Transitions Abroad Magazine Sept/Oct 2000,Vol. XXIV, No. 2

Feature: Eastern Europe
Travel Planning Tips for the Other Europe
By Mishelle Shepard
It's true that the majority of Eastern European destinations are not for every traveler. Those who seek comfort and luxury should probably not venture far beyond capital cities like Prague, Budapest, Berlin, Tallinn, and Warsaw. But for those wishing to travel beyond the tourist zone and seek real off-the-beaten path places, people and experiences, Eastern Europe has countless options. More...

Working Abroad

Volunteer Abroad
Christine Victorino reflects on the positive impact of volunteering abroad and why international volunteers receive as much or more than they get when working to make a difference overseas.

Volunteer Programs Directory
Whale research in northern Canada, working with orphans in Romania, and planting trees in Ecuador are just a few of the volunteer opportunities listed in our annual directory.
Sidebars include Rand Engel's account of volunteering in the Balkans; Advice from Laura Higgins on how to make the best of an overseas experience.

Volunteer Reports
Personal reports from the field: Symon Lynch tells of the difficulties and rewards involved in volunteering in rural Nepal.
Ranald Totten describes his experiences in helping impoverished Cambodian villagers build new homes.
Danielle Machotka reports on a sustainable tourism program on Italy's Ligurian coast.

Internship Programs Directory
These programs will help you gain valuable work experience while living overseas.
Raj Jayadev reports on an eye-opening internship in his parents' homeland.

Work Abroad: The Best Resources
Our annual review of the best resources and programs for overseas job seekers describes essential books, magazines, newsletters, and organizations.

Departments

Information Exchange

Travel News to Use

Worldwide Travel Bargains

Kayak the Baja Coast by Kent St. John

Backpack Beautiful Merida, Venezuela by Lara Brodzinsky

Travel Europe by Bus By Koke Miller-Thomas

Stretch Your Dollar in New Zealand By Cheryl Branche

Crew a Yacht in the South Pacific by Robert Hein

Back Door Travel

Rick Steves tells how to retain your independence on even the most tightly packed, highly packaged bus tour.

Travel Abroad

Independent Travel

James Hall describes how travelers can observe ancient healing rituals in Swaziland.

At the Ladakh Farm Project in Nepal, Greg Gordon learns more than just village-style farming.

Sharon Harris tells how you can observe, and even swim with great white sharks in South Africa.

Transitions Abroad Q & A

Work Abroad

The Working Traveler

Adjusting to cultural differences in Saudia Arabia isn't easy, but saving money is reports Jill Koolmees.

Kate Doyle outlines a plan for Americans who wish to find work as an English teacher in Spain.

Roanne Beard on Teaching English in Rural Taiwan.

Brian Thornton on Teaching English in The Big Mango.

Living Abroad

Research Report
Don't worry about overseas living negatively impacting your children says Rebecca Glicksberg Skipper.

Education Abroad

Study Abroad Adviser
Sharon Gerlach explains how advisers can help disabled students take better advantage of opportunities abroad.

Student to Student
Gary Loach tells why Manchester should not be overlooked by students wishing to study in the U.K.

Program News and Notes

Endpage
Each year hundreds of thousands of monarch butterflies gather in Mexico. Cheryl Rodgers tells when and where to find gold in Sierra Madres.

From the Publisher

As Christine Victorino says in her article, nothing brings people together with such positive results as volunteering. The September/October issue celebrates this important topic with our annual listing of volunteer programs, first-hand reports from volunteers in the field, and expert advice from our editors.

We would like to welcome Christine Victorino as a contributing editor. As Director of the International Volunteer Programs Association (IPVA), Christine is uniquely qualified. With Christine on staff, Transitions Abroad readers can look forward to capable and consistent coverage of opportunities and changes in the global volunteering field.

We'd also like to welcome our new executive editor Kurt Carlson. Kurt, who put this issue together in my absence, has 15 years experience in magazine editorial, most recently as a co-founder of FamilyPC magazine. In addition to his professional experience, Kurt brings a lifelong love fo the type independent, alternative travel we write about in Transitions Abroad. As a child, Kurt lived in Kinshasa, Zaire, where his father helped develop a new medical program. He graduated high school in Ketchikan, Alaska, lived and traveled in Europe, and studied abroad in Indonesia while attending Lewis and Clark College.

In November we publish our annual adventure travel issue. Deborah McLaren and Dianne Brause will explain how to have an exciting and exotic vacation without upsetting the delicate balance of nature and culture. My wife, Joanna, and I will report on the traditional lifestyle of a relatively unvisited area of northwest Italy, and we will begin a series on Americans who have chosen to live abroad.

— Clay Hubbs