saskiaclifford-mobley has a crisis of faith
I ‘bought’ myself a placement with a company who essentially cater for gappers, arranging details such as work, accommodation and even collecting me from the miniature Juan Santamaria airport. Although I don’t exactly regret going through a company, since Costa Rica was my first solo traveling-venture, I’d advise others against it. A similar trip is so easy to arrange by yourself, without the lingering questions about exactly where your money is going.
Hostel accommodation is cheap; homestay is even cheaper and usually includes meals. Various companies offer homestay accommodation but a word of warning, the families won’t receive all of the money you’re paying. Fairer, though perhaps more daunting, would be simply turning up in a town and knocking on a few doors. There will always be an old lady with a bed somewhere willing to put you up. I certainly know a fabulous woman in the small town of Palmares, Costa Rica who would love to have you. In terms of finding a place to volunteer, knowing the language would put you in the happy position of being able to ask the locals. Alternatively you could contact a volunteer organization prior to departure (many can be found on the web).
As for the flights, as always prices for return tickets vary depending on when you book, how many transfer stops you make, and where they are. It is best to use a large scale search engine to do some thorough research, I urge you to check out www.opodo.co.uk who will search an absurd number of flights for you.
Why pay to volunteer? What can you actually achieve? What’s wrong with the all-inclusive Magaluf holiday? These are amongst some questions various addled amigos hurled at me. Answering such queries at my leaving do was complicated, and not simply due to excessive alcohol consumption either – in terms of the reasons behind what I was doing, it was hard since I still didn’t know what I was getting into.
I began my five memorable weeks in the orphanage feeling eager, armed with toys, mosquito spray and a Spanish dictionary. One thing I had not prepared myself for was the physical and mental exhaustion of working there, which I would have to overcome. Children are naturally boisterous and energetic; at times I would take a breather from running around playing ‘arroz con leche’ or even eat separately in the office to take a moment to ‘chill’. At first I felt like a failure for not constantly keeping up with the little rascals, I desperately wanted to make the most of every second with them. But with time it became clear that everyone has limits and, you need to respect your own.
We tried to organise English classes for mornings but capturing the attention of more than two of the chiquitos at any given time was a mean feat. Occasionally though, the odd word went in. My tiny hero Emanuel brought a sonrisa to my face by running up to me before every rainstorm (a fun daily occurrence) pointing at the sky, declaring ‘cloudy!’
The weeks passed and on occasion I would hesitate as to what my genuine role was. Were there any actual, long-term benefits resulting from my time there? Another thought that has cropped up periodically since: perhaps it was even unkind to work out there and build those bonds with the children, only to leave five weeks on? I hope not. I believe in the value of the attention I could give the children I was working with while I was there. Though the volunteers they meet and befriend will always eventually have to leave, the time dedicated to them by those who go for however long is truly appreciated. Mine couldn't believe that I had come all the way from the small squiggle across the ocean on the map, just for them. It is better to have spent a little time making someone smile than no time at all, so I fully endorse volunteer packages.
If you wish to travel with a company, the importance of careful research is the primary thing to remember. I used i-to-i (www.i-to-i.co.uk), but there is a surplus of similar companies offering other projects for all over the world. I recommend setting one’s sights upon a specific region of the world, or a type of placement (ie. work building a school, nature conservation, or working with orphans) . Compare prices and what's included with each package, such as visas, insurance and travel costs. It is the norm for accommodation and food to be included and a typical price for a four-week stay is around £900+.