Why did you choose this program?
IVHQ is an organization like no other! They have amazing programs that are very inexpensive, and as a part-time working university student that was a big plus. Being from Hawai'i, the surf outreach program in South Africa stood out to me! I applied just for fun, with the mentality that I wouldn't go through with it.
I went to Bali for summer holiday and actually had a plane ticket back home to Hawai'i. Five days before I was supposed to go home, I canceled my ticket, bought a roundtrip ticket to Cape Town, and, I kid you not, emailed my parents saying "Hi mom and dad, going to volunteer in South Africa for two weeks, see you soon!"
And of my 20 years of living, it was by far the best decision of my life!
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
IVHQ does a wonderful job giving you to tools and tips to get you ready for your volunteer adventure of a lifetime! Once you arrive, you will have an orientation day to get all the information you need on your time here. Your program directors are available for any questions, and even if you just need someone to talk to.
As a volunteer, I personally felt confident and prepared after orientation and knew what to do if any type of situation was thrown at me.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
My advice is go with an open mind.
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” -James Michener
The key word in comfort zone is "comfort". It's comfortable to stay in your familiar, but I promise that great things happen outside of your comfort zone! In two weeks, I bungee jumped off the highest commercial bridge in the world, hiked one of the seven new natural wonders of the world, took a selfie with a zebra, went cave climbing, went on a safari, went to the most south-western point of the African continent and so much more.
I danced the night away with the locals, made good friends with the smoothie shop workers, and listened to stories from the teachers. By having an open mind, I met wonderful people and went on epic adventures!
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
I woke up every morning around 7:00 - 8:00am in my volunteer house filled with 22 amazing people from all around the world, who share the same free spirit as I do. I'd sit on the porch with my breakfast and coffee, watch the sunrise, and wave goodbye to my friends who were in different volunteer programs.
Around 9:00 am the surf volunteers would walk over to the surf shop (usually after grabbing a peanut butter banana smoothie from Rolling Wood Cafe). We'd hit the beach from 9:00 am until noon for some free surf time to learn/improve our surfing skills from the head instructor. We'd go back for lunch (and nap) at the volunteer houses.
Around 2:00pm we'd meet back at the surf shop and greet the kids. We all would jump into our wetsuits, grab the boards, and (round two) surf at the beach or play games on the sand with the kids until 5:00pm. After cleaning up the surf shop, we'd eat dinner at our volunteer houses, hangout with the other volunteers or go explore the town.
Eat, sleep, surf, repeat. I got to wake up every day and surf with amazing children... what more could you ask for?
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it and/or how did your views on the issue change?
Traveling alone is scary! The truth is, everyone is in the same boat. One of my favorite parts about my volunteer trip to South Africa is the lifelong friendships I made.
Being by yourself can make you close up, but I opened up and talked to everyone and by the second day I felt like I knew everyone for years! You become a volunteer family, who all share the same adventurous soul.
Today, we have an active group chat. Many of us have visited each other, some are coming to stay with me for Christmas, and we are all planning on doing another IVHQ trip this summer.
Out of luck, my randomly picked roommates are now some of my best friends. One became my roommate in real life! Get to know the other volunteers because I promise everyone is nervous and you might be surprised and make friends that you'll have forever.