As 2009 comes to a close, many of us volunteering in Latin America will find ourselves in a reflective mood, evaluating what we’ve accomplished and setting new goals for 2010. I was put in an especially pensive state the other day by the visit of two exuberant women, Fran Early and Connie Newton, [...]
Author Archive
December 15th, 2009 - 9:34 am § in Around Town, Guatemala
Educational Exchange with New Hope Teachers
Most of the content of this blog focuses on the adventures of English-speaking volunteers who are planning to or are currently exploring Latin America. While it’s not an easy thing to embark upon, it’s often much more accessible than the reverse, when Latin Americans look for experiences to expl[...]
How to Get Your Home-Culture Fix
When volunteers first arrive at their new posts in Latin America, one of their first priorities is to completely immerse themselves in the new culture. They’ll want to choose a living situation where they can speak as much Spanish as possible, sample the offerings of the local cuisine and generall[...]
What Are You Thankful For?
In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. this week, I thought I’d carry on my family’s tradition of going around the table and asking each person, “What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?” Below, I report the answers from some of Common Hope’s long-term volunteers, who reflect[...]
Nonprofit Network Launches Website
A network of nonprofit organizations in Guatemala, known as La Antigua Guatemala Network, launched a website this week that promises to improve communication and collaboration between nongovernmental organizations in the country. Impressively, the new website has been introduced in both English and [...]
November 13th, 2009 - 5:11 pm § in Guatemala, In the Field
Graduation Season
It’s technically verano in Guatemala, the opposite of rainy season, but the air has started growing cooler and crisper. (Luckily for us in the land of eternal spring, cooler and crisper only means lows of 65°F instead of the usual 75°F we enjoy for most of the year.) Each year with the cooler we[...]
November 6th, 2009 - 6:28 pm § in Guatemala, Tips & Resources
Milking Your Tax Dollars from Afar
Most of us volunteers living in Latin America have paid taxes to our governments at one point or another, often while working to save up for our great volunteering adventure. Once we’re settled in our new home, swirling in a range of new cultural experiences, it’s easy to adopt an identity as [...]
The Hidden Benefits of Volunteering
Most organizations offering volunteer opportunities will not be able to pay a stipend to help cover living expenses. Potential volunteers might feel like they’ll be totally on their own, fending for themselves in their new lives in Latin America. However, most nonprofits do offer valuable benefits[...]
Secrets to Landing a Volunteer Position
When I recently asked four volunteer coordinators about the qualities they look for in potential volunteers, I was a little surprised by their answers. I’d expected that they would focus on college degrees, areas of technical training, and strong language abilities. While those characteristics are[...]
