John Dwyer Bethe Dufresne is a journalist who lives in Connecticut. She traveled to Nairobi, Kenya in 2009 to cover the debut of the first free school for girls in the notorious Kibera slum; the largest slum in East Africa. The many visits that Bethe made to Kibera, and the current popularity of “poverty tourism”, prompted her …
Bethe Dufresne is a journalist who lives in Connecticut. She traveled to Nairobi, Kenya in 2009 to cover the debut of the first free school for girls in the notorious Kibera slum; the largest slum in East Africa. The many visits that Bethe made to Kibera, and the current popularity of “poverty tourism”, prompted her …
I have added a section under Reference Information for International Job Listings. In the section are links to recruitment organizations seeking candidates for international employment. I am not personally associated with any of the organizations nor do I have experience with them. I have added them due to the many requests I have had from …
Jill Vickers is a producer of film documentaries and also a former Peace Corps Volunteer. Jill was a member of a Peace Corps female vaccination teams in the late 1960’s in Afghanistan. The women traveled throughout the country working with Afghan male vaccinators on a small pox vaccination program done in conjunction with the United …
Peggy Kelsey received degrees in social work and education before undertaking extensive world travels. A professional photographer and resident of the Austin area since 1980, Peggy was privileged to meet with a delegation of 14 Afghan women who passed through Austin, Texas in the fall of 2002. The strength, humor and resiliency of the women …
Alexia Nestora is a travel writer and pubic relations specialist in the voluntourism industry who writes a blog www.voluntourismgal.com. The blog is a source of the latest trends, studies and developments in voluntourism. Alexia also writes travel safety articles for the online travel publication www.worldnomads.com Her articles may be accessed at: https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety
Kirsty has spent over 12 months out of the past two and a half years as a volunteer. During that time she’s done disaster relief work in Bangladesh, Indonesia and twice in Haiti. She has written an ebook called The Underground Guide to International Volunteering (http://www.nerdynomad.com/volunteering) which gives tips and advice to travellers who want …
It was past midnight and I couldn’t sleep. A cold wind rapped at the leaky windows, and what little heat there had been in the small fourth-floor apartment of my school had long since departed. The building was like a fortress, almost 100 years old, now empty and locked for the night. In a few hours a torrent of 650 adolescents would be roaring through the halls below. I was feeling restless and edgy. It had been my worst day. Going through my mind was what to do about the noisy and disruptive behavior in one of my classes. I was still having trouble keeping this class quiet during lessons, and my patience was weakening. I hadn’t yet figured out what I was doing wrong. I was thinking of going to the director, but what would I tell him? After six weeks I was having doubts about teaching for two years in this foreign land 3,000 miles from home. From under my covers I stared into the darkness and wondered what I had gotten myself into.
Peace Corps Online
When President Kennedy announced the formation of the Peace Corps I was newly married and beginning what turned out to be a very erratic career. I was greatly interested in the Peace Corps but the timing just wasn’t right. I have always had a hankering for things international and enjoy meeting new people and exploring different cultures. As a young veteran in the late fifties, an army buddy and I drove to Mexico City from Los Angeles to attend college on the G.I. bill. My goal was to get a degree in international relations. My goal wasn’t reached and I returned home. I was concerned about the $60 a month car payment I had left my parents to handle. My buddy stayed on and ended up becoming a professor at a California college. Fortunately my curiosity for the world was not left behind in Mexico City.
Beggars always make me feel uneasy. Especially young beggars. My mind is filled with conflicting thoughts when they approach me. Are they really needy or are they scamming? Should I give them something or shouldn’t I? Passing them by without giving is worse – I feel guilty.
