I'm going to Costa Rica

This September I'm going to be in Costa Rica and I'm going to be helping out a group of doctors there for a few weeks. It costs $1000, and I'm paying my own way, I can hardly wait, it will be the experience of a lifetime. I'm getting my passport and everything now so I'll be ready. I'm not getting paid to do any of this, and I'm going to be eating the same food as the locals, it's not going to be a vacation either, I'm going to be working for a good 12-14 hours a day. Of course, once I come back I'll be sure to share my experience with everyone here. The only other country I've ever been to is Jonathanland, and I reckon this will be a vastly different experience than visiting a first-world city-state. Anyone have any words of advice or words of advice?

Wow. you are so fortunate. Costa Rica is one of the place I wanted to visit someday. For now I don't have time to travel because I'm studying again.

I'm having a hard time getting my mind around this service-oriented escapade you have planned for yourself. I just do not see the doctors in Costa Rica who need short term volunteer help. Certainly there are places in the world that public service can be a fulfilling adventure, helping people that need you is a reasonable expectation when you are paying for the experience. Are you sure Costa Rica needs you? Now if you were volunteering to pick up roadside litter it might make sense.

Now why didnt i think of that? Ive been paying for help for decades. Ill just advertise worldwide, come to Indiana, help doctor animals. 2 weeks, only $1000 plus transportation. but then, i might not get the brightest help.

Slumdogs need help.Third -world Gary, Indiana.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/ny/8-18-bmore-2.jpg

Woof! Woof! Woof-woof-woof!

squall30 - where are you going to be working? for what "group of doctors?" is this some kind of volunteer organization?

the only things like this that I know about are doctors and dentists who go into very remote, rural areas - such as the talamanca region - and work with people who don't have easy access to medical care. there are a number of indigenous people like that. is this what you are talking about?

impossible to give any kind of advice without knowing more specifics about where you will be, etc.

When I was 12 I could think of a lot better things to do with 1000 dollars than volunteering.

maliante - volunteering is a great thing to do. but, strangely, it is not free. most volunteer opportunities in costa rica charge a minimum of $20-$25 a day to cover lodging and food costs and people going through organizations that provide other kinds of support will pay a whole lot more.

while we don't have much information from squall30, there are indications that he/she will be in the country for a "few weeks" so depending on what the $1000 covers and the amount of time, it could be an ok thing.

and what does being 12 have to do with anything? i re-read the original post and the only 12 i saw was about working 12-14 hours a day.

Costa Rica is NOT a third world country.

re: "doctors who go into very remote, rural areas" (6)
reminds me of "The Hanging of Newly" episode of Gunsmoke

I believe the poster to be 12 because I read this and their other posts.

Life is dirt.
http://blog.worldfriends.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/mudfestival-South-Korea.jpg

I think it is, "dirt is life".

doc adams sent newly to attend to the hillbilly colony. an old man was dying of extreme dyspnea, so Newly performed a tracheotomy. the old guy died despite his best efforts. the hillbillies had never experienced anything like that. "cuttin is killin" the hillbilly leader quoted from the Koran. But then Festus came along. he knew how to relate to the local indiginous personnel.