www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday May 24, 2008 - 19 Volunteering on vacation S ometimes just holidaying in a destination just isn't enough. We fall in love not just with the scenery, but the people, and we want to give back. That is probably why there is a boom in volunteer vacations. This could be a perfect holiday if you have trouble sitting still, want to hang out with the locals and don't require fivestar accommodation or meals. You pay for this privilege, it could be thousands or very little. Why? The fee you pay pays for the basics, and to get you there, and to sustain the projects so they can continue sustainable programs... My friend Susan fell in love with Costa Rica years ago. She started at an all-inclusive resorts, loved the country and the people so much she took her daughters to San Jose for a year, and all of them learned Spanish and lived in a local neighborhood. She began investigating the idea of volunteering and chose Tropical Adventures Volunteers. For information visit www.tropicaladventures.com. Here's her story: "In the Talamanca mountains of south eastern Costa Rica, the village of Bambu consists of about 20 houses, two small stores, a retirement home, an elementary school, a beautiful cultural centre, and some of the nicest people you will ever meet. My recent time there was a wonderful, fulfilling experience and I promised myself I will go back soon. Why did I choose Tropical Adventures? After hearing about them on another trip to Costa Rica last winter, I contacted the staff and was warmly welcomed as a potential volunteer. My e-mails were always answered quickly and full of information. No question was too silly or insignificant not to warrant a prompt, helpful response. I felt comfortable with the price that included everything from airport pick up, medical coverage, local coordinators in the area, and well-screened host families. Care was taken to consider my talents and interests and also the needs of the community I would be visiting. Bambu and I turned out to be a great match. My host family was delightful. Their house was rustic, with an outdoor shower and toilet, but clean and I had a private room. My host "mother" provided three meals a day centered on rice, beans and plantains. Flory also made the most delicious tortillas for breakfast and, of course, rich Costa Rican coffee. My host "father" Gilbert left early in the morning for work and returned after dark but still had time to study a little English with me. Their son, Flander, who is eight years old, was a charming little fellow; well behaved and full of questions for me. Gilbert loved the French toast I made at breakfast one day, first time for both French toast and Canadian maple syrup. The whole family loved to hear the story of where maple syrup comes from and how it is produced. I love cooking and another day I made deviled eggs for the family and neighbors. I was surprised at the store. It is not unusual here to buy only three or four eggs at a time. The shopkeeper really looked surprised when I asked for 18. You can also purchase many things here in small amounts, only one Aspirin from a bottle, 20gm packages of peanuts, little bags of mayonnaise with a spout. The Bambu Retirement Home is an amazing place, with 20 well-cared-for and loved seniors. The building is simple and kept spotlessly clean. It is run by three nuns who have a great sense of humour, fun and lots of love for the residents. Breakfast was over by 9 a.m. when I arrived and from then until 12 noon it was time for crafts and exercise. Everyone who could possibly participate did. We made popsicle houses, fish from recycled pop bottles, flowers from coffee filters, cut up old calendars, colored, decorated plant holders made from old pop bottles, painted balsa wood cut outs and decorated them with dollar store decorations I had brought. The faces of the residents beamed with pleasure as Hermana (Sister) Blanca praised and admired their work. Exercise is taken serious here; again, everyone who is able to participates. Five residents a day use the exercise bike, but it needs replacing, held together with rope, screws falling out -- a sad sight. After my morning at the retirement home I went to the elementary school and taught English to nine grade 6 students for an hour. The students' favourite activity was word Bingo, maybe it was the stickers I handed out as prizes. After a few hours off in the afternoon, when I rested and did prep work for teaching the next day, I went to the Cultural Centre to teach English again in the evening for a few hours. It was a meaningful two weeks." To find your own special volunteer vacation, research exactly the way you'd do for any holiday. Visit www.globalvolunteers.com, www.idealist.org, or www.gonomad.com are others that have a long track record. -- Sam Ion can be reached at sion10@cogeco.ca. BEAVER TRAILS TO PERU: Mercedes Soto and Irene Kudo took The Oakville Beaver to Machu Pichu, recently selected as one of the seventh wonders of the world. Take along a copy of The Oakville Beaver on your next vacation and send it in for publication to Beaver Trails, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4 or e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. CONQUEST TO SAMANA Conquest Vacations has added Samana, Dominican Republic, to its summer line-up. The new program, which begins on 30JUN08, will depart Toronto on Mondays with Canjet Airlines and will operate through 25AUG08. All flights will operate directly into the new Samana airport. Conquest has partnered with the Bahia Principe hotel chain and will offer three of their 5-Star properties. Travellers can choose from the Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa, the Gran Bahia Principe El Portillo or the exclusive adult-only Gran Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado a member of the Don Pablo Collection. All-inclusive rates for the 30JUN08 departure are just $839 at the Cayacoa, $859 at the El Portillo and $1329 at the Cayo Levantado per person double plus $338 taxes and fees. The Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa and El Portillo are also offering a free stay for up to two children per room uner the age of 13. Call us for rates and availability. The Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa and El Portillo are also offering a free stay for up to two children per room under the age of 13. Call us for rates and availability. CLUB MED WAIVES SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FEES Club Med has waived its Single Supplement fees for single travellers vacationing between 15MAY08 and 27OCT08. The offer is available at: Columbus Isle, Bahamas; Turkoise, Turks & Caicos; La Caravelle, Guadeloupe; Les Boucaniers, Martinique; Ixtapa Pacific, Mexico; Cancun Yucatan, Mexico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Sanpiper, Florida and Bora Bora, French Polynesia. CELEBRITY LATE `08 MED SALE Celebrity Cruises is offering travellers the opportunity to "Fall... for Celebrity's Mediterranean" by taking advantage of discounts on select sailings in the region. Guests who book certain Mediterranean cruises are eligible to receive a US$300 p.p. air or cruise credit for the first two guests in a stateroom and a US$100 credit for each additional guest in that stateroom. The promotion is valid for all Mediterranean cruises on Celebrity Century, Celebrity Galaxy, and Celebrity Summit with a departure date in October or November, 2008 when booked between 19MAY08 and 01JUN08. Itineraries include 10- and 11-night eastern and western Mediterranean cruises and 14-night "Classical Mediterranean" and "Mediterranean Legacies" itineraries. www.celebritycruises.com Visit McTavish At: www.mctavishtravel.com Voted Best Travel Agency Best Cruise Company Best Travel Agent Thanks Oakville! Hopedale Shopping Centre 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville Relax... you're with us 221 Lakeshore Road E. (905) 827-1100 fax: (905) 827-4982 e-mail: travel@mctavish.com 905-337-2228 www.hookedoncruising.com To advertise in this section call 905-845-3824