and note which bus number you see at both the beginning and end. (Suzy, KF9 Bolivia)
7. It is really easy to get sick in Bolivia (it’s not just me, I swear) – be extra, extra cautious and borderline obsessive about what you are willing to eat.  (Suzy, KF9 Bolivia)
8. To avoid getting ripped off by a taxi driver, act like you travel the route all the time.  Don’t ask him for a price, just hand him a reasonably small sized bill and wait for the change.  Chances are, this makes you seem like you know how much change he should give you, and he won’t try to rip you off. (Suzy, KF9 Bolivia)
9. When interviewing someone, try to adapt to the person you are interviewing: If he/she is talkative and willing to share his/her story, try to ask open questions – e.g. “Tell me how you had the idea to start your business.” (Thomas, KF9 Dominican Republic)
10. When taking a photo of a person or a group of people, take the time to show it to them. People who are not used to having a photo taken really enjoy seeing themselves on the screen. (Thomas, KF9 Dominican Republic)
11. ALWAYS carry plenty of change in your pocket (aka “sencillo“). (Josh, KF9 Peru)
12. Probably avoid the morning jog outside if you don’t want to be chased by wild dogs. (Josh, KF9 Peru)
13. Bring those good zapatillas (sneakers) and get ready to walk! (Josh, KF9 Peru)
14. If you get lost, just ask where the ‘Plaza de Armas’ is, which almost always is in the center of the city. (Josh, KF9 Peru)
15. Bring $1 dollar bills and coins with you if you travel to Ecuador. Change is hard to find! (Zal, KF9 Ecuador)
16. If you buy a SIM card from a local cell provider, ask for special offers on pre-paid minutes.  Never pay full price – there are always sales! (Zal, KF9 Ecuador)
17. Watching TV in English with Spanish subtitles does wonders for improving your Spanish vocab. (Zal, KF9 Ecuador)
18. Always negotiate with the taxi driver prior to entering the vehicle, especially at night. (Zal, KF9 Ecuador)
19. Always allow a few minutes to converse and build the person’s trust before taking their photos. (Kimia, KF9 Ecuador)
20. Try your best to learn local phrases and slang. (Kimia, KF9 Ecuador)
21. Smiling helps a lot, as does laughing at yourself. (When this is difficult, and if the situation is appropriate, then beer can also help a lot as well.) (Julie, KF9 Mexico)
22. Try to stay away as much as possible from judging your experience as good or bad, or beating yourself up for “not doing enough.” Try to accept your experience as it is instead of what you think it should be. (Julie, KF9 Mexico)
23. I’ve found that volunteer work involves working with myself as much as working with others. If you can learn how to communicate in a compassionate, kind manner with yourself, then that can carry over into your interactions with other people. (Julie, KF9 Mexico)
24. Do something that scares you every day. Buy a weird looking fruit at the supermarket. Talk to someone in your workplace that you haven’t connected with. Sometimes the fact that you are nervous about something can be a sign that you should just dive in and do it anyway. This is such a big and wonderful world, and there are so many different ways to explore it! (Julie, KF9 Mexico)
25. Don’t forget to put on bug spray before you go to sleep – you don’t want dengue fever! (Victoria, KF9 Nicaragua)
26. A good and big umbrella is worth much more than a good rain jacket. (Alana, KF9 Costa Rica)
27. If you want to seem American, shake hands when you meet people. Otherwise, go for the cheek kiss. Always go for the cheek kiss. (Alana, KF9 Costa Rica)
28. It may be awkward but if you don’t say to your taxi driver “con la maria” they will rip you off. (Alana, KF9 Costa Rica)
29. Learn the different names for beer – cerveza, bira and aguila - and sound like a local. (Karl, KF9 Costa Rica)
30. Get your internal compass functioning. There are no street signs or numbers in most of Costa Rica. (Karl, KF9 Costa Rica)
31. Forget the rain jacket; you’re going to get soaked no matter what so just embrace it. (Karl, KF9 Costa Rica)
32. If someone offers you leche burra, be careful. You will be drinking a “refreshing” mix of coconut milk and controbando, the illegal liquor of rural Costa Rica. (Karl, KF9 Costa Rica)
33. Know that the first lie of  Costa Ricans is the word “sarpe,” meaning the last drink. For the Ticos there is never a last drink. (Karl, KF9 Costa Rica)

For more information about the Kiva Fellows program, go here or read our Stories from the Field blog!

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