Home

 

Getting Experience

- # of # Filtered -

Real Stories And Real People In Mexico

Q&A with Katie: Volunteered in Mexico
Share this
Print this
Katie
Volunteered in Mexico
Her thoughts on Pre-Departure Preparation
The more effort you put into preparing yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and educationally, the better your experience will be.
Her thoughts on Homestays
One of the biggest differences was the emphasis on family life. It was nice to see my host family spend so much time together without worrying about cell phones or social media.
Her thoughts on First Impressions
The biggest surprise was the culture shock. It’s not that I didn’t expect it, but you can never really predict what the differences will be and how they will affect you.

When and where did you volunteer abroad? What was your position?

I volunteered in October/November in Oaxaca, Mexico with ProWorld. I was an intern for two different projects. First, I did marketing, translation and community outreach for Mundo Ceiba, an organization dedicated to raising environmental awareness, mainly through reforestation and bicycling. And for a few days a week I also worked as a communications liaison for a young women’s support group. We discussed issues like education, domestic violence and sexual health. Every other week, we got to take a day trip to a nearby village to speak with women there about their roles as women in the family. My favorite trips were those we took to the weaving village of Teotitlán and the huge market in Tlacolula.

What made you want to volunteer abroad?

I have always been an active volunteer in my community at home, so combining that with an interest in travel and learning Spanish made volunteering abroad perfect for me! When I studied abroad in Peru in college, we also did volunteer activities. This service-learning trip was the perfect combination of studying and volunteering abroad and inspired me to learn more about this type of travel.

What was the biggest surprise about your volunteer experience abroad?

I think the biggest surprise was the culture shock. It’s not that I didn’t expect it, but you can just never really predict what the differences will be and how they will affect you. I was also surprised by how quickly I remembered my Spanish and felt comfortable knowing my way around the town. I was also pleasantly surprised to have such a wonderful host family and meet so many other amazing volunteers.

What cultural differences did you notice?

There are many cultural differences, big and small, that I noticed while living in Mexico. One of the biggest differences was the emphasis on family life. Families are larger and spend more time together, which isn't too surprising, but children also live with their parents until they marry and generally don't move too far afterward. My host family was so welcoming and interested in me - they had been hosting travelers from around the world for 10 years!

Another major difference was the access to technology. Don't get me wrong - my family had WiFi and cable in the house, but mainly as a courtesy for their travelers. It was nice to see the family spend so much time together without worrying about cell phones or social media. I have an especially fond memory of watching a video of my host mom's family reunion with her. She pointed out family members as we watched the happy 300+ person family sing, dance and eat together.

Did you participate in extra-curricular or social activities while volunteering abroad? If so, how did they differ from social activities in your home culture?

I took Spanish classes twice a week and went to a few conversation clubs at my host brother’s school. Both of these experiences were very different than school and clubs I’ve participated in back home in California. I also attended my host brother’s English conversation club a few times. It was a great chance to interact with local youth and learn about them and their perceptions of America. They were much more open-minded and positive than I had expected.

What made your volunteer experience abroad a success?

I continue to reflect upon and write about my time volunteering in Mexico on a daily basis. It definitely helped that I blogged and journaled on a regular basis while I was there. Now, not only have I been working in the volunteer abroad industry since then, but I have also had the opportunity to write articles, blog posts and short stories about my volunteer abroad experience. I’m confident that this hugely successful trip will continue to influence me for years to come.

Did anything happen in your volunteer workplace that gave you particular insight into your host culture?

Working at Mundo Ceiba was a challenge every day because it was just the boss Ruben and me in a tiny office. Ruben didn’t speak any English and my timid Spanish was a struggle for him to understand. I learned a lot about small-town Mexican culture from Ruben as he was very traditional in many ways. Any time you get to spend working side-by-side with someone who has such a different background and experiences, you get a totally new and completely unique look at another culture.

What was your return like? Do you plan to go abroad again?

Returning was harder than I imagined it would be. I was very excited to return home to friends and family but there was part of me that was very sad to be leaving my new home. I tried my hardest to soak in all the best parts of Mexico before leaving. I realized my two months there wasn’t nearly enough. It made me think about the difference between long-term and short-term volunteer programs and why long-term volunteering is so much more impactful and effective. And of course I would love to travel abroad again as soon as possible!

What is your number one tip for anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps?

Do as much research and planning as possible. Of course it’s possible to have a successful volunteer trip without much preparation, and if that’s your style, go for it. However, in my experience, I have noticed that the more effort you put into preparing yourself – physically, mentally, emotionally and educationally – the better your experience will be. I suggest that you read reviews from past volunteers, email organizations to learn about what you will need, find out where the program’s money goes, etc.

What did you miss most about home?

Friends and family – I wanted to share everything I was experiencing with them and not being able to do that was hard for me. Even once I was back home, it was hard to explain to them what it was like. This is one of the reasons I continue to educate others about volunteering abroad and to write about my own personal experiences more than a year later.

Do you have any final observations on your experience?

I had an amazing time and grew so much. You can never tell what volunteering abroad will be like or how it will affect you, so I urge you not go into it with expectations. If I had focused on all the negative media centered on Mexico, I might never have experienced volunteering abroad in Oaxaca.

Describe an experience from your time abroad that made a particularly strong impression on you.

On my last week in Oaxaca, I was able to individually interview each girl in the young women’s group. Learning about their reasons for becoming part of the group was truly inspiring. One girl was especially interested in education for women because she was the first in her family to go to college. Another girl opened up about the abuse in her family. I can never thank these girls enough for sharing their lives, hopes and dreams with me. These smart, sweet, strong young women taught me so much about myself as well as what life is like for women in Mexico. They truly made my volunteer abroad trip more meaningful than I could have imagined.

What are your future plans for going abroad and for your career?

My future plans involve spreading the word about the benefits of volunteering abroad. It’s such a great experience that I hope more people have the chance to take part in. I currently work as the Volunteer Abroad Marketing Director for Go Overseas. I feel so lucky to be able to share my experience, teach others about the world of volunteering abroad, and learn about other volunteers’ experiences abroad.

Advice from MyWorldAbroad
Jean-Marc Hachey, Publisher

Katie’s job allows her to stay up-to-date on all the latest volunteer abroad programs, and she has the satisfaction of working in an industry that provides people with enriching, life-changing experiences abroad. We commend Katie for her dedication to bringing positive change to those in need! Katie’s current career path is fairly well-defined and allows her access to myriad international opportunities. If Katie wished to expand her role or further develop her “global career capabilities,” she might focus on building language fluency. In the long-term she might also consider parlaying her experience with international experience into NGO work, since she clearly has a passion for helping those in need directly.

Katie's Next Steps
Advice from MyWorldAbroad
by the founder of MyWorldAbroad
Jean-Marc Hachey
Want to Have the Same Experience?
10145
- # of # Filtered -
  • 102
102
10923
Insight And Education In Korea
1
16392
Building International Career Skills Online
2
16320
Independent, International, Virtual! A UN Internship Online
3
16382
Making the Most of Lockdown with a Virtual Internship
4
16312
Virtual Internship for a Cross-cultural Future
5
16157
Zoom Zoom! A Virtual Internship with Central America
6
9775
A Year Of Feeling French
7
10153
China, South Africa And Beyond!
8
9776
Soaking Up Japanese Culture
9
9764
Do It Yourself! A Proactive Intern in Rome
10
15631
An International Career in the Making: Asia, Africa and Beyond
11
15405
From Daydream to Reality: Teaching Abroad
12
15401
From Korea to Oman: Teaching English Around the World!
13
9761
Communicating Creatively In Spain
14
9773
Independent In India
15
9791
Making Contacts Count In The UK
16
9740
Sports, Study And Fun In France
17
9743
Hooked On Volunteering!
18
16316
Exploring the Sights, Sounds & Tastes of Mexico City
19
16387
An Epic Internship in Malaysia
20
9756
Springtime In Spain
21
9763
A Professional Visit To Vietnam
22
9780
A Year In Marvelous Mexico!
23
9751
A Canadian Globe-Trotter Visits The US
24
9768
Going Solo In Spain!
25
10188
Now Or Never In Colombia
26
9792
Rolling With The Punches In Seoul
27
9745
An Unforgettable Adventure In Nanjing
28
9774
Gaga For Ghana!
29
9783
Off The Beaten Path In Africa
30
9755
People, Places And Passionate Volunteering In Peru
31
9778
Study And Adventure In New Zealand
32
9777
Into The Wild In Alaska
33
9754
Building Memories In India
34
9750
Host Hospitality In Morocco
35
9747
Fun And Friends In The Netherlands
36
9748
Adventure In The Alps
37
9786
Kids And Culture In Korea
38
9772
Learning To Go With The Flow In France
39
9762
American Freshman In London
40
9771
Learning To Love London
41
9742
Take-Charge Travel: Germany And Beyond!
42
9746
A Cross-Cultural Co-Op In West Africa
43
9760
Getting In Sync In Nairobi
44
9759
From Cold Feet To Confidence In Germany
45
9779
One Summer, Two Internships!
46
9785
Motivated In Madagascar
47
9741
Adapting to Work In Peru
48
9784
Skill-building in Bonn
49
9753
A Season in Sweden
50
9765
Simpatico in Florence
51
9782
Making The Most Of Milano
52
9737
Passionate About Panama
53
9766
Short-Term Trips For Long-Term Gain
54
9781
A Hospital Helper In Costa Rica
55
9789
Loving Life In Lyon
56
9790
Design And Dining In Korea
57
9770
Contributing To Change In Ghana
58
9757
Teaching And Learning In Tanzania
59
9738
Living For The Moment In Valencia
60
9767
Beyond The Call Of Duty In Africa
61
16174
An Empowering Virtual Internship in Nicaragua
62
9744
Food, Fun And Festivals In Germany
63
16161
A Bright & Friendly Cross-cultural Workspace
64
16017
A Globally-minded Visit to Qatar
65
10204
Across Europe In A Caravan!
66
9758
Learning The Local Ways Of Addis Ababa
67
11645
A Love Affair with Shanghai
68
11996
Daring to Go Solo in Ireland
69
12058
Architectural Adventures in Australia
70
11845
Hospitality and Hosting in the DCR
71
15333
A Literary Education in the UK
72
14088
An Eye-opening Experience Teaching in South Korea
73
14483
Finding Home, By Teaching Abroad
74
14594
Growing Abroad: Hong Kong & South Korea
75
15347
12 Months, 12 Countries!
76
15383
Hustle and Bustle in Vietnam
77
15327
An Open Mind & Open Arms in Spain
78
15387
Bliss on a Budget in Brazil
79
15644
Discovering the World on Campus: International Skills at Home
80
11467
Stepping Outside the Box in Sweden!
81
9752
Giving In Guatemala
82
9769
Getting Sporty In Switzerland!
83
9788
Business And Pleasure In Australia
84
9787
A Spring Semester in London
85
9807
Fast Friendship in Korea
86
11557
Un stage au Cambodge (Français)
87
10230
Getting Caffeinated In Bolivia
88
11468
Learning While Teaching in Beijing
89
10145
Real Stories And Real People In Mexico
90
9803
Ten Years Teaching In Seoul
91
10851
Tips From Tasmania
92
9799
Getting Settled In Seoul
93
10258
Encountering Cultures Across Europe
94
10218
Adaptation And Appreciation In Japan
95
9812
Caring And Career Skills In Belize
96
10157
Changing Course In China
97
11850
The Warmest Welcome in Guatemala
98
11904
Enthusiasm, Education and Experience in Greece
99
10163
English Teaching In Eastern Europe
100
10192
Out And About In Paris
101
10143
A Warm Welcome In Mexico
102
10145
All Job Boards
452
All NGOs
1427
Au Pair Resources
39
Awards & Grants Resources
64
Business Directories
21
Canadian Federal, Provincial & Territorial Government Profiles
60
Canadian Government Resources
31
Children And Families Abroad
5
Consulting, Economics & Finance Job Boards
61
Cross-cultural Skills
123
Engineering Job Boards
62
Engineering Resources
81
Expatriate Networking Sites
29
Foreign Students Working in the US
9
Freelancing Abroad
33
General Job Search Books
16
Global Education & Social Action
65
Health & Medicine Job Boards
51
Health Career Resources
72
International Associations with Clubs on Campus
43
International Development Career Resources
87
International Internship Organizations
312
International Internships & Student Programs with Canadian Governments
35
International Internships with the US Government
38
International Job-hunting Resources
16
International Law Careers Resources
115
International Law Job Boards
28
International Studies in the US & Canada
13
International Trade Resources
25
International Volunteer Organizations
488
Internship Directories & Advice
53
Internships with the UN & Other IGOs
160
Language Careers
32
Learn a Language
115
Licensed Teacher Abroad Job Boards
35
Licensed Teacher Abroad Resources
39
Loans for Studying Abroad
18
Low-cost Travel
72
NGO Directories
33
NGO Job Boards
49
Regional Job Boards
107
Relocating Abroad
7
Resources for International Students Studying in Canada
31
Resources for International Students Studying in the US
48
Stories From Abroad
102
Study Abroad Resources
203
Teach English Abroad Job Boards
100
Teach English Abroad Resources
76
Tools for Travelers
91
Top International Blogs & Podcasts
85
Travel Guides
101
Travel Health & Safety
55
UN & Other IGOs
271
UN & Other IGOs Job Boards
27
UN & Other IGOs Resources
74
US Government Profiles
76
US Government Resources
47
Virtual International Internship Organizations
93
Volunteer Job Boards & Advice
65
Working Holiday Resources
78