There's no denying it, these bloggers are bound to make you jealous. Whether it's their guts, their energy or their tan you admire, overseas volunteers have got plenty to share with you about their remarkable work in fascinating countries. Read on to find out what you could be missing.

All | Jonathan | James | Emily | Dana | Selina | Lucy

« Previous month (Jul 2007) | Main | Next month (Sep 2007) »

Monday Aug 13, 2007

finally!!!!

I know I know I know. I've been beyond bad as a blogger and I apologise. It's been one heck of a year, but maybe my not ranting about it has made things actually work out better!

After two years of trying to find a residential volunteer placement in the UK, I finally a place a few weeks ago. Come September, I'll be the Ashtead Youth Work Volunteer at Toynbee Hall in London for one year. I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in to the position and working with Year 10 students to keep them engaged in school.

I must admit I know very little of Tower Hamlets/Whitechapel area (except, of course, Tammy Tourist that I am, that Mr. Ripper had a bit of fun in that area...) so when I told UK friends where I'll be based they did that sharp intake of breath that means 'oh...wow....um....' which made me clinch up, but I'm ready for a change and a challenge. I've done all the research on Tower Hamlets so I'm prepared (I hope). But I'm also prepared for the wonderful excitment of a new community and new friends.

Orientation is September 7-8 so I'll try and be good and catch you up on the fun.

Til then, though, for the next 21 days it's pack and clean and clean and pack (and celebrate leaving the library....yayayayayay). To my horror the airlines have cut down on the amount of checked baggage - yikes.

BTW - check out Transitions Abroad as it is the best website ever for those wanting a different kind of travel, volunteer, work experience somewhere in the big world out there.

 

Posted by Dana ( 1:24 AM )
Link to this post Comments[0]

Thursday Aug 09, 2007

Nerves?

As I type this I only have about 10 hours before I need to get up to go to the airport. I can tell you right now that I don't think I've been this nervous before! Or is it excitement? I can never tell the difference!

Part of the reason I feel like this is because I have no idea what to expect from it; I've never been to the airport myself nevermind the other side of the world! Add in the fact that I don't know anyone who is going and it all equals a stomach full of butterflies. Of course I know that it's going to be an amazing experience, and that almost everyone else who I'm going to meet is probably feeling the same way... but still... AH!

My bags packed and I'm ready to go, no turning back now! But of course I don't, and wouldn't, turn back. I mean how many people in the world will get to do the things that I'll be doing over the next month? Not many when you look at the grand scale of the worlds population! So yes! Bring it on I say, a good adventure is essential in life!

So hopefully by the time you read another one of these, I'll be relaxed and at ease with the whole thing! Until then, take it easy!

Johnny

Posted by Jonathan ( 8:52 AM )
Link to this post Comments[0]

Wednesday Aug 08, 2007

Travelling bug

Hey, my names Jonathan and have always wanted to travel. I come from a small town just outside Scotlands biggest city, Glasgow. I'm only 19 but have been to quite a few destinations although all with my family.

During my first year at university (which has just finished) a group called the International Student Volunteers came into a few lectures and told us about their organisation; basically telling us that we get to go to a far away country for at least a month, do two weeks volunteer work and two weeks outdoor adventure, all for a reduced price.

I was sold! I got a leaflet and saw New Zealand, and instantly knew that I wanted to go as I've always had a craving to go. As this is my first time travelling such a distance myself, and doing any kind of volunteer work, I have no idea what to expect. But from what people have told me of their own experiences it's something that I'm looking forward to.

So here's hoping that this is the start of the travelling/volunteer bug giving me a big bite on the arm!

Posted by Jonathan ( 12:52 PM )
Link to this post Comments[1]

Friday Aug 03, 2007

The flame of independance

well, its now only a month before I fly back to good old blighty,  All's going well in village. I now teach standard 5,6 and 7 on Mondays and Thursdays on my own. while my partner teaches the secondary school...seemed stupid that we were both working every single day. weekends we teach the community, and we are currently working on organizing a community festival, which could be interesting, as we have about 2 weeks to arrange food, stage, sound system, performances, a football match, video show, etc etc, but this entry isn't about my everyday life. its more to tell you all what happened in my village last Monday. 

Tanzania is aprox 7 times the size of the england, (you can thank my fellow volunteer Vicky for that fact...she can also regail you with population numbers and local wildlife facts...anyone would think she has too much time on her hands!) I live in a village called Ukumbi, which is approx 4 hours out of Iringa town, depending on the rain and road...and the engine staying in the bus! Iringa is between 9 and 10 hours from Dar es Salam, which houses the closest subway and kfc to me right now, therefore I'm officially in the middle of no-where!

the nearest settlement to Ukumbi is Pomern.

We are sepparated from Pomern by 2 hours of hills about the same size as south downs, 5 streams but only 2 bridges, and lots of red dust. Monday morning I walked to school at 8am, after a cold bucket shower, and a chapati with tea. the teachers explained to me that lessons were canceled, because the flame of independence was coming through our village. So feeling completely ignorant, I followed the teachers down to the big river at the edge of our village and lined up with all the students and started trying to join in the clapping and stuff. I was told that the flame of independence travels the whole country once a year to remind everyone of their patriotic duty or similar.

After about half an hour a battered old 4*4 with 2 loud speakers strapped to the top rolled in and out hopped a few women in grey suits, who were obviously there to inspire in us all national pride. After lots of singing and clapping, and traditional dancing, a pick up turned up. They stopped dead in the middle of us all, and i was just wondering what they were going to do, when a 8 man brass band with dust masks and an odd panda effect from the sunglasses v's dust war that exsists in our area, appear in the back and strike up a tune!!

They were followed by a good 10-15 other 4*4's, one with a torch like the Olympic flame. there was a short speech, that only about 10 people could hear, and then lots of handshaking, before they all vanished into the distance, being guarded from behind by a truck full of soldiers announcing presumably their departure, with a ww2 air raid siren!...(maybe its in built in my blood, coz when i heard it i almost hit the deck before i realized where I was.) We all dispersed and went for lunch before lessons in the afternoon.

Slightly random story I know, but as they all pulled off it hit me that this torch of independence was traveling the whole country...every single village! its a huge task,and the people doing it all seemed determined and happy to work hard for their shared goal. It made me think about all the obstacles I face currently in village...most are less physical than mountains, rivers and dust in your trombone, but it made me realise that anything is possible with enough effort, and it is possible to show women that they don't have to do everything their husband says, especially if it harms them, and to show school students that there are bonuses to abstaining from sex...

anything is possible with enough time and energy...even a brass band in the middle of africa!

Posted by Emily ( 2:13 PM )
Link to this post Comments[0]

Wednesday Aug 01, 2007

So, they're throwing me out...

It's my last ever night in Lüderitz. How has this happened?

We've been frantically attempting to finish everything up with the paper and get everything sorted for the next volunteers, so I haven't had time to give too much thought to actually leaving. But I am, tomorrow. It's funny, when I thought about applying for Project Trust the main thing that people picked up on was the fact that it's an entire year working overseas. When it comes to the end, it doesn't feel like it's been nearly long enough – I've been ripped off, dammit...

I was thinking about what I'll miss most when I leave – it's impossible to choose between the amazing landscapes, the view of the sea from our flat, the spectacular sunsets, the weather (it was almost vindictively nice today, like the sun was saying, "Look! It's nice here! Why leave?")... But work-linked, when will I next be able to introduce myself as a journalist? It gives you the right to be nosy wherever you like! Walking into somewhere and saying, "Hi, I'm Lucy from the Buchter News" gives people the impression that I know what I'm doing. Now, I'm too used to having a believable purpose that doesn't require an explanation. I'll end up walking into places I obviously don't belong, saying, "Hi, I'm Lucy... Actually, I'm just Lucy. Um." And seeming more confused and incapable than ever before.

I think I've gained a lot from committing myself to a year away from home. There are skills and experience, but one of the main attitude changes I've undergone this year is that I'm no longer afraid to think about living away from England for the rest of my life. This has made me realise that a year is really not as long as it sounds, and that distance doesn't have to be a daunting thing. I don't want to cut all ties with the UK or anything like that, but I just always used to imagine myself growing old in England. I've widened my horizons to more far-flung old age homes, haha.

Obviously it will be great to see everyone again when I get back, and I'm sure I'll love uni. It's just that I knew nothing about Namibia before I came here, and it's proved to be such an amazing country – there's got to be thousands of other places that I know just as little about that are just as worth living in. That's badly expressed but you see my point.

I can't get too upset about leaving as we have some holiday time first. Me and Bozena are going up to Windhoek, the capital, tomorrow, then on Friday we head up to the Zambian border to go to Livingstone and see Victoria Falls.

Christ, I'm lucky. Life is good.

Posted by Lucy Hayes ( 10:09 PM )
Link to this post Comments[2]