As far back as I can remember I’ve always struggled with life in the United States, something was missing. The U.S. is big and has some truly beautiful landscapes but from what I’ve seen I knew that I needed to step out of my comfort zone and into the vast world to see what it has to offer, rather than states, I wanted to see countries.
Over time, something was brewing and when I turned 20 there was this thirst to travel, so strong that it was impossible to ignore. Growing up on welfare you always seem to have money concerns at the back of your mind, you become frugal but in all the right ways. Until now I didn’t realize how much growing up in American poverty has allowed me to travel this path I’m on now with a greater understanding and compassion for those I meet along the way. My thrifty nature has given me the skills to find all the loopholes and tricks to traveling cheaply. I always loved the idea of traveling but that little thought in my head would say, “It’s too expensive, you cant afford it”. Since I was living on my own it was time to change those thoughts.
I’ve always wanted to volunteer so I began by doing research on the topic to see what my options were. Site upon sites require thousands of dollars to stay for a short 3 weeks, not including airfare which is usually the most expensive part of traveling. Africa was the one place in the world I knew I had to see before I leave this Earthly plane, I wasn’t sure where in Africa but the pull was strong to go there. At first, I had my eyes set on Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is breathtaking. I found an organization to go through and put down a non-refundable deposit of $350.00 out of a whopping $3,985, just for 3 weeks, not including another couple thousand for airfare. Some time passed and with rent, food and other expenses I wasn’t saving much. It was beginning to look more and more like a fantasy.
Going to shows and listening to live music has always been a passion of mine and one day back in 2013 the stars aligned and a light beamed down from the sky with an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I was at a Reggae show in Albany, NY seeing Mosaic Foundation, a band I’ve seen a few times before, soon to become one of my favorites. I walked up to the merch table to find an assortment of African beads, masks, and crafts from Ghana. After speaking to Yao Foli (Chacha), lead singer of the band I find out that he’s from Ghana and is planning a volunteer trip within the year and that I was welcome to come along. My eyes lit up immediately and after hearing more I knew I was meant to be a part of Ndor Eco Village’s projects. In comes that little thought again, “It will be too expensive, you can’t do this ”, needless to say, I squashed that immediately. With Yao’s encouragement, he reminded me not to worry about the money, it will come.
Before I knew it I was on the long flight to Ghana. This was my first time out of the country and first trip volunteering, it was an eye-opener for me in more ways than I ever could have imagined. Experiencing the beauty of a different culture and its people, the traditional clothing, music, food, transportation, communication barriers and overall vibe of being in a foreign land felt oddly familiar as if I had been there before. I was reminded of the simplicity I longed for. It was a breath of fresh air and a calmness I had never felt, a sense of feeling at home. You can read more about Ghana in the next post.
The taste of culture has sent me on this wild adventure to experience more. You can read or watch movies and T.V. shows that speak of foreign lands and get a glimpse of what it’s like but when you set foot in a country you’ve never been, everything is new and its nothing you can truly learn about from the media. I enjoy writing so the intentions for creating this blog are not only for my personal reflections but also a chance for others to get another glimpse of foreign lands they may never see, through our personal experiences. Maybe it will bring you some inspiration to get out there and do the same. Since my first volunteer experience, I’ve discovered this is how I want to see the world, by lending a hand. Not as a tourist but as a seeker of life, living in a country, working alongside local people helping with their various projects and dreams and at the same time learning about their culture and everyday life. Our hopes are that these posts will inspire you to follow your own dreams. Money will come and go if you allow it to flow, don’t let it be the reason you don’t follow what you love.
Where there’s a will, there’s always a way.
Originally the plan was to take this journey alone. At the beginning of the planning process, I met Jesse. Although I liked him, I repeatedly told him that I was leaving and couldn’t get into a relationship. After driving hours and spending a weekend together in Vermont in a tiny little yurt in the dead of winter, I knew he was coming with me. Jesse brought balance into my life, in a way that I’ve never had but always wished for. He’s the wind to my sail and without him, I’d most definitely get a little lost. I’m grateful to have him on board.
Jesse is the brains behind the technical details of creating a blog and I will be the one doing the majority of the writing. I’ve always wanted to create a blog so this is somewhat like a journal for me. I will be writing mainly from my perspective, depending what the context is. If we’re volunteering in a place that involves the skilled trades, Jesse’s expertise will take the stage and he will do some writing. We look forward to hearing your feedback, but we ask that you please be kind! You don’t have to agree with all of our views but this is a no troll zone, if you have some negative criticism you are welcome to message us privately.
