Send TJ to volunteer and live in Italy and Greece!

TJ Cummings Start Date: Jan 21, 2016 - End Date: May 19, 2016
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development

My Travel Story

by: TJ Cummings Start Date: Jan 21, 2016 - End Date: May 19, 2016
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
Plan:
I leave this coming September (2016), and will be spending two months volunteering at a kennels in Teglio on the Italy-Switzerland border (http://www.helpx.net/host.asp?hostID=17035). After that, I will be travelling down to San Godenzo near Florence, and volunteering on a vegetable/olive garden for a month and a half (http://www.helpx.net/host.asp?hostid=33498). Following this will be a month and a half in the North of Sardinia, volunteering on an organic farmstay (http://www.helpx.net/host.asp?hostid=42075). Greece will come after that, either volunteering on other farmstays or getting a full-time bar job, depending on the offers I may or may not get from the farmstays. I may choose to study in university in Italy.

My love of Italy began when I was a very young girl, when my grandfather, who was stationed there during the war, told me stories of his adventures there during WWII and in the years that followed, when he visited again and again with his wife of forty years, who passed away in 2013. My grandfather himself passed away in December of 2014, and my efforts to get to Italy have only doubled since. I adore learning about Greek History, and incorperating its mythology and tales into my own writing. The cultures and communities of both Greece and Italy mesmirize me. I have no choice but to follow their beckonings.

I'm going to travel for the sheer joy of it, but also to volunteer, write, and film. As an author, I want to get at least one full novel completed whilst there, be it of my usual fantasy, or even a travel book describing each tiny mishap and every meandering tale. I also wish to film a couple of short films, the details of which have yet to be finalised, and create an endless stream of Italian and Greek photography art. Of course, I would be writing a blog the entire time, too, giving tips for people looking to travel in the future, and just generally sharing stories of the countries.

The video link is of a Contiki trip to Rome, and is, incidentally, how I travel; I love to seek out the hidden gems, the little perks and parts of the country or city which make you fall in love with the place over and over again. It's the best way, isn't it? To dive straight into the innermost workings of the place that surrounds you, submerge yourself completely in its culture? I think so.

My goal amount of funding is very high, but any donation at all is so very welcome. I would be eternally grateful to anybody willing to contribute to the cost of the trip (which promises to be expensive, sigh), and would be only too happy to send you postcards and photographs of the trip whilst I'm there! For anybody who wishes to donate a larger sum, I'd be willing to video chat whilst there with you, so that you, too, could experience the breath-taking journey. I'd also be happy to offer advance readings for any novels I write whilst travelling, and advance showings of the short films.

I have no idea if I've convinced you to help or not, but, if I have, then thank you, and good luck in life! When I go, if you'd like to recieve some of the rewards, then let me know via email ( tj.l.cummings@gmail.com ) and I'll get back to you ASAP!