While service to children and families is the purpose of Global Volunteers programs, working alongside local people is the best way to experience culture and traditions in your host country.  Learn more about some of the customs, language and history that comes alive when serving for one, two or three weeks with Global Volunteers.

March 12 – China’s Arbor Day

March 12, 2014 is the 36th Chinese National Arbor Day, or Tree Planting Day. The day commemorates the passing of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, China’s democratic revolution forerunner, who died on March 12, 1925. On this day, the whole country is encouraged to carry out tree-planting activities and support the construction of forestry.  Country leaders, civil […]

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Learn From Lei Feng!

March 5th marks the 51st anniversary of the death of Lei Feng. Lei Feng, a young Chinese soldier in the 1960s, is known for devoting his spare time and money to helping the needy. Lei died after being hit by a falling pole while helping a fellow soldier direct a truck on Aug. 15, 1962. […]

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3.3 – Ear Care Day!

What does the digital number 3 look like? The teacher asked the children. “An ear!”they all shouted.  As I walked by a school this morning, I heard the shouting from the students. Then a student’s loud voice reading a long article about the Ear Care Day and the knowledge of ear protection was broadcasted to […]

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My first Auyervedic Massage

    You know how yesterday was a day of “lasts” for me? Well…let me tell you about my day of “first” today. I had been requesting a massage since my third or fourth day here due to knotted shoulder muscles left over from my initial travel days. As the days went on I relaxed […]

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Valentines day in Greece

  Greece is the land of Aphrodite, Goddess of love, lust and beauty .Thus, the air of Greece naturally has romance in it. The ancient belief of Greece is that Cupid, the son of Aphrodite causes the emotion of love between two people. Cupid plays a big role in making  a  couple fall in love. […]

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Dumpling Recipe for the New Year

To make the dumpling, sometimes called “potstickers” Dumpling dough: 2 cups all purpose flour 1 cup boiling water Filling: 8 ounces celery cabbage (Napa cabbage) 3 tsp salt, divided 1 pound lean ground pork 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions, with tops 1 TB white wine 1 tsp cornstarch 1 tsp sesame oil Dash white […]

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The Chinese “Little New Year”

Thursday is the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month on the Chinese calendar. It’s known as the Chinese Little New Year in the northern China. The people in southern China celebrate the Little New Year on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. After the Little New Year day, the Chinese people will officially start to […]

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Kanum Pongal – 4th Day of Pongal

Kanum Pongal, also called Thiruvalluvar Day  The fourth day of the three-day Pongal celebrations is called Kaanum Pongal. In few places this day is also known as Thiruvalluvar Day. It is dedicated to the sun god, Surya On this day, people travel to see other family members and the younger members of the family pay […]

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Mattu Pongal, 3rd Day of Pongal

Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal is dedicated to cattle and is called Mattu Pongal. People offer prayers to the bulls, cows and other farm animals. Cows and bulls have always held a special place in India. Cows give milk while bulls and oxen help plough the fields. Thus, on Maatu Pongal the farmers […]

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Surya Pongal, 2nd Day of Pongal

Surya Pongal The second day of Pongal is known as ‘Surya Pongal’ and is dedicated to the Sun God. It is the day on which the celebration actually begins and is also the first day of the Tamil month “Thai” Women wake early on this day to create elaborate ‘kolam’ on the grounds in front […]

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