Volunteer Travel Life
Cassandra Johnson
3-29-2026: Pressure and excitement to perform over the hope of a new day.
Waking up inspired. Going to bed tired.
No plans for sleep, but softly falling into it.
Traveling to fulfill my goal of volunteering abroad while fulfilling my efforts to volunteer domestically, it is never long lost on me that motivation comes from lessons and practice.
Cassandra Johnson
3-27-2026: The laughter in the moment is so quiet and contagious, until it erupts and we move our bodies in camaraderie at the humor and movement and away from the anxieties of the day, of being mistreated, being marginalized and in our superior moment of good feeling, we rise above the negativity, the bullying that rages at our ever-appearing joy.
As we move through these tumultuous times when so many people are being attacked because they hold less power in the face of depraved government officials that impose their will upon us, we still hold on to our joyous moments, intermittently and for a vast majority of the time. We earn our money justly and take care of ourselves and each other.
We watch movies, enjoy our favorite foods, and laugh within our complementary senses of humor. It is so important that we have family and friends now, that we have our community and moments of joy – zen moments to enjoy ourselves and each other. Funny movies, funny shows, profound books, deep reflections as well as things not to take too seriously. We support ourselves on our resources and reflections so that we can keep fighting, prevailing and protecting.
Then, we realize we are powerful. Rather, we are reminded in moments that people still have a need to be liked by us, to believe in their messages and propaganda, lest they be questioned and know the real truth they are trying to hide within their power. We do not respect them in their unearned spaces, pushing all of us out who truly earned our accolades and actually deserve the spaces they steal from us.
Credit to The Joy Reid Show and The Daily Show respectively, for Moment of Joy and Moment of Zen and the reminders underscoring how much I like to write reflectively in poetry and prose.
February 25, 2026 by Cassandra Johnson
I don’t mind one bit.
What I absolutely do not mind is being reminded of what we deserve. What so many deserve.
Grace.
Grace and rest.
Grace, rest, and care.
Coincidentally close to my birthday and as highlighted during my trip this week, I was reminded of how nice a life of wandering and close friendships can be. I was also reminded of how nice resting on a vacation and good treatment (hospitality) can be uplifting and when nicely delivered with respect and kindness, can be a nice reset.
I was reminded not to mind this break, the care, and conveniences. I recalled how okay it can be to let go of anxiety and momentarily put away a day of always working on efficiency and progress. I did not mind such sweet smiles, greetings, convenient breakfasts, door to door service and that Ubers and taxis made easy tasks of completing errands and meeting up with friends. Getting older or just having been a taskmaster for so long, the guesswork that is taken out of having to be just about everywhere and get everything done with brute force makes the easy parts nicer and the formidable parts more palatable.
Similarly, I don’t mind the cross-section between what is very walkable and quickly drivable with ready options to be near amenities. I don’t mind the layers of ready relaxation.
I do not have to go out of my way to meet my cravings or needs. I do not have to worry about being especially late or paying for anything I do not enjoy. I did not have to worry about running out of time, income nor inconvenience and I do not mind at all.
January 27, 2026 by Cassandra Johnson
Travel in what pictures cannot capture.
Travel in that, from which pictures can just borrow a piece.
When I first landed in Merida, I did not expect to stay so long, though I thought it efficient to run out my tourist Visa. (180 days).
I look at my photos, yes picturesque, yet they do not capture all the beauty and anguish interwoven into the weeks. They don’t match the ease I felt sitting in the sun after a long project and drinking agua fresca. Salsa in the bar. Daily free performances. Restaurant stands. Cute shops. The pictures do not capture the taste of a good Mexican meal, only the appearance and sometimes, they mistakenly highlight a tasteless Yucatecan one.
The pictures are graciously appreciated yet also inconsiderate of the anxiety I felt leaving a nice Merida neighborhood for an inconvenient one.
Pictures borrow a piece from the scenery, they borrow a piece from the nostalgia, they borrow a piece from the senses that engage in the moment. They borrow from the delight and sometimes veil the anxious spirit. They borrow and allow a revisit to the places, to the feelings and sometimes uplift a moment that was not uplifting and alternately dull a moment absolutely beyond exhilarating.
The experiences were unimaginable. I am glad I tested out a desire to see the Mexican city among the many, and look forward to soon seeing if the feelings, both okay and good, are still there. Yet, short, round-trip ticket, this time.😊
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January 26, 2026 by Cassandra Johnson
Feeling within the capacity to be strong enough
Knowing well the reserve of willingness and resilience
Feeling the mirage of perceived limitation
all the time, knowing the goals obtained. As well, projected.
I started talking to my new coach just one week ago and connecting with her again this week, I knew we were a good match. Being yourself without having to prove yourself is one of the nicest places to be.
Safe space lies in authentic encouragement and likewise, in the acknowledgment of skills and accomplishments. Being seen.
Being encouraged to continue to do work that aligns with my passions is satiating. I thank her for the tools to progress even further and to be kind with even the personally coping steps that landed at my past goals, just the same.
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December 31, 2025 by Cassandra Johnson
The stumbling blocks along the path. Duly recognized.
No reason to be ashamed when what is true is that you made it through.
A past survived. No need to let go when the world continues to hold on to you.
[May 2026 publications, additions]
Life lessons. Varying. Aptly recognized, I now have more information to take on my next project plus travel endeavors. Maybe there is an enhanced way to complete my translation, teach a student, and travel to South America? There may be parts I can skip altogether.
Without reinventing myself. I can embrace the highlights and the issues I have had to improve my steps and continue helping local and international communities.
December 30, 2025 by Cassandra Johnson
I took a couple of local trips. Perhaps, I will be able to work something out in January too.
I am working out some combination to include volunteering and working but with some significant changes that work better for my schedule and the assistance I can provide to the organization I choose. I will circle back around as updates come.
The first year of my blog captured a lot of my volunteer thoughts abroad. I highlight Peru and my previous experiences with disaster relief, in particular. I also have some time that touches a little on volunteering in the US. I always wanted to do both, but there are times when I feel it becomes tainted by the leadership structure.
There are other times I joined projects in my home state before doing so in DC, when I first moved to DC, and other projects in places like Ecuador and Bolivia, but what I want to do also becomes limited by my job. Overall I am intrigued to volunteer some more, because I feel it fits well into continuing to learn with others and grow together. This time, perhaps, my efforts will just be a little different. My work experience may lean a lot more to what I can do and also changing who I am.
November 28, 2025 by Cassandra Johnson
Recently, I had the nice experience of helping a South Korean adult student study his English. I use a platform that allows me to help students through general conversations with whatever they would like to discuss or by using structured lessons.
I prefer logging in when I have extra time, I rarely have regularly scheduled students. I prefer not having a set schedule whereas I am able to engage with people who choose to call me when we both happen to be online. We make a good match, because they can look at my profile and/or intro video and decide if they would like to use their lesson time with me. I once volunteered teaching English as a second language for a couple years on a set schedule in DC, 6 months alongside other volunteer work in Peru and again when I explored church for a while. The online space has opened it up to me again.
The students are from a variety of countries with different goals for learning English, which could be professional, academic or as a hobby. I enjoy getting to meet them and even seeing that some of them select me again when we happen to be online at the same time again.
The online English tutoring platform is where I spend some of my spare time, only keeping a set schedule from time to time, when students especially request it. Now that I work as a full-time freelance translator following a long line of other work experience (most recently in non-profits), I like having this additional side space as it still speaks to my literary and language passions and sharing international experiences.
October 31, 2025 by Cassandra Johnson
Accepting all I deserve?
It’s coming easier.
I am reminiscent of how not to deny myself. I am reminded not to expect less. I am reminded of insistent examples.
I am reminded of my 31st birthday via my brother and us sharing ideas and outlooks.
I am swept up in the memory of that birthday, of inviting friends to share the date with me, to enjoy our time together. I do not remember being especially hungry. I enjoyed the food. I enjoyed the drinks but I mostly recalled the satiation being filled by the company and their intentions.
I am struck by the memory of a celebration of many friends from different parts of my life coming together and how supported I felt in their respect for each other out of their own interests and their respect for me. I love seeing them in their element and not too focused on me, unnaturally, but very fluidly focused on me and our relationships.
I was captured by them, captured by the presence we stayed in. Wrapping up our goodbyes intermittently as they had to leave, I am struck how I could ask for what I really wanted and be treated so deserving.
What I really was reflecting on is how stark it could be to stay in this mode when life’s pressures mount around you and you’re most likely in work mode.
Interestingly in a space of employing so much effort, a lot more factors like bosses and profit work to the effect of convincing you of not being deserving and of extracting more of you than is willing to be given in return. I have been talked out of acknowledging what I deserve in these spaces but now I am reminded. Examples of being deserving are insistent and luckily, my family/friend support system is as well.
October 28, 2025 by Cassandra Johnson
It is nice to implement the resources I have and primarily, just to remind myself I have them.
The support has always been there. My family and friends want to see me win.
Mutually, we want to support each other’s journey. Beyond empathy, we want to see the joy we have along the way and alternately, that we can recover when necessary. Any nemeses and enemies of mine are a lesser challenge armed with them. On my worst day, I can now audaciously face the challenges against me, including the challenges of a system built up against us.