What are you expecting to get out of your volunteering experience? Are you hoping that your trip will be the best travel experience of your life? Do you think that the voluntary work that you will be doing will be interesting? Will it be hard work or relatively easy? Are you intending to give it your all or are you expecting to have a good time first with your volunteer commitment perhaps coming second?
Three tips: Have a positive attitude; do not get bogged down with crazy expectations; keep an open mind and enjoy the ride!
There are so many questions, many of which you can probably answer already. Some of the questions require preparation so that you have at least a fairly good idea of what you will be doing and what is going to be expected of you when you volunteer abroad. I am sure that you will not have the attitude that the voluntary work or voluntary experience you are going to undertake is not so important compared to other travel plans. When committing to voluntary work, be it at home or abroad, you are giving your time and assistance to someone or something that desperately needs it. You are usually doing it for free and doing it because you have chosen to do it. Therefore, it is likely that you will have a positive and enthusiastic attitude when you start out ready for anything that comes your way and willing to give it 100%.
I think almost everyone feels like that, and it is a very important attitude to have. Such a postive outlook and keen willingness to help and do whatever is necessary or asked of you (within reason) reflects well on you and other volunteers who may be coming from your country and it is received with a sincere gratitude that will make you proud of what you are doing. The voluntary work you have chosen is undoubtedely very important to someone and therefore your attitude and enthusiasm goes a long way to keeping any momentum going. What can happen, however, and what I have seen happen, is that after that initial 'honeymoon' period is over, perhaps after a few weeks, you can feel a little homesick, or you may not enjoy the work as much as you first thought, or perhaps the work is not as personally interesting to you. This can have a negatyive effect on your attitude and enthusiasm towards the project and you may feel inclined to give less to it or even give up altogether. My advice to you is to work through such emotions by continuing to give that 100% concentrating on the fact that you are doing something good and that it is recognised and appreciated. Everyone will have moments when they feel a bit down but with time, patience and determination the voluntary experience will improve again and you will be making new friends and creating memories which will stay with you forever, and which you will look back upon with happiness and pride to have been a part of something special.
It sounds a little corny, but it is true. Almost everyone I have met who has volunteered abroad (and at home) has come away from the experience with good memories, new friends and a feeling of fulfillment. they have learned new skills and languages and epxerienced different cultures, societies or mixed with people they would not normally meet in their everyday lives. The whole question of having a positive attitude brings us to the concept of expectation. I do not know what you are expecting to get out of your volunteer work, but if there is one piece of advice I would give it is to have a completely open mind. Not only before you travel, but also during your time at the volunteer location. If you have relatively few expectations then you are more likely to be able to deal with unexpected problems that will occur. You are also more likely to have and maintain a positive attitude as there is little chance of any epxectations which are not met dampening your happiness! Before you go you are going to have emotions of excitement and these can lead to expectations, but as long as you keep it in your mind that anything could happen...and probably will... then you should be on your way to taking part in a volunteering experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.
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