When I made the decision to leave everything that was familiar at home and work abroad, I knew that having a strong, supportive and exciting group of volunteers to work with would help ease the unfamiliar surroundings.
Some people look to be alone, others want a base and the rest want something in between. This is valuable information to self assess before setting off.
What attracted me to blueEnergy was I knew there were 15 (now 22) other volunteers in Bluefields. Here, my best friends are from Mexico, Argentina, Canada and the USA. On top of our local connections, my experience is truly international.
Not only do we learn how to work in a developing nation like Nicaragua, but we are exposed how to effectively communicate and collaborate with a myriad of nationalities. We also learn that Americans buy our cheesecake crusts premade while the French scoff at such an idea. Sometimes, it’s the small things we take away.
Take into consideration your time frame. Because you are so focused on what is new and different, shorter stints may be easier to handle alone. Longer programs that completely immerse the volunteer can be a bit tricky.
I encourage those making the leap of faith to make that jump, but beforehand ask yourself the important questions so you put yourself in a situation where you can thrive. All of us want something a little different, and it behooves the volunteer to be placed in an environment where the individual can succeed. Obviously, this is a win-win for the organization and the volunteer.
As for me, I’ll be waiting with the cream cheese… you bring the rest.
Latest posts by bveerhusen
- Nicaragua to Alaska: An Unlikely Duo - June 15th, 2010
- Water is What Water Does - April 26th, 2010
- Productive Uses Create Sustainable Energy - April 9th, 2010
- Pan Doesn't Only Mean Bread - March 19th, 2010
- I’m on a Boat: Joys and Sorrows of Pangas - March 5th, 2010
- When Microenergy and Microfinance Meet - February 19th, 2010
- Nica is Cash Only - January 19th, 2010
