Volunteer Stories  |  Alissa

During January 2007, I participated in a 2 week work camp based in Hanoi. I applied to work in the Friendship village through Travel to Teach program. My time here was spent working on the organic farm at the village. I chose to come to Vietnam as a volunteer because I didn't want to be a tourist. I was looking for a cultural shock. A chance to live and work in a completely new environment. I definitely found that here during my stay. After work camp I spent another 2 weeks traveling.

I have difficulty describing how much I have enjoyed this experience. I arrived with no expectations and left with a lifetime full of stories to tell. This type of “holiday” is one that can be negative for some depending on how much of yourself you are willing to give. I feel I put in a lot and therefore gained immensely from the work and lifestyle. I loved everything I saw, everything I did and nearly everything that I tasted! My least favorite foods were Bamboo and dog meat!!