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How to integrate with local communities when volunteering abroad

If you’re about to become an international volunteer, lucky you! There’s really nothing quite like heading overseas and utterly immersing yourself in a local community. That said, it’s understandable if you’re a bit apprehensive about how well you’ll fit in – especially if you’re travelling somewhere with a really different culture.

It doesn’t need to be a terrifying prospect though – read on to find out all kinds of ways to make sure you integrate into the community smoothly.

Learn the local language

Now, us UK travellers have a bit of a reputation for heading abroad and speaking nothing but English – and thinking that if we just speak a little more loudly and a bit more slowly, we’ll be understood.

Ok, we might get lucky and talk to someone who understands what we’re going on about, but it’s not the best way to ingratiate yourself with the locals. You’re a guest in their country, so make an effort to use their language. Even if you don’t do it particularly well, the fact that you’ve tried will speak volumes – so give it a go.

You can make things easier by preparing as much as you can before you travel. You could take a short course, for example, or get a friend who knows the local lingo to help you out. It’ll definitely help you communicate more smoothly and make friends faster – which can only be a good thing!

Research local customs and traditions

Another frequent stumbling block when you’re living with other cultures is being unfamiliar with their customs and traditions. This is definitely an area where research before you travel is essential – otherwise it can be pretty easy to accidently offend someone.

For example, if you’re in India and your hosts offer you a flower garland, make sure you accept gracefully; being given a flower garland is considered an honour and to refuse would be disrespectful.

Of course, learning every single custom and tradition before you go might be a bit of a tall order. So, while you’re there, be willing to ask questions if you’re ever unsure – people will usually be only too glad to tell you more about their culture. Plus, it shows you’re interested in them, which will always help you make friends.

Get involved in local life

The next step is throwing yourself into local life. Since you’re taking part in a volunteering project, you’ll probably be doing this already, so you might not need to think about this one too much. Don’t be shy about getting involved in local activities or trying a new type of food – you might discover a new passion!

Don’t cling to your camera

It’s pretty easy to spot a tourist a mile off – they’ll be the ones with the camera, the map and the slightly confused expression on their face. When you’re travelling, that’s you. If you really want to fit in, try to leave the map behind – once you’re familiar with your surroundings and are comfortable doing so – and don’t incessantly take pictures. I’m not saying don’t take any, but having a camera permanently hanging around your neck will mark you out, so try to let the tourist side of yourself go for a few days and just enjoy being where are you and doing what you’re doing.

Find low cost flights with BravoFly.com

With rising gas prices affecting airlines, the brunt of the money to cover expenses always gets put on the flyer. Whether you like it or not, costs of flights around the world are soaring to all-time highs and there are no signs of it slowing down anytime soon. Additionally, the charges that are put on for checked baggage, plus even further fees for bringing carry-ons onto a plane have become simply ludicrous. Therefore, to capitalize on your own bankroll when you travel, it’s important to make sure you find low cost flights on the same top airlines that are charging these exorbitant fees. When you need low cost flights across the country or around the world, consider BravoFly.com.

BravoFly.com is the exciting new way to save on airlines. Rather than searching for individual flights, you now have the power compare and contrast what airlines will charge for any flights during your travel time and go with the lowest fares available to you. Additionally, whether you go with the cheapest airfare or not, BravoFly can save you as much as %60 on flights with major airlines.

If you’ve got family travelling with you, BravoFly offers you the opportunity to share low cost flights with the rest of the group through social media and email. With one click, you can post the link to the same great deal you found on a flight on Facebook and Twitter. Share low cost flights with your friends and followers alike who are looking to book the same flight as you.

BravoFly.com has one of the most expansive collections of airlines and flights that are available to you when compared to other major low cost flight web sites. With over 400 airlines and growing, you’re bound to find a flight heading out of and back into a major airport near your city. Whether you’re travelling 6 months from now or heading out next week, you can still save a bundle with low cost flights from BravoFly.com.

There are more than 80,000 flights across Europe alone on a daily basis, and well over a quarter of a million flights worldwide. There are empty seats on nearly every one of those flights, which is potentially lost money for any major airline. By offering low cost flights, airlines make some money, and you get to save some money, making it a win win for everyone. You just need to know where to look. Choose BravoFly.com for finding low cost flights the next time you need to travel.

Torres Del Paine: one of the world’s ultimate trekking destinations

It’s always hard when someone asks you to put together a list of the best destinations for a trekking travel adventure – after all, there are so many places in the world where strapping on your hiking boots is pretty much mandatory.

That said, Torres del Paine in the Chilean part of Patagonia is likely to feature in most top tens and with good reason. If you’re curious, find out why the national park should be on every hiker’s bucket list.

Varied landscapes

There are definitely lots of destinations around the globe where you’ll discover fantastic scenery while trekking – but there are certainly far fewer locations where you can look forward to seeing towering mountains, vast lakes, massive glaciers, gushing waterfalls, sprawling ice fields, stretches of Andean desert and large tracts of forest – oh yes, there is also a wide range of wildlife that lives in the region.

That certainly ticks off a few boxes and there are several routes you can follow during your break to see the best of Torres del Paine, which leads nicely on to the next point …

Dedicated trails

While hikers love getting off the beaten track and exploring, it can be hard going if you don’t have proper paths to follow for the majority of your trip. There are two particularly popular routes in Torres del Paine - the W and the O trails.

If you only have a few days to spend in Patagonia, pick the W tour, which covers a little over 76 km in four days. You’ll enjoy some amazing mountain views along the way, as well as visiting the Frances and Grey glaciers. Keep your eyes peeled on the sky and you may even catch a glimpse of one of the world’s most impressive and rarest birds, the condor.

Should you have longer to spend exploring Torres del Paine, which is definitely advisable, tackle the O trail. The circuit usually takes around seven days to complete and runs for 93.2 km. You’ll have the same starting point as with the W route, but you’ll walk around the Paine massif, as well as getting a stunning view over the southern ice field.

Lots of wildlife

Patagonia is home to a vast array of flora and fauna, some of which you’ll be able to see as you wander. The condor is certainly impressive, but that’s not the only bird you should look out for, with eagles, woodpeckers and even flamingos among the other winged creatures that live in the national park.

If you’re lucky, you could catch a glimpse of a puma, while there are several species of fox that inhabit the region, as well as skunk, guanaco (a close relative of the llama) and the south Andean deer. You’ll find operators that run dedicated wildlife spotting tours, so it might be worth considering one of these if you’re particularly desperate to see some of these creatures.

Year-round hiking

A final reason why Torres del Paine is one of the world’s ultimate trekking destinations is that you can visit at any time of year. The national park doesn’t have a season when it shuts down, so you can pick when you want to travel and go for it.

The summer is the most popular time for trekking, due to the warmer weather and you’ll get around 16 hours of light every day thanks to its southerly position. One thing to remember – spring/summer here is between October and April, as Patagonia is firmly in the southern hemisphere.

Winter is colder and, of course, snowier, but you can still get out and about as long as you’re prepared. You might not be able to access all the park’s trails, but at least you’ll have the ones you do walk along all to yourself!

Written on behalf of Explore for itravelnet.com.