There is a sense of spirituality and family in India that we've lost in the U.S.

I only went for three weeks, but when I got back, nothing was the same. I had learned to appreciate things more. I no longer took my washer and dryer for granted! It really expanded my worldview - previously, I had only left the U.S. to visit Greece. I think I am more tolerant now of things that Americans get crazy over, like road rage for example. That kind of thing is not important to me anymore.

My trip to India gave me the desire to continue to experience cultures the way I had there - to immerse myself and become part of the community. I made friends still keep in touch with today. International volunteering is a way of bringing the world closer together.


Later, Marge volunteered in Russia

I brought along my 77-year-old mother and we volunteered together at an orphanage in the city of Yaroslavl. My mother was wondering what she could do and I said, "Mom, you knit - why don't you teach the kids how to do that?" so she brought along a suitcase full of yarn and knitting needles. She taught a group of girls 12-15 how to knit mittens. There was a little girl named Julia, about 13 years old, blonde and beautiful with really good English. She bonded especially with my mother. They were posing for a photograph, my mother and Julia and Julia's finished red mittens. Julia has a huge smile on her face in the picture. After the photo was taken, she turned to my mother and said, "This is the first new thing I have ever owned."

There was a little boy, about 8, who was always frowning, always angry. I would be standing at the window and see him outside, smoking with his friends. I'd tap on the glass and shake my finger at them, and they'd disperse. One day, I was taking photos of all the kids, one of each. The angry little boy kept bugging me, "Where's my photo, where's my photo?" Constantly he'd ask, "When am I going to get my photo?" I finally got them developed and went to give his picture to him, mainly to get him off my back. When I handed it to him, his whole face lit up, the first time I'd seen him smile. He looked at it for a moment and then held it out to me, saying, "I wanted it for you."

When you volunteer, you come away so full from what you've done. You make a difference. In this day and age, post 9/11, people are feeling empty and want to know what they can do to make a difference - here it is. It's one kid at a time. When you leave this program, everyone you've touched sees America as you - it becomes personal. You can't do that as a tourist.