"..make some difference that you have lived and lived well.."

I had completely and fully intended to get back on track before the weekend was up, but that did not happen. Once again, I didn't go crazy, I just didn't eat what I should have. And let me tell you, I've never been more excited to eat right. Every night for the past 4 or 5 nights, I've felt absolutely horrible. Horrible. As in phyisically ill. Horrible. It was so not worth it. In the moment, it was amazing. The foods all tasted so good and I was more full than I had been in months, but the price I paid for that was not worth it. Getting back on track is my number one priority today.

Updates on volunteer programs:

-I have technically "joined" one of the programs. This particular opportunity is in South Dakota with which I would be living around the Cheyenne River Reservation for close to four months.The Cheyenne River Reservation is located in two of the five poorest counties in the U.S. Plagued by high unemployment rates (about 70%), the majority of households live at or below poverty level. Volunteers provide assistance to disadvantaged Lakota youth, focusing primarily with children and families living on the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation. 

Basically, I would be working with children aged from 4 to 18 years old. During the school term the youth centre is open in the afternoons. During the summer holidays it is open all day, which is when I would be there. There is no typical day at the centre and activities include: Library time, arts and crafts, helping with homework, working in the organic garden, outdoor games, serving meals, fundraising drives within the community, helping with general upkeep of the centre. Mornings will often involve some administration and maintenance duties. There is a wide variety of ways I could be helping this community and that really excites me! 

I have thought of a couple of ways to raise some money, but I need a lot of help in doing so. I need to raise at least between $4,500-$5,000 to participate in this. $2,300 of it covers the cost of the program itself, but I would need approximately $600 in addition to cover the cost of my airline tickets, and then the rest would cover my spending money or any other additional expenses. I really love the idea behind this program and especially love the idea of living somewhere else for such an extended period of time! I want so badly to work with kids and this program is all about that!

-Another option I've been presented with is a volunteer stay in Hawaii. I know, right? Hawaii. This trip would only last 2 weeks (which is the trial period, it could be extended), but I would only need around $1,500 in total. If this 2 week trial stay is extended by the program's runners, I could stay another month for only $160 more. The only problem with this is that it isn't really a program in which I'd be giving too much back. Its basically a working vacation...which yes, does sound awesome, but isn't necessarily the experience I'm looking for. The retreat I'd be working with is a self-sustaining community that has people come and stay for cheap by contributing their services to the improvement of the facilities and grounds. I would basically be cleaning, gardening, and/or painting for my lodging. It really does sound amazing, but I'm not sure if its what I'm looking for...While there, I would most definitely find a volunteer organization with whom I would be able to help other communities in the area.

-Now, the number one opportunity on my list is a chance to work at an Italian summer camp. Dream. Come. True. I would be staying close to Macerata, Italy, in an apartment with the other counselors on the beach for 8 weeks...Yeah. My job here would include spending my mornings at the camp teaching Italian kids basic, conversational English. Once again, dream. come. true. I've been corresponding with one of the program employees over the past couple of weeks just exchanging info and talking about the program. I haven't technically been accepted, but it really seems promising. Obviously, if they didn't like my application, they wouldn't continue correspondence. This program would cost $1,900 and then additional funds for airline tickets and spending money. I would probably, again, be looking to raise around $5,000 for this. I'm kind of holding out for this one...I'm due to have a phone conversation with this woman I've been talking to sometime today! I can't wait to get some more in-depth information!

So, there you have it, my update on this venture. I just cannot express to you enough how badly I want to do this. I love the South Dakota program, but I want more than anything to travel overseas, especially to Italy. I've wanted to travel there for as long as I can remember. And to do so while helping kids? I mean, come on! That's the dream! I'm still waiting to hear from a few other programs, but so far, I'm quite happy with my options. To some that I've talked to, this apparently seems out-of-the-blue for me, but its honestly something that I've thought about before. I just never pursued because I thought there was no way that I could get enough money. But after looking further into and inquiring personally into these program, I feel that its not as daunting as I had originally assumed. I have all confidence in myself that I will be able to raise the money. I feel confident because it's something that I want. It's something that I crave. This is something that I'm growing more and more passionate about. I fear, though, that when I get a taste of this life, I'm not going to want to return to the old life...Who knows. That's one of the most exciting aspects of this. I don't know what's in store for me. I don't know what the outcome of this will be. I just know that if I don't do it, I will regret it forever.

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." -Ralph Waldo Emerson