By Amy Dietrich
Summary: Service trips are a great way to test drive a destination before packing up and moving abroad. Amy Dietrich offers 5 tips for test-driving a new culture to determine if the destination is right for you.
Service and cultural trips are a common rite of passage for college students – a combination of community service and experiential learning that takes place during a semester, weekend or spring break. Trips immerse travelers in regional communities, engage in service that promotes education of social and environmental issues, and offer exposure to language skills and local culture by living directly in the community. Service and culture trip experiences don't need to end in college. Here are 5 tips on how you can test-drive a new culture before packing up and making the big move:
Ultimately, service and culture trips are designed to transform individuals into globally conscious citizens. In the case of an expat, the experience may be a way to bring that consciousness into the decision-making process of whether to make a move to a new region, country or city.
For more information:
These 8 Employers Will Pay You to Volunteer on Fortune.com.
Amy Dietrich is contributing to Expat Exchange as a recent traveler to Guatemala with Habitat for Humanity Global Village. In addition to her role in human resources with a global technology company, Amy is co-founder of the non-profit 28 Days.
First Published: Oct 26, 2016
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