Way To Go!


Make new friends! Help the world! Build a school! Sleep on a strange couch! This week on Let's Travel Susi explores the worlds of global volunteering and couch surfing.







Guests

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Morris Borenstein, Avid Traveler and Couch Surfer


Morris is an avid traveler, working in Finance at Moody's Investors Service. He is a graduate of Pace University's Honors College. During his academic stay at Pace, he studied abroad in Rome, Italy for an entire year, taking classes and traveling across Europe. His love for travel has led him to some 16 countries, across Europe, North America, Latin America and the Middle East/Africa. His most recent trip was to Ecuador, spending time in the capital of Quito, and the cities of Cuenca and Guayaquil.

CouchSurfing is an exchange network for travelers, connecting travelers in all countries, offering host stays or casual meet ups. The website is absolutely free, travelers set up profiles about themselves and their travel experiences, while also indicating whether they are available to host travelers in their homes, or only available to meet up for coffee or a drink. There are no catches, hidden fees, or obligations. It's a network of travelers looking out for one another, while enthusiastically offering a chance to exhibit their home countries. While it is not required, instead of monetary payment, it is always nice to treat your host to something, whether it be a home-cooked meal, a bottle of wine, a trinket, etc. The hope is that travelers who are hosted will pay it forward by being available for future travelers when they travel to your home country.

CouchSurfing is great for travelers on the cheap, but also a fantastic way to foster new friendships, and get authentic experiences with locals in the countries you visit. Locals tend to have more insight on the hidden treasures that aren't found in travel books. Whether it's the best taqueria in Mexico City, slamming shawarmas in Cairo, or curry-wursts in Berlin; meeting up with CouchSurfers can be extremely rewarding and safe all the while.







Michele Gran, Co-founder and Senior Vice President
Global Volunteers


Michele Gran is Co-founder and Senior Vice President of Global Volunteers, an international, nonprofit, human and economic development organization based in St. Paul, MN.

Since 1984, the organization, which is in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and UNICEF, has engaged more than 25,000 volunteers to work side-by-side with local people under their direction in more than 100 communities worldwide, including the USA. Volunteers work to help achieve UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in countries where Global Volunteers serves, especially as they relate to children in need. http://www.globalvolunteers.org/organization/beginnings/beginnings.asp Michele manages Global Volunteers' overall marketing strategy and external messaging taking a special interest in community host relations. She led the organization as CEO this past year during which Global Volunteers celebrated 25 years of worldwide service. She has led teams of volunteers in nearly 20 countries on five continents and successfully climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro two years ago while serving in Africa.

Michele earned a Master's Degree in Liberal Studies/International Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. Before joining the staff in 1990, she worked as a public relations consultant, and held communications manager positions at various departments in Minnesota State Government, and in non-profit organizations.








Georgie Kovacs, Manager of Member Relations
Global Business Coalition


As the Manager of Member Relations for Global Business Coalition, Georgie Kovacs enhances GBC's membership network by working closely with member companies to develop a customized approach to the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. She services existing members and engages new companies, particularly those in the cosmetics, finance, mining and metals, and oil and gas industries.

Prior to joining GBC, Georgie consulted for a variety of large and mid-tier clients in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries at Campbell Alliance. During her tenure, Georgie managed client relationships and led her team to provide advisory services on strategy, process improvement, and skills assessments.

In addition, Georgie has a broad understanding of various business functions as a result of her eight year history in the pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods industries where she held roles in sales, training, and US and global marketing.

Her various work experience in broad business functions, a passion for knowledge around healthcare, and her most recent volunteer experience in India led Georgie to pursue a career in the non-profit sector. Her hope is to use the skill sets developed and demonstrated over the years to make an impact on global health.

Georgie earned a degree in Chemistry at the University of Florida and a MBA at New York University's Stern School of Business, during which she studied abroad at the Melbourne School of Business in Australia.



An Article on Volunteering, by Georgie


"Oh great! I lost my job. Now what?" Although I had been working long hours in a thankless job, I felt more anger and fear than elation. Let's face it. I, like many of us out there, do not come from a wealthy family. In fact, my father just lost the family business and our home, and my mother died after a 10-year battle with cancer. Good or bad, by now, I became used to dealing with crisis. Additionally, because of all the losses I suffered in such a short period of time, I became paranoid enough that I was somewhat financially prepared to handle losing my job.

I did my best to treat this job hunt as another one of life's challenges. I even thought that the first few months were great. Remember, I was relieved of duties I did not even like! I networked constantly, attending at least one networking event per week and got interviews right away. In between job search activities, I said, "Yes!" to other events that came my way such as local volunteering activities, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a 4-mile road race on New Year's Eve in Central Park (in 15 degree weather, mind you), and Barack Obama's Inauguration. I always had something to look forward to.

Then the reality of this never-seen-before job market hit me. I can't tell you how many times I heard, "We think you are a great fit but….." Here I was, a person with a great education and solid resume who can usually sell myself into any job. I was even open to volunteering or doing work on a contract basis. Nada!

Upon the start of this year, I received one "no" too many and decided to take my life into my own hands. Maybe I could not find a job, but I needed to do something more than an exhaustive job search and random fun activities to pass the time. Since college, I had thought about the Peace Corps but always came up with reasons for why I should not. I felt frustrated. It was time to take serious action.

Years back, I remembered reading about an organization called Global Volunteers, where one pays for a volunteer "vacation," which is tax deductible. Luckily, those hard financial lessons earlier in life and my sheer frustration helped me view this as a "I have nothing to lose" situation. Within 24 hours of going to Global Volunteers' website, I had a ticket to India, where my departure date was two and a half weeks away. Within one week, I had an updated passport, Visa, doctors' visits, and shots all taken care of.

I had never traveled to India before, and prior to going, I did little research as I did not want to set expectations for fear of disappointment. All I knew was that I was going to a city called Chennai for three weeks to work with orphans and potentially do construction work. I had heard about the poverty and pollution and the sacred cows. Beyond that, I had no clue. I simply wanted to help those in need and see where that took me.

Where the volunteering took me was beyond what I imagined. Remember all the sayings we hear throughout life? "Walk in others' shoes before you judge." "When you help others, you receive much more than you ever give." I understood these words, but honestly, I never internalized the meaning of them until I experienced India. (By the way, for those of you who have never been to India--this is a place to experience rather than just a tourist stop to pass through.)

What was this experience in India like? What struck me most was that I was spending time among people who were so unbelievably poor yet seemed so happy. There was a sense of peace among them. In the US, life seemed to be about possessions, whether it be the latest iPod, vacation home, or automobile. The people I met in India were simply trying to survive and did so best when they work together.

There are certain aspects within the culture that are simply understood and expected, which probably helps their peaceful nature. For instance, even with chaotic traffic due to cows roaming freely and rickshaws, motorcycles, and buses crowding the streets, never did I see any semblance of road rage. As a matter of fact, an important skill for driving is to have one foot on the brake and one hand on the horn.

Then there were the children. Each time we (the volunteers) approached the orphanage, forty children ran over to us. They each grabbed our hands and individually looked us in the eye, introduced themselves, welcomed us, and then asked our name -- always with a glow and twinkle in their eyes. When they were given gifts, such as a piece of chocolate, the first thing they would do is offer it to us. These are children who have no possessions, no parents, and sleep on a mat among their "orphan-mates" on a concrete floor in one large room. Yet their first reaction was to give their gift away.

Having been back from India for several weeks now and still jobless, I can honestly say this was the best experience of my life. I learned about walking in another's shoes and what it means to give of oneself. A guide we met reminded me that I could continue to help the world in my own small way. Maybe one day, I will fly to India or another country that needs help. I can also volunteer in my community, or just be a good, caring person. Simply put, it is all about giving and doing what you can with what you have. Thank you, India.


To learn more about my trip, please visit my blog