As I got older, I disappointedly discovered that the realities of work and paying for college can get in the way of travel dreams and the opportunity to spend several months traveling around the globe was simply never feasible. Instead, I began traveling for short periods of time, usually just one or two weeks, and over the past 15 years have spent time in twenty countries, slowly but steadily adding new locales each year to my been-there list and enjoying incredible albeit brief journeys in foreign lands.

So why am I telling you all this? Because while some of us are able to spend months if not years on the road, others just can’t do it – whether it’s because we have family obligations, a career we can’t step away from for extended periods, or even simply just can’t afford to go that long without a paycheck. This doesn’t mean though that international travel and rich cross-cultural experiences are out of reach for us. Rather it’s all about finding a way to make it happen.

Yesterday was my 34th birthday. I spent some time last night reflecting on my 33rd year and what I’d accomplished and was proud to count volunteering abroad as one of my major achievements. Sure, I wasn’t able to serve six months abroad, as extraordinary as that would be, but I did spend two amazing weeks volunteering in Jordan: living with a host family, learning a bit of rudimentary Arabic, experiencing the Middle East for the first time, unraveling and expanding my perceptions of life in the region – all while lending my professional skills and serving as a short-term partner with a local NGO. And while two weeks may be short, and thus my impact may have been minimal, I took pride in the fact that I am now one of the millions of people around the globe who have chosen to serve abroad. I’m part of that continuum of volunteers and my two weeks have been added to the collective investment of time, energy, and passion for greater intercultural understanding and global solutions to complex societal and environmental issues. That’s what I could do, so I did it. And it was well worth it.

Interested in volunteering abroad on a short-term basis like I did? Check out Idealist’s International Volunteerism Resource Center for tips on how to determine your interests and availability as well as find global volunteer opportunities that fit the bill.

A common question we get here at Idealist.org, often from people who want to volunteer abroad but also from others who are exploring international careers or travel, is “What if I don’t speak the language?” The quick answer, of course, is to start learning it asap. Consider taking a community college or language school course. Find local speaking groups or expat communities in your area to practice with. Think about joining an immersion program or study the language abroad (preferably in the country you’ve set your sights on).

Predictably enough, language really is that critical a skill to have when living, working, volunteering, or traveling abroad – most especially the first two options where you’ll most likely be spending a fair amount of time in-country and want to integrate into the community as quickly as you can. For volunteering or traveling, especially if you’ll only be in-country for a short period of time, there are some additional options like volunteering with an organization or program that provides language support and/or translators (this is what I did when volunteering for two weeks in Jordan), learning some key phrases and practicing the twin international travel arts of humility and pantomime, or jumpstarting your volunteering or travels by spending a little time first in a language course abroad – or go abroad primarily for the course and volunteer/travel on the side.

The bottom line is, in order to truly experience cross-cultural exchange the likes of which you can only get through personal communications and connection with local citizens, you’re going to need some language skills. So, once you know where you want to go, start checking out your options. ¿Comprende?