Home

 

Getting Experience

- # of # Filtered -

Short-Term Trips For Long-Term Gain

Q&A with Alyssa: Volunteered in Nicaragua & the USA
Share this
Print this
Alyssa
Volunteered in Nicaragua & the USA
Western
Her thoughts on Motivation
Volunteering locally is important, but being abroad allows you to absorb new environments and cultures, which is a bonus.
Her thoughts on The Application Process
I think what made me successful was how I put myself out there during the interviews, because that's how you have to go about an experience abroad – you can't hold back.
Her thoughts on Taking It All In
We learned to dance in the traditional style, which was just so different to what we do at home. It was a whole new type of social activity none of us had ever tried before!
Her thoughts on Cultural Differences
When you go into the culture, don't search for the differences and compare. Look for the similarities and appreciate the differences. Different never means worse or better.
Her thoughts on Coming Home
Each time, the return is harder, and the lessons stay longer. It's just a gradual change. I'd say it kind of takes practice.

Where did you volunteer abroad? What was your position?

I've gone volunteering twice, both times were during reading week. In my first year of university, I traveled on a medical outreach trip to a small rural town just outside Managua, Nicaragua. In my second year, I was one of the student team leaders on a Habitat (see Habitat for Humanity: Campus Chapters) trip down to New Orleans. The experiences were completely different from one another.

What made you want to volunteer abroad?

I think I've always had the itch to go abroad. My parents have always loved traveling, so it really was instilled in me as a child. Volunteering locally is just as important, but being abroad allows you to absorb new environments, new cultures, which is a bonus to the volunteering.

How did you conduct your search for a position? What made you select your program?

I heard about the opportunity to go on reading week trips through my university and I thought, "What better way to ease into volunteering abroad?"

Describe the application process. What made you successful?

It involved a paper application and a carousel (group) interview. I think what made me successful was how I put myself out there during the interviews, because that's really how you have to go about an experience abroad; you can't hold back. In terms of the application, I can say that in the second year (when I was a part of the selection committee for applying students), we focused on assessing what the students hoped to gain, and how willing they were to absorb the experiences they would have.

What was the biggest surprise about your volunteer experience abroad?

In Managua, my biggest surprise was how trusting the people were towards us, since we were essentially foreigners and strangers. It was amazing to see the cultural differences, in simple things like accepting "help", or even how much they prioritized their young and elderly. In New Orleans, I simply didn't expect the repercussions that Katrina brought. I thought I had understood the disaster, but I couldn't believe how far New Orleans still had to go to recover, so many years after the fact.

Did you participate in extra-curricular or social activities while volunteering abroad? If so, how did they differ from social activities in your home culture?

I think the most memorable was in Nicaragua. We learned to dance in the traditional style, which was just so different to what we do at home! It was a whole new type of social activity none of us had ever tried before. It felt very Spanish, with lots of hip movements; and it was very fast paced. I could tell that the dance was really important to the instructor and the locals, which made it even more enjoyable to learn.

What made your volunteer experience abroad a success?

Hands down it was the willingness to try new things. In terms of the actual volunteering, the fact that I pushed myself to do a Habitat trip was what made it amazing; to feel the accomplishment of surpassing my own perceived limitations. But more than that, it's about trying the food, the dancing, talking to the people in the cities, and hearing stories. That openness is what makes a trip a complete success.

How did you finance your trip abroad and did you find any creative solutions to stay on budget?

I had the help of my parents, to be honest. But I know there are a lot of bursaries to help with these types of activities. As also know many people who did small fundraisers with programs geared towards this very thing. For example, in my area there's a program that provides you with boxes and boxes of donuts, and for each box you sell, you make a certain portion towards your fundraising goal.

Did anything happen in your volunteer workplace that gave you particular insight into your host culture?

On my trip to Nicaragua, we prescribed medicine after visiting with sick patients, and we also ran a pharmacy with donated medication. One day we couldn't fill the prescriptions for the children's fever medications because we had run out. It meant that those who needed medication were simply unable to receive it. We learned a lot about the how patients have to deal with a lack of access to necessary medications. It was life changing.

How did you deal with the cultural divide during your volunteer experience?

I keep saying this, but it's about opening your mind. When you go into the culture, don't search for the differences and compare. Look for the similarities and appreciate the differences. Different never means worse or better. With our group, we also had reflective activities every night where we would try to better understand and internalize what we saw and did each day, which was helpful.

What was the most important thing you learned about communicating in a foreign culture while volunteering abroad?

It was honestly much easier to communicate with children than adults! They were much more into gesturing and pointing than the older community members, which made it easier to understand them and to be understood. Everyone was great and patient, but we really found the lack of ability to communicate verbally to be the biggest challenge of the trip. We take that for granted at home.

What was your return like? Do you plan to go abroad again?

Very difficult -- especially being thrown back into school. I'd learned to appreciate a lot more of the things I had at home, though. After a while though, it became easy to kind of slip back into old habits. Routines are hard to change, and you probably won't be able to reflect all the lessons you've learned on the trip in your daily life at home. But it's there, in my head, and I'm always conscious now of how truly lucky I am. I definitely want to go again (I already did!). Each time, the return is harder, and the lessons stay longer. It's just a gradual change. I'd say it kind of takes practice.

What is your number one tip for anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps?

Don't hold back. Don't be afraid of doing it. I'm a 110-pound girl who'd only lifted hammers to hang paintings on a wall, but I helped build a house, lifted walls, nailed in those walls, and built the foundation. If you hold back, you will never know what you're missing.

What did you miss most about home?

Hot showers. Okay, that was the pampered middle class North American side of me speaking! I missed the comfort of home. Having my own bed, my friends near me, a routine... just the normal stuff that I'm comfortable with. But putting yourself out of your comfort zone is a key part of the trip, and I think it's necessary.

Describe an experience from your time abroad that made a particularly strong impression on you.

Well, the lack of medication that I mentioned earlier definitely hit me hard. Another one was hearing multiple stories from the people of New Orleans about how they survived hurricane Katrina. I couldn't believe how willing they were to share thoughts and memories about such a traumatic experience. I heard stories ranging from their pain of losing someone they loved, or how they had to evacuate the city that they'd grown up in. One man I talked to had just returned and was struggling with the memories. I went to the lower ninth district, which suffered the most damage in the hurricane. It was empty. I could still see front steps -- without houses -- and the homes had been washed away or destroyed, and replaced by overgrown weeds.

What is your future plan for going abroad and for your career?

I hope to travel to the Dominican Republic or Peru on an orphanage outreach trip this year. Beyond that, I have dreams to go to medical school in two years. If all goes well, my plan is to take the four-month summer before medical school and go on a "backpacking" trip around Europe. No hitchhiking will be involved, but I really think the experience would be amazing. I want to visit the countries and immerse myself in them, not travel as a vacationer in four-star hotels. It's been the one dream I've had since I was a kid that has lasted with me all these years. I won't be volunteering, but I think it will definitely be a huge step in terms of my personal growth.

Advice from MyWorldAbroad
Jean-Marc Hachey, Publisher

Alyssa has a positive attitude and enjoys helping others. There are a lot of international opportunities in medicine, especially for those with an interest in helping less fortunate people. Developing nations and war-torn zones are constantly on the lookout for skilled health care professionals.

We'd also recommend that she consider taking a few casual jobs while on her backpacking trek. A working vacation can be incredibly rewarding, as it minimizes the negative financial impact of long-term travel and allows you to build valuable cross-cultural communication skills.

Once Alyssa has built her medical skills at school, we'd recommend that she go abroad for three months or more to volunteer with an NGO in a developing nation. Once certified she could also be on call with disaster relief organizations as part of a first response team.

  • The All NGOs resource list is a good place to start researching potential international volunteer opportunities with North American organizations. In particular, those pursuing medical degrees might be interested in the work of Doctors Without Borders USA (MSF USA).
  • Read the complete Health Careers Abroad section to get a sense of what opportunities exist for health care professional with an interest in working internationally.
Alyssa's Next Steps
Advice from MyWorldAbroad
by the founder of MyWorldAbroad
Jean-Marc Hachey
Want to Have the Same Experience?
9766
- # of # Filtered -
  • 102
102
10923
Insight And Education In Korea
1
16392
Building International Career Skills Online
2
16320
Independent, International, Virtual! A UN Internship Online
3
16382
Making the Most of Lockdown with a Virtual Internship
4
16312
Virtual Internship for a Cross-cultural Future
5
16157
Zoom Zoom! A Virtual Internship with Central America
6
9775
A Year Of Feeling French
7
10153
China, South Africa And Beyond!
8
9776
Soaking Up Japanese Culture
9
9764
Do It Yourself! A Proactive Intern in Rome
10
15631
An International Career in the Making: Asia, Africa and Beyond
11
15405
From Daydream to Reality: Teaching Abroad
12
15401
From Korea to Oman: Teaching English Around the World!
13
9761
Communicating Creatively In Spain
14
9773
Independent In India
15
9791
Making Contacts Count In The UK
16
9740
Sports, Study And Fun In France
17
9743
Hooked On Volunteering!
18
16316
Exploring the Sights, Sounds & Tastes of Mexico City
19
16387
An Epic Internship in Malaysia
20
9756
Springtime In Spain
21
9763
A Professional Visit To Vietnam
22
9780
A Year In Marvelous Mexico!
23
9751
A Canadian Globe-Trotter Visits The US
24
9768
Going Solo In Spain!
25
10188
Now Or Never In Colombia
26
9792
Rolling With The Punches In Seoul
27
9745
An Unforgettable Adventure In Nanjing
28
9774
Gaga For Ghana!
29
9783
Off The Beaten Path In Africa
30
9755
People, Places And Passionate Volunteering In Peru
31
9778
Study And Adventure In New Zealand
32
9777
Into The Wild In Alaska
33
9754
Building Memories In India
34
9750
Host Hospitality In Morocco
35
9747
Fun And Friends In The Netherlands
36
9748
Adventure In The Alps
37
9786
Kids And Culture In Korea
38
9772
Learning To Go With The Flow In France
39
9762
American Freshman In London
40
9771
Learning To Love London
41
9742
Take-Charge Travel: Germany And Beyond!
42
9746
A Cross-Cultural Co-Op In West Africa
43
9760
Getting In Sync In Nairobi
44
9759
From Cold Feet To Confidence In Germany
45
9779
One Summer, Two Internships!
46
9785
Motivated In Madagascar
47
9741
Adapting to Work In Peru
48
9784
Skill-building in Bonn
49
9753
A Season in Sweden
50
9765
Simpatico in Florence
51
9782
Making The Most Of Milano
52
9737
Passionate About Panama
53
9766
Short-Term Trips For Long-Term Gain
54
9781
A Hospital Helper In Costa Rica
55
9789
Loving Life In Lyon
56
9790
Design And Dining In Korea
57
9770
Contributing To Change In Ghana
58
9757
Teaching And Learning In Tanzania
59
9738
Living For The Moment In Valencia
60
9767
Beyond The Call Of Duty In Africa
61
16174
An Empowering Virtual Internship in Nicaragua
62
9744
Food, Fun And Festivals In Germany
63
16161
A Bright & Friendly Cross-cultural Workspace
64
16017
A Globally-minded Visit to Qatar
65
10204
Across Europe In A Caravan!
66
9758
Learning The Local Ways Of Addis Ababa
67
11645
A Love Affair with Shanghai
68
11996
Daring to Go Solo in Ireland
69
12058
Architectural Adventures in Australia
70
11845
Hospitality and Hosting in the DCR
71
15333
A Literary Education in the UK
72
14088
An Eye-opening Experience Teaching in South Korea
73
14483
Finding Home, By Teaching Abroad
74
14594
Growing Abroad: Hong Kong & South Korea
75
15347
12 Months, 12 Countries!
76
15383
Hustle and Bustle in Vietnam
77
15327
An Open Mind & Open Arms in Spain
78
15387
Bliss on a Budget in Brazil
79
15644
Discovering the World on Campus: International Skills at Home
80
11467
Stepping Outside the Box in Sweden!
81
9752
Giving In Guatemala
82
9769
Getting Sporty In Switzerland!
83
9788
Business And Pleasure In Australia
84
9787
A Spring Semester in London
85
9807
Fast Friendship in Korea
86
11557
Un stage au Cambodge (Français)
87
10230
Getting Caffeinated In Bolivia
88
11468
Learning While Teaching in Beijing
89
10145
Real Stories And Real People In Mexico
90
9803
Ten Years Teaching In Seoul
91
10851
Tips From Tasmania
92
9799
Getting Settled In Seoul
93
10258
Encountering Cultures Across Europe
94
10218
Adaptation And Appreciation In Japan
95
9812
Caring And Career Skills In Belize
96
10157
Changing Course In China
97
11850
The Warmest Welcome in Guatemala
98
11904
Enthusiasm, Education and Experience in Greece
99
10163
English Teaching In Eastern Europe
100
10192
Out And About In Paris
101
10143
A Warm Welcome In Mexico
102
9766
All Job Boards
446
All NGOs
1398
Au Pair Resources
37
Awards & Grants Resources
64
Business Directories
20
Canadian Federal, Provincial & Territorial Government Profiles
60
Canadian Government Resources
30
Children And Families Abroad
5
Consulting, Economics & Finance Job Boards
60
Cross-cultural Skills
111
Engineering Job Boards
62
Engineering Resources
82
Expatriate Networking Sites
31
Foreign Students Working in the US
9
Freelancing Abroad
33
General Job Search Books
11
Global Education & Social Action
61
Health & Medicine Job Boards
50
Health Career Resources
68
International Associations with Clubs on Campus
42
International Development Career Resources
86
International Internship Organizations
312
International Internships & Student Programs with Canadian Governments
35
International Internships with the US Government
38
International Job-hunting Resources
15
International Law Careers Resources
113
International Law Job Boards
28
International Studies in the US & Canada
13
International Trade Resources
25
International Volunteer Organizations
476
Internship Directories & Advice
53
Internships with the UN & Other IGOs
160
Language Careers
29
Learn a Language
112
Licensed Teacher Abroad Job Boards
35
Licensed Teacher Abroad Resources
39
Loans for Studying Abroad
18
Low-cost Travel
71
NGO Directories
33
NGO Job Boards
49
Regional Job Boards
103
Relocating Abroad
9
Resources for International Students Studying in Canada
31
Resources for International Students Studying in the US
48
Stories From Abroad
102
Study Abroad Resources
198
Teach English Abroad Job Boards
97
Teach English Abroad Resources
75
Tools for Travelers
92
Top International Blogs & Podcasts
85
Travel Guides
101
Travel Health & Safety
53
UN & Other IGOs
271
UN & Other IGOs Job Boards
27
UN & Other IGOs Resources
74
US Government Profiles
76
US Government Resources
45
Virtual International Internship Organizations
88
Volunteer Job Boards & Advice
59
Working Holiday Resources
74