Cultural Experiences
As part of our traveling philosophy, we wanted to get in touch with other people’s realities and cultures at different levels. We saw our world trip as a learning opportunity, and we planned to participate in the following programs:
WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms): WWOOF is a worldwide network of organizations. They link volunteers with organic farmers, and help people share more sustainable ways of living. WWOOF is an exchange – In return for volunteering, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation, and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles. We had some experience in organic farming and were eager to learn more of the strategies used in different countries. We planned on having WWOOF experiences in the following countries: New Zealand, Japan, France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico.
Couch Surfing: Couch Surfing helped us meet and adventure with new friends around the world. It is a network of hosts that open their homes to travelers. It isn’t just a means of accommodation; it is an entirely new way to travel. We were able to see the world through local residents, not hotel concierges or guidebooks. But what was most profound about the whole experience was the trust that naturally exists.
Volunteering: We considered joining a “commercial” volunteer group, but opted against it. Some of the organizations have high fees and, although well-intended, we didn’t think a week or two of volunteer work offered by these organizations would be enough in areas that have struggled years of political and economic turmoil. We did find a few other local volunteering opportunities we were able to participate in.
