Vote Now & Vote Often for Global Volunteers!!

From November 15 - November 21 the Star Tribune newspaper is holding a contest entitled 'Full Page Project' amongst MN non-profits and the winner will receive a free full page ad in the Sunday paper!

Please vote for us this week ~ you can vote once per hour!

Here is the link where you can register and then vote for Global Volunteers (please copy and paste the link):
http://startribune.upickem.net/engine/Registration.aspx?contestid=22815

We would also encourage you to pass this link along to your family and friends, and post it on your personal Facebbok page or blog. Let us know if you have any questions, and remember voting has begun!

Thank you for your support.

Summer 2010 ~ A Terrific Team of Two!!

A Farewell to the Volunteers from our Mexico Host

Farewell Global Volunteers!

This is mainly just a thank you speech from us, teachers to you Global volunteers.

We always appreciate what you do for our students, and believe me… they might not say it but they appreciate it too.

I specially would like to mention a couple of things that make me feel personally very happy and satisfied about your visit.

One of them is that our students, once they have had the opportunity to meet you and talk to you, have a feeling that what they have been learning through all these months or years is blooming and have the feeling of fulfillment now that they have seen communication for them is possible with an English speaking native.

Another is the great experience that you have shared with all of us teachers, which leaves a deep mark in our hearts because we learn a lot from you, and I hope I don’t just speak for myself; because you are teachers of life, because you have traveled all over and that sharing with everyone changes minds, perceptions, and attitudes on people towards our fellows.

I had the chance to have some of you working with my students and you are really amazing people. I specially want to thank your availability to spend time with the students even when you were having lunch, and I know some of you even brought your own snack so you could spend more time with them.

When you guys are in our facilities, the environment is different; people in some ways are better, more open, more accessible… I think there’s no science that can explain that. I call it love, love to what you do and to life itself. I think is will, will to be, will to live, will to be better and greater. I personally think that makes a great difference in the world.

These are supreme feelings and from the deep of my heart I thank you all for letting me be part of it and I hope, one day I will be able to do something like what you do, Then, the world would be better if we all could change that bit.

Juan Luis

The Good Life in Queretaro - La Buena Vida

1. Plazas....large, small, pockets... families, dancing, fountains, music, balloons, and people watching

2 Shopping...treasures found behind doors in beautiful courtyards, kiosks on Liberdad, shops on Cinco de Mayo - and don't forget the opals

3. Restaurants...cafes...bakeries - Mexican, Italian, Continental - all individual and unique with terrific food

4. Weather - it's March....warm sunny days and very cool nights - great for sleeping after busy days

5. Ice cream!!!! in every flavor and on every block - mango moon, penon, tequilla chile. Tepoznieues - the best - recommended by the students.

6. and or Magnum lovers - "ice cream bars on steroids" are found everywhere!!!!

7. Driving ....and pedestrians, one way streets, a few lights and THE most courteous drivers I've ever seen....someone is sure to stop-no matter where you cross the street!

By Pat

How do I love Quertaro...let ME count the ways

I have been asked why I like to lead Global Volunteer teams to Queretaro. It is a very easy question for me to answer. I would like to borrow from Elizabeth Barrett Browning in her "Sonnets from the Portuguese" where she writes "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." I shall take the liberty of asking "How do I love Quertaro...let ME count the ways." SO...let me begin.....!!!! I love UTEQ....our hosts that make us feel welcome....and make it easy for me to provide our volunteers with the best experience possible in working with the teachers and the students. I love the campus we walk through with the interesting landscape and varieties of cactus. I love the students who eagerly wait to meet the new volunteers....to practice their English and make new friends. I love to see the informal "teaching/sharing/chatting" that goes on between a "gaggle" of students and volunteers as they sit at picnic tables near the cafeteria. I love hearing the laughter that goes on during these chats....the demonstrations of dancing by the students....and sometimes the volunteers....all done with fun and good humor.

I love the wonderful Hotel Hidalgo our team stays at in the historic area of Queretaro. I love the staff at the hotel that answers questions and takes such good care of us. I love the restaurants we enjoy our meals at....the amazing variety of Mexican foods. I love to walk one block from our hotel to the main jardin in town where there is constant activity. One has their choice of getting their shoes shined...buy a colorful balloon....arrange for a trolley tour of the historic quarter.....listen to music in the bandstand....take tango lessons....or just sit and watch the multi-generational families enjoying themselves. I love the museums that share art and the culture of Mexico. I love the sound of the many churches and cathedrals. I love the grace and kindness of the people in this wonderful community.

I love the grace and friendliness of the people in the community that we meet and talk with...who guide us when we are lost....or point out where the best place is to get ice cream or buy the special thing we are looking for. I love the sounds and the smells and grace of this community. SO simply said .... "I love Queretaro."

Written by Pam

Queretaro has been an amazing experience!

The "twenty something" students have been very receptive to our American English teaching and pronunciation. Some of the students have trouble describing their families while the most advanced question me about our educational system, our immigration policies and our problems with illicit drugs and HIV. These young men and women our motivated with goals for managerial and industrial advancement. English will help them climb this ladder.

I've been on eighteen volunteer trips with Global Volunteers and this one has been a very special and heartwarming one. NOTE: I appreciate our active caring leader Pamela Cromer...who happens to be my roommate!
By Jeanne

Is the No. 13 lucky or what?!

This is my thirteenth Global Volunteer trip and my hotel room is No. 13. Along the way GV has taken me from A to Z, from Accra to Zakepane. Here in Queretaro we see the eager, smiling faces of our students at UTEQ matching the sunny days and friendly people of this Mexican city. Queretaro, with its many monuments, churches and long history is finding its way into the contemporary world by preparing its young people to become conversant in English. Our mission is to help them. Lucky me!

By Corrine

Take the opportunity to come to Queretaro!

It is a pleasure to a on the team in Queretaro, especially in February/March. Central./Colonial Mexico is a wonderful place to visit any time of the year, but is especially nice during late winter, when you can enjoy the beautiful flowers.

The hotel where Global Volunteers stay in Queretaro is centrally located in the historic district less than a block from the main public square. The square is the main gathering place for many activities, from dancing, listening to music, people watching, shopping, the list could go on and on.

The students here are very enthusiastic and eager to talk with us, and take every opportunity to do so. The students are involved in a variety of majors, and their teachers are very well repaired, thus making our time together more fulfilling.

I hope you take the opportunity to come to Queretaro to enjoy the students, teachers, culture, architecture and food!

by Brian

A frequently overlooked aspect of hotel accommodations is the reception desk. The desk staff at Hotel Hidalgo is staffed with two competent young men....Hugo and Arther. They never fail to provide needed information, directions and suggestion. In a brief time period one evening...they provided directions to a local shop, opened water bottles and provided extra blankets. All of this was done in English. I have been on 11 teams and so I know the importance of helpful staff members...and these young men are exceptional.

Day 2

We are volunteering at Universidad Technilogica De Queretaro in Queretaro, Mexico. Our team was officially welcomed by Carolina Ezeta, the Language Department Chair. She told us the students in the English department always excel....and are the envy of the 65 other technological universities she supervises. She says she is the envy of the other administrators. Carolina smiled and told us she has a secret and the secret is "Global Volunteers."

Pam on Why She Leads Global Volunteers' Teams

I am so lucky to be a volunteer team leader for Global Volunteers. The most extraordinary people decide to participate in our programs. It is a privilege for me to work with them. My friends ask why I continue to lead teams...the answer is so simple. I have an absolute belief in the philosophy of Global Volunteers. The teams are committed to creating peace one person at a time. I am emailing from Queretaro, Mexico...leading a team of 17 men and women from around the United States. We all agree it is a win-win opportunity...the volunteers believe they "got the best deal" and the community feels they did too.