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Ghana June 23 2012

Im Going to Ghana on June 23 '12. Is anybody else going?((:

Added by Abby Mathis on May 2, 2012 at 1:09am — 2 Comments

SALVADOR,BRAZIL--->August 4,2012 trip

Hello my fellow Cross Cultural Solutioners!!! I am interested in meeting those who are going to Brazil on Aug 4th and to the vets who have returned from that wonderful experience.

Added by Cynthia Stokes-Adam on April 27, 2012 at 6:30pm — 1 Comment

Volunteering in Morocco

My son and I were hoping to volunteer in Morocco sometime at the end of 2012.  Has anyone been there that can give me some insight and/or tips.  Thanks!! 

Added by Julie Anderson on April 16, 2012 at 12:05pm — 3 Comments

India , My Passion.

Hi all, i am going to be in Delhi,  India  in June 15 th , 2012. Anyone has any suggestions or will be in Delhi or around that time please  let me know, i am also open for any advisor, this is my first time with ccs. Dr Kaul. rakeshkoul92@gmail.com.

Added by Rakesh K Kaul on March 29, 2012 at 5:24pm — No Comments


CCS Staff Member
The Impact Of International Volunteering On The Retired Population (HUFFPO)

This blog entry was originally posted on the Huffington Post Travel section by Cross-Cultural Solutions.



All too often in our culture, seniors feel left behind in the always technologically…

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Added by Cross-Cultural Solutions on March 27, 2012 at 12:00pm — No Comments

CCS Brazil Side Trip Guide

Here is a ton of information about the various side trips you could take on a weekend while in Salvador for CCS.  The prices here are what it cost in 2007.  Although it may be a little outdated, I thought it could still be helpful.

Morro de São Paulo

 

Bottom line – Beaches, good restaurants, shopping, tours and all night parties.

 

Don’t forget!!

Sunblock – Cash – Dramamine –…

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Added by Scott on February 22, 2012 at 12:49pm — 1 Comment

Finally getting things into motion

Today I booked my flight and other plans to make it to Ghana. I am set to leave for Lisbon on the 19th, arriving May 20th. I will stay for 5 days and depart on the 25th for Ghana. I am so looking forward to this adventure. As graduation is drawing close it is seeming more and more real that I will finally be a college graduate and life is about to begin.



I am hoping to find a renewed sense of accomplishment in my teaching as I go and also hope to find some useful tid bits to bring…

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Added by Elyse Turner on February 20, 2012 at 7:38pm — 1 Comment

ghana 2012?

Is anyone going to the Teen Volunteer Abroad program on July 14?

Added by Sophie Leavitt on February 13, 2012 at 5:26pm — No Comments

Davids Blog in Ghana

The trip

The trip went pretty well. I had some difficulties with my cheek-in in the airport: my luggage was too heavy. So I had to take out some stuff from my bag, but, due to stress, I took things like shave gel and put them in my hand luggage. Those kinds of things are forbidden in hand luggage, so obviously when I went thru the security gate they suggested either to leave them or to register my hand luggage as well. I didn’t feel comfortable to leave them as I was not sure being able…

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Added by David PATE on February 5, 2012 at 10:50am — 2 Comments

Peru Day 13 - Saying Goodbye

My last trip to the San Martin de Porres health clinic was filled with preparations for the Christmas party and preparing gift baskets for the most poor patients.  I think productivity stopped when I gave my presentation for clinic improvements on my iPad (which is ironic given the content!).  The group gathered around a patient bed in the nursing station as I showed them a Google Translate Spanish translated Keynote presentation, equipped with photos and videos to demonstrate ideas.  I was… Continue

Added by Aaron Pritz on December 24, 2011 at 8:16am — No Comments

Peru Day 12 - Visiting Homes of the Abuelos

I took a break from the clinic to join some of the others and Sister Jackie (a nun that runs the center for the elderly) on home visits to program participants that are not currently able to make it to their activities on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  Sister Jackie has been a nun for 50 years (12 of which she has spent in Peru).  She was a vivid story teller with a lot of perspective on life in Villa el Salvador.  



Stop number one was to a lady of the program who's husband… Continue

Added by Aaron Pritz on December 22, 2011 at 6:29pm — No Comments

Peru Day 11 - Beauty IS truly in the eye of the beholder

Today was the most interesting day in the San Martin de Porres clinic.  I had previously asked if I could help with physical therapy since my sister is in PT.  I met Andres, the clinic's physical therapist who showed me the ropes of the PT clinic.  It is basically 2 rooms - a consultation room and a treatment room.  It is pretty bare bones but they do have some older equipment like stairs with rails, some rusty looking ultrasound equipment, and some ancient electric stimulation equipment that… Continue

Added by Aaron Pritz on December 21, 2011 at 7:34pm — No Comments

Peru Day 10 - Let's morocco and morollo!

One of my fellow Lilly colleagues joined me at the clinic today (Sharon).  Up until now, I have been the only volunteer working there the last couple weeks.  It was good to have another english speaker to share the experience with.  It was also good to see how far my Spanish has come in such a short time.  I understand alot more than my first day, and I am able to communicate more with Spanish and less with impromptu sign language.  I was able to show Sharon "the ropes" and leave her to run the… Continue

Added by Aaron Pritz on December 20, 2011 at 5:06pm — No Comments

Peru Day 9 - Fried Guinea Pig, kids and shots, and the Earthquake!

The start of week 2 at the clinic.  I got to work with the nurses today - so lots of stories to tell Rachel!  I got to hold down kids while they got shots in the butt....write down blood pressures, heights, and ages....fold gauze into square swabs (I assume the US hospitals have the advantage of buying them already folded instead of working with giant economy rolls of it).  We dealt with several folks with respiratory problems.  This is very common presumably because of the air quality and dust… Continue

Added by Aaron Pritz on December 19, 2011 at 7:01pm — No Comments

Days 6-8 - Alpacas spit!!

Beware!  Alpacas spit!

After arriving in Cusco, we took a 3 hour city tour of Cusco and surrounding Inca ruins.  Important lesson if you ever come here... Alpacas spit!  When posing with Alpacas and Llamas for photos, never put your arm around them for the photo.  The little ones are cool with it but the big ones will spit on your shirt.  I now know this first hand.  I paid him back by buying several articles of alpaca clothing at the market.



The Incan architecture in Cusco and… Continue

Added by Aaron Pritz on December 18, 2011 at 7:04am — No Comments

Day 5 - Completing Tasks and Reflecting on Villa de Salvador

We finished our last night with a salsa and merengue class held in a local park.  It was 5 Soles to get in (about 2 dollars).  I learned some moves I didn't think I could do with 2 left feet!  The food prepared for us each lunch and dinner in the house has been absolutely amazing.  It really changed my thinking that I would be seeking out new restaurants each night.  Our cooks are fantastic.



When I returned to the clinic this morning, they had another early morning inflow of… Continue

Added by Aaron Pritz on December 15, 2011 at 7:43pm — No Comments

Peru Day 4 - My morning really stunk!

Wait for it.... (see paragraph 4 for an explanation of why my morning stunk)



Today was a very interesting day in Peru.  After breakfast, I was off again to the clinic.  I was escorted to the administration office where the "server" resides.  The computer was purchased under previous management and they don't know how to use it - but knew it contained some software called Angel.  I quickly found out that Windows is much harder to navigate when all the text is in Espanol.  I quickly… Continue

Added by Aaron Pritz on December 14, 2011 at 7:24pm — No Comments

Day 3 - Hard Labor and Sunburn.... But still a great day

Aaron's Peru Tip - When you are 6'5", expect to be sought out for your braun vs. your brains!  I started the morning at the clinic helping with the morning rush with patient files.  The clinic slowed down significantly so Isabell and I capitalized on the time by creating new patient files.  This consisted of attaching metal clasps to manilla folders including a patient info sheet and blank pages for medical records.  Isabell then stenciled on the unique number used to identify the patient and… Continue

Added by Aaron Pritz on December 13, 2011 at 5:58pm — No Comments

Peru Day 2

After arriving at the CCS house around 2am, I got a few hours of sleep before being awoken by birds sounding similar to a whiperwill or doves and street cars (tonight I use earplugs!)



After a breakfast with the team, we dropped off each group of volunteers at their respective placements.  I was the last stop, so I got a chance to visit the daycare/school, the elderly care facility, and then the health clinic.  Everyone was excited for us to be there.



Upon arriving at the… Continue

Added by Aaron Pritz on December 12, 2011 at 6:51pm — No Comments

Departing Sunday!

Sunday, I depart for 2 weeks in Lima, Peru as part of Lilly's Hearts Abroad progam organized through Cross Cultural Solutions.  I will be volunteering in the Centro de Salud Parroquial San Martín de Porras (which I hope to be able to pronounce and say in one breath by the time I return).  This facility is a health center serving people living in extreme poverty.  It was created by a local church and operated by healthcare professionals providing services in pediatrics, nutrition, pneumology,…

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Added by Aaron Pritz on December 9, 2011 at 2:12pm — No Comments

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