Matador Network's Blog, page 2081
July 24, 2015
10 signs you were born and raised in Siberia
Photo: Anna Shvets
1. A home is not a home unless you have at least two extra pairs of tapochki in case you have visitors.
The severe weather conditions dictate the terms even indoors. Most of the houses in Siberia have a wooden floor and rugs to try to keep the warmth longer, so when you come to visit us, there’s nothing better than the feeling of changing from shoes to comfy slippers and start feeling at home. For those of us who live abroad, the idea of being with shoes on at home is nearly impossible to accept.
2. You eat Victoria instead of strawberries and use vihotka to sponge yourself in a shower.
Us Siberians use some slang that other Russians cannot understand, and it makes it easy to recognize a fellow countryman. You are a true Siberian when you know that mom’s handmade varezhki keep your hands warm in winter better than any store-bought mittens. You also keep important documents in a transparent file called multifora because computers are good, but printed version is better.
3. You have zero patience for waiting and consider it rude.
Punctuality is in our blood. Whether it’s a job interview or a family reunion you always arrive 10-15 minutes before an appointed hour. The only exception is a romantic date when a girl is allowed to be tardy. Though, it happens very rarely, because who needs a frostbitten Prince Charming, for God’s sake?
4. You never underestimate the healing power of grandma’s medicine.
Living in the cold for most of a year affects the immune system. Your first-aid kit contains mostly grandma’s medicine. Homemade honey-based syrups, coltsfoot potions, chamomile or sage tea and bee glue creams are always kept handy, and their recipes are passed on from generation to generation.
5. You eat caviar by spoon and keep it by liters.
Siberia has the greatest lake Baikal and the river Yenisei that have one of the richest faunas in the world, which makes fishing the most popular hobby among the local men. As a result, during the season every fridge has a container with this delicacy that’s normally served in a bowl. No need to make caviar such a fancy affair — we just take a spoon and dig in!
6. There is no such thing as lunch without soup.
‘If you don’t eat soup, you will spoil your digestion,’ your mom will always remind you. Winter soups must be hot, like Solyanka, but summer is all about Okroshka. Instead of broth, you use kvass — a beverage made of rye bread. And, of course, sour cream — Smetana — makes any soup taste better.
7. You believe that good tea never comes in tea bags.
Black tea means the world to Siberians. You drink hot tea at any time of the day and start polishing your skills in tea-brewing from childhood. You’ve done numerous experiments with tea taste by adding other leaves and berries to it. You consider serving tea bags bad taste, and you have own secret ingredient for a perfect cup of tea.
This story was produced through the travel journalism programs at MatadorU. Learn More
8. You know that a table should never be empty.
Even if you gather for a drink with friends, the table must be full of snacks in a wide variety. Despite our cold look, us Siberians are very friendly people. You are always ready to help and open the door to a person in need. So, when it comes to guests, any meal turns into a feast.
9. Ice bucket challenge was just another part of your childhood.
Sibiryaki are famous for our health. There is an expression in Russian used to describe a hale and hearty person — ‘a man of Siberian health.’ Your immune system got toughened not just by a lifetime of battling with harsh climate but also by fortifying the body against colds from very early age. This process most likely included the stuff like ice water swimming, cold showers and even rubbing your body with snow. Sounds crazy, but it’s worked for generations.
10. Nostomania is your incurable disease.
Siberians have sincere devotion to our homeland. Acute homesickness is our daily condition anytime we leave. So, before you ask us about the motherland, better be sure that time is not an issue. 
16 things Hawaiians always have to explain to out-of-towners
Photo: breity
1. Spam is our jam, but that’s not all.
Even our McDonald’s serves Spam, but there’s more to our cuisine than the beloved canned meat. Just don’t ever knock it ‘til you tried it.
2. Marcus Mariota? Yeah, he’s one of ours.
We love seeing his handsome mug all over Hawaii commercials, banks advertisements, and ESPN.
3. And real UH fans aren’t fair weather.
True fans still buy season tickets and try to pack the stadium every home game.
4. Yes, we actually do pay upwards of $7 for a gallon of milk.
But we don’t have to fork over money to replace or snow blowers, winter coats and boots every winter, so the price tag works itself out…sort of.
5. We don’t order takeout. We pick up a bento or plate lunch.
Happiness is grilled meat, two scoops white rice, and mac salad. Or we just browse Shirokiya’s for an amazing, cheap bento.
6. The best delis sell out by two in the afternoon.
Don’t even try to hit up St. Louis, Fukuya, or Gulick after two. Stay pau already.
7. Parking in Waikiki really is that bad.
Do you think we really pay $35 to park our cruiser? We hope to score free parking along the Ala Wai.
8. Heineken is the original craft beer.
“One foot on sand, one hand Heineken, Hawaiian I am…” Sing it with me!
9. We give directions by side.
Forget heading east or west. We’ll tell you it’s either mauka (mountain) side or makai (ocean) side.
10. We don’t take a ferry to the other islands. We catch an island hopper.
And we’re really good at sniffing out the best flight deals. Even though Mokulele’s great, Island Air’s usually cheaper.
11. We’re spoiled with some of the freshest seafood on Earth.
We always pay the extra buck or two for fresh, never-frozen ahi poke, and our sashimi? Melts in your mouth.
12. We go to the beach all the time.
Playing hooky from work or closing shop early to catch some good surf is common. They don’t call it paradise for nothing.
13. Shave ice beats snow cones any day.
Something about fine shaved ice with tapioca pearls on the bottom topped with flavor syrup and a snowcap hits the spot every time.
14. No one goes out to Waianae side.
We only tell you that to keep the beaches, fishing spots, and cheap eateries to ourselves.
15. Shrimp trucks, roadside lychee stands, and huli huli chicken pop-ups are what the country is made of.
And for us Giovanni’s is bomb, lychees are always worth the price tag, and huli huli chicken is what’s for dinner.
16. It doesn’t matter how crowded the North Shore and Kailua get. They’re still incredible.
We hate traffic on the crowded two lane roads, neon-floaty-toting tourists and over-priced mai tais; but, somewhere between an epic north shore sunset or a fun boogie board sesh at Kailua Beach, all those stresses seem to disappear. 
21 signs you learned to drink in Pennsylvania
Screenshot/FX
1. You’ve taken shots with a Ben Franklin impersonator and didn’t even notice.
2. You’ve gotten drunk and danced with the Mummers.
3. You insist that the drunker you get the easier it is to solve the puzzles on the bottom of Lionshead bottle tops.
4. Yeah, you love your Troegs, Victory, and Weyerbacher, but you feel no shame in drinking an old standard like Iron City, Lion, or Yuengling. However, if you drink IC Light Mango you will be judged. By me.
5. Most of your drunk food comes from Wawa or Sheetz.
6. Statewide, you know you can ask for a ‘pint of lager’ and get a Yuengling. Or, like my dad you can ask for a ‘Vitamin Y,’ and no one will understand what you want.
7. You were genuinely pissed when Anheuser-Bush bought Rolling Rock and moved production to New Jersey, the third state. What a copycat.
8. You believe that if someone can’t name at least twenty bars on East Carson Street, they clearly have never been there.
9. You will inform anyone who will listen that Yuengling is our country’s oldest operating brewery. And, fun fact: during the prohibition era, Yuengling began producing ice cream to make up for lost beer sales. Today, you give them extra support by buying their wing sauce and barbeque sauce. Also, you appreciate their really cute logo with puppies on it.
10. You remember this one time, when you drunkenly ordered a cheesesteak with JUST wiz. No steak.
11. When you drink, you can’t keep your Pittsburgh accent from coming out. “Yinz goin aht dahntahn n’at?”
12. Or, it’s your Philly accent that comes out to play. “Youse guys geddin wuterice dawna Phull’s game?”
13. You consider it a violation of your first amendment rights that you cannot have wine delivered to your home.
14. You know what a Yinzerita is.
#Repost @steelcactuspgh ・・・ #Repost @aliteration ・・・ #sundayfunday #yinzerita
A photo posted by Party Pittsburgh (@partypgh) on Jul 22, 2015 at 1:46pm PDT
15. Whether you root for the Iggles (Eagles) or the Stillers (Steelers), you tailgate at football games you’re not even attending. And baseball games. And hockey games. And concerts. Your kid’s little league game. Your grandad’s funeral. Tailgating is basically your PA state pastime.
16. You wish Paddy’s Pub from It’s Always Sunny was a real place, and you sing Flip-a-delphia whenever you play Flip Cup. Flip-flip-flip –a-delphia.
17. You know if you need a 6-pack, a case of beer, and a bottle of jack to pregame for the 2016 Republican primary, you will likely have to drive to three different stores. Because finding beer, wine, and spirits in PA is almost as hard as finding a viable GOP candidate.
18. You were part of the Kenney Chesney Tailgate-gate in 2013 that left the Heinz Field parking lot country music’ed (aka: completely trashed).
19. When you’re in Philly you get the Citywide Special — a PBR pounder and a shot of Jim Beam for around $3. If Pittsburgh had a Citywide Special it would be an IC Light pounder and a pierogi.
20. You’ve been stupid drunk just pregaming at Penn State and you didn’t even go there. Or, you did go there and for you it was just a regular Tuesday night.
21. Your very proud of the fact that Philly is largely responsible for the popularity of ‘quizo,’ aka ‘pub trivia,’ aka ‘a legit reason to hit the bar on weekdays.’ 
10 ways to cope with a girl who loves to travel
Photo: Gloria Atanmo.
Bless the hearts of the men who try to keep up with the fast-paced, ever-changing souls of female wanderlusters.
Their quick wit, impulsive nature, and always-evolving idea of what their lives should look like make them some of the most complex creatures to grace the dating scene.
Most female solo travelers prioritize traveling first and dating second.
In fact, I’d argue that eating comes second.
They thrive in new environments, which may or may not include you, but if you are in the picture, here are some tips to help ease the roller coaster ride that is dating a girl who loves to travel:
1. She will value experiences over material things.
Skip the overpriced bouquet of flowers and take her to a hidden garden instead. You bring the wine and she’ll bring the stories.
This will mean so much more to her than the decaying daffodils she would have snapped a pic of for Instagram before forgetting about it moments later. Because, Generation-Y.
2. Don’t pressure her with questions about the future. The idea of “settling down” is terrifying.
She knows she can’t live out of a suitcase forever, but she’s okay with pretending that it’s a possibility anyway.
She’s fine without the infamous five-year plan. It limits her possibilities because she knows opportunities arise just as quickly as they go.
3. She wants you, but she doesn’t need you.
Solo travelers, by nature, are independent and daring souls. They’ve navigated the most confusing of railways and survived horror stories from remote locations in the world.
She can hold her own with or without you and despite the rumors of having sugar daddies funding her lifestyle, she only wishes she could be so lucky. Ha! But really.
4. She has a home, but it’s more of a feeling than a place.
Everyone has a home base they return to after traveling, but because she’s met so many kind and generous souls on the road, she can make a home wherever she goes.
The idea of having to fly thousands of miles to celebrate every major holiday is no longer a burden for her because she will make the most of any situation no matter where she is.
5. Don’t be overwhelmed by her circle of friends/acquaintances.
If she likes you, you won’t have to worry about sharing her. But just know there are people all over the world who appreciate her presence just as much as you do.
So, let her be free to reunite with the friends she’s made while traveling.
There’s a certain type of energy she thrives from and only fellow wanderlusters can truly feed that into her.
6. Don’t question her gut.
She questions it enough herself. She’s a traveler. She’s impulsive. She constantly yearns for more. Her savings account is depleting by the second.
Still, she continues on a path so few are able to go on because there’s this fire that burns inside her and she wouldn’t dare keep anyone around her who tries to put it out.
7. She doesn’t succumb to societal pressures.
Biological clocks and fads hardly exist to her. She tends to take what she has and make it trendy.
Often, she can be a trendsetter because of that, and if she’s looking to make a decision, society is the last thing she’ll turn to.
She was born to stand out and there are plenty of seats to be taken for those who are uncomfortable with that.
8. Be positive, or be gone.
Solo travelers have learned how to escape the three “D’s” of travel: danger, death, and deportation. She stays optimistic because it could always be worse.
The last thing she needs is a cloud of negativity reminding her of every worst case scenario and safety precaution.
She’s a calculated risk-taker. She will always make sure the rewards outweighs the risks.
And, as long as danger, death, or deportation have yet to halt her journey, don’t add to the list and be a “Douchebag” to ruin her winning streak.
9. Understand she’s been single for a reason.
She’s learned through travel how short and fleeting life can be, and she wouldn’t dare waste it on the wrong person, especially when that hinders the chances for the right one to come along.
It’s easy to be in a relationship; it’s hard to be in one of substance, maturity, and mutual growth.
She’s okay ridin’ solo for as long as destiny sees fit. Not to mention, she probably sucks at flirting. So, there’s also that.
10. She won’t be a dime a dozen.
She’s a rare breed. She’s constantly growing, changing ,and evolving into the best version of herself, all while leaving her mark on the world.
She has a remarkable spirit that can lift even the darkest of souls, and you’ll never have to question her loyalty because she makes it very clear where she stands on everything. She’s not afraid to think for herself.
While she may seem like an intimidating package on the outside, first-class stamped and air-mailed to meet you in the most exotic of locations, just know that when and if you get this special delivery, she will truly be a gift. 
15 reasons you should never travel to Austria
12 abilities Tennesseeans have over everyone else
Photo: Ryan and Sarah Deeds
1. Knowing the difference between alcohol and Jack.
Offer us a leftover shot of Pumpkin Pie Pinnacle from your latest Pure Romance party, and we’ll probably smile politely and decline. But truth is, you’ve never been more harshly judged.
Now, get outta here with your dessert-flavored trash and pour us another round of Jack on the rocks, please.
2. Sitting in pews with a throbbing hangover from aforementioned Jack.
We acquired this ability by waking up in beer-stained bedsheets with stale cigarette hair to hip-cocked moms in curlers and floral-patterned dress standing in doorways saying, “If you can go out Saturday night then you can get up for church on Sunday morning.”
3. Not spitting in someone’s food when they ask us how much we love country music.
Wanna really get under the skin of a Tennessean? Automatically assume we all come home from a hard day’s work of huntin’ or muddin,’ kick off our camo cowboy boots on the screened-in porch, fatten our lips with some Skoal, and turn on twangy tunes about drinkin’ ‘till someone’s hot enough to take home from the honky tonk. Of course, not that there aren’t plenty of respectable folks who rock out to the genre — after all, Nashville does have the show that made country music famous. But to think we only listen to artists like Dolly Parton or Kenny Chesney is like assuming all Canadians are moose-riding Mounties who shower in maple syrup — it just doesn’t make any sense.
Have you ever wondered where the most influential musicians in Blues and early Rock N’ Roll history hail from? B.B. King? Tennessee. Aretha Franklin? Tennessee. Elvis Presley? Tennessee. Johnny Cash? Tennessee. Gregg Allman? Tennessee. Paramore? The Black Keys? Jack White’s Third Man Records? Yup — all from Tennessee.
4. Pretending to like the color orange.
Game Day makes the whole state look like someone vomited a sloshy sea of Orange Crush all over the place. Do we actually like sporting the citrusy color while perpetually missing Peyton Manning? Hell no. But dammit, we represent.
5. Being a hot chicken sadist.
No, please, by all means — keep telling us about how weak the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin’ sauce is before trying some of Nashville’s hot chicken. It only makes the instant reddening of your entire body and tears streaming with dry-rubbed sweat that much sweeter. Of course, the less you act like a hotshot before ordering a basket of Shut the Cluck Up, the more likely we are to let you in on the secret pain-numbing power of pickles. And trust us — you’re going to want some pickles.
6. Killing you with kindness.
Screw us over? Prepared to be prayed for. Neighborhood rival? *waves in passing on the road.* Say something dumb? Well, bless your heart. Of course, when we finally do kill you from kindness, we’ll fill your family’s fridge with casserole dish upon casserole dish, maybe throwing in a seven-layer salad or two if we didn’t totally hate your guts.
7. Finding barbecue enlightenment.
Tender meat falling off the bone in a messy pile of dry rub? And who’s to say that barbecue has to be dripping in sauce to be goddamn delicious?
8. Making a feast appear out of absolutely nowhere.
One moment, you’ve got a bare table staring you and your rumbling stomach down. The next, there’s a smorgasbord of deep-fried chicken smothered in sawmill gravy, fried green tomatoes, sweet cornbread, green bean casserole, grits, collard greens, and at least two gallon pitchers of sweet iced tea. Most would assume the only logical explanation for such a feat would be raw Appalachian witchcraft, but we’ll let you in on a little secret — pecan pie. Lots and lots of pecan pie.
9. Downloading that online video 25 minutes before you.
Thanks to fibre optics, buffering is so 2012.
This story was produced through the travel journalism programs at MatadorU. Learn More
10. Being legitimately hip.
Tennessee gave birth to Record Store Day, which celebrates independently owned record stores around the nation, and is also home to the largest vinyl pressing plant in the United States. In other words, we thought vinyl was cool before it was an intellectual decoration for your bookshelf alongside a collection of novellas you’ve never read.
11. Keeping up with the mess of Tennessee liquor laws.
On Sundays, you can buy beer, but not wine or liquor, after 12 pm. All other days, you can buy any type of booze, but it has to be before 11 pm. Unless, of course, you’re in a county where the bars close earlier than 3 am. At that point, alcohol sales stop when the bars close for the night. And then there are a plethora of dry counties (like the one where Jack Daniels is distilled) scattered around the state, making it a common requirement to drive to the bordering county — or even state — for the purchase of alcohol.
12. Pardoning the ignorant.
On one hand, we’ve got outsiders mocking our accents and expressing their shock upon discovering our paved roads and proper dental care. On the other, we’ve got trucks flapping with Confederate flags in a black cloud of exhaust leaving behind cans of Bud Lite like a trail of breadcrumbs.
Having a degree in Gritting Your Teeth 101 is pretty much a requirement here. 
July 23, 2015
Aberdeen has an amazing coastline
ABERDEEN, also known as the Silver City with Golden Sands, sits on the northeast coastal plain of Scotland. Industrialisation and the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s has transformed the region into the Energy Capital of Europe. Despite this, the region’s coastline remains unspoilt. From St Cyrus on the edge of Grampian, via the turning point at Kinnaird Head, and on to Findhorn on the Moray coast, Aberdeenshire’s coastline runs for more than 150 miles and covers everything from high cliffs strewn with wildflowers to secluded coves and long sandy dunes.
It’s little surprise that the region has been a popular holiday spot for the royals for centuries.
1. High Tide on Fittie steps, Aberdeen Beach
Step into the Sea by Sarah Rose on 500px
2. A haar over Aberdeen Harbour
Seraph of the Squall by Dean Muir on 500px
3. Rainbows stretching over Stonehaven
Stonehaven rainbow by Pedro Ferrer on 500px
4. A dramatic view of Dunnottar Castle
Dunnottar Castle by Dougie Cunningham on 500px
5. Aberdeen Beach at sunset.
Aberdeen Beach by Neil Donald on 500px
6. ‘Storms ‘a’ bruin’ over the lighthouse at the edge of Aberdeen’s harbour
7. Bow Fiddle Rock, Portknockie
bow fiddle by Graeme Wilson on 500px
8. A boat house in the dunes at Newburgh Beach
Boat House by tomek-m on 500px
9. Dusty blues near Banff
Banff blues by Herman Schutte on 500px
10. Miles of dunes at Balmedie Beach
Balmedie Beach by Neil Donald on 500px
11. Crawton Falls near Dunnottar Castle
Dying Of The Light by Iain Brooks on 500px
11 differences between a normal mom and a Japanese-American mom
Photo: taylorandayumi
1.
A normal mom wants you to be a gracious guest.
A Japanese-American mom insists that you show up to every party with a gift for the hosts, the hosts’ parents, and something for everyone else who might be there to enjoy.
2.
A normal mom wants you to learn how to properly use silverware.
A Japanese-American mom will sit there silently with her arms folded until you can pick up a single grain of rice with *both* a fork, and chopsticks.
3.
A normal mom wants you to know a bit about your family history.
A Japanese-American mom teaches you about your Japanese origins by making you fold paper cranes until they’re perfect, dammit.
4.
A normal mom might use big words to talk trash about you and your siblings to your grandparents.
A Japanese-American mom will use big words to talk trash about you to your grandparents, but will also use Japanese (*especially* yancha kozo) while pretending to translate for you in English. Or she won’t translate it at all just to drive you nuts.
5.
A normal mom has a go-to family recipe dish for barbecues and get-togethers.
A Japanese-American mom will cook up both shrimp cocktail and shrimp tempura so that everyone has something familiar to eat.
6.
A normal mom wants you to make a good impression when visiting someone else’s house.
A Japanese-American mom rings the doorbell, then wonders why you haven’t already removed your shoes yet (even though you never take off your shoes at home).
7.
A normal mom wants to prepare you for the world outside your home.
A Japanese-American mom prepares you for the world by exposing you to pickled daikon, and can then rest assured you will never encounter anything that smells half as bad ever again.
8.
A normal mom packs you a sack lunch for school.
A Japanese-American mom will pack you an adorable mini lunch bento, but will still put it in a brown paper bag so you don’t get weird looks from the other kids.
9.
A normal mom wants you to learn how to do your own laundry.
A Japanese-American mom teaches you how to do your laundry, then walks you through the zen art of folding by showing you 4 different ways to fold a single t-shirt.
10.
A normal mom wants you to have a healthy dose of self-esteem.
A Japanese-American mom instills in you a sense of stubborn humility, while teaching you the best ways to save face in embarrassing situations. Because that’s basically the same thing, right?
11.
A normal mom wants to inspire in you a sense of patriotism.
A Japanese-American mom knows how complicated this concept is (given the entangled histories of Japan and America circa 1941), and reminds you that your very existence represents progress away from the troubled past. 
8 reasons you should pay to volunteer abroad
Photo: AFS-USA Intercultural Programs
1. It costs the charity/nonprofit/NGO money.
It doesn’t matter what you call them, it costs them money to host you. Whether you’re helping for an afternoon, a weekend away, or an extended stay — YOU cost money. Maybe it’s the cost of your breakfast; maybe it’s the cost of the person to clean your fork and spoon. Maybe they have to transfer you from hotel to job site. Maybe you’re using huge quantities of soap to scrub the paint from your elbows. Providing all of that costs money. Alright, it does sound kinda petty — it’s just a $5 meal, a 5-minute ride and a 5pm shower, but think of that times 500 volunteers. It all adds up.
Fact: Expenses associated with hosting volunteers can include: accommodations, meals, supplies, transportation, supervision, training, cultural activities, health and liability insurance. These are just the direct costs, which average around $500 per person for a one week volunteer trip in Latin America with a reputable organization like Habitat for Humanity, but let’s not forget indirect costs. Most organizations will add on an additional amount to cover the time staff members put into planning for your stay, plus other support that might not be so obvious, like equipment, facilities, clinics or schools.
2. Donations should be spent on programs and services, not your shampoo.
You remember the conversation last spring, it was fascinating: Uncle Bert and Aunt Bessie had pics of the art therapy program they help support for traumatized kids in Nepal. They’d really done their homework and found an organization that directs almost all their funds to program work. They were so happy about that. They work hard for their money; and want every penny to go to the kids, just like most donors.
You get it, charities are 100% dependent on donations. You know they run on tight budgets. Whether it’s Aunt & Uncle B, the government, a corporation or foundation, all donors want their money spent wisely. Organizations must prioritize; spending money on a volunteer’s accommodation or shampoo just doesn’t make the cut.
Fact: The top-ranked organizations on Charity Navigator earn four-star ratings for spending their donations well AND making a tangible, measurable difference. In other words, nonprofits are accountable to their donors. Funds must be spent on the mission, not your bottled water.
3. The organization’s focus is its beneficiaries, not you.
You’re heading out there to help; you don’t want to be a distraction. What if you were asking the program director where to put the invasive vines you just wrestled out and, while she was showing you, she missed a call saying a poacher had just entered the preserve? You know it wasn’t your fault; the organization can’t afford a volunteer manager and somebody has to help you. But you feel extra bad knowing they already put in lots of time planning for your arrival: answering e-mails, organizing a schedule, orientation and training…. Ugh.
You start doing the math, all that plus the time spent on you while you’re there. You know everyone still comes out ahead, but what if they missed other calls or important work? A volunteer manager would definitely help, but who pays for her? You know Auntie & Uncle B won’t support it, so you don’t mind if your volunteer vacation fees do.
Fact: For more than ten years Save the Children has ranked as a top 4-star charity. Here’s part of the reason why — 89% of their funds directly support their beneficiaries.
Helping others involves personal sacrifice and commitment. It is NOT a vacation.
In fiscal year 2014, 89 percent of all expenditures went to program services. That percentage is an average for all of Save the Children
4. Helping others involves personal sacrifice and commitment. It is NOT a vacation.
You’ve been on-site a few days and have seen how tired the staff is when they catch the bus home. You know they live modestly and get paid less than their peers in the for-profit world. You can see their passion and how building a family a home allows their daughter to go to school, she can get an education and not be married off at age 12. The program director tells you it’s worth all the sacrifice. She’ll take less pay so more money can go to the save the children/animals/waterways/stick insects. You’re proud to do the same; you don’t need a handout from a charity!
Fact: A 2010 study by the NonProfit Quarterly revealed that the average annual salary of an American in ‘management occupations’ at a large, for-profit US organization was $94,628. And her nonprofit counterpart? $72,509.
5. It’s more than volunteering.
You think you’re going just to volunteer, but you’re not. You might not know it when you first arrive, but your contribution will go way beyond scrubbing watermelons to feed a handicapped elephant. You’re about to become an ambassador for the mission and a lifelong supporter. You’ll be sharing photos on Instagram and voicing your indignation on Twitter. (Can you believe that yellow furred horses have fewer rights than spotted? Please help save the children from mermaids and Prince Charming!!)
The awareness you bring after is just as valuable as the activities you accomplish there. And maybe you’re not earning the big bucks yet, but when you make your first donation, who’s it gonna go to? Yup, you got it.
Fact: 84% of volunteers go on to contribute in bigger ways.
6. You meet people who inspire you, help you, and become great friends.
Maybe your people back home don’t understand, they just listen to your stories politely before their eyes gla…oooh shiny!
But don’t worry, you’ve got your fellow volunteers to connect with. Like the girl from Chicago who you conspired with to get table scraps to the stray dog outside. Or the French-Canadian guy who offered you a hard hat for protection against falling mangoes. You know that the German grad student shares your outrage over abused elephants and the Indian woman you just met already feels like a sister. So pick hardening concrete from your shoelaces and drink beer from a trash can-turned-cooler. Someone’s about to rewrite the lyrics of ‘Piano Man’ to describe your group. These people are kin.
Fact: According to the Adventure Travel Trade Association, slightly more females (53%) volunteer than men (47%), but the age groups are pretty well split 33% are 20-40 year olds and 34% are 41-60. 12% are under 20.
7. You access the culture in a way most don’t.
You’re not a tourist. You’re not on resort row. You’re not being touted to buy made-in-China souvenirs that can be relabeled to shout Bali! or Cancun! or Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! You’re in a place that most non-locals bypass and it’s fantastic. It’s a place where oxen are still used to plough fields and water is pumped from a well. There’s probably a tribal language and a national language and no English language. Maybe you play football with neighborhood teens after work. Maybe you’re taught to make pupusas for dinner. Maybe some Buddhists invite you to release fish and make merit. Or maybe a shaman blesses your arrival. After all that, you relax on a local beach run by fishermen and seaweed farmers — not a lounge chair in sight.
8. There’s no price tag on feeling the love.
You’ll first feel it on arrival. There’s a burst of something that hasn’t been there since childhood. Resuscitating laughter. Unobstructed joy. You’re finally here, you’re doing it. Your emotions crank up. Locals want to receive your smile and ask: ‘why would a stranger come all this way to help us?’ A little girl gives you a balloon with a smiley face and all the villagers turn up to wave goodbye. It’s a connection you’ve never felt before and a Cuba Libre just doesn’t compare.
Fact: Volunteering is a mood enhancer. People who do it have increased happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of control over life, physical health and decreased depression. Oh yeah, and it’s addictive. 
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