We are all travelers.

During the past five months, I have received mixed responses to the prospect of this trip… Don’t get me wrong, people have mostly been supportive. Still, I want to clarify two points.

First, in response to not only this trip, but also previous travels, I get a lot of people telling me how lucky I am. To some extent that’s true. Yes, I am extremely lucky to have parents who are passionate about backpacking and have given me so many opportunities to travel. Our family vacations were definitely more exotic/ adventurous than average and, even at home, we always traveled through the food we ate, the movies we watched, the music we listened to…

However, as I grow up and am able to take responsibility for my travels, it’s not so much a matter of luck. I work hard to earn money to fund my travel addiction. I daydream and research extensively. Okay, obsessively. Most importantly, I do.

I guess what I’m saying is that if you really want to travel, you can. Luck has little, if anything, to do with it. It’s only a matter of deciding you want something badly enough to make it happen, whatever it takes. Maybe the stories and pictures to be posted here can be more than just an account of my time spent in Peru. Maybe they can inspire you to make your trip happen too.

Onto point number two. Many are shocked by the fact that I am going to teach voluntarily *gasp!*. “You mean you’re doing this for free?! Why?!” Well, dear friends, money isn’t everything. I’m sure you’ve heard that once or twice before. That being said, I did choose my organization very carefully.

I am quite strongly opposed to organizations that charge 4000$+ to go work for them for three weeks, mainly because most of that money is unlikely to go to the cause. I also think that only the amount going to the cause should be fund raised, not the costs of personal expenses such as airfare or vaccinations.  I don't want this post to turn into a voluntourism rant, but these are a couple of the things that I specifically avoided in my search for a volunteer position in South America. I also wanted to avoid organizations based in North America which often operate as a middleman of sorts.  Instead, I searched for something local.

Horizon Peru is a small local organization and Manuel, the founder, grew up in La Esperanza. In fact, he grew up in the very house I will be living in. Consequently, he is fully aware of the needs of the community and is truly invested in improving conditions for the children who are growing up there now. They ask for a small donation which, in my opinion, is completely reasonable.  I am also paying a small weekly fee to rent a room with all amenities. The donation and rent go directly to supporting the program, and they have clearly  listed how the fees will be used.

I chose to volunteer in La Esperanza to improve my Spanish, to learn about a different culture and interact with the locals, to gain teaching experience, and to contribute to a good cause through a program that I believe is structured to properly cater to the children of La Esperanza’s needs. I am not denying that I do have some self-interested goals. I just listed them. But I am one of those who believe that making the world a better place starts with education so, for me, volunteer teaching makes sense.  Based on the information available on the Horizon Peru website, on my correspondence with Manuel and Luz through e-mail and Skype over the past five months and on reading the blogs of past volunteers, I believe that Manuel and Luz have started something special by offering the children of La Esperanza an opportunity for free education. I’m looking forward to doing my part in helping those children too.

-S xo