allthemuffins

Ooh where in Michigan? If you end up back in the mitten at any point, I'll buy you a beer so I can hear more stories.

What's the kindest thing anyone's done for you while you were on the road? Have you ever had to keep moving while physically ill?

I have no idea where Utica is. I don't venture from the west shore area very often.

Not all church groups are created equal, but my dad's org has had more trouble with church groups than any other kind. I know there are good ones -- a group of Canadian Hutterites have done more for his org than any other donor/volunteer group, for example -- but there have been a lot of horrifically disastrous church group trips I've heard about or witnessed.

Basically a good rule of thumb is that if the group stresses humility, respect for culture, and serving the people who live there, it's probably not a bad group. A lot of church groups start from the mindset that they're going down to do God's work and be white saviors, and they approach the situation with the entitlement that comes with that mindset. They are there for a vacation they can feel good about, and it's all about their own experience.

What are your recommendations for good sleep hygiene? I fixed my insomnia by not getting into bed unless it was time to sleep, but I say the words "sleep hygiene" and people stare at me blankly.

This guy speaks the truth. If you want your money to get to where it's supposed to go, find small NGOs that work directly with indigenous people. Larger organizations tend to put more money into PR, employee salaries etc, and if they don't have a strong connection to the people actually living there, they push money into programs that aren't sustainable or ruin local economies. Do homework about who you're donating to, find an org that invests money into community projects that are focused on growth and sustainability.

Source: helped my dad run a NGO with a main project of building schools and training teachers in small Haitian villages.