A Unique Blend of Voluntourism and Vagabondism
Why do I vagabond? The simple reason is because I can while still being able to earn a living at my profession (transaction patent law). But it is bit more complicated than this. I was very comfortable in Irvine, California--way too comfortable. As Kahlil Gibran said best, "The lust for comfort murders the passions of the soul." And my soul was dying in Irvine. So, I am on a quest to experience whatever the world has to offer using the most basic of accommodations, namely hostels and other suitable dormitory style housing. Really, the only thing that I need is a shower (preferably, hot), a bed or something that resembles a bed, and Wifi (for my work).
Why do it now? Because I am not getting any younger, and I need to do it now before I am not physically capable--at least internationally. Unfortunately, I am getting to age where I am attending more funerals than weddings, so I am now quite aware of my mortality, and will save the Winnebago trips across the United States when I am old and feeble.
I have hit upon an awesome formula (at least for me) that incorporates voluntourism with my vagabonding experience. Although there are many voluntourism companies out there, my go to company is International Volunteer Head Quarters (IVHQ), which is essentially an international company with connections to local volunteer companies all over the world. Although I am not promoting IVHQ, as there are many fine volunteerism companies out there, I find that IVHQ provides the most basic of accommodations (if you need to stay at a hotel or need privacy, IVHQ would not be for you), and has a ubiquitous network that allows you to select one of many destinations. After that, you can just plug into IVHQ and they will set everything up for you. Perhaps one downside is that the average age of the volunteers who go through IVHQ is in the early 20s (although there are some older outliers), so if this makes you uncomfortable, again, IVHQ may not be for you.
But whichever volunteerism company you go through, you will most likely experience your country of choice, not as a typical tourist, but as a local, which is really the best way to experience the local culture. In a sense, you will live as a local, and sometimes, you will live with and eat with the locals. It's also a great way to lose that stubborn 5-10lbs.
The great thing about going through a voluntourism company is that they provide you with the infrastructure and knowhow to safely explore and experience a country. So, you are not just dropping into a country in a vacuum with no clue as to what to do or where to go, and will get plenty of guidance. Oh yes, you get the added benefit of helping out a community, although one should not expect to change or save the world. I have found that the greatest impact, and it is mutual, is the cultural exchange aspect of the voluntourism trip.
In the past, I have experienced eight voluntourism trips (Vietnam, South Africa, Guatemala, Philippines, Nepal, Fiji, Costa Rica, and Peru), always returning back to California after 3-4 weeks (with the exception of Vietnam, which was three months) after each trip. However, going forward, I am making a concerted effort to spend more time in each country that I visit (almost making it a semi-permanent residence), and to seamlessly transition between countries, only returning to California on an as-needed basis. This gives me the added benefit of establishing a nice routine of volunteer work and professional work on the weekdays, while reserving weekends for excursions, in contrast to squeezing everything into a two or three weeks, which I became quite adept at, but created unneeded stress.
#voluntouring #voluntourism #vagabonding #vagabondism #travel #instatravel #travelgram #tourist #tourism #vacation #traveling
Why do it now? Because I am not getting any younger, and I need to do it now before I am not physically capable--at least internationally. Unfortunately, I am getting to age where I am attending more funerals than weddings, so I am now quite aware of my mortality, and will save the Winnebago trips across the United States when I am old and feeble.
I have hit upon an awesome formula (at least for me) that incorporates voluntourism with my vagabonding experience. Although there are many voluntourism companies out there, my go to company is International Volunteer Head Quarters (IVHQ), which is essentially an international company with connections to local volunteer companies all over the world. Although I am not promoting IVHQ, as there are many fine volunteerism companies out there, I find that IVHQ provides the most basic of accommodations (if you need to stay at a hotel or need privacy, IVHQ would not be for you), and has a ubiquitous network that allows you to select one of many destinations. After that, you can just plug into IVHQ and they will set everything up for you. Perhaps one downside is that the average age of the volunteers who go through IVHQ is in the early 20s (although there are some older outliers), so if this makes you uncomfortable, again, IVHQ may not be for you.
But whichever volunteerism company you go through, you will most likely experience your country of choice, not as a typical tourist, but as a local, which is really the best way to experience the local culture. In a sense, you will live as a local, and sometimes, you will live with and eat with the locals. It's also a great way to lose that stubborn 5-10lbs.
The great thing about going through a voluntourism company is that they provide you with the infrastructure and knowhow to safely explore and experience a country. So, you are not just dropping into a country in a vacuum with no clue as to what to do or where to go, and will get plenty of guidance. Oh yes, you get the added benefit of helping out a community, although one should not expect to change or save the world. I have found that the greatest impact, and it is mutual, is the cultural exchange aspect of the voluntourism trip.
In the past, I have experienced eight voluntourism trips (Vietnam, South Africa, Guatemala, Philippines, Nepal, Fiji, Costa Rica, and Peru), always returning back to California after 3-4 weeks (with the exception of Vietnam, which was three months) after each trip. However, going forward, I am making a concerted effort to spend more time in each country that I visit (almost making it a semi-permanent residence), and to seamlessly transition between countries, only returning to California on an as-needed basis. This gives me the added benefit of establishing a nice routine of volunteer work and professional work on the weekdays, while reserving weekends for excursions, in contrast to squeezing everything into a two or three weeks, which I became quite adept at, but created unneeded stress.
#voluntouring #voluntourism #vagabonding #vagabondism #travel #instatravel #travelgram #tourist #tourism #vacation #traveling
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