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| A Woman's Directory For Travel and Life. WAVE Journey is your one stop online resource for women oriented businesses and services around the world. WAVE Journey is for every woman to enjoy. If you love to travel, cook, read or revel in outdoor activities this website is for you. If you are looking to connect with other like-minded women or if you are interested in finding businesses or services that cater to women, WAVE Journey is your number one online resource. Darlene Grieger, 81, Travels The World To Volunteer ~ Article by Michele Appelgate Continued next page. |
| WAVE Journey |
| Women's Adventures, Vacations & Experiences ~ Your Journey Starts Here! |
Darlene Grieger, an amazing woman of 81 years, lives her life with such
enthusiasm and energy that people half her age have a hard time keeping up
with her. Even her peers are amazed.
enthusiasm and energy that people half her age have a hard time keeping up
with her. Even her peers are amazed.
In 2007, this grandmother of 14 spent three
months volunteering in Costa Rica, an
experience that changed her life and fueled her
desire to help other people. It was an
experience that helped her realize what living
is all about.
months volunteering in Costa Rica, an
experience that changed her life and fueled her
desire to help other people. It was an
experience that helped her realize what living
is all about.
“It was one of the most rewarding experiences
of my life,” she said. "To hug and love children
in an orphanage, when I know they don’t have
a mother or even a grandmother of their own,
is something that I am happy to do. It made
me feel so important and so needed.”
of my life,” she said. "To hug and love children
in an orphanage, when I know they don’t have
a mother or even a grandmother of their own,
is something that I am happy to do. It made
me feel so important and so needed.”
At this point in her life, she never thought she would find herself traveling around
the world to volunteer for strangers – all by herself.
the world to volunteer for strangers – all by herself.
“I had a successful career and a wonderful marriage that lasted 51 years. My
husband, Paul, passed away in 2000 and I decided I am not going to sit in a rocking
chair and feel sorry for myself. I have had so many wonderful blessings in my life,
but still feel there is something else for me to do. Volunteering has filled that void,"
she said.
husband, Paul, passed away in 2000 and I decided I am not going to sit in a rocking
chair and feel sorry for myself. I have had so many wonderful blessings in my life,
but still feel there is something else for me to do. Volunteering has filled that void,"
she said.
While in Costa Rica, Grieger felt so alive as
she worked with people of all ages. She
spent time with young children in an
orphanage and also worked with a group
of women who started a business making
arts and crafts with recycled paper. They
make the paper out of organic fibers such
as banana leafs.
she worked with people of all ages. She
spent time with young children in an
orphanage and also worked with a group
of women who started a business making
arts and crafts with recycled paper. They
make the paper out of organic fibers such
as banana leafs.
Her trip was organized through Cross
Cultural Solutions, a non-profit
organization that has been operating
Cultural Solutions, a non-profit
organization that has been operating
“Some of them said they wished I was their grandmother. That is quite a
compliment,” Grieger said.
compliment,” Grieger said.
international volunteer programs for over 10 years. She was by far the oldest of
the volunteers on her trip. That didn’t seem to matter to anyone. She quickly
became the adopted grandmother for so many volunteers in their 20s and 30s.
the volunteers on her trip. That didn’t seem to matter to anyone. She quickly
became the adopted grandmother for so many volunteers in their 20s and 30s.
For Irving Pérez, the program director for Cross-Cultural Solutions San Carlos,
Costa Rica, where Grieger had her international volunteer experience, she was a
blessing.
Costa Rica, where Grieger had her international volunteer experience, she was a
blessing.
“The three months that Darlene was here with us in San Carlos were some of the
most enjoyable time that I’ve had working with Cross-Cultural Solutions,” he said.
“Darlene`s spirit and desire to live is so strong and contagious that you are
revitalized just by having been close to her. She has the advantage of experience
and has one of the most compassionate hearts I have ever met.”
most enjoyable time that I’ve had working with Cross-Cultural Solutions,” he said.
“Darlene`s spirit and desire to live is so strong and contagious that you are
revitalized just by having been close to her. She has the advantage of experience
and has one of the most compassionate hearts I have ever met.”
The feeling was mutual for Grieger.
“It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” she said. “The way I
describe it to people is that it’s like a mini Peace Corp. However, the Peace Corp is
sponsored by the United States government and you have to commit to two years
of service. Our government pays those bills. I don’t have that luxury,” she said.
describe it to people is that it’s like a mini Peace Corp. However, the Peace Corp is
sponsored by the United States government and you have to commit to two years
of service. Our government pays those bills. I don’t have that luxury,” she said.
Grieger, who currently resides in a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, was born and
raised on a farm in Fairfield, Iowa, with her parents and two sisters, Carol
Leathers, who lives in Mesa, AZ and Betty Hinkle, who lives in Birmingham, Iowa.
raised on a farm in Fairfield, Iowa, with her parents and two sisters, Carol
Leathers, who lives in Mesa, AZ and Betty Hinkle, who lives in Birmingham, Iowa.