To me, there are few things better than traveling. The new experiences, foods, the feeling of freedom and the world open before you. But as is always the case, even too much of a good thing can be bad. What do you do when traveling gets old?
I have posed this question with friends, family, and other travelers and been met with: 1. Sarcasm (“Tough life.”) or 2. Absolute agreement from other long-term travelers. My intention is never to sound ungrateful– I am extremely fortunate to have the experiences I have had and would never change a thing. Yet after years of frequent traveling, I have had the sensation that as the world is offering the best to me, I am not giving back in any productive, fulfilling manner. I´ve used the past months to explore this feeling and find methods to reconcile traveling with being an engaged member of society. Here are a few ways I´ve found to get involved in Bilbao.
(The following links are useful for the Basque Country/Spain, but the last two operate in many other countries.)
- Volunteer. Here you can find an array of interesting volunteer opportunities throughout Spain, from working with immigrants to rescue cats. Many require an advanced level of Spanish or a long-term commitment. Good for those on a long-term stay and a desire to give back to the community.
- Take a language class. Schools like the Instituto Hemingway and School of Languages offer short-term and long-term language classes. Additional activities for enrolled students include excursions through the city and international group meals– a great way to meet other foreigners in the city.
- Give a class. If you prefer to be teacher rather than student, sign up to give clases particulares (private tutoring). Many families are looking for native language tutors for their children. A good way to earn extra cash and meet local families.
- Find a language partner. If you´re interested in learning the local language but your budget doesn´t allow for classes, try a conversation exchange. On this site, you can find a language partner and set your own meeting places and times. It´s a fun (and free!) way to make a local friend and hone your conversational skills.
- Join an interest group. Meetup.com operates in tons of cities and spans a range of topics–from comic enthusiasts to web designers to political causes, there is something to suit everyone. Join a group that catches your interest and stay tuned for upcoming meet up times.
I´m interested to hear from other travelers–what are some of the ways you stay involved on the road? Please feel free to comment below!
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