All
necessary paperwork
You need to check with your Global
Crossroad coordinator as well as the state department to find out what types of
paperwork and visas is necessary to enter your host-country. A simple passport
may not be enough, and Global Crossroad should know what you will need as well
as how to obtain it. You will more than likely be responsible for all paperwork
and fees associated with applying for a visa so keep copies for your records
and allow yourself plenty of time before your trip to get your documents in
order.
Conservative
clothing in neutral colors
Not observing the socially accepted dress
code can make you the target of anti-foreigner sentiments or petty theft. Do what
you can to blend in. Wearing conservative, neutral colored clothing is your
best bet, at least initially. Do some research and observe how the locals dress
to go grocery shopping, go out to dinner, or go out with friends. You do not
want to draw attention to yourself or inadvertently offend your new community.
A
goal, a plan to reach that goal, and the willingness to accept the fact you
probably will not accomplish it
This sounds really pessimistic, I know, but
it is true nonetheless. Having a goal and a plan to get there will help keep
you focused on your work. Having an agenda for the day and a weekly goal will
help get you through the challenges and rough patches that will surely occur. Things
will not always go according to plan as outside factors will have an influence
on even the best laid plans. Be willing to accept that things will not always
go smoothly and you will not always accomplish what you set out to do. You may
not achieve your end goal, but the small strides you made along the way really
count. Do not dismiss anything you’ve done or accomplished as a Global
Crossroad volunteer.
A
sense of humor
I think a big mistake people make is
thinking that volunteering abroad is easy. Volunteer work is exactly that:
work. Every volunteer experience is different, but every volunteer that works
abroad encounters at least one challenge or frustration. You have to learn to
laugh at your mistakes and don’t take any set-backs too seriously. Failures and
delays very rarely have to do with you and more to do with the fact that you
are working in a developing country. For example, as a Peace Corps Volunteer I
was engaged in a community-wide home garden project. One day, after three hours
of driving a pick-ax through rock-hard, clay-based soil, I accidentally hit the
main water line. For the entire community. I not only created a home garden but
also a very muddy water park. After we
found the key to turn the water off, found PVC tubing, and replaced the broken
section, it rained so hard it washed the entire garden away. There was nothing
I could do but laugh at the power of the storm and the fact that the day’s
efforts were completely wasted. Keeping a positive mindset got me through that
frustration and the next day we went back at it and created a beautiful vegetable
garden that is still yielding fresh produce to this day.
Pictures
from home
You will cherish these pictures when you
are having a rough day or when you just want to see a familiar face.
Volunteering abroad can get lonely and overwhelming. Bringing something from
home can help ground you, support you emotionally, and get you through the hard
times. Pictures also serve as great conversation pieces. Want to practice your
new language skills or get to know your host family better? Whip out a few photos
of your friends and family and talk to your new co-workers and neighbors about
what life is like back home. Not only will you get to know the people around
you, but you will participate in cross-cultural learning, an experience that
will benefit you abroad as well as back home.
Volunteering abroad with Global Crossroad is
as exciting as it is life-changing. You will experience things you never have
before and never will again. Be sure to get all your paperwork arranged ahead
of time. You want your trip to be as stress-free as possible, so waiting until
the last minute to get your visa is not advisable. Bring conservative clothing.
Your way of dressing can have a direct impact on the way people perceive you,
so tone your wardrobe down and look at what the locals wear. Set goals for time
abroad, but know that you may not reach them. They will nevertheless keep you
focused on your work and help you overcome obstacles and challenges. Laugh in
spite of any set-backs; getting mad or frustrated will go you nowhere and may
even set you back further. Bring photos from home. You will want to see
familiar faces every once and while and they serve as a great way to get to
know your host-family and neighbors.
