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Category: Coordinator Staff

Published: 31 May 2013

Carlos

I was born in Kansas and grew up in Puerto Rico and California. I would like to make a difference in this world, while enjoying what life has to offer. I feel that my bicultural upbringing, experiences in Latin America, interest in travel and desire to share and help improve the quality of life have brought me to GlobeAware.

I served in the Peace Corps (Paraguay) as a Rural Sanitation Promoter. I have Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and Spanish and a Masters Degree in Regional Planning. In the past, I’ve tutored Math/English/ Spanish, worked with street children in Mexico, participated in service projects, and worked with non-profit organizations.

Nos vemos en Cuzco!!!

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Category: Coordinator Staff

Published: 21 May 2013

Carly is a Canadian citizen, who studied at University of King's College in International Development Studies and Spanish. She's an energetic, dynamic, and hardworking young woman who loves being a member of a team in achieving all determined goals. Fluent in English and French, and Spanish. Studied abroad in Havana, Cuba. Her diverse background in leadership training activities, as well as experience in the organization of numerous events, has fueled her love for a challenge and pride in her ability to work independently in overcoming obstacles. Her love for international travel and cultural exchange has provided her with an appreciation for diversity and a high level of flexibility in many situations. She has developed a wide-range of experience in group facilitation that has increased her leadership, time management, and conflict resolution skills. She has experience in the tourism industry as a tour attendant and guide, and has served as a volunteer both overseas and in her community. She traveled independently to Malawi, Africa to complete a directed studies project on Gender and Development. Completed research through interviews with several non-governmental organizations regarding gender programming and policy formation. She also participated in Thailand in an international leadership volunteer program through Leaders Today, where she also taught English to Thai students. In her free time, she volunteered at a girls orphanage and a center for abandoned boys. In Belize, she participated in Reefs and Rainforests student program and studied environmental and cultural issues in Blue Creek rainforest reserve, followed by studies in reef biology in South Water Caye. 

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Category: Coordinator Staff

Published: 21 May 2013

Duangjai Thittayarak: "Mammee", a 50 something Thai native with a large family - 4 daughters all with names beginning with the letter "J", and most of with whom you will be living, amidst the monks. She's bilingual, though still practicing learning improved English. She's owned movie theaters and run several successful businesses, and is now the right hand person to Thailand's most venerated current top Buddhist monk, Pra Payom. She lives humbly, and one of her favorite expressions is "never mind" - in response to someone apologizing for any perceived wrongdoing. We've never known anyone who didn't absolutely adore her. 

Details

Category: Coordinator Staff

Published: 21 May 2013

Our principal Costa Rica-based coordinator is Mario Mora Perez. Mario is a longtime El Sur resident, with a wonderful wife, Lourdes, and 2 kids, Alejandra and Daniella. Alejandra is just starting school. He is one of the residents most affected by the current economic situation in the village and he truly enjoys leading efforts toward a better future for the community. He's a bit shy, but very kind, and loves to tell you about the glorious nature around you. Mario was born in Costa Rica in small town called Lanas de Puriscal, not too far away from our town, El Sur. There he spent most of his life until he moved in 1990 to El Sur. Mario is a testament to the environment. He cares very deeply for his surroundings and loves nothing more than teaching others how to care for those things around them. Mario is quite environmentally aware, and incorporates his awareness into everyday life. This means that Mario enjoys cleaning up around him, making sure everything is neat and that all trash is picked up. He absolutely loves treating our volunteers with great respect and introducing them to his environment whenever we schedule trips to El Sur. Mario loves his work, and wants nothing more than to do what’s best by it. 

Details

Category: Coordinator Staff

Published: 21 May 2013

Howdy from Dallas, TX. My name is Nancy and I decided to settle in Texas after having moved to different cities, countries or neighborhoods every few years. I was raised in South America and lived in Venezuela near Lake Maracaibo for 5 years. We lived in a small oil camp with 75 other families. It was a great place to grow up and I learned that I like to walk barefoot, swim, roller skate and love the sights, sounds and smells of the tropical jungle. I also lived in Bogotá, Colombia for five years. There I learned that rain is the best blanket to take a nap under, I love to read, that people are empirically the same regardless of nationality and social status, and that I love Hispanic culture and their attitudes towards life: "Let's work to live not live to work", "Live and let live". I have also spent time in the U.S. I was born in Oklahoma and learned about grandparents and Indians and hobos. I chased and tried to raise in captivity horned toads in Hobbs, NM. I lived through mowing and raking and shoveling and spring cleaning in Norwalk, CT and still feel that it is one of the most beautiful places in the world - in each of its seasons. My Mom, Dad, two sisters, brother, best friend, dog and luggage piled into a station wagon and made our way cross country to The Valley in CA. America is a wild and wonderful place and even though I never would have admitted it then, that family adventure is one of my fondest memories. The Valley is a whole different chapter. The gypsy spirit in my blood was firmly established and my wanderlust continued. I went to college in San Diego, University of Barcelona and graduated with a BA in Spanish from UCLA. In California and Spain, my love for all things Hispanic continued to grow and mature. I spent six years based in Spain and traveling all over Europe and had the opportunity to sail to Malta and Tunisia. Back in the US I decided to focus on a career and spent the last 20 years working in the hospitality industry and continuing to travel, primarily through the US and to Central and South America. I have been working with or in hotels, planning meetings, events, coordinating transportation and arranging tours for large corporate clients. One of the happiest days of my life was when I convinced GlobeAware to let me do it for them. This job is a great blend of all of the things that I love the most about our planet. People, nature, people, foreign cultures and people! I look forward to seeing you in Cuzco!  

Details

Category: Coordinator Staff

Published: 21 May 2013

Greetings! I am currently a DePaul University student in Chicago, Illinois. I am originally from Gurnee, Illinois, an oasis between the corn and Chicago metropolitan life. I am currently double majoring in International Studies and Spanish. While studying, I share the uniqueness and my pride of the university as a tour guide to undergraduates and transfer students. No matter what, I have always been infatuated with anything international. As a child, I would watch the global news and would ponder what life was really like some where else in the world. I also began to study Mandarin Chinese at a local acupuncturist office for two years and enjoyed memorizing how to say “I love you” in over 30 languages. Among my life highlights was studying for a year in Costa Rica as an exchange student. I was granted the scholarship and jumped on a roller coaster ride through culture shock, diverting obstacles and life altering experiences. While studying in numerous Costa Rican villages like Pejibaye, Cartago, San Antonio del Tejar de Alajuela, and San José, I became bilingual and created a love for the Latin American culture, food, language and most of all, the people. Not only did I study in public high schools, but I also taught English to rural Ticos (Costa Ricans) and worked in La Marta Conservation Group towards maintaining native plant and animal species. In the past, I had also been active in community service. I was a part of and eventually a group leader for a group of youth mission trips. We would build houses, repair things, clean and work with little children not only in Alaska, Montana and Kentucky, but also outside the United States in Mexico. I was inspired by the poverty in Mexico but also the need for community and assistance in our own country. I currently take action in urban Chicago, working with DePaul University’s Saint Vincent mission of social justice, community service and diversity on Service Days. Overall, I long for eye-opening experiences and helping others. I am addicted to cultural awareness and strive towards learning and understanding different cultures. I have a special gift that is oblivious to others, which is to somehow limit discrimination and prejudice. This is most definitely my passion that I love living towards reaching my goals and helping others seek theirs. I look forward to meeting other people who maintain similar characteristics and ideas. 

Details

Category: Coordinator Staff

Published: 21 May 2013

I was born in Saigon (currently Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam, but left the country at a young age. I grew up in Dallas, Texas and consider it my hometown. All my education was done in Texas. Before residing in California for the past three years, I spent four years teaching biology at a small university in Martin, Tennessee. I'm an avid skier so being so close to Lake Tahoe is absolutely wonderful. I have traveled to a few places the last few years, including four trips to Vietnam. Two of the trips to Vietnam were for vacation and one was with a group of volunteer health professionals who treated underprivileged patients. I was also invited to teach at both Ha Noi University of Technology and Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, University of Natural Sciences. All four trips were an absolutely joy and I can't wait to return to do some more volunteer work. En route to Vietnam, I also spent a couple of days in Hong Kong and Bangkok. That is the extent of my travel in Southeast Asia. I have also had the pleasure of trekking through part of Europe, including France, England, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria. In the Americas, Brazil and Canada have been visited. While living in Tennessee, I volunteered to build houses for Habitat for Humanity. I do have a valid passport that is good for another five years. I am available between 25Jun2005 and at least 10Jul2005. I would absolutely love the chance to go back to Vietnam and volunteer my time and energy. I can speak fluent Vietnamese and have traveled extensive through the country. I always welcome the chance to give back to society. 

Details

Category: Coordinator Staff

Published: 21 May 2013

I am extremely interested in helping people and am intrigued by immersing myself in other cultures. Just to let you know a little about myself, I graduated from the University of Kansas in May, 2004, with a double major in Spanish and also International Studies (with an emphasis in Cultural Anthropology). I made the decision to complete my Spanish degree after spending 5 months in 2002 studying in Ronda, Spain. My experience was incredible there! I fell in love with living in such a different culture and being able to communicate with a community that came from such a different background. The following summer (2003) I traveled to Puebla, Mexico, and took classes at La Universidad de Las Américas .. Then, after classes had ended, a friend and I loaded our backpacks and headed south, first stopping Chiapas, to admire the rich cultural diversity those communities posses. My travels through Mexico were paramount and also the foundation for my eventual decision to major in International Studies. Thus, through these classes and my exposure to the situations facing the people in these regions, I became infatuated with the Latin culture and have since aspired to return there. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to many destinations all over the world, from Jamaica to the Netherlands and down to Morocco , always making it a priority to visit the smaller towns/villages to get a pure taste of the culture in these various regions. While living in Lawrence, Kansas (where the university is situated), I enjoyed volunteering my free time to two separate organizations. The first, Natural Ties, I participated by taking a mentally handicapped citizen of the community out to dinner once a week. After grabbing a bite to eat, we would then go to a planned activity where all Ties were included. For most Ties (and ours included) this was the ONLY social exposure they experienced. This volunteer position taught me patience and my relationship with our Tie was symbiotic. My other volunteer experience (and passion) is at the Humane Society where I continue to spend free time when it is available. The Humane Society, like many, houses unwanted/run away animals. I have a deep appreciation for animals and I feel like this experience shows that we a s humans have to take responsibility and help all of earths’ creatures out as needed (a la Bob Barker). I have no doubt that this experience in Peru will have positive residual affects long after we depart and hope you have a safe voyage down…. Happy travels!