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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.

Cultures and Traditions, Free Time Options

Not a “Regular” Weekend. It’s Pongal Weekend!

Pongal Weekend

There’s more heating up on Pongal weekend than just the weather. In India, where this holiday is celebrated, there is a lot going on. If you don’t know about it already, read on to learn about Pongal, one of the coolest celebrations in India. It’s Pongal weekend! Pongal is one of the most important celebrations for […]

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January 13, 2017/by Stephen Raja
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Pongal-Weekend.jpg 579 1500 Stephen Raja https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Stephen Raja2017-01-13 18:36:432018-05-18 20:20:55Not a “Regular” Weekend. It’s Pongal Weekend!
Cultures and Traditions

Yoga, Happiness, and Prosperity

YOGA, HAPPINESS, AND PROSPERITY

As part of our series on Myths and Legends, India Country Manager Stephen Raja continues talking about Kolam, and explains its relationship to yoga, happiness, and prosperity. On a previous post Stephen explained the legend behind Kolam (beautiful drawings found in the streets of India.) Now Stephen explains why women really choose to make this drawings […]

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January 3, 2017/by Global Volunteers
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Woman-in-India-doing-a-kind-of-yoga-may-have-not-heard-about..jpg 1004 1500 Global Volunteers https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Global Volunteers2017-01-03 18:36:472021-11-25 22:44:19Yoga, Happiness, and Prosperity
Cultures and Traditions

Kolam: Beautiful Drawings in India

Beautiful Drawings in India

Continuing with our series on Myths and Legends,  India Country Manager Stephen Raja talks about Kolam, a  tradition of making beautiful drawings in India.  What does yoga have to do with drawing? And what does drawing have to with prosperity? According to the Hinduism, a lot. India Country Manager Stephen Raja explains this: If you walk through […]

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January 2, 2017/by Global Volunteers
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Beautiful-drawing-found-in-the-streets-of-India.jpg 1125 1500 Global Volunteers https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Global Volunteers2017-01-02 18:36:192021-11-25 22:44:19Kolam: Beautiful Drawings in India
Cultures and Traditions, Free Time Options Peru

What is the Most Underrated City?

Most Underrated City

Peru Country Manager Daniel Salazar writes about a BBC article that highlights Lima as the most underrated city in South America. With its world renowned gastronomy, ethnic diversity, and gorgeous sites, Lima is a fascinating city. Read on for more details about what you, too, can discover while on a service program in Lima. By […]

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December 30, 2016/by Global Volunteers
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Downtown-Lima-Peru.jpg 714 1500 Global Volunteers https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Global Volunteers2016-12-30 12:36:342021-11-25 22:44:19What is the Most Underrated City?
Cultures and Traditions, Free Time Options Peru

How Do People Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Peru?

New Year's Eve celebrations in Peru.

Peru country Manager Daniel Salazar talks about the different ways people celebrate New Year’s Eve in Peru as well as some local traditions.  That is actually a difficult question to answer as there are many regions with completely different cultures and so various ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Peru. But most people in […]

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December 28, 2016/by Global Volunteers
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/New-Years-Eve-celebration-at-the-main-square-in-Cuzco.jpg 768 1024 Global Volunteers https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Global Volunteers2016-12-28 12:56:062021-11-25 22:44:19How Do People Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Peru?
Cultures and Traditions, Free Time Options China

Christmas in China Is about Apples

Christmas Eve in China

As part of our series on Christmas traditions worldwide, this is the second part to a Q&A where Baoli Wang, China Country Manager, describes Christmas Eve in China to Peru Country Manager Daniel Salazar.  D: What do Chinese people do on Christmas Eve? How is it different from western countries? B: Fun is the theme of […]

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December 26, 2016/by Global Volunteers
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Christmas-tree-and-the-Chinese-God-of-Wealth-in-a-restaurant.jpg 1125 1500 Global Volunteers https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Global Volunteers2016-12-26 12:36:042021-11-25 22:44:20Christmas in China Is about Apples
Cultures and Traditions

“It’s Not A Sacrifice” to Celebrate Christmas in Chennai

Christmas in India

Happy Christmas to all! It is 1:17am and a fun and a full Christmas Eve Day has quickly turned into early Christmas morning… Our day began with a first visit for team members Riley and Barbara, and a return visit for Susan, Brookie, and Katie to Assisi Illam where we’ve been working all week.  The teen […]

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December 25, 2016/by Stephen Raja
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161224_235425-1.jpg 844 1500 Stephen Raja https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Stephen Raja2016-12-25 13:09:542016-12-26 20:57:04“It’s Not A Sacrifice” to Celebrate Christmas in Chennai
Cultures and Traditions

Childrens’ Christmas in the Orphanage – Volunteering in India

christmas in the orphanage

We work with a few Christian organizations in Chennai, India.  Country Manager Stephen Raja reports on a very merry Christmas Eve celebration with our holiday volunteer team. Read about a children’s Christmas in the orphanage: This year we’re celebrating Christmas with the children of Assisi Illam. Last evening, all the volunteers joined the children and […]

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December 25, 2016/by Michele Gran
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161225_001820.jpg 844 1500 Michele Gran https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Michele Gran2016-12-25 12:23:232017-03-07 17:11:48Childrens’ Christmas in the Orphanage – Volunteering in India
Cultures and Traditions, Free Time Options China

Demythifying Christmas in China

How is Christmas in China

This is part of our series on Christmas traditions worldwide. Here Baoli Wang, China Country Manager, describes Christmas in China to Peru Country Manager Daniel Salazar.  In many countries, Christmas is the most important holiday of the year. For many people in western countries Christmas is a peaceful and joyful occasion for family gatherings. In a previous post we mentioned […]

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December 23, 2016/by Global Volunteers
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Christmas-displays-in-a-Chinese-restaurant-in-Xian.jpg 1125 1500 Global Volunteers https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Global Volunteers2016-12-23 12:36:052021-11-25 22:44:20Demythifying Christmas in China
Cultures and Traditions, Free Time Options China

The Chinese Legend of the Terracotta Warriors

The Terracotta Warriors in China

This is the tenth post of our series on Myths and Legends. This is the legend of the Terracotta Warriors in China, told by China Country Manager Baoli Wang.  Many foreign visitors know about the amazing Terracotta Warriors in China, but few know that the site where you can see them is in the city of Xi’an, capital […]

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December 22, 2016/by Global Volunteers
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/terracotta-army.jpg 545 960 Global Volunteers https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Global Volunteers2016-12-22 12:36:232021-11-25 22:44:20The Chinese Legend of the Terracotta Warriors
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