"I asked an impulsive question. What if we did not go home, what if we kept traveling? Should you not listen well to the questions you ask out of nowhere?"
Australia is a filthy place to volunteer. Literally. With thousands of miles between city centers, and more than a million native species inhabiting those wide-open spaces, most programs focus on environmental conservation in remote locations. Expect to get a bit of red soil under your fingernails, and sweat like a colloquial shrimp on the barbie (though Aussies actually call them prawns.)
If you’re planning to volunteer abroad in Australia, here are 10 interesting trips and fun diversions to help you make the most of your trip Down Under.
Sir Peter Jackson did not choose to film the Lord of the Rings films in New Zealand simply because it was his homeland. Nowhere else in the world do vertical peaks, lazy sand beaches, temperate rain forests and kelly-green farmland compete for a few square miles of space.
In New Zealand, trail maps, guardrails and souvenir shops are not associated with outdoor excursions the way they are in other countries. With so few people and so much land, adventures are treated as normal events, and adrenaline considered a daily hormone. Many programs will include a few such activities in their itinerary, but if they don’t, be sure to experience at least one of these ...
Here is one thing you’ll learn for sure when you’re studying abroad in Australia: Vegemite is not the national dish. Yes, most natives do enjoy the stuff (a spread of yeast-extract) smeared on their breakfast toast, but the influence of Asian and European immigrants (and the culinary use of the country’s own native edibles) means a lot more than vegemite will cross your plate ...
All too often, foreigners confuse the distinguishing cultural points of Australia and New Zealand, causing consternation to people of both nations. If you’ll be visiting, studying, or volunteering abroad in New Zealand, it’s best to sort out their differences before you go! Suffering from self-proclaimed “Little Brother Syndrome,” Kiwis are exceedingly proud of the thing...
Ireland is one of the few countries where preconceived stereotypes actually make an internship experience better. The locals are overtly welcoming and friendly; the grass does grow greener in the gardens, and most offices do wash down the business day with a pint at the neighborhood pub. The country termed the “Celtic Tiger” might have slowed down a few years ago, but this proud cou...
Legend. Savage. Grand-like. The Irish may speak English, but their version is so full of slang that you need a dictionary to decipher the sentences. Conversations in a business office will naturally be slightly more formal than those at the pub, but there are still a few bits and bobs you should know to fit in with coworkers. These words and phrases will help you better understand the manager a...
Hollywood has long portrayed the Irish as freckly leprechauns with inaccurate accents, or dark haired villains who sound oddly English. Before you depart for your internship or job placement in Ireland, organize a marathon of proper Irish films that don’t minimize or stereotype the country. The following 11 movies and television shows are recommended by the Irish themselves as top cinema ...
Red tape and regulations are as easy to get through as an afternoon bbq in Australia. It is a country of immigrants, so most of the settling-in chores you need to accomplish work in Australia are simplified for foreigners. The most basic actions, like buying a cell phone, to the more complicated, like setting up weekly direct deposit, can be handled with a calm “No worries.” T...
With 135 recognized ethnic groups living inside a country not even the size of Texas, there is no one word or image to adequately capture Myanmar. In the north, snowy peaks shelter the Kachin peoples; out west, the Muslim Arakanese struggle for recognition; in the far southern islands, groups of “sea gypsies” follow the fish. The abundance of languages, dress, and customs makes it d...
Circles of white paste, or thanaka, cover the cheeks of small children. Their hands press against the glass in the Arrivals Lounge, while mothers with long hair watch protectively. Darkly-patterned skirts cover the legs of fathers. Grandmothers, squatting along the walls, patiently smoke scented cheroot cigars. The smell of spices mingles with heavy humidity in the air. Choose to volunteer in t...
A rooster crows. The slap of bare feet fills the pavement as monks begin their morning walk for alms. Buddhist prayers pour out of the temple loudspeaker; an Indian vendor mixes spices for the morning curry; somewhere a car honks and children sing on their way to school. Waking up as a volunteer in Myanmar is a sensory experience. With seven ethnic states mapped inside its borders, it’s d...
Thailand is much more than full moon parties and Buddhist monasteries. While the country is typically seen as a place for rowdy beach holidays or spiritual retreats, this kingdom (formally called Siam) is one of the most culturally rich locations in Southeast Asia. A comfortable mix of developed nation and unexplored environment, volunteers can mix sightseeing at the famous ruins of Ayuthaya wi...
Grab a blank piece of paper and place your pen somewhere in the middle.The ink mark left behind could easily represent you, right now, about to embark on a volunteer abroad experience. Choosing the right experience is a lot like drawing on a fresh piece of paper: the world is massive, the future is a clean slate, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the different directions. But even ...
