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.

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Thursday May 04, 2006

Why am I volunteering?

Why am I volunteering? Let me explain my life to you. I work in a library. I check books in. I check books out. I check them in. Then out again. And then...guess what? I check them in again. Get it? It's dull. It's predictable.  I live in Indiana, in the USA. Miles and miles from anywhere fun. Surrounded by dairy farms and cornfields (you have no idea how bad my allergies act up this time of year). In winter it can snow several feet. In summer it can feel like a Turkish sauna. Tornadoes bounce around like rubber balls. (This year –SO FAR- I've had 7 or 8 touch down within 50 miles.) Good ole' boys have gun racks in their trucks with a rifle or two racked up. It may be idyllic for some. Not me.

I may joke about life here in America's heartland, but seriously, I volunteer because I grew up in a house where it was the done thing. My parents were both scout troop leaders and worked the school carnivals, dad was a volunteer firefighter. I first got involved when I gave a speech on volunteerism in a university class and was asked where I volunteered. Embarrassed, I stammered, 'Ummm, I've applied at the local Boys and Girls Club.' (Fortunately I'm good at thinking on my feet.) Where was I immediately after class? Down at the Boys and Girls Club inquiring about volunteering!

Of course, donating an afternoon a week is quite different from choosing to do so full time. I originally chose to volunteer for a year as a way of spending time in the UK. I went back twice more because I enjoyed the work. It felt like I was able to make a difference in a few young people's lives. I've had an amazing time exploring the UK and have made wonderful friends, but nothing will compare to having a young man I befriended for several years give me a heartfelt, 'Thank you for everything you've done for me.' That makes the uncertainty of whether going back for a fourth year is really a smart idea. I know I'm not going back to the place I was, but it gives me the confidence to know that I am making a worthwhile choice.

Posted by Dana ( 11:47 AM )
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