Anxious to go....most of the time

With all my research on the volunteering/living abroad experiences my imagination is on over-time with various scenarios. The majority tend to be positive such as getting to know the locals, helping the children, learning to cook local foods, being accepted by those in the markets where I shop, finding my own volunteer work. The negatives are having difficulty learning a new language, worrying about what happens to our house and its contents while we are gone....will something major happen, what about the tenants, the complications of arranging all this......

Yesterday I would have said I was 50-50 on going or not. But after thinking about it I've realized that the bottom line is I might have occasional or even frequent regrets once we are solidly in the midst of a completely foreign culture, but if we don't go I will always regret it. I would always wonder what it would have been like, how well I would have adjusted, what I would have learned, how I would have grown, the satisfaction I would have gained, etc.

Should we go?

My husband and I are considering doing a two-year stint with the VSO - Voluntary Services Overseas. Danny has applied for positions as an Education Advisor and similar titles. I would be a non-volunteering (independent) partner. We are still very much in the research stage, but will know more next month when we go for an assessment near London.

I have been busily researching everything about volunteering and about each country the VSO sends volunteers. There is a great deal of conflicting information between people who have been or live in certain countries, the media, as well as the US State Department and the FCO UK. The US site is, of course, the most negative but it seems they've become quite paranoid about the entire world. Danny thinks I am being paranoid when I find it frightening to read about bandits using machetes on their victims, bombs in tourist areas, kidnappings, murder and mayhem. I will admit that it does make me just a bit nervous as I am hoping to live at least 25 more years.

Countries I've researched in depth are Nepal, Cambodia, The Gambia, and Namibia. First, get accepted and then see what countries are offered. Stay tuned.