Many people are gearing up for their first volunteer trip to the developing world this summer. If you are one of them - bravo! – this month’s newsletter is dedicated to you.

On your first trip to a developing country the experience feels as though everything happens all at once. In the amount of time it takes for your flight, you are whisked away from your day-to-day comfort and into the whirlwind of an entirely new lifestyle in a foreign land. There are new foods, new economies, new problems, new people, new forms of entertainment – new everything. It’s an exciting time.

One common problem that many people experience, is becoming overwhelmed by the details, and loosing sight of the big picture. In this issue I will discuss two big picture strategies designed to make your trip exceptional.

If your experience is anything like mine, your trip will be life changing. A good way to put your growth in perspective is to conduct a self-interview prior to departure. I have provided questions for you to write answers to; they are designed to create a snapshot of where you are right now. When you return you will be able to see how much you have developed.

-What has been happening in my life recently?

-What inspired me to volunteer in the developing world?

-What are my personal goals for this trip?

-How will I know if I’ve achieved these goals?

-What most excites me about the trip?

-What is my biggest fear surrounding the trip?

-What are my most important values right now?

-What is my happiest moment in recent history?

When I'm faced with questions like these my tendency is to answer them in my head. However, I have found that when I write the answers out, my thinking goes deeper. I recommend that you take an hour to focus without distraction and actually write out the answers to your self-interview.

Once you have completed the interview, seal your answers in an envelope and set it aside for when you return home. The interview will serve as a portrait of yourself just before undertaking one of the most formative experiences of your life. I promise you will be glad you have done this.