Peru – Machu Picchu!

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

PLAY it Forward’s largest group just returned from Peru on an amazing 10-day adventure.  This was our first trip to the Sacred Valley region of Peru and it couldn’t have gone better!  We started off in the village of Taray to work at an elementary school.  Taray had been badly hit by the mudslides in January.  Many people lost their homes and had to relocate to tents in the neighboring town of Pisaq.  Our wonderful group of sixteen sojourners worked hard to build school furniture for the children and clear brush to plant new trees for a fresh beginning.  We played harder though, swinging kids around, getting chased, and shared laughs even though we didn’t share a language.

Saying goodbye was hard to do, but after many thanks and hugs of gratitude we parted from our new friends and headed to the town of Lares to continue our adventure.  We spent three days and two nights trekking in the Andes Mountains.  Though we were exhausted and sore, everyone made it to the top at 15,000 feet!  Huffing and puffing seemed to immediately cease as you took your first glance at the other side; looking down on a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains made the struggle all worthwhile.  Nothing makes a group bond faster than sharing this major accomplishment together, and not to mention the enjoyable nights huddled together in the dining tent.

Our adventure did not end there!  We all checked off our bucket lists as we spent the final day together at Machu Picchu.  This world wonder left us all in awe as we stood on the grounds of a hidden Incan community surrounded by lush jungles and vast mountain ranges on all sides.  We explored the mysterious complex and a few of us even ventured to the top of Machu Picchu Mountain to overlook the grandeur from almost 2,000 feet higher than the Incan city.

A very spiritual place, it was a great ending to an extremely meaningful and all-encompassing trip.  Despite the size of our group, we all came together as strangers and made 15 new friends who shared a unique experience together.  The group is already in the stages of planning a reunion.

Thanks everyone for an amazing trip!

Nikki Williams

Tags: Adventure travel, Machu Picchu, Outdoor Adventure, Peru, voluntourism
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Mudslides in Peru

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

I am sure that many of you have heard of the mudslides in the Cusco region of Peru, more familiarly known as the Machu Picchu area.  The news reported the large amount of tourists that were stranded.  It was on the news for maybe a couple days, but lives are affected forever. This is a very important issue, as there were thousands of tourists trapped with minimal food and water.  However, what was harder to find, was information regarding the thousands of Peruvians that had lost their homes.  Here are some of the facts of the mudslide:

Machu Picchu is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Latin America, attracting more than 400,000 visitors a year. The 15th-century Inca fortress is located on a high mountain ridge 40 miles from Cusco. A railway that transports tourists to the site was covered by a mudslide. Normally the wet season in this region ranges from December to February. However, this year they started in early November and in the first few weeks of January they were the heaviest they’ve been in 15 years. The rivers in the Cusco region have swollen and burst their banks flooding adjacent low-lying villages and causing damage to bridges and the railway line between Aguas Calientes (the town closet to Machu Picchu) and Ollantaytambo (in the Sacred Valley). Many areas of the railway, which is the only mode of transportation between the two cities, have been severely damaged and some wiped out all together. Homes, bridges, fields, and roads have been very hard hit, affecting people’s livelihoods dramatically.  The homes of over 2,000 people in poor rural areas — many of them riverside dwellings made of clay and straw — had been destroyed or damaged. Another 12,000 people were affected to a lesser degree, losing possessions or suffering property damage. Most of the damage has happened in the southern valley of the Cusco region. Especially right now with Machu Picchu being closed and tourism near zero, many people are suffering from lack of work as well.

PLAY it Forward was very alarmed to hear of this news, not only because we have a scheduled trip this May, but also because we are concerned for the well-being of people around the world.  Donations are always nice. However, because we prefer hands-on, tangible ways to help, we will be helping in the disaster relief. Continuing to give back in the places we play.

Nikki Williams

Tags: Adventure travel, Cusco, International Travel, Machu Picchu, Mudslides, Outdoor Adventure, Peru, Volunteer Vacation
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Cultural Sensitivity When Traveling

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

REALITY-CHECK TIME:

Have you ever been frustrated because you couldn’t understand what someone was saying because of their accent?
Have you ever had the thought, “Why don’t they just learn English?”  
Have you ever wondered why someone from another culture believed a certain thing, or acted a certain way, or wore certain clothes?
Does it make you nervous when there are groups of people speaking a different language around you?
What comes to your mind if someone says they are Somalian? Mexican? Nigerian?  Where do those thoughts come from?
 
If you are like me, the answers to these questions might make you a bit uneasy.  This uneasiness is something to be mindful of when you travel abroad. In my opinion, I think that cultural tensions are ok.  The response to these various cultural experiences is what we need to be mindful of.

The fact that all over the world, there is a rainbow of cultures is a remarkable human phenomenon.  We are gifted with panoply of music, cuisine, clothing and language.  Just walk through your local museum and
admire the tapestries and artifacts and the beauty of human imagination.

Culture is a component of identity.  It is a fundamental human need to seek belonging to a group.  So if the group you belong to invented fireworks, or created one of the most ancient and accurate calendars, or formed the basis of western government, there is a certain pride factor at stake.  Part of cultural experience is owning the actions of your group.  Unfortunately, this also means an inability to escape some of the darker sides.  That’s the price of being able to identify with a culture.

With this background, here’s my advice on how to make the most of your cultural experience when you travel abroad with PLAY it Forward Adventures:

1. Communicate:
Does it frustrate you if someone can’t speak your language? Then try to take some lessons before you go.  Try to speak the language.  Don’t be afraid of sounding foolish or saying something wrong.  The humility it takes and willingness to try to communicate will be greatly appreciated by the people who live in the place you are visiting.  At the same time, if the circumstances require it, have a reliable guide who is fluent in the language to assist in a tricky situation.  PLAY it Forward trips all have guides who will be able to facilitate as translators.  At the end of the day, a simple smile can say a lot.

2. Have an open mind and just go for it!
Taste the food, wear the clothes, and listen to their music.  Don’t do everything your way, try it their way. Sure, you might not like all of it, but participating in a culture is the best way to connect. I’ll never forget sitting on a dirt floor, listening to the songs and stories of the village women, scented smoke filling the air.  Then I ground coffee on a stone tablet, the way it had been done for centuries, and in that moment, I had shared in their cultural experience in a way that was deeply personal and profound.

3. Be mindful:
Does a large group of foreigners intimidate you?  Well, that’s true for anyone.  Realize that most people are hesitant with a large group of strangers. Be friendly, and as long as it’s safe, interact on more intimate levels.  Humility and gratitude are universal languages that communicate very well.

 4. Focus on the individual
Stereotypes-Forget yours, but remember theirs.  A universal truth is in the inherent value of an individual and every person is unique and different. If you focus on the individual, and try to get the people you interact with to get to know you a little better, then you can be successful in transcending cultural stereotypes. It is a wonderful surprise when you realize that they’re just like you in spite of everything.

It may seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it.  It is because there is such strong cultural identity that the feeling of unity you will find will be so powerful.  To break through such thick walls is a very moving moment in a PLAY it Forward Adventure.

Nathan Worrell
PIF Sojourner, Guatemala

Tags: Adventure travel, Culture, International Travel, Outdoor Adventure
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Importance of Teamwork

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

HOW DO YOU FLATTEN A MOUNTAIN?

The Task: Haul hundreds of pounds of building materials thousands of feet up a narrow mountain path, and get it done before lunch.  Loads become drastically lighter when you have someone to share it with.  A little piece of a task is easier to conquer than the whole thing.  Soon, that insurmountable endeavor becomes achievable.

Not only will the task be accomplished, it will be done quicker, and there will be a shared feeling of accomplishment.  When a chore is approached by a team, each person has their own little contribution to make.  When we were hauling supplies, we had several pairs of volunteers creating a chain.  Some people took hard and steep segments of the trail, others took something a little flatter.  Each pair was needed to get the supplies up the mountain.  Each role was crucial, because if there was a missing link, then the whole process would fail.  But it didn’t fail.  We got to see firsthand the power of people working together.  We grew closer by working side by side and by sharing our achievement.

As a sojourner on a PLAY it Forward Adventure, not only will you get a chance for individual accomplishment – you will have the opportunity to live the power of teamwork.

Nathan Worrell
PIF Sojourner Guatemala

Tags: Adventure travel, Outdoor Adventure, Teamwork, voluntourism
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Importance of Listening to Your Body and Knowing Your Own Limits

Monday, February 1st, 2010

KNOWING YOUR LIMITS
  
Right now, swimming across the Mississippi is probably not the smartest thing I could do. First, the only time I spend swimming is maybe a once a month dip at the community pool.  I would not be able to make the distance. Second, even though I feel like I have a high cold tolerability threshold, it’s December and the wind-chill is 15 below.  That’s going to make it difficult.

As much fun as a multisport, active adventure experience like PLAY it Forward Adventures is; it won’t be any fun if you have to sit on the side due to a preventable injury.  One way to avoid this is by listening to your body and knowing your limits.

Now, this doesn’t mean sacrificing fun or that there won’t be any excitement.  These are adventure trips after all. Let me share two examples from the PLAY it Forward Adventures trip I went on.

One of the activities we did was a long and wet downhill assault in the hilly terrain of rainy Guatemala. Some of us raced down the slopes, hugging the turn, jumping over puddles, or tearing through them.  Others were not comfortable with the slickness, and were unfamiliar with mountain bikes.  By going at their own pace, they were able to enjoy the ride, and have just as much fun as the rest of the group.  In fact, by starting slow, one member got more and more comfortable on the bike, and by the end of the ride, was leading the pack!  Had she started out in front, there probably would have been an accident, but by knowing her limits and listening to her body, she was able to have a life changing experience, going to the edge, and returning safely.

Another instance was one night when the group wanted to go out for live music and dancing.  As much fun as that sounded, we had one member of our group combating the ramifications of foreign food.  As much as she wanted to participate in the festivities, she knew that a lot more lay ahead and that the best thing to do was rest.  A couple others stayed back, who even after only a couple of days were feeling fatigued.  Sure, they didn’t get to have fun that particular night, but by resting when they needed too, the rest of the trip went great. They had energy for the volunteer activities and were able to go out later that week.  Had they not listened to their bodies, they would have risked serious injury and missed out on a lot more than one night of dancing.

Play it Forward Adventures is active travel.  There will be temptations to do as much as you can and to ignore what your body is telling you. When that happens, think about trying to swim the Mississippi in winter.

Nathan Worrell
PIF Sojourner, October 2008

Tags: Active Travel, Adventure travel, Outdoor Adventure
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Leaving No Trace While Traveling

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

“ALWAYS LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT”
  
That was my dad’s adage whenever we went anywhere.  It’s a simple call of duty and applies to travel, work, and other things. It’s especially relevant in a volunteer vacation like PLAY it Forward Adventures.

There are two components to this mantra that are worth detailing.  

The first is recognizing that you make an impact when you go somewhere.  Just your presence alters the environment.  We consume things.  We eat, we drink, and we clean ourselves.  All of these things take resources, energy, and heat.  And as a natural consequence of consumption, there is waste.  By utilizing minimal resources, and avoiding over-consumption, the negative impact you make will be minimized.  By cleaning something up, or being respectful and courteous with the people you meet, you will maximize your positive impact.

The second is recognition that if you have a positive experience somewhere, you want others to have the same experience.  This relates directly to the PLAY it Forward concept.  If we start the trend of making sure that the experiences we have will be able to be enjoyed by those who come after us, when we get to our next destination, there is a good chance that we won’t even know that someone was there before us.

As you go on your volunteer vacations, try to remember to leave no trace. Take only pictures and memories leave only footprints.

Nathan Worrell
PIF Sojourner
Guatemala October 2008

Tags: Adventure travel, Leave no trace, Outdoor Adventure, Volunteer Vacation, voluntourism
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WHAT KILIMANJARO TAUGHT ME ABOUT LIFE

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Rising to Kilimanjaro’s Stella Peak, elevation 18,000’, I’m reminded how life is a journey, not a destination.  I may not have reached Uhuru Peak, but the success of that journey wasn’t defined by a summit.

Not three months prior I lie in my bed paralyzed by symptoms of Lyme Disease that interfered with my life for more than two straight months … and then I climbed a mountain.

Just three days before our ascent I spontaneously reversed my decision not to participate in this 7-day climb.  My team being so fantastic, I didn’t want to miss having this experience alongside them.  So… one duffle bag of rented clothes, a handful of borrowed gear and a $30 pair of used-boots later, I was on my way up the mountain.

Continuously finding metaphors during my international travels, I can’t help but compare this climb to life, especially my journey with nurturing a budding business.  “Pole, pole,” we’re told by our guides.  “Slow, slow…. One step at a time.  There is no hurry.  Rest when you need to rest.”  If only our guide Justin could ride home in my backpack to remind me “pole, pole” after a 14 hour day in the office.

We climbed for five days and one night, our objective to reach Uhuru Peak, the famous Kilimanjaro summit, elevation 19,340’.  Day one through fog and forest, we trekked through surreal settings of trees and vegetation.  Day two put us above the tree line as we gazed at vast skylines from our camp high up on the mountain.  Day three became a challenge as we pushed to our landmark, Lava Tower, and then onto what looked like a Dr. Suess-wonderland.  Day four was a scramble up the Barranco Wall followed by a grueling ascent up our steepest incline yet.  This is the day where I broke down in my tent wondering if I had it in me to go any further.  Day five was a push to our camp where we’d begin our ascent to Uhuru Peak. 

Our meal was served at 11pm in preparation for the summit.  We set out with headlamps for our last push of the week.  My energy level was down due to a parasite I’d contracted earlier in the trip, and I couldn’t eat a thing.  Between hot and cold sweats, my feverish body trudged one step at a time up that steep incline, our guides reminding me along the way: “pole, pole, one step at a time.  It’s the only way to the top.”  Three hours into the climb, with only three hours to the summit, I decided to turn around.

That week had me thinking about my growing business as I placed one foot in front of the other, a steady uphill climb.  In life, and as entrepreneurs, we aim to reach a summit in the form of long and short term goals.  We reach some peaks and dip through valleys, scramble up walls, and cry in our tents.  Sometimes even get paralyzed by illness which takes us out of the game completely.  But most days we press on, one step at a time, excited to greet the great unknown, all the while asking “How far can I go?”  “What can I achieve?”

What Kilimanjaro taught me is that there is only one way to approach any journey in life, “pole, pole… one step at a time.”  I sincerely take this to heart.  The destination itself does not define the success of the journey; the small steps it takes to climb are successes themselves.   

I didn’t reach the summit of Kilimanjaro during our August adventure.  But I did reach unexpected heights of 18,000’ with only 72 hours notice alongside an amazing group of individuals.  It’s a journey I’ll cherish and celebrate with my lifelong friends for years to come and value the lessons I learned that week.  Lessons that mimic life’s journey, taking one simple step at a time.

Jodi Nelson
Founder, PLAY it Forward Adventures

Tags: Adventure travel, kilimanjaro, Outdoor Adventure, Summit, Volunteer Vacation, voluntourism
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WHAT INSPIRED ME TO START PLAY IT FORWARD ADVENTURES?

Monday, October 12th, 2009

The most frequently asked question I get is:  “what inspired you to start PLAY it Forward Adventures?”  The answer is never an easy one so I’ll try to sum it up in a page.

The short answer… I was inspired by my own travel experiences and wanted to bring safe, all-encompassing travel experiences to people who’d never left our country.  In addition to this, I wanted to be my own boss, move at light speed without approval from others, and put my undying energy into something meaningful I loved.

The long answer…. PLAY it Forward Adventures is really a culmination of many life experiences, beginning with my third grade bike rides to learn German at a nearby elementary school.  I’ve always been fascinated by other cultures.  Curiosity about how people dress, dance, talk, eat, celebrate and LIVE in a world other than my own has always intrigued me. 

My world opened up around age 12 when my dance group went to Russia to perform in front of children and foreign audiences.  It continued to expand during my teens when I organized trips with friends to domestic and international destinations throughout our high school years.  Studying abroad in Scotland for a semester opened my eyes to the European part of our world as I explored the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France and Austria.  Upon my return I’d hang around the study abroad office exploring how I might become the coordinator who brings mind-expanding-experiences to students across the nation. 

A trip to Venezuela in my early 20’s brought a shift to my outlook on travel as I’d previously known it.  Witnessing the devastating effects of poverty and leprosy on communities in Maracaibo stuck with me for years to follow and I’d ask myself:  “Now that I’ve seen what I’ve seen, what can I do to help?”  I wasn’t okay with knowing others were living in huts, suffering from extreme poverty and ailing from diseases with no immediate access to medical care.  That experience felt like my first brush with death when I saw so many suffering and living in a mode of survival that I’d never known in the United States.  To this day I can’t wrap my head around: “How was I born into America and they were born into this?”

In my mid 20’s I set out to find host families for foreign exchange students desiring an American experience during their junior or senior year.  Finding families was no easy feat living in the upper Midwest so I only successfully placed the two beautiful Maria’s:  Maria from Germany moved to Rogers, MN and Maria from Venezuela moved into Bloomington with a friend.  To this day I am proud to announce that Maria from Germany is still connected with her host parents, Gary and Jill, both families traveling back and forth for visits over the past 10 years.  To bridge the gap between two foreign families who’ll be connected for a lifetime is one of my proudest accomplishments to date.

In 2006 is when I decided to make my calling into a business.  With the help of my amazing coach, Amy Applebaum, I was able to design my life around the things I’m most passionate about:  adventure travel, volunteer vacationing and connecting people across all borders.  Though I’d never claim the journey has been easy, there’s something to be said for being “on purpose”, the “law of attraction” and following your heart.  As soon as I identified my calling and put my plans into action, everything else fell in to place serendipitously.

So when people ask, “What inspired you to start PLAY it Forward Adventures?”  To give the short answer is unfair to the long answer I credit for getting me here.  My quest with PLAY it Forward is more of a calling than a creation, a journey of life not a destination or planned venture.  Its birth is a result of people, places and experiences that have inspired me to dedicate my life to serving others through adventure travel and volunteering abroad… a concept that lives in my heart, not on a piece of paper. 

To those embarking on a business venture of their own, I’ll give you the first bit of advice my coach ever gave me.  “Pick a business that you’re passionate about because you’ll have to live it and breathe it daily.”  Two years into my budding business I can attest to that truth. 

And in the inspiring words of Hendry David Thoreau, engraved on a bracelet I’ve worn for seven years, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you’ve imagined.” 

Jodi Nelson
PLAY it Forward Adventures

Tags: Adventure travel, Volunteer Vacation, voluntourism
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Wilderness First Responders

Monday, October 5th, 2009

Adventure means going to the edge, pushing your physical and mental limits.  There is an element of danger and suspense, not knowing what lurks behind the next curve. Any adventurer probably has his or her fair share of stories of close calls, and likely has the scars to prove it. In this extreme environment, things can go wrong.

Racing down a mountainside may abruptly halt and you find yourself executing a textbook double front flip with a twist over the handlebars. Confronting the ever increasing windblown swells, your kayak might decide to reject your control and rebel as a submarine.

Sampling the local cuisine might ignite a battle between your digestive system and the intruding culinary enemy.

Marching through jungles you may find yourselves asking important questions – Can I eat that? Will that eat me?  Is this chocolate or …?

While the prospect of harm may be daunting, lay your fears to rest.

Every PLAY it Forward adventure is guided by a certified Wilderness First Responder.  So no matter what the scrape, cut, break, crunch, smack, squelch, or smell, you have someone available to address the issue. Hopefully you will never have to require their skills set, but if you were to need them, it is nice to know they are prepared.

Nathan Worrell
PIF Sojourner, Guatemala October 2008

Fake injuries in WFR class

Tags: Adventure travel, Outdoor Adventure, voluntourism, wilderness first responder
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What do the H1N1 virus and PLAY it Forward have in common?

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

They’re both contagious! If you’ve enjoyed your experience as a Sojourner, you can carry on the PLAY it Forward legacy.

After having gone on a PIF Adventure, my travel mindset has been forever changed.  I wanted to try to incorporate the elements of adventure and a local connection (whether through service or local businesses) in any trip I take.  Recently I planned a trip to Denver, Colorado and wanted to experiment with making it like a PIF excursion. It was easier than I anticipated and so I wanted to share some tips so that my fellow sojourners may be encouraged to try their own.
  
TIP 1- A great way to find places to stay and eat is to look for charity or community events and follow up on sponsors. While in Denver there was a “Harvest Week” focused on local agriculture.  They had a full list of restaurants that were providing local farmer produce. Needless to say, the experience was delicious.

Also if there is a particular charity you support, ask your local rep if they have a partner or connection in the place you want to go.

TIP 2 – Be ready to explore.  Sometimes the greatest places aren’t easily found on the internet or in the phonebook. Taking time to get oriented in Denver, we stumbled across a local eatery.  It turned out to be an awesome place serving local food (except the coffee which was from GUATEMALA!). They gave back to their community in their profits and through a worker rehab program.  The place is called SNOOZE.  Please stop by if you are ever in the Denver area.

TIP 3 – Ask the locals.  If you find a local place to stay, ask the owner about places to go and see.  The people who live in area typically have had the time to explore and know the places to see and the hidden gems. 

Hopefully these little tips will help get you on your way. If you have a great trip, please share and we can keep the FORWARD part going.

Nathan Worrell
PIF Sojourner, Guatemala October 2008

Tags: Adventure travel, Outdoor Adventure, PLAY it Forward, Volunteer Vacation, voluntourism
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