Cordula and I met for coffee one afternoon in a cute café in seaside town of Essaouira, Morocco and we ended up palling around for days exploring the souks, eating tagines, and just hanging out on the rooftops of her riyads.
Our fast friendship was based, in part, on our preference for volunteering as we travel. While in Essouria, she invited me to join her as a guest English teacher at English Street Class, teaching dedicated students in alleyways and open-air classrooms.
9 Fun Facts
First Name: Cordula
Age Range: 50s
Nationality: German
Nomadic Stance: Episodic
Last Job: Independent literary translator
Current Job: Teacher (English and German) at a vocational college
Favorite Country: Ireland? Morocco?
Next Stop: Not sure yet
What do you like best about the nomadic life? Meeting fascinating people from many different countries
2 Questions
1) You often volunteer during your travels, why?
I firmly believe that all people on this planet should help each other, because we are all sisters and brothers in a way. Many of us lead privileged lives, but the world is not divided in a fair or equal way. The least we can do is try (and) to give back a little bit.
I’ve volunteered twice with refugee communities on the Greek island of Lesvos, working with nonprofit organizations distributing clothes and teaching children. In 2019, I volunteered in Moria, once Europe’s largest refugee camp, with Wave of Hope, a nonprofit organization run by Afghan refugees and dedicated to promoting education for refugees.
The school was only a few tents in the middle of the “jungle” of Moria, which had little running water or electricity, and disease ran rampant. Even though the students had no chairs to sit on, they were eager to learn as much as possible, and their dedication was incredible.
2) Have you had any safety incidents while traveling, and how did you deal with them?
Yes, I’ve had several incidents. Once there was a run-in with police in Greece, who were harassing me and my friends from the refugee camp. They asked for identification, and we abided, but the whole incident was worrying since they kept my passport for an extended time.
During a family trip to Senegal and The Gambia, we booked with an untrustworthy guide who cheated us. Even though we complained to the police, the gendarmerie sided with the tour guide (who we think probably took a bribe), and we had no recourse.
It was disheartening to see the police station full of Senegalese people waiting for someone to take care of their issues. It must be hard to live in a place where you cannot rely on the police.
Have you ever had a situation where you felt “cheated” by a travel experience? How was it resolved? Any advice on how to handle a stressful situation like this?
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Christened “Wander Woman” by National Geographic, Erin Michelson is a professional speaker and author of the Nomad Life™ series of curated trips and travel guides, including the #1-ranked “Explore the World with Nomads.”