Your first week at Mirror is a busy one!
There are lots of new people to meet - other volunteers beginning on the same day, those who have already been there two weeks or more, Mirror staff, and Thai intern students attached to the Ecotours project. You have to settle into living a dormitory life, respecting the space of others. There is also the adjustment to new food - not many volunteers will have eaten rice for three meals a day, and it can take some getting used to. Besides all of the above, you need to soak up a ton of information in order to slip into your new life smoothly - creating as few ripples as possible, and developing the correct mindset for volunteering... by Wednesday, you should be ready to begin work.
Monday
After we've picked you up, you'll have the opportunity to visit a local supermarket (only volunteers who have arrived before 16:00 hrs) to stock up on anything you may have forgotten or need. We'll give you a tour of the foundation, and chat about the basics. Lunch and dinner are prepared according to arrival times, and are eaten at the kitchen area. aside from that, the day is yours to relax, catch up on sleep, or meet others at the foundation.
Tuesday
Meet the staff at breakfast, introductions and then at 09:30 ou 'll have orientation. A morning of learning about the foundation, your programme and the work you will be assisting in. In the afternoon, Childcare volunteers will have an additional workshop specific to the programme, Outdoor volunteers will begin work, and Animal Care volunteers will be picked up and transferred to their residential programme at the animal shelter.
Wednesday-Friday
Volunteer work. Childcare volunteers go out to teach in the morning and prepare lessonplans in the afternoon. Outdoor work onsite or close to the foundation for the first week.
Saturday
In the morning of the first week, we take new volunteers to visit a local sightseeing attraction. After lunch, all volunteers are sent to town (unless they have arranged to stay onsite for the weekend).
Second week
We expect all volunteers to return by early evening on Monday, certainly no later than 21:00 hrs.