Posted: May 8th, 2012 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: blah blah blah | No Comments »
“I always feel like a traveller, going somewhere, toward some destination. If I sense that this destination doesn’t in fact exist, that seems to me quite reasonable and very likely true.”
- Vincent Van Gogh, July 22, 1888
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// Shawn
ps: Image source: vggallery.com and drawn in July 1888 by Vincent Van Gogh.
Posted: May 7th, 2012 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: altruism, travel | No Comments »
It’s been more than a month since I’ve been home from volunteering in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. Sorry about the delayed update. These posts are just significantly less interesting to do after the fact. In total I spent 21 days there working with All Hands Volunteers (AHV). Mostly thanks to the generosity of others!
My main concerns about going on other people’s cash was that the trip be worthwhile. Worth their money, worth my time and money, and worth AHV giving me a spot. And I suppose to a lesser extent, if the work that AHV was offering was worth doing. So in hindsight, how did all those factors work out? Money and time (same thing) well spent?
Posted: March 1st, 2012 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: blah blah blah | No Comments »
Most people have met at least one full grown Canadian. Sometimes unknowingly! And most people have followed up their meeting with a Canadian with the sentiment that something was a bit… different. They can’t quite put their finger on it. Neither literally nor figuratively. There’s definitely something different about Canadians though. It’s in that place behind their eyes that you aren’t legally allowed to go.
As a Not-Canadian you’re not sure if you like this secret difference or not. Is it like a hint of cinnamon in your cocoa? Or more like a sense of arsenic in your pudding? What is it that makes Canadians so different?! Thankfully for you, I have the journalistic integrity of an otter. So let me reveal to you, the unwashed hordes of Not-Canadians just what this secret is…
Posted: February 27th, 2012 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: altruism, travel | No Comments »
It turns out that my scheme to find a way to volunteer in the Philippines wasn’t that far-fetched after all. I’ve received donations from 11 super nice people! I think I’m actually more excited about how nice folks are than the trip itself. Anyway, I leave on Wednesday!
I had asked anyone making a donation to have a corresponding request so I felt like less of a freeloader. Many people had no request at all, but a few did. I got off the hook quite easily though. Here’s my task list:
Well, thank you very much to all you donators! I very much appreciate your help, and I’ll do my damnedest to get you your moneys worth out of this three weeks. I’ll post some updates here, and you should also check out the project and follow along on the All Hands site. Thanks!
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// Shawn
Posted: January 30th, 2012 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: altruism, travel | No Comments »
I’m pretty damn excited right now. I just cashed in my air miles and booked a flight to Cagayan de Oro, Philippines to do some disaster response volunteering. It’s been nearly two months since the typhoon flooding hit Mindanao, so here’s a short BBC clip for memory refreshing.
The catch here, and where you become involved, is that I can’t actually afford to go do this. What I’d like to do is offer my services to you in order to help me raise the money I need. Here’s the scenario and what I hope I can offer.
The Problem: I am planning to be volunteering in the Philippines for 3 weeks in March (3/2 – 3/20) with All Hands Volunteers (the same group I went to Haiti with!). A really short time unfortunately. The catch is that I’m also coincidentally unemployed as of the end of February. So I have no income with which to fund this. Granted, this should mean I don’t go. I figure though that I now have the spare time. And air miles covers the vast majority of the expense. Plus, it’s not like the thousands of people made homeless by the flooding are terribly convenienced by it all either. If I can cover the remaining expenses, then get some work as soon as I get home, I can pull this off. I’m totally up for the challenge if you are. By my math, I need about $600 to bridge the gap. This is for airline tariffs, taxes, medical insurance fees, and ferry tickets. All the unavoidable junk.
My Offer: While in the Philippines, I am offering to meet any request you have. Maybe you want to know something about the area, people, local food, etc? Maybe you just want a postcard? Or a picture of a cat? A poem about rice? I don’t care what it is really. I don’t like just asking for money for free, so I prefer to offer something in exchange. Whatever you think is a fair exchange for your donation. While I’m there I’ll also be working my ass off clearing mud out of houses, demolishing ruined houses and hopefully constructing some new ones.
You! Can simply chip in to make this thing work out and make a request. Most people seem to prefer PayPal, but if you don’t then just email me and we’ll figure something out. Any amount you want to give is fantastic! I’ll post lots of pics and info here of course. Plus any requests I get will be posted here. Any questions? Just ask! Please make sure to give me your email address with your request so I can let you know when it’s posted or ask follow up questions. Donate some money via PayPal here!
Thank you all very much! This idea of asking other people to help me go help some other people feels a bit awkward to me. I’m pretty excited to make it work though. Thanks!
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// Shawn
Posted: April 9th, 2011 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: blah blah blah, travel | No Comments »
I really like horror movies. And I really like to travel. And I think the two are related. Or more specifically, the enjoyment of each comes from a similar source.
When people ask me why I like horror movies or traveling I respond with such informative feedback as, “It’s cool and junk” but there’s perhaps a smidge more to it than that. There is a common element between the two for me, which I hadn’t considered until now. And no, the common element is not screaming people or giant bats. Well, maybe yea, it is those things too, but that’s not my point here. Bear with me here and tell me if my logic sounds legit.
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