The Volunteer group (that's me in the OELC sweater) - we were working at the Penguin Parade that day
What inspired you to volunteer abroad?
I have always wanted to travel to experience new cultures, scenery, and animals. I love knowledge, and I feel like the best way to know something is to experience it first hand. University was the perfect time to branch out a little and experience something outside of the small town I've lived in for most of my life. I attended a recruitment presentation for ISV on a whim, to see what it was all about, and decided it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I could not miss. After all, when was I ever going to have time and money to travel in my future?
What attracted you to ISV?
ISV was the first organization to come along. It offered a destination I was extremely interested in - Australia - and allowed me to focus on something I was interested in, animals. I'm not saying there were better programs out there, but ISV came to my school and the recruiters blew me away. I had to go.
This is a shot of me when we were walking through the rainforest on Fraser Island.
What was your favorite part about volunteering in Australia?
There obviously wasn't much of a language barrier in Australia, which made my experience all the better. My favourite part was the animals though. My group got to work very closely with animals on Philipp Island. We got to clear out invasive plant species surrounding the Penguin burrows, we got to clean up the Koala reservation, plant healthy vegetation in other locations, etc. Every day was a new experience, and we saw a different animal almost every day.
What do you think is the most unique part about your program?
Two weeks of hard work combined with two weeks of adventure touring may not be unique, but the people who work through ISV are the really unique part. Our tour guide and bus driver were an amazing pair that made the experience better every moment they were around. Goose and Tiger (nicknames) made simple things, like a long bus ride, seem super fun. Their personalities were so bright that even the worst of my time in Australia was amazing.
How supportive were local project staff?
The location we were working at, on Philipp Island, had a lot of really supportive staff. The Penguin Parade is a huge tourist attraction, but the people do much more than just run the tourism. They really care for the animals on the island. We worked closely with many members of the staff to help make a real difference. Though some of the work was menial, they explained what the impact would be, and that was really important to us.
A beautiful Koala at the Koala reservation on Phillip Island - it was really misty this morning
What do you wish you could change about your experience volunteering Australia?
I wish I had been able to bring a friend with me. I was extremely lonely on my adventure, and I didn't really feel a strong sense of togetherness like everyone else. Sure, it was fun, but I felt like a bit of an outcast at times. Had I been with a friend, it might have been different. We could have done things together and maybe I would have come out of my shell more and made more lasting friendships.
What was a typical day like as a volunteer in Australia?
Volunteer days - Wake up at 6 a.m.-ish and get ready for the day. Put on warm-ish clothes, because it's pretty cold out in the mornings. Head out of the bunk building and walk about ten feet to the volly (volunteer) house, where the kitchen and living room are located. Make a small breakfast consisting of toast or cereal - whatever floats your boat. Don't forget the tea. Make a simple chicken wrap for lunch with an apple as a snack. Don't forget to check your boots for spiders before putting them on your feet, then get ready to pile into the volunteer van.
We wouldn't know the location for the day until we got there. We cycled between several locations. One was the Penguin Parade area, another was the Koala reservation, a farm, a beach/forest area, and a swamp. Most of the time we were cutting down bad plants or planting good plants. It could be repetitive, but the day went by quickly because we worked so hard. While working we saw many animals. Sometimes they were wild wallabies, or whales breaching in the ocean. Most of the time they were captive animals like the koalas and farm animals, or semi-captive animals, like the penguins. We would often stop to take pictures while working. It was really relaxed most of the time.
After work, we would sometimes hang around to do some exploring. One of the days we went on a three hour hike immediately after work (we were so tired). When we got back to the Volly house, we would clean up then relax for a while. I usually wrote some stuff for my blog. We had a cooking schedule, so certain people were delegated to make dinner on different nights. After dinner, we'd socialize for a bit and slowly trickle off to bed.
What was your favorite activity you participated in while in Australia?
My favourite activity was snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. To this day, I remember every moment of that experience, and I think I will for many years to come. The raw beauty of the place was breathtaking, and getting to see a sea turtle swimming below me was perfect. I spent hours swimming around and could have spent many more.
Another picture by the ocean at the Penguin Parade - it could be cold in the morning!
Can you explain your accommodation more?
For the volunteer portion of my time, our accommodations were much like a school dorm. There were several rooms with bunkbeds for sleeping. It was simple, but clean and everything worked great. I especially loved the kitchen because it was big enough for all of us to do what we needed to.
During our adventure tour, accommodations ranged from sleeping on the bus (which sucked) to sleeping in higher end hostels. Overall, all of the accommodations were great, except when we had overnight bus rides.
How has volunteering in Australia changed you life?
Experiencing another country has only fueled my desire to travel. It has shown me that taking a risk and going out there to experience life is totally worth every penny spent and every memory created. Since Australia, I have since traveled to China where I am currently living and teaching English. Every day is an adventure here, and I look forward to visiting yet more countries in the years to come.
