humanitarian and development aid

i've done a pretty good amount of research on my new career path.  read a lot.  found a lot of useful information.  just like any other career, it is going to be hard to get my foot in the door.  everybody in the field has stressed the importance of getting field experience via volunteering or interning.  only problem is these field experiences need to be done in developing countries.  i can't exactly just pick a country and take off.

i have looked into different programs by different organization that claim to give you just that but each program is a couple thousand dollars.  then i came across an article that says that not all programs do as much or help the host country as much as you'd think.  makes this whole process a lot harder.  how am i supposed to know which programs aren't actually a waste of my time and money and ends up hurting the local economy?  if finding a good program isn't enough, most humanitarian organizations require around 5 years of experience.  its an experience that is not easy to just do...however, some people have gotten a job in the field after doing 2 years in the peace corps.  unfortunately for me, i am not ready to leave for two years nor am i ready to take on the whole peace corps selection process which i've heard takes awhile.  i am up for taking off for a year.  it's one of those investments in your future you have to take.  instead of spending $30,000-60,000 on a graduate degree that may take up to 2 years, i will need to spend 3-5 years in a developing country.  the only program that sounds serious right now will cost about $10,000 for one year (incl. personal expenses, $350/month.  though i could probably survive on less.), not including round trip airfare.  if i do 2 years, that's $20,000.  this is going to be like doing a 2-part grad program.  first part is gaining field experience, and the second part is grad school.  total costs would be $50,000 - $80,000.  woe is me.

however,  there is one way i can gain the field experience without that hefty price tag.  instead of going to africa for two years, i can go to thailand.  i have relatives there.  a few of them having been doing humanitarian work in the villages off and on for many years now.  mostly with material donations.  i can still do this somewhat on my own.  though i've always felt unsafe to walk around by myself over there.  this will be interesting.  i have a lot more thinking to do...

today.

bad news:  i'm growing tired of this blog's layout and design.  i may have to go the paid route to come up with something i like.

good news:  i was about to give up becoming a seller on ebay.  today i received an email from the ebay entrepreneur telling me to take one step everyday, no matter how small it may be.  so now i'm reading up on what i need to know.

tarot & astrology

i don't normally write posts about this topic although i have to say, i have always been interested in it.  a few days ago i came across this website, freomob.mobi, that gives you a one-card tarot reading for that day.  i clicked on it and looked up the card i got.  it was quite accurate.  today, i went back and did another card.  yet, another accurate reading.  the card i got was the three of wands. (you can read it's description and meaning here.)  the site i went to is actually meant to be used as a phone application but you can still go on to get a card reading.  my cousin would say i'm making this up.  that i'm trying to make my life fit the reading.  i can say that i'm not.  i should give this account of what i have been thinking and planning so far regarding my career:


1.  realized over the summer that my true calling is in the nonprofit sector.  specifically international development/humanitarian aid;
2.  realized i needed a master's degree.  otherwise, not sure how to get into field and develop career.  first looked into schools in u.s. alas, they are too expensive and all programs here are two years of study.  then looked into europe.  found more affordable schools.  figured grad school will be a few years from now.  need to work and save up money, again;
3.  last week, found myself in a meeting with a school district personnel and the director from my club.  we were there to talk about doing a report completely unrelated to my career plans when all of a sudden the school district personnel mentions to my director that one of his kids, in his 20s, is in the middle east volunteering with these nonprofit organizations and how he raised money to go on these trips(!); and
4.  recently, looked for ways to gain some experience without a graduate degree.  found a few programs, though they are a few thousand dollars and the program is from a couple of weeks to a few months. from this program, i also decided i want to do some work in africa.

see how my card reading and my life sync up?

aol.

my mom asked me to cancel the paid aol account at her apartment since they don't use the computer anymore.  i looked at the bill which is paid via her phone bill.  my mom pays about $30/month.  when i talked to the representative he was trying to keep us on (of course) by offering lower and lower pricing plans.  I believe before he cancelled the paid service, he offered one that was $4.99 (or was it $6.99?) for basic service which i think came with mcafee virus protection.  i remember not being aware of all these different pricing plans when i set up the paid account many years ago.  it must have changed.   in the course of cancelling, the rep mentioned that we would not be getting x, y, and z services anymore.  apparently, these were all services my mom never used and/or needed.  yeah, i totally feel stupid for making my mom pay the extra $25 when she could have just paid $5 every month.