When volunteering abroad in any country, setting goals to get the most out of your experience can be critical and also very rewarding. Ajay is currently volunteering in Chile and in this installment, he gives an insight on his approach to volunteering on a quest abroad. This is part 1 of a new series, Ajay in Chile:
Every day I have my three goals I aim to accomplish. Those would be doing my best while I’m volunteering at the school, learning and practicing Spanish, and immersing myself in Chilean culture.
Accomplishing the first goal is fairly simple, I wake up around 6:00 am, and eat breakfast with my host mom (if she’s awake) and any other students staying with me. We talk about what we’re doing that day, and if no one’s talking, I make a point to bring up the conversation. This is an important lesson I’ve learned from some other students who’ve been staying with the same host family.
Then, I leave for school (I leave early since I have to take public transportation and I have to factor in the possibility of the bus being late) about 45 minutes to an hour before my classes start. When you’re in a big city, it’s very important to be aware of your surroundings and belongings at all times. If you have them, use internal pockets to prevent pick pocketing or walk with your hands in your pockets. Another thing that may differ is traffic. For example, I am used to relatively low levels of traffic, whereas in a big city such as Santiago there is tons of traffic all the time. If you use public transportation this can greatly affect your travel time and if you’re not careful you could easily get hurt.
Once I’m at school, I usually help out around the classroom while the kids do their work. I answer questions they have about words, grammar, even life back in the United States. Another important note to make is keeping a good relationship with all of the teachers you assist. Strike up a friendly conversation during free time or spend an extra thirty minutes of your day helping with the lesson plan, it goes a long way.
The second goal I accomplish both in and after school. After I am finished volunteering, I spend the rest of my day with family friends I am fortunate enough to have near me. I speak only Spanish with them, and even in the two weeks, I’ve been here my speaking has improved greatly.
Throughout the entire experience, I get to immerse myself in Chilean culture. Through the foods I eat, local gestures I learn, and even the speech patterns I am picking up, I am learning more about Chilean culture than otherwise possible.
Best of luck on the rest of your trip Ajay! Working with the children and education projects will certainly be a rewarding experience in assisting the communities. Stay tuned for more from Ajay on his journey in Chile!
Learn more about United Planet’s opportunities to volunteer in Chile!
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.
