The “How To” series will discuss important topics related to volunteering abroad and traveling in general. As you read on, the following will give you advice on “how to” do something. Sounds simple enough, but a lot of these tips & tricks will make a world of difference once you’re out there traveling abroad. We know this because we’ve been there, and we’ll be sharing personal notes along with best-practice advice from world travelers!
It is often the little things that make an experience unique. Not everyone who spends time in Paris has the exact same experience– it’s those tiny details that make your visit special. Appreciating the little things in the moment shapes your experience as a whole and helps keep those memories alive in the future.
Explore. This doesn’t always mean running to the most touristic spots. It could be as simple as taking a different path home. Exploring new neighborhoods and streets. You’ll be surprised by how much life you’ll witness and how even small neighborhoods can vary drastically from one another. This will help you map out the area where you’re staying and help you visualize what’s going on around you. Explore different street pathways and notice the street signs. It’s amazing how some things that may appear so similar are in fact quite different.
Observe. You don’t always have to be in action mode while traveling; sometimes it’s nice to sit back and just watch life go on right before your eyes. Observing the simple interactions between vendor and local, chatter between children, and the interaction of family members will help you appreciate what it’s like to actually live in a certain area. You’ll recognize similarities, differences, and things that may never have occurred to you before. Observing is the best way to learn and store bits of your surroundings into your internal memory drive. You’ll witness some things that you will never forget. Watch and learn.
Personal Time. In all the hype of travel, spending time alone can bring clarity in the midst of chaos. Simply taking a walk alone, or sparing a few minutes to write in your journal, can give you crucial time to reflect and soak in all that is going on around you. Although traveling in groups is a blast, even just a few moments alone can alter your entire perspective.
Slow Down. Stop, take a breath, and absorb it all in. Sometimes it’s nice to stop rushing for a minute and walk without a clear destination. You never know what you’ll stumble upon, when you stop trying to look for things. Sometimes the best adventure is when you have no expectations.
This minute will never happen again, so take advantage of it. Live in the now and appreciate all the little things. Remember this, so future you can paint a beautiful picture of those precise memories you are now creating. Happy travels!
Volunteer with United Planet and appreciate all the little things that make a single experience of helping in another country so unique.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
