And so it begins...

August is here, which means by the end of the month I'll be in Mexico - woohoo!

I've been actively preparing for this adventure for a while now - a good year or so - deciding on where to go, what volunteering opportunities to dive into, what to pack, etc. The idea of the trip has evolved quite a bit: At first I really wanted to see if it would be possible to go help out at different bakeries in Mexico, Central, and South America. However, finding locals to connect with from afar, who also had contacts at bakeries was quite difficult. So, I shifted gears and started looking at volunteering opportunities through Workaway. Workaway is an online platform that connects volunteers and hosts across the world. Volunteering can be anything from helping a family out with their day-to-day tasks, supporting a farm, working at a hostel, teaching at a school, etc. Volunteers are usually compensated with room and board during their stay. Pretty neat!

While I haven't nailed down all the details, it's looking like my trip will be a mix of staying with friends-of-friends, volunteering, and some guided tours as well. But for now, some final packing and cleaning are on the to-do list.

Stay tuned for all the fun! And in the meantime, if you're thinking of taking a longer trip yourself and aren't quite sure what all you should be thinking about, here some snippets from my experience.

A few things to think of when embarking on a longer trip:

• Apartment: If you can, sublet your apartment during the time you're gone. This will free up a big chunk of funds!

• Cell phone: Check your current cell phone plan - are the countries you're visiting covered? If not, check with your local provider for an additional package or consider purchasing an e-SIM or physical SIM from a provider in the country you're visiting.

• Credit cards: Notify your credit card company of your plans to ensure they don't block your card while travelling.

• First aid: Decide on what first aid items might be helpful to have on hand such as mosquito spray, immodium tablets, charcoal tablets, bandaids, etc.

• Mail: Make sure you're forwarding your mail to someone, have someone check your mailbox regularly, or use a digital mail service.

• Passport: Make sure your passport is valid for the entirety of your trip! Also, give a copy to a trusted friend - just in case.

• Safety: Double check the safety and political situaions of the countries you're traveling to via your government website. E.g. for the US it's this.

• Vaccination: See if any vaccinations are needed or recommended.

• Visas: Check if you'll need a visa where you're going, or if there is a limit on how long you can stay in a specific country.

P.s. planning on leaving a comment below? Don't forget to add your initials or your name if you want me to know who you are!