Voluntourism is a trend that’s not necessarily new, but definitely on the rise, especially amongst free-spirited, wanderlusting Millenials, like myself. If you haven’t already guessed, voluntourism combines volunteering with tourism, and is so popular that it gets its own travel category! Thousands of soul-searching, culture-loving, good-hearted people...
by Alyssa Ramos The Dramatic Departure “Hey so, listen to me OK? I..eh..love you, and…I will miss you, a lot.” Mr. TDH said meaningfully as he hugged me tightly in the cold, misty, dark, early hours of that last Saturday morning in Muizenberg. My response was nonexistent since my face and arms were buried in his chest as I tried to keep warm and...
by Alyssa Ramos It’s hard to know what to pack for a place you’ve never been to before, especially somewhere a lot different than your home. Sure, you can look up a generic packing list, but it’s a lot more useful to ask someone who has been there! Before my IVHQ South Africa trip, I contacted other bloggers in Cape Town (see Blogger Guides) to ask...
by Alyssa Ramos WEDNESDAY PM Wednesday was my fourth day in Muizenberg, South Africa, and the day that the unthinkable happened. After volunteering at Christian David Primary School, I hopped into Karl’s van along with the rest of the volunteers like usual, except for one that wasn’t usually there. Mr. TDH. He had mentioned that the IVHQ Surf Program...
WEDNESDAY VOLUNTEERING Rainbows are something that I haven’t seen in a while considering that it never rains in California. I had seen them plenty of times in Florida, even a double rainbow once in Greece, but the rainbow that I saw on Wednesday morning in Muizenberg, South Africa on the way to Christian David Primary School was unlike any rainbow I’ve...
TUESDAY VOLUNTEERING Tuesday morning in Muizenberg, South Africa was even colder than Monday since the icy rain drizzle was still lingering from the downpour the night before. They really weren’t joking when they said bring things to layer. I put on a pair of leggings, skinny jeans, fuzzy socks, my new gangsta boots, a knitted head warming thing, a tank top, a...
Monday morning I woke up thirty minutes before my 7am alarm to the dark, freezing cold 2-person room that they had assigned me to. It was smaller than the two rooms on either side of it, but I was beyond happy to have it since the girls’ room had three bunk beds and six people in it. I had already done the whole living in the sorority house thing, and at twenty...
From the moment I walked through the doors of 37 Albertyn Road, I knew that choosing to volunteer through International Volunteer Headquarters (IVHQ) South Africa program was one of the greatest ideas I’ve ever had. After postponing the trip for almost a year due to the typical anxiety of time and money constraints, I realized there’s nothing else...
These 15 Brutally Honest Notes From Kids Are Hilarious.. And Threatening. Watch Your Back Around #5! February 13, 2014 via Viral Nova “Kids say the darndest things” is a saying for a reason. Although they may look adorable with their tiny shoes and pig tails, every child is just a tiny adult that will remember if you’ve wronged them. They can get embarrassed, get...
