What to Expect on Your Volunteer Abroad?
When you volunteer abroad what do you expect? Do you expect a strict compliance of your itinerary? Do you assume to dramatically change everything in a day? Do you anticipate to-do something 24/7? What are your thoughts as you pack your bags going to your volunteer destination across the seas?
Volunteer Abroad is an adventure in its entirely. Every day is a fun challenge for us. Even the daily events in volunteer international are an enjoyable test of choice and personality. Other volunteers described their experiences like a mind blowing scene in a cinema but mine was just a simple volunteer event that I recorded on a diary and shared here with you.
Costa Rica is famous for its volunteer programs with saving the endangered turtles. The experience itself is so rare yet most volunteers went home with a happy smile and lots of pictures to show friends way back home. Some loves children and went to grab volunteer opportunities like teaching kids to speak English or taking care of babies.
My overseas volunteer experience is nothing so colorful but I had fun. I went half across the world to paint the walls of the kindergarten classroom in Costa Rica. I knew painting is a passion so I went to scout for an agency that could give me volunteer abroad opportunities doing something what I like.
Yes, my first volunteer international experience is painting pictures that would catch the attention of the children. So before embarking on a 7 day trek for Costa Rica, I spent time doing research and asking the expert opinions of teachers in our district about the effects of colors so that I could use just the perfect shade that helps facilitates learning. I also ask their opinions on what pictures to draw, I actually showed them the design of the painting I will do in Costa Rica. After taking care of all that- I packed my bags and flew to Costa Rica.
After 2 weeks of travel (of course I spent time touring in Costa Rica) I went home smiling and satisfied with my international volunteer- I did not expect anything but I feel good about the whole experience.