Nov 30
uVolunteer Meghan is spending her volunteer program in Bolivia teaching elementary English classes. She has been writing weekly reports about her time there which I will be sharing on the blog.
Week 1:
When I first arrived in Bolivia I had a bit of trouble getting my visa because I didn´t have cash and the ATM´s wouldn´t work. Kattia and Alvaro were very helpful in talking with the airport officials and we finally figured it out. The family is very nice and is always making sure I´m ok. The first day of my project went very smothly although it was a bit overwhelming. It was hard to understand everyone at the school on the first day so I was glad to be working with the English teacher. So far, I have helped in the 7th grade English class as well as with the first grade. In the english class, I helped with pronunciation. In the 1st grade class, I work with two students that struggle with reading and writing. I spell out the words on the board for them and remind them which lettters are which when they forget. So for the program has been vey enjoyable.
Nov 27
Author: Sarah Hackman
On day two of my visa run to Panama, I went to Panama Viejo to see the ruins of Panama’s first city and capital. Panama Viejo was founded in 1519 and in 1671 the Spanish city was attacked and destroyed by the English pirate Henry Morgan. Today, the ruins of Panama Viejo 
is a World Heritage Site. You can see the remains of the Royal House, churches, City Hall, residences of clergy and citizens and the Cathedral; the best preserved building of the ruins with most of the bell tower standing. After exploring the ruins and the Museo de Sitio Panama Viejo, I went to the Mercado Nacional de Artesanias on same the site as the ruins. The market has many stalls of crafts made by the Kuna people, a Columbian and Panamanian indigenous group, who live in the Kuna Yala comarca in the San Blas islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama. The Kuna women are known for making molas, colorful textiles which can be made into clothing, bags, and other souvenirs. After buying some gifts, I made my way back to the hostel in Cangrejo. Hungry for some local Panamanian and cheap food, I took the recommendation of the hostel and went down the street to an outdoor café. I had a typical plate of chicken, yucca, beans, patacones, salad and a Panamanian beer for under four US dollars. After watching England loose a futbol match to Argentina, I explored some of the modern city before returning to the hostel to relax and read on the hammocks and rest up for the days ahead.
More pictures of Panama Viejo
Nov 26
Hello to all at “U Volunteer” Its been a busy couple of weeks.. Back to Thai lessons now because David from the USA is here for two weeks. We sit in the afternoons with Jack, our home stay coordinator, to practice our skills. I think I know why Thailand is the Land of Smiles!! The generous natives need to smile at us, the poor westerns as we slaughter their language. The word Mai has five different meanings with a slight Tonal variation “You hear it?” asks Jack. We smile, he smiles. Perhaps today! Also went to two beauty pageants, one for the ladies of the local villages, the other the lady boys. In some cases it was hard to spot the difference. Following this I thought maybe I should dress up in Thai style for a photo. With make plastered on, hair teased, sprayed and decorated, I was ready for the costume. So lovely, blue my favorite color. The photos were fantastic. My family will be getting a copy for Christmas. Lucky them!
My visa needed renewing for another three months. A trip to Laos on the bus. I could have gone out of Thailand turned around and come straight back but I thought a little sight seeing was on. So after the short ride from Nongkhai over the Friendship bridge, paperwork, more smiles and I was in a Tuk Tuk with a family from Malaysia. The country side looked similar to Thailand, however in Vientiane, I could see the French influence. Old colonial homes, some left to ruin, others in good repair. The smell of fresh baked bread, oh YES!!! I love bread. I have tried to see rice as the staff of life, but nothing like bread … So with a full stomach I went in search of a Tuk Tuk for a guided tour. Ten minuets later we were off. (The price after a little haggling $ 6.00 ) I enjoy the Wat’s, the old city and so much more. Tong takes me back to the boarder and I am home in Ban Thin Dung before I know it. This week end we (the family) picked up David at the Airport in udon Thani about one and a half hours from home. A stop at the Mall. Oh Yes! So Western. I love the little markets but once in a while its great to see a mall and this is a really good one. Had an English breakfast, Sausages!! Amazing what you can do in a few hours and days in Thailand… Come see it. Help the Kids …. LOL Barb in Thailand.
More pictures from Thailand
Nov 25
Author: Sarah Hackman
As I mentioned in a previous blog, I have to leave Costa Rica every ninety days to renew my visa. I recently took a trip to Panama for my ‘visa run.’ 
After some planning with Lonely Planet and advice from those who had been there before, I was ready to pack my bag and head off to San Jose to begin my adventure! I arrived at the Tica Bus station at 10 pm as ready as I could be for my sixteen hour bus ride to Panama City. I’ve had my share of bus rides traveling for lacrosse, but sixteen hours was going to be a first! It was surprising manageable, being an overnight bus I slept through the night before arriving to the border at 5 am, Costa Rica time. The Costa Rica side of the border went quite smoothly. I waited, with a coffee and an empanada, with many Central Americans and other “backpackers” like myself for the offices to open. The Panama side of the border was a different story. It was packed with hurried travelers anxious to get their passports stamped and bags checked. 
After 5 hours, we finally left the border at 11 am Panama time. The bus played a lot of movies, one being Marley and Me and despite my best efforts, I was balling by the end. With a few more movies, the second half of the journey flew by. Finally arriving at the Panama City bus terminal later that afternoon, I was eager to get to my hostel and begin my travels in Panama! The first night I stayed in Cangrejo, a part of modern Panama city close to the many upscale hotels, restaurants, casinos, and skyscrapers. I planned some things to do for the days ahead, relaxed, and went to bed early for a much needed good night’s sleep!
More pictures of Panama city
Nov 24
Author: Fiorella Duran
On Wednesday, November 11th uVolunteer organized a local trip for the volunteers. 
The destination was a beautiful and hidden town in San Ramon called Bajo de La Paz, “Peace Hallow” in English. This place is full of beautiful vegetation and guards an amazing rain forest area. We were taken there in a nice van by a tourist guide who arranged the trip for us. When we got to Bajo de La Paz the horses were lined up all ready, just waiting for us. We got a little introduction and directions of how to ride the horses and we started our adventure. We rode for a long time in the middle of the rain forest, it was raining and cold but we didn’t even realized, we were astonished by the marvelous green everywhere. The trail was quite bad but the horses were really good and they managed to get us through. 
After ridding for about 40 minutes we got off the horses and start hiking and ended at an unbelievable waterfall, about 100 meters high. The scenery was indescribable. After a photo shoot, because we wanted to make sure we would capture that moment for ever, we headed back. After a long hike back, we found our horses. The trail seemed twice longer on the way back. We had a small break and of course with Costa Rican custom, we got a nice cup of coffee. In Costa Rica, coffee is considered a delight in life and in the middle of the afternoon no matter where your are if you are a Costa Rica you have to have your coffee, that includes the heart of the rain forest. After the coffee break, which I personal think was wonderful (I am Costa Rican, just for the record) we got on our horses and started our way back. Lately uVolunteer is being trying to organize monthly trips for the volunteers and encourage them to discover the beauties that San Ramon has to offer as a group. At uVolunteer, we understand the importance of working as a team and we look to create bonds between volunteers and the organization through these activities.
More pictures from La Danta adventure
Nov 20
Author: Sarah Hackman
It was estimated that 22 million adults and children were living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa at the end of 2007 and statistics suggest that 1.5 million Africans died from AIDS during that year, leaving 11.6 million orphaned children in Africa.
This staggering statistic is enough to make many eager to help those children, of whom many are infected with the disease themselves. uVolunteer has recognized the situation in Africa and is eager to send volunteers willing to help those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. uVolunteer has recently began a relationship with an orphanage in Uganda that cares for children who have been affected by the epidemic. I will be blogging about the new projects in Uganda and in other countries as uVolunteer finalizes the projects. Although many who are interested in volunteering may want to help those affected, the thought of working and living with these children can be daunting. These children need moral and educational support. Some are also in need to medical assistance. Some volunteers may worry about contracting HIV through working with the children, but in fact the disease is predominantly spread through 
unprotected sexual intercourse, injecting infected needles, and from mother to baby through pregnancy, delivery and breast feeding. One does not put themselves at great risk simply by working with infected children. AVERT, an international HIV charity, provides information about HIV and AIDS on their website. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention is also a good resource to learn about HIV and its transmission. While the fight to educate and treat those affected by or at risk for contracting HIV continues, the millions of children already affected in Uganda and other countries around the world are in great need of volunteers’ support.
Nov 18
Author: Sarah Hackman
A volunteer’s project usually has just as much impact on the volunteer as the volunteer does on the project. This was clearly the case for one uVolunteer, Jessie Etheridge. Jessie volunteered in Costa Rica for six weeks at a daycare just outside of San Ramon. There, she assisted the teachers with daily activities for the children. After finishing her project at the daycare, Jessie decided to give more of her time to communities in need. She chose a two week rural sustainability project on a farm just outside Granada, 
Nicaragua as her second project with uVolunteer. On the rural sustainability project she helped maintain the farm and also taught English to the local families. Jessie reflected on her volunteer journey with these words. ‘’The reason my experiences with uVolunteer were so valuable was because of the people. Every person I met while volunteering seemed to have added something to my experience. It wasn’t only my kids I worked with or the adults, it was the local Ticos and Nicas, uVolunteer staff and volunteers and the many people I met while traveling. The peoples’ faces and stories will never stop affecting my thoughts and ideas and I consider that a huge impression to leave on someone.’’ Jessie, like many volunteers, will take the experiences she had while volunteering with her. They will continue to affect her life and the lives she touches in the future. The volunteer experience truly changes a person. Although the volunteers are giving something of themselves to the projects, the impressions made on the volunteer by the people they work with are invaluable.
More pictures of the Day Care project
Nov 16
Author: Sarah Hackman
The past few weeks have been a very busy and exciting time for uVolunteer. With new projects in countries around the world and the continued influx of volunteers to San Ramon, the staff has its hands full. 
In addition to the normal daily tasks, uVolunteer has moved its office to central San Ramon, in close proximity to the volunteer dorm and many of the volunteer projects. Volunteers and staff have been helping set up the new location, getting everything in order so that uVolunteer can continue to send volunteers to projects in need of assistance. In addition to a change in location, there have also been several staff changes in the past month. I have joined the uVolunteer staff as a part time Marketing Intern and Hannah Gregory, another current volunteer, is training to become the new Enrollment Officer. Run by and staffed with former volunteers, uVolunteer provides a personal volunteer experience. uVolunteer is continuing this objective in its new office with new and long time staff members. San Ramon remains uVolunteer’s most popular project location. Having the office in this location allows the staff and volunteers to have a personal relationship. With the combination of the staff, fellow volunteers, the volunteer projects and the San Ramon community as well as being in close proximity to some of the greatest places in Costa Rica, it is easy to see why volunteers who come to San Ramon have such a wonderful experience. As uVolunteer continues to expand, it has maintained this personal approach to volunteering in its projects offered around the world.
Nov 13
Author: Sarah Hackman
Next week I will be traveling to Panama for a ‘visa run.’ As a foreigner in Costa Rica, one is only permitted to enter as a tourist and must leave after ninety days. When I decided to come to Costa Rica through uVolunteer for nine months, they worked two ‘visa runs’ into my schedule and I have decided to travel to Panama for my first trip out of the country!
My journey will commence with a sixteen hour bus ride from San Jose, Costa Rica to Panama City! It is possible to fly to from Costa Rica or to travel eight hours by bus to one of the locations just over the Cost Rican/Panamanian border, but having 10 days to travel I have decided that traveling through Costa Rica and Panama by bus will be an experience in and of itself, as well as more economical. After exploring the city and its surrounding areas I am planning on traveling to the islands of Bocas del Toro, just south of Costa Rica on the Caribbean coast, before returning to Costa Rica. I will be recording my trip in my journal and with my camera so that I can share the experience when I return to San Ramon. Check back to hear about my experience of crossing the border, traveling in Panama, and my return to Costa Rica!
Nov 12
Author: Sarah Hackman
Barbara has been teaching in Thailand and sending us updates on her project there. Barbara writes, ”I am busy teaching and having ‘Sanuk’ in Thailand. 
School is back in session, but oh… so slow at getting organised “be patient” is the order of the day or perhaps the week. This week I will be guiding the students through. “How To Write And Give a Speech” and also teaching the middle school to sing “Que Sera.” My host family and I went to the local beauty contest. There were sixteen entries. They were all so lovely in their Thai costumes. The girl from our village, Ban Thin Dung, won “most popular.” We did not win overall. The contest in conjunction with the festival “Loi Kratong’ (Festival Of Light) went on till past midnight due to one hundred blankets that had to be given away in the raffle. 
I put my small offering of flowers and candles into the river as is the custom and made a wish! I have to say this is one of the most amazing things about living in a rural area. I get to experience true Thailand . “I Am Happy” On a more serious note, we need more volunteers . Please come to my little farming community and help to teach and play with the children who so badly need us.” Check back for more updates on Barbara’s experiences in Thailand!
