Learn to Read Chinese Before Teaching in China
The Chinese language and its characters can seem so mystifying to us outsiders. But when you become a volunteer teacher in China, you can have a better experience if you can learn to read Chinese — at least some of the most common Chinese characters. Continue Reading →
“Viral Bhaidiyo” Music Video in Nepal
Volunteering in Nepal has many benefits of course. Including exposing you to Nepali pop culture!
The music video “Viral Bhaidiyo” is THE latest viral hit in Nepal. Produced by Sabin Karki, the video is cute and catchy. Continue Reading →
Put Down That Travel Guidebook
Ten years ago, travel guidebook writer Thomas Kohnstamm, co-author of a dozen Lonely Planet guides to Latin America and the Caribbean, admitted that he worked on a book for Colombia though he didn’t visit the country. Continue Reading →
Kenya Airways Begins First Direct Flights to USA
Kenya Airways is making it even easier to volunteer in Kenya.
In 2018 Kenya Airways is beginning daily direct flights from Kenya to the United States after years of being blocked by U.S. authorities over security concerns. Continue Reading →
Delhi World Book Fair 2018
If you are volunteering in India now and looking for a fun event during your free time this week:
The New Delhi World Book Fair 2018 is running from January 6-14 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
Held for the past 45 years, the New Delhi World Book Fair 2018 is a major calendar event in the publishing world. Continue Reading →
Hats for Ghana Nursing Scholarships
After volunteering in a hospital in the Volta Region of Ghana, Montreal nurse Julia Garland decided to start fundraising with handmade cloth hats.
Julia has raised over $10,000 to date, enough to fund three separate yearlong scholarships for Ghanaian nurses.
As Sarah Giles wrote recently in The Canadian Press, brightly coloured cloth caps are used by some Canadian doctors and nurses before heading into the operating room.
Retired anesthetist Dr. Glenn Gibson believes he was an early trendsetter in slipping on brightly coloured cloth caps before heading into the operating room.
So he was a bit disappointed when some hospitals started to ban the cloth protective headwear, which allow doctors to show a little personality.
“I like cloth OR caps. I got tired of wearing the plain green ones, so about 25 years ago I started making my own … with ridiculous colours and designs that nobody would buy,” said Gibson, who estimates he had about four dozen at one point.
Our medical volunteers in Ghana can use any type of cap during their healthcare internships in Ghana. The more important aspects of the medical volunteering program include learning about medical care delivery in Africa and providing treatment to locals.
As a healthcare intern in Ghana, you can work at a large hospital or a semi-rural clinic. The two primary locations in Ghana for the programs are Cape Coast and Volta Region.
You are welcome to specialize in a particular department like maternity or emergency medicine. Medical and nursing students can receive academic credit through their internship with us in Ghana, typically as an elective with their school back home.
Xmas Party and Jesus Play in India
We at Cosmic Volunteers just received a heartfelt Greetings from Sri Ramana Matriculation School in Tamil Nadu, India.
The principal Mr. Karuna writes to us and our volunteers in India, “Wish you a Prosperous and Happy New Year Ahead!”
The children at the school staged the play of the Birth of Jesus Christ.
Santa Claus made an appearance as well !!
Interested in teaching in India with the students at Sri Ramana school? Contact us!
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam at Xmas
Check out the scene in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as the city comes alive with decorations for Christmas and New Year’s.
Are you considering volunteering in Vietnam? Why not come during the Christmas Holidays? Give us a call and ask us how you can do it!
CDC TravWell App
For vaccination and health advice for volunteering abroad trips, we have always recommended the website of the Centers for Disease Control.
The CDC now has an app for that too. It’s called the CDC’s TravWell app available on iOS and Android.
As the CDC’s web page says, TravWell:
…helps you plan for safe and healthy international travel. Build a trip to get destination-specific vaccine recommendations, a checklist of what you need to do to prepare for travel, and a customizable healthy travel packing list.
The app also lets you store travel documents, keep a record of your medications and immunizations, and set reminders to get vaccine booster doses or take medicines while you’re traveling.
Key Features of TravWell
> Authoritative recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
> During-travel features available offline (no data connection needed)
> Fully customizable to do list and packing list
>Emergency services phone numbers for every destination
Lifehacker recently featured the app and wrote the following:
Different countries around the world have unique foods, styles, and cultures, but they also have their own diseases.
That’s why it’s important you get vaccinated four to six weeks before you travel internationally.
If you’re getting ready to jet set around the world, the Centers for Disease Control’s TravWell app can help you prepare your immune system.
Available for iOS and Android, CDC TravWell gives you clear instruction about what you need based on where you’re going and when.
After downloading the app, you can build a trip that can include multiple destinations.
Then TravWell will give you vaccine requirements and recommendations for each location, as well as a checklist of other things you should do before you take off.