Why did you decide to volunteer with WorldTeach in Columbia?
Vanessa: The initial decision to apply to volunteer abroad in Colombia for WorldTeach was from a referral of a friend who previously volunteered in Ecuador. One of my life goals has always been to live abroad and volunteer for at least 6 months in the same country. After looking through the website, the reviews, and the organization as whole I knew it was a great decision. The prices, length and the programs differ from each country so there is something for everyone. This program was especially appealing since WorldTeach has so many different countries to choose from. The program in Colombia seemed to be a perfect fit for me since I would be able to utilize my Spanish and the program description stated that other volunteers would be nearby.
Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.
Vanessa: This experience was very unique because so many people have the wrong idea of Colombia as a country. I was able to explore other volunteers’ schools and also many cities throughout this amazing country.The people are so friendly and open and their culture is amazing. I was living in Barranquilla which is a coastal city about an hour and a half away from the well-known Cartagena. Barranquilla has the 2nd biggest Carnaval celebration in the world which was one of the most fun, crazy and culturally diverse events of my life. It was also really amazing to see how much the students appreciated and really loved that they had native English speakers in their school and in their city.
What made this experience unique and special?
Vanessa: Another reason this experience was unique is directly attributed to WorldTeach Colombia as a program. We started the program with a 2.5 week orientation in a small town outside of Bogota. This gave us a chance to get to know the other volunteers, learn some of the cultural things about the country and also prepare for our jobs at teachers. My program director and assistant director were absolutely amazing. They were available for any questions whether it was a good place to visit on the weekends, what their favorite restaurant was, how to take the bus from point A to point B or even just as a shoulder to lean on when missing home. I could not have survived without these two ladies as well as the rest of the 36 volunteers.
How has this experience impacted your future?
Vanessa: This experience impacted my future immensely; both personally and professionally. I went down to Colombia wondering if teaching and volunteering were really something I wanted to pursue as a career. The students, the program directors, the fellow volunteers and the friends I made in this country will never leave my heart or my mind. This experience has led me to a new adventure which will be living in Brussels, Belgium for a year as a part-time au pair as well as a French student for a year. Without the great experience from WorldTeach, I would have never considered or been qualified for this job. Also, I recently took the GRE exam and will be applying to Graduate programs once I return to continue my passion of ESL teaching and hope to be able to head my own program in the next few years.