By Jennica Peterson  December 10th, 2009 6:00 am  |  Comments (1)

Spend time with locals while assisting professional healthcare workers in Guatemala.

Travel can change how you view other cultures and also inspire you to make changes at home–even your career. On WPIX-TV, Afar co-founder Joe Diaz talked about five trips that might lead you to a new job. Here’s a program that introduces you to work in healthcare by volunteering in Guatemala:

Trip: Cross Cultural Solutions’ “Assisting Healthcare Professionals” volunteer opportunity in Guatemala
Overview: You’ll work alongside local healthcare professionals to support their work in hospitals, health clinics, and homes for the elderly in the Guatemalan city of Quetzaltenango. Your daily activities will depend on your Spanish language skills, background in healthcare, and the immediate needs of the organization, but anyone can take part.
Skills you’ll learn: How to promote important vaccinations for locals by accompanying nurses on vaccination campaigns; how to assist in daily routines for physical therapy; how to support long-term patients; how to speak Spanish through weekly classes.
Other highlights: Touring the nearby Mayan ruins. Soaking in the natural hot springs just outside the city.
Price: from $2,784 for two weeks

Four other career-changing trips:

• Work alongside marine biologists in Greece
• Learn to cook in Morocco
• Live the life of an organic vintner in New Zealand
• Teach English and surf in Bali

Photo by DavidDennisPhotos.com