Have you ever wanted to make a contribution to the world? Maybe it’s volunteering abroad and teaching English, where you can teach people from the elderly in Ecuador to as far as the Monks in Thailand. Perhaps teaching isn’t your thing so instead you would love to work with helping and saving animals? Or maybe you are simply just looking for an abroad program that allows you to work in different environments as long as you’re with great company? Whatever your preference may be, make sure you do an adequate amount of research on which program to go with. Taking the time to travel and embrace new cultures while giving back to the community is a great way to spend your time and learn about our world.
After countless hours spent on researching which program would be best for me, I reached out to previous travelers to ask for their personal input on the final 3 programs I chose. Now I don’t know much about the other program so I’m not going to say much about them, just that they did not fit the criteria that I was looking for specifically. However, I can tell you that in deciding to go with Volunteering Solutions in the end, my eyes had opened-up immensely to the culturally enriching experience that I received.
This passed summer I was able to experience each of those activities that I mentioned above (and more) by going on the Summer Thailand Program with Volunteering Solutions. Let me tell you- it was one incredible experience to say the least!
This program allowed me to be able to travel throughout different parts of Thailand over the course of 1 month. In the time I was there, I was offered a cultural education and a valuable experience that I was about to take home with me and remember for the rest of my life.
From the time that I stepped out of customs at the international airport in Bangkok to the bus drop off for the beach extension week, the program provides someone there for you at all times. In our first week during orientation we slept in a hostel in Khao San Road, which was a big backpacker street full of people just like us; just trying to see the world one culture at a time. From eating scorpions to the countless jokes and games to seeing Bats fly out of a cave at a National Park, this trip was quite unforgettable.
There were about 16 of us travelers, most were college students and some were teachers (incase you wanted an additional education, haha). We taught children English in Buddhist temples, where not only were we teaching them but they were teaching us. We cut banana leaf trees in the outskirts of Bangkok to feed the elephants and got to experience the labor these locals go through each and every day. In the local village we would wake up each morning with elephants only a few feet away from us. We were taught to cook like the locals so we can feed ourselves. We even got to wake up at dawn one morning to give away extra food or drinks to the monks at sunrise and receive a prayer in return. This doesn’t even cover the trip to a National park or the weekend in Cambodia and everything in between.
Not to mention that while doing all these enjoyable activities, different people and their own unique stories surrounded you. Each and every person had something to contribute to this group that made it an unforgettable experience in all the best ways possible. From the crazy bus rides to sharing sunsets on unimaginable beaches and next to elephants, you’re able to learn from one another while developing lasting friendships.
So if and when you decide to travel to a new destination make sure you look at all aspects of the program such as the positives, negatives, what you’re contributing, what you are getting out of it, etc., All of these pieces are essential to consider when looking for the right volunteering program or even just a tour program.
At the end of the program, I was able to stay an extra week alone and travel a bit more to the beaches and Bangkok. The beautiful country, people, and the safety gave me the confidence I need on the next trip I take by myself (but more on that later).