ASC student volunteers in Tanzania (11-04-05)
For many people, traveling is usually done for business or pleasure. This is not the case for Adams State College student, Laurel Mortensen '07, who volunteered in Tanzania during July 2004.
Mortensen is a junior majoring in education with an emphasis in English.
"I've always wanted to help people," Mortensen said. "It's the greatest feeling in the world to help others."
Mortensen said she originally wanted to volunteer at an orphanage in Ecuador, but the program was cancelled, so she searched for another organization.
"I came across an organization called Global Volunteers on the internet and called them," she said. "I spoke with a lady on the phone and it wasn't hard for her to convince me because I already wanted to do something like that."
Global Volunteers is a short-term program designed to aid a country's development through service projects.
In addition to helping people, Mortensen said she loves to travel. "Traveling is amazing and an eye-opener," she said. "It exposes you to different cultures. You can learn a lot."
Mortensen said the entire trip was an exciting and educational experience. She even said a ten hour bus ride without air conditioning was an adventure.
"I was so thrilled about being there that the heat didn't really bother me," she said. "While riding the bus, we drove through a national forest. We saw elephants, zebras and giraffes on the side of the road. It was so great to see the animals like that. I have never seen animals in the wild, only in a zoo behind bars. I just wanted to take it all in."
While she was in Tanzania, Mortensen lived in a guest house managed by Global Volunteers. Mortensen said the living situation was surprisingly better than she had expected.
"It was nice," she said. "We had beds, running water and a certified cook because the volunteers' stomachs couldn't handle the food in Tanzania."
The volunteer group Mortensen joined in Tanzania was doing a project at the local school. She acted as an aid to the teachers and students and helped with the remodeling of the school.
Although Mortensen had many responsibilities as a volunteer, she also had plenty of free time.
"The people there are so leisurely and happy," she said. "The get things done, but they care more about people than things."
Because she volunteered in a school, Mortensen was able to spend time with children.
"You build many relationships," said Mortensen. "The language was a little bit of a barrier, but we had fun trying the help each other out."
Mortensen learned a valuable lesson from volunteering in Tanzania.
"I learned that people and relationships completely overpower any materialistic thing," she said. "They are so happy and thankful for what they have, though they have very little. They care about each other so much. This experience really humbled me."
Mortensen said she gained insight from her experience.
"It gave me direction in my life," she said. "I would like to dedicate a portion of my life to help people by joining the Peace Corps."
Mortensen also recommends volunteering to everyone.
"It would change people and make them realize the world doesn't revolve around us."
By Amanda Morris
