International Student Volunteers

Who are Australians?

Narelle Webber — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:17:16 +0000

Myself an Australian, this is a really tough blog to write, as, where do you start with a country as vast and multicultural as Australia? The stereotypes… What stereotype comes to mind when you think of Australia? You probably aren’t alone if a Caucasian person of European descent first comes to mind. Even Tourism Australia [...]

Thailand Cultural Norms and Traditions

ISVolunteers — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:12:39 +0000

Thailand is one of the most fascinating countries to visit on earth. Culturally there are many practices and beliefs that are very different to those from Western societies. Here’s a few to whet your appetite to learn more, and to practice respectfully while you travel throughout Thailand. • The Royal Family of Thailand is [...]

G’Day Mate! Aussie Local Lingo...

ISVolunteers — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:30:10 +0000

Go ahead, try and use as many of these terms in conversation with Australians during your ISV program, and we promise you’ll fit right in …. or as some Aussies might say…. “Put in some hard yakka cobber and give these words a burl on ya ISV trip. Ya might look like a flamin’ galah [...]

Costa Rica’s Tropical Climate Will Surprise You

ISVolunteers — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:18:34 +0000

Located approximately nine degrees north of the equator, Costa Rica’s climate is tropical year-round. However, the climate varies depending on elevation and rainfall and it is greatly affected by the country’s geography. There are numerous cordilleras (mountain ranges) that run through Costa Rica which separate the coastal plains of the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Within [...]

Fiji in a (Coco) “nut shell”

ISVolunteers — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:21:44 +0000

You can join ISV on our optional excursion as part of our Tropical Fiji Escape. Here are a few things you may not have known about this Pacific paradise… Hello in Fijian: “Bula”! (Boolah) Population: > 850,000 (about half are indigenous Fijians and around 40% are of Indian descent) Islands: LOTS! 322 (106 are in habited) [...]

Larimar, Haitian artwork and more to be found in the Dominican Republic…

ISVolunteers — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 10:28:59 +0000

As you prepare to travel overseas it’s important to familiarize yourself with information about that country so that you can travel safely and maximise your appreciation of the experience. Below you will find some information on shopping in the Dominican Republic (DR). The DR has some great local handicrafts, markets and some wonderful souvenir opportunities. [...]

What is a “Bakkie”?......some handy information about travelling around Southern Africa

ISVolunteers — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:16:30 +0000

Southern Africa is BIG! During ISV’s four week program you’ll hit two (South African and Swaziland) or three (plus Mozambique for the May to Sept season) countries. Here’s how we do it… By Air…… Many participants will travel to their volunteer project by taking a domestic flight from Johannesburg. There are lots of airlines [...]

Religion in Thailand

ISVolunteers — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:59:14 +0000

Thailand’s fascinating culture is one of the most exciting reasons to visit this country. Culture is strongly influenced by religion in Thailand and it’s important to respect the religious customs and beliefs of Thai people as you travel thorough their beautiful country. As an overview, Buddhism is deeply ingrained in Thai culture, with 95% of [...]

“Rainbow Cuisine”: Food in South Africa

ISVolunteers — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:26:55 +0000

"Rainbow Cuisine" defines the food style in South Africa. It is a term that reflects the cultural depth, creative spectrum, and spiritual unity of a diverse people. With 50 million inhabitants speaking 11 different languages, the country offers a fascinating potpourri of fresh, delectable, eclectic fare. Food is generally quick and simple in Southern Africa. [...]

Win a Trip to Thailand with The Little Big Project!

ISVolunteers — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:20:56 +0000

International Student Volunteers is excited to announce the partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand! ISV was approached by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to aid the Little Big Project which has been designed to encourage tourists to participate in a purposeful vacation. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has announced that they are giving [...]

Guaguas, motoconchos and “Dominican Tattoos”…

ISVolunteers — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:10:37 +0000

A snapshot on local transport in the Dominican Republic As you prepare to travel overseas it’s important to familiarize yourself with information about that country so that you can travel safely and maximize your appreciation of the experience. Below you will find some information on the Dominican Republic’s (DR) local transport. In the DR, ISV [...]

Turtle Time for UNSW Biology Students in Costa Rica

ISVolunteers — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 13:54:46 +0000

In January 2013 ISV hosted a large university group studying biology from UNSW (Sydney, Australia) who gained valuable hands-on experience while gathering data for scientific research on Hawksbills and Black Turtles within Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica. While most ISV projects require no skills or background experience from our volunteers, some projects are perfect for [...]

Bargaining Etiquette

Narelle Webber — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:02:46 +0000

“Almost free today”…. “I give you very special price”… I’ll be honest, I’m terrible at bargaining and I usually always end up paying more than what I need to pay. But in terms of etiquette, I have a few things to share with ISV participants who may need some skills in bargaining during their ISV [...]

Personal First Aid Kits – A Must for Overseas Travel!

Narelle Webber — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:08:48 +0000

ISV programs run according to “best practice” principles, and this includes health and safety precautions and being prepared to deal with minor injuries. So, let’s talk personal first aid kits. Tip - never travel overseas without a good quality first aid kit. Putting it together is the hardest part; after that, you just need [...]

ISV’s expectations for all volunteers

Narelle Webber — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:56:10 +0000

While volunteering is primarily about giving of yourself in a way that benefits the people and environment of the places where you are travelling or living. It is essential to remember that the opportunity to volunteer is also a special privilege. Volunteers are welcomed into the lives of people and communities and become part of [...]

Do you have a medical condition which may affect your safety overseas?

Narelle Webber — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:09:55 +0000

Considering or planning on travelling with ISV in the near future? Then read this blog carefully. Safety is ISV’s #1 concern, and a significant part of that relates to ISV knowing the medical conditions of the participants that we accept onto an ISV Program. Thousands of young adults apply for ISV’s volunteer and travel programs [...]

Vaccinations, health and hygiene for travel overseas

Narelle Webber — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:38:34 +0000

There’s a lot to think about from a health perspective when going overseas. For example, have you booked a consultation with a travel medicine clinic or your doctor? Do you need a yellow fever vaccination? Can you drink the water? Are you worried about malaria, dengue or cholera? Will you remember to get your prescriptions [...]

Safety DO and DON’TS while travelling overseas

Narelle Webber — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 12:52:18 +0000

When packing for your ISV program overseas don’t forget to pack your common sense! Most of these safety do and don’ts below are based on common sense principles, plus a few tips learned by seasoned travelers along the way. Being safe takes a concerted effort such as being aware of your surroundings and making responsible [...]

Staying in Touch While Overseas: Phones, Email and More!

Narelle Webber — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:57:43 +0000

As you prepare for your ISV program you’ll definitely be interested in knowing the options for keeping in touch with friends and family back home. Staying in touch while overseas is easy if you know how, but there are definitely pros and cons of the different ways such as cell phones vs. calling cards, snail [...]

Money Travel Tips

Narelle Webber — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:09:40 +0000

Do you know the safest and easiest way to travel with money? Confused about traveler’s checks (“cheques”, for our UK participants, Aussies and Kiwis), credit cards or exchange centers? Below are some helpful tips to get you thinking prior to your departure for your ISV program. There’s lots of information; if you prefer, scroll down [...]

Flying overseas? Pre-departure Tips on Baggage, Customs and More…

Narelle Webber — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 14:47:28 +0000

Flying overseas can be daunting if you haven’t had the experience before. Here you will find some useful tips and important recommendations that we hope will be useful in preparing for your ISV program. Connecting flights – Domestic to International and Vice Versa If you need to take a domestic flight before your international departure, [...]

Cambodia: Ancient, Vibrant and Fascinating

ISVolunteers — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:46:17 +0000

Cambodia is a fast growing tourist destination and there’s a reason ISV selected this region of Southeast Asia for the location of our optional excursion package. Sharing its borders with Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, Cambodia’s history predates that of Thailand. At its peak, Cambodia’s Angkor Kingdom stretched from the Mekong in Vietnam to the south [...]

Wildlife Crime Must Be Stopped

ISVolunteers — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:15:33 +0000

ISV volunteer teams are helping combat wildlife crime in Thailand. Imagine yourself joining this ISV volunteer project…. The early morning mists part as the first rays of sunlight touch the dew speckled ground of Wildlife 1 foundations sanctuary in Chiang Dao, in the far north of Thailand and bordering with Myanmar. Jamong, the young [...]

Responsible Tourism Tips for Pre-Departure & During Travel

Narelle Webber — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:14:28 +0000

What is Responsible Travel or Tourism? For ISV, it’s about delivering volunteer and travel programs that provide social, environmental and economic net benefits to our host communities/countries, while educating and inspiring our participants to make travel choices that minimize negative impacts of tourism. The principles of Responsible Travel are deeply ingrained in ISV’s philosophy and [...]

Telekishi Masebe Volunteer Project 2012-13

ISVolunteers — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 16:34:07 +0000

ISV project leader Jaclyn Stephenson sent us this blog about her group's project experience at the Telekishi Masebe volunteer project in South Africa: This season we witness a diverse group of volunteers arriving in South Africa. After exceptionally long flights from various corners of the world, they head 5 hours north into the African bush. [...]