I've been saying I would find a volunteer job here , but have found myself short on time and suitable jobs. The better positions all require long-term commitments, which I cannot make. However, I finally found a job with an amazing non-profit guide company called Quetzaltrekkers.Last weekend, when I climbed Volcan Tajulmulco, one of the guides and I got to talking about how they are very short-staffed and under a lot of stress. I offered to help out in the office and guiding on the treks and they accepted!
During the week we prep for treks, finding clients, cleaning and repairing gear, shopping and preparing food. On the weekends we lead six different treks around the highlands. I'm leading the Tajulmulco trek again. It's pretty much the perfect job for me. I get to play outside, but I also get to bridge the gap between our socially concious clients and indigenous people, translating and teaching about cultural, political, economic and environmental issues.
I'm excited because I get to work with the same people for an extended period of time. One of the hardest things for me here is that most people come and go on a weekly basis. Right now the staff consists of a Brit, a Kiwi, a Spaniard, a German, an Israeli and three Gringoes. I'm one of only two women. All the different cultures, attiudues and expectations can create a little friction, but is generally super fun. Most of the staff lives in the same house, or at the hostel we work out of and most nights we end up having dinner together, hanging out in the courtyard, playing guitar or games.
Best of all, we support some amazing social services. Since we're all volunteers, paying our room and board out of pocket, tips or dumpsters and the organization runs on an shoestring budget, we generate a ton of revenue for a school, a clinic and an orphanage. Next week I'll be spending some time in the organizations, so I'll have more to share about them later.
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