Blogs

A Gambian Experience

Mon, 05/20/2013 - 10:00 | Laila Rose

Today's guest post is brought to you by Charlene Smith. Charlene enjoys assuming the role of a student, and has learned some of life’s most important lessons from Mother Africa. While she hopes to explore more countries on and off the African continent, one of her future goals is to live in an African country, working with communities where HIV/AIDS is prevalent. She is currently pursuing a graduate Social Work degree, engaging in HIV prevention work, and trying to remain open-minded to the lessons about herself and her world that various cultures can teach her.
Below is a recollecion of her time in Gambia from June-July of 2011.

Where is this place and what will the weather be like? This was my first thought upon finding out that I had been placed on a medical outreach team volunteering abroad in The Gambia through Operation Crossroads Africa. Knowing nothing about the country, I immediately did a little “traveler’s research” to get a better idea of the experience that I might have in this small West African country. I was placed there with a group leader and seven other team leaders from the end of June to the beginning of August. My group was one of five volunteer groups sent that summer, and the program was set up such that we would all spend 6 weeks working on our respective projects and then have a vacation week before returning home.

When I arrived with my team in June, I found the weather projection to be accurate – it was hot! We were living in a town called Brikama that has a lot of dusty roads, and walking around in the sand seemed to only exacerbate the heat. We had heard beforehand that The Gambia was nicknamed “The Smiling Coast of Africa,” and this was also quite an accurate description. Starting from the moment we arrived at the airport, we were all welcomed with big smiles and treated very well as guests during our stay. At times, the extreme hospitality seemed detrimental to the authentic experience of living in the country that we desired.

We arrived in the country late on Wednesday night, and our first official day in the health center was scheduled to be the following Monday. We had a hospital orientation on Friday morning, and it was then that we saw the kinds of conditions our colleagues were working in. The staff members that we would be working with were knowledgeable and committed, but the medical equipment and the facility itself were not always reflective of this. The health center we were volunteering at served a large population, offering services in Reproductive Child Health, Inpatient, Outpatient, and Labor and Delivery, just to name a few. The Maternity ward of the health center seemed to be the busiest at any given point of our work week, which was no surprise to us considering we had learned that the health center delivered an average of 398 babies/month for the year of 2010! Not long after we arrived in the country, we had our first encounter with the Maternity ward when a cleaning day for the unit was held on the Saturday just before we were set to officially begin volunteering. We arrived in the morning and were quickly reminded that we had come to the “Smiling Coast” to work, as we found ourselves splashing water on some remnants of dried blood and washing soot from the windows (trash was burned outside about 50 feet away from the Maternity ward).

The cleaning process went on for about two hours, and just as we began pushing beds (and some were more like hard, flat tables) back into their place, some pregnant women did as they often do….they went into labor! I first observed, then decided to follow the lead of my team members, aiding a woman in labor by rubbing her back, squeezing her hand, and wiping her brow with a cold wet cloth. Two babies were born in our presence that day, and this was after being in the country for less than 72 hours. This first encounter with the health center in Brikama was actually a foreshadowing of my experience volunteering in The Gambia as a whole, as this was just one of many lessons in patience and “going with the flow” that I received.

Before embarking on the trip, we were told by previous volunteers to and natives of The Gambia that the country ran on GMT. In another world this stands for Greenwich Mean Time, but in The Gambia, this actually means “Gambia Maybe Time.” I learned that a party or dinner with a start time of 6 p.m. meant the event would “maybe” start at 6, or “maybe” start at 7, and so on. I learned to carry toilet paper with me whenever we left our designated lodging, because I just never could predict the situations I might be in later. I also learned to enjoy cold beverages when they were available, as electricity was unpredictable and power outages seemed to occur every other day or two as our time in the country grew.

The health center was also affected by these power outages. I remember an instance in particular on our very last day in the health center, a woman was giving birth to twins, and the first baby was breech. If a woman’s baby was breech, steps would usually be taken to turn the babies around, or she would be sent to another hospital in the capital city, but in this case, there was no time. She delivered the first baby girl, but the baby wasn’t breathing on her own. Since the girl’s heart was beating, but she wasn’t crying, a team member of mine started using the ambu bag (manual pump) to try and administer neonatal CPR. At this time, there was no electricity, so putting the baby on the ventilator wasn’t even an option. About thirty minutes later, her twin sister was delivered. The second baby was a bit more responsive, but also wasn’t breathing on her own. The process was repeated, and eventually after a little bit, the electricity came on, and the babies were sharing the ventilator. We left the health center before the babies started breathing on their own, so I never did find out how they were.

Overall, my experience in The Gambia was hot, warm, fishy, and friendly. I say that it was hot because it absolutely was – the sun did not have mercy for us as visitors, and we all learned to appreciate large bottles of water. I describe The Gambia as warm because the community members working at the health center were typically quite warm towards us, and invited us to learn and help improve health outcomes side by side with them. The seven weeks spent in the country were fishy because the country is by the water and fish is fairly inexpensive; we ate a good deal of fish (and rice), and hey -- I wasn’t complaining. Lastly, I would describe Gambians as very friendly people in general. Once people discovered we were not from their country (and this probably took no more than a glance or two in most cases), they naturally went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, even if they didn’t know us from the health center. They also took extreme pride in visitors engaging in their culture and trying to learn their languages. Despite the heat and the occasional tourist swindling (paying a higher price than most would) at some shops in the market, I would say that I encountered a very welcoming environment. I would honestly mark my time in The Gambia as positive for teaching me how dedicated individuals can provide services with limited resources, and as a reinforcement of the good that can still be found in human nature around the world.

Guest Article: Be A Traveler, Not A Tourist

Thu, 04/25/2013 - 08:00 | Laila Rose

Today's blog is brought to you by Paige Soucie. She is the founder and CEO of Soucie Holdings LLC, a digital marketing business specializing in content writing and social media. She has a passion for cooking, writing, traveling and learning. Soucie received degrees in Journalism and Political Science, and a minor in Spanish from Arizona State University. While attending ASU, she spent a year in Spain studying in Alicante and Granada. To learn more about Soucie, visit her blog at www.paigesoucie.com.

“Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” - Paul Theroux

By definition, a tourist is, “one that makes a tour for pleasure or culture.” Whereas, a traveler is, “one that goes on a trip or a journey.”

So, when you travel, do you want to tour and watch things happen? Or do you want to go on a journey and experience things as they happen? To me, watching versus experiencing is the difference between a tourist and a traveler.

If you want to be a traveler and truly experience life abroad, here are some ways to do it:

Do Intercambios – In spanish, intercambio means "exchange." When I was in Spain, we had intercambios with locals where we would speak half the time in Spanish and half the time in English. This something you can usually schedule through a local school. If you're going to be in a city for awhile, an intercambio partner is a great way to learn the language, make a new friend, and see the city from a different perspective.
Go Where the Locals Go – Skip the chain restaurants and find local bars and hot spots. Not only will they provide more culture, they tend to be cheaper and have better food, too!
Stay in Hostels - Big hotels might be more comfortable, but hostels let you get to know other travelers in the area and usually host pub crawls and events. Hostels are usually run by young locals or transplants who know all the best places to go.
Learn the Language - I’m not saying you need to be fluent in order to be a “traveler,” but it’s a sign of respect to at least attempt to learn the native language. It might feel embarrassing at first, but speaking with locals is without fail the best way to learn a foreign language.
Wander – One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to just walk. I usually have a map or track key landmarks so I can make my way back, but just wandering through a foreign city is, for me, one of the most liberating and enjoyable experiences. It’s time to ditch the beaten trail and pave your own!
Shop Local – Find local farmers markets and stores where you can get fresh food native to the area. There’s a good chance you might not recognize some of the things they have, but hey, you only live once! Ask someone who works at the store how to cook and eat the different foods and try it out.
Avoid Tourist Traps – There are always some big “must-see” landmarks when you travel abroad, but past that, avoid big touristy spots. There are so many amazing things that every country has to offer, so take the time to explore and find them!

Are you an avid traveler? What tips do you have for living like a local while you’re traveling abroad?

Travel Buddy of the Week: Project Hawai'i

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 16:02 | Laila Rose

Congratulations to Project Hawai'i, our Travel Buddy of the Week!

Project Hawai'i is an organization that seeks to help children living in povery through educational programs. Teenagers who wish to gain leadership skills, an understanding of different cultures, and mentor children are encouraged to apply for the three week programs offered. The summer camps provide children in Hawai'i the opportunity to participate in arts and crafts projects, tutoring programs, and gain social skills. Additionally, teenagers who participate in the program will have the opportunity to learn how to engage in grassroots efforts to end poverty through fundraising and awareness campaigns.

For costs, accomodations, and more information visit http://www.culturalinstituteofamerica.com/index.html!

To view the Project Hawai'i Travel Buddy page, visit http://www.volunteerglobal.com/project-hawaii-teen-mentoring-summer-camp.

Travel Buddy of the Week: ArtCorps

Tue, 03/19/2013 - 17:34 | Laila Rose

Congratulations to ArtCorps, our Travel Buddy of the Week!

ArtCorps is an organization based in Central America dedicated to bringing people together so they may improve their communities. Through Art for Social Action programs, Artists create new forms of dialogue that promote and encourage educational, cultural, environmental, and social change.

By employing the use of film, murals, puppetry, theatre, music, and other outlets, ArtCorps Artists inspire those they work with in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Belize. Artists work for twelve months in one of these communities, and gain a great deal of experience in their field.

As an Artist, you receive a budget for your materials, a stipend, and medical insurance.

For a full list of costs, application requirements, and program options visit http://www.artcorp.org!

On The Brink: The Awesome And Scary Truths Of Gap Years

Sat, 03/09/2013 - 10:00 | Brittany Edwardes

Gap years are scary- but totally worth the jump! Volunteer Global

I never really equated the idea of gap years with fear and anxiety until this year, when I graduated from college and began my own. They always seemed like such a great idea- who wouldn't want to take a year off from the grunge and grime of school and work to travel abroad?

I never really realized the uncertainty that went along with leaving safety, support, and the negligible financial security that I had to do something different and a little scary. So, if you're about to take a gap year, I've combined a few truths about the process that I've discovered so far.

Scary Truths

1. Your family and friends will not understand gap years.

After explaining countless times what exactly you'll be doing for the next year, you will be asked the same question: "Will this lead to a job?" or "Will this help you get into grad school?"

People still don't understand what exactly it is that you are doing. While it can be frustrating as you want your family and friend's support in whatever you do, it's good to try and understand that gap years are a relatively new idea and that your family only wants the best for you.

2. Gap years are difficult to plan.

Even with awesome programs that help you find housing and funding, gap years feel enormous as you're trying to plan them! Even if you are able to plan the major movements of your trip, there are still tons of little things that are difficult to do with a shoestring budget and a new set of living situations. When I was trying to plan out my series of travel, I also had to grapple with what I was going to do with my car for an entire year or would it be more sensible to buy new cell phones abroad or just use Skype. These small worries coupled with the much larger worries to make quite a logistical headache.

3. Even if you're doing something awesome, you will still wonder if you've made the right decision.

I know that teaching English in Malaysia will be one of the greatest experiences of my life. However, I often still wonder whether I made the right decision to delay grad school. These days, the economy is rough- and that is scary in itself. The one thing that gap years don't usually have is security, and as security is something that is hard to come lately, this will definitely keep you awake on more nights than just one.

4. More than likely, you're going to be totally broke.

Most of the time, it's hard to have any income at all coming in during a gap year, especially if you're volunteering or interning. I've been lucky enough to plan temporary jobs along the way, but it's still amazingly difficult to deal with the occasional safety deposit or lost train ticket. When traveling abroad with no job, it's hard to figure out just how much money that you'll spend every single day. There are, of course, great budget savers like Couchsurfing and eating street food, but there's always something new to account for!

5. You're going to feel like you're a year behind.

It's hard, when coming back, to face the reality that your friends who have been in school with you are suddenly a year ahead. They could have more stable jobs, or else be one year into a great college program. This is hard to deal with, especially for perfectionists like me! This is especially difficult if you're taking a break before your undergraduate degree or else are starting a longer program like a PhD program that will have you in school for even longer.

Okay, so now that I've thoroughly depressed anyone considering a gap year, I have some seriously awesome truths that you need to consider. I think you'll agree that the awesome truths outweigh the scary ones in this case.

Awesome Truths

1. You will have an amazing time!

Awesome truths: gap years are worth it!- Volunteer Global

No matter how worried you are about being behind in school or your job search, it will be hard to deny that your experiences abroad are simply amazing and totally worth any of the other scary truths. Why? Because it won't be the couple of semesters that you missed that you think about when you remember your awesome gap year experience. Also, who in the world can stand on Mt. Kilimanjaro and say "I'd rather be in Calculus"?

2. After you finish it, you will never regret your gap year.

Your gap year will be what Returned Peace Corp's Volunteers' service is to them- one of the high points of your life. The marks that your adventure will make on your are permanent and will be a part of the awesome person that you become. Volunteering, working, or even just living abroad will give you new insights into life that you wouldn't have had otherwise and this will be obvious to you as your continue your career. Living abroad requires people to test themselves and to grow in ways that they didn't even think possible.

3. Gap years make for well-rounded employees and well-settled scholars.

Taking a gap year simply gives you a little more time to think. Whether you're planning on going into the workforce or going to college or grad school, taking a year off gives you some serious time to consider what exactly it is that you want to do. Instead of rushing into an education or career choice, you give yourself the time to consider what is valuable in your future.

4. Gap years make for awesome elevator conversations!

You don't have to work at the Peace Corps to meet people who love travel and love to hear about it. Travel is something that unites many people and can serve as a great way to connect with other employees or students. Even if they've never even heard of the place that you lived, they will have something to share with you about your experience.

5. You totally have the time- and probably won't again. So do it!

Gap years are strategic times when you have the time to put everything off for a little while so that you can chase your dreams. Honestly, this opportunity probably won't come again, so why let it go? While travel isn't just for the young, youth is a great way to enjoy adventure that will be much harder when you have a family and a mortgage.

Scary truths and awesome truths aside, your gap year will be whatever you make it! So, go out there, be informed, and allow yourself to be stretched as you encounter new ideas, cultures, and ways of saying hello!

Photo credits: dhmar, LadyDragonflyCC