At 12:45 p.m. on Friday afternoon, I was too late to get blood work at the local laboratory. “Ya es muy tarde,” the receptionist said to me. Come back tomorrow between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. I’m thinking, “The doctor is right here, you are here, you don’t look like you are closing[...]
Posts Tagged ‘Idealist.org’
Volunteerism in Latin America: The Big Picture
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) is a UN organization that promotes volunteerism in development work in approximately 130 countries, including Uruguay. Among the organization’s goals are “advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into developmen[...]
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Buenos Aires
The Good The people: Argentines are some of the warmest people I have ever met. Whether you are lost on the street, confused about the subway, or even need a place to sleep I have found most of the people in Buenos Aires to be helpful, accommodating, and very friendly. I think that [...][...]
Particles and Waves
I have devoted quite a bit of time to volunteerism. For two of my three post-college years, I worked as a full-time volunteer (the third in the nonprofit sector); during college I gave my time during summers and some weekends. Without exception, I have benefited enormously from every experience both[...]
November 15th, 2010 - 12:16 pm § in Good Ideas, Mexico
From Triggers to Trees: Palas Por Pistolas
The other day I received an email from GOOD magazine about a Mexican artist named Pedro Reyes. What makes Reyes so special that he should show up in my inbox? A couple of years ago he turned guns into trees. And no, I’m not joking. The city of Culiacán in western Mexico is rife with gang [...][...]
Now Comes the Hard Part
Sometimes, it’s the hardest question to answer. Before a choir concert the other night, my conductor’s 7-year-old daughter came over to greet me with the customary peck on the cheek and added: “They told me you’re leaving? You’re leaving and you’re not coming b[...]
November 4th, 2010 - 11:03 am § in Country, Culture, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Tips & Resources, Volunteer
Origins of Responsibili”ti”
In the weeks leading up to me leaving the U.S., many adults from my parents’ generation told me the same thing: “Oh. Well.. it’s nice that you are doing this now at a time in your life when you have no real obligations or responsibilities.” What they really wanted to hear from me was a t[...]
