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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 ~ continued Article by Michele Appelgate Continued next page. |
| WAVE Journey |
| Women's Adventures, Vacations & Experiences ~ Your Journey Starts Here! |
She graduated from Fairfield High in 1944 and then went to Parsons College, and
worked at the Dexter Washing Machine Company before getting married in
Philadelphia in 1949.
worked at the Dexter Washing Machine Company before getting married in
Philadelphia in 1949.
It was her Iowa upbringing that helped
Grieger develop her work ethic, drive and
determination to make a difference in the
world. She’s an energetic woman who
volunteers her time so she can make the
world a little better today than it was
yesterday.
Grieger develop her work ethic, drive and
determination to make a difference in the
world. She’s an energetic woman who
volunteers her time so she can make the
world a little better today than it was
yesterday.
“I really feel that when you’re born and
raised in Iowa, you’re expected to be
honest and ethical and helpful in many
ways. It’s expected of us. I was trained
raised in Iowa, you’re expected to be
honest and ethical and helpful in many
ways. It’s expected of us. I was trained
Cross-Cultural Solutions offers volunteer programs from two to 12 weeks.
Volunteers are responsible for their own travel expenses, room and board and
any necessary immunizations for international travel. Grieger, who lives on a
fixed income, has the time, energy and spirit to make another trip — but she
lacks the funds.
Grieger’s experience in Costa Rica was so fulfilling that she is ready to go again
— this time to Thailand. She is raising money to make a trip this fall. The trip will
cost her about $6,000 for six weeks of volunteer work. She did receive a $1,000
federal grant, which she had to match.
“To me, this type of volunteering is just like that feeling you have when you have
finished eating your very favorite meal and you're sitting in your very favorite
chair listening to your very favorite music and your very favorite friend is right
there beside you.”
Volunteers are responsible for their own travel expenses, room and board and
any necessary immunizations for international travel. Grieger, who lives on a
fixed income, has the time, energy and spirit to make another trip — but she
lacks the funds.
Grieger’s experience in Costa Rica was so fulfilling that she is ready to go again
— this time to Thailand. She is raising money to make a trip this fall. The trip will
cost her about $6,000 for six weeks of volunteer work. She did receive a $1,000
federal grant, which she had to match.
“To me, this type of volunteering is just like that feeling you have when you have
finished eating your very favorite meal and you're sitting in your very favorite
chair listening to your very favorite music and your very favorite friend is right
there beside you.”
She wants to work with a physician who has a volunteer program in Chiang Mai,
“Where There is Not a Doctor.” He travels from one village to another, sets up a
medical facility to work out of for a week, and provides basic health care, such as
immunizations.
Darlene offers true inspiration at an age where many people retire in the southern
states and relax near a golf course.
“I can’t believe the number of senior citizens who sit around all day long
complaining about this or that and do nothing to improve the world,” she says.
“Age is a state of mind!”
It takes a certain type of person to do this kind of volunteering. Her long-time
friend and former professional associate, John F. Reese, Sr., is amazed at Grieger’s
enthusiasm and zest for living each day to the fullest.
“People like Darlene, who venture forth in personal service, lend the warmth and
impetus to truly lift burdens and actually set feet on the right path. Darlene is
among our precious “unsung Ambassadors,” said Reese, a retired Computer
Analyst/Programmer, from Phoenix AZ.
During her volunteer weeks in Costa Rica, Grieger sent regular email updates to
her friends and family in the United States. “We were able to enjoy and share
vicariously through Darlene’s emails, as she related struggles, hope, humor,
poignancy and sometimes tragedy,” Reese. “Her keen insight and her ability to
connect with people are blessings to those she serves. Even in the darkest
hours, Darlene’s optimism burns brightly, which in turn kindles the flames of
abiding hope.”
The Grieger children are very proud of their mother, said daughter Victoria
Richards of Mesa, Az.
“As her children, we lived vicariously through her daily emails as my mother would
detail her most recent adventures ranging from Dorm Life, Dangerous Bus Rides,
Children of the Orphanage, Recycling Paper and Empowering Woman. She has set
an example for the newly retired baby boomers with time, money and resources at
their disposal. There is a great need for people like my mother to go into
developing countries and provide aid. We all wish we could join her!”
In Costa Rica, Grieger had 54 roommates - people from all over the world and
every kind of personality one can imagine. They were all there to help. “It was
fantastic to be able to meet and work with people of different nationalities,”
Grieger said. “The local people were so appreciative and thanked us constantly for
giving of our time. It also let the people of Costa Rica know that we all cared
about them.”
Vanessa Shaw of Cross-Cultural Solutions is helping to organize Grieger’s next trip
to Thailand.
“Where There is Not a Doctor.” He travels from one village to another, sets up a
medical facility to work out of for a week, and provides basic health care, such as
immunizations.
Darlene offers true inspiration at an age where many people retire in the southern
states and relax near a golf course.
“I can’t believe the number of senior citizens who sit around all day long
complaining about this or that and do nothing to improve the world,” she says.
“Age is a state of mind!”
It takes a certain type of person to do this kind of volunteering. Her long-time
friend and former professional associate, John F. Reese, Sr., is amazed at Grieger’s
enthusiasm and zest for living each day to the fullest.
“People like Darlene, who venture forth in personal service, lend the warmth and
impetus to truly lift burdens and actually set feet on the right path. Darlene is
among our precious “unsung Ambassadors,” said Reese, a retired Computer
Analyst/Programmer, from Phoenix AZ.
During her volunteer weeks in Costa Rica, Grieger sent regular email updates to
her friends and family in the United States. “We were able to enjoy and share
vicariously through Darlene’s emails, as she related struggles, hope, humor,
poignancy and sometimes tragedy,” Reese. “Her keen insight and her ability to
connect with people are blessings to those she serves. Even in the darkest
hours, Darlene’s optimism burns brightly, which in turn kindles the flames of
abiding hope.”
The Grieger children are very proud of their mother, said daughter Victoria
Richards of Mesa, Az.
“As her children, we lived vicariously through her daily emails as my mother would
detail her most recent adventures ranging from Dorm Life, Dangerous Bus Rides,
Children of the Orphanage, Recycling Paper and Empowering Woman. She has set
an example for the newly retired baby boomers with time, money and resources at
their disposal. There is a great need for people like my mother to go into
developing countries and provide aid. We all wish we could join her!”
In Costa Rica, Grieger had 54 roommates - people from all over the world and
every kind of personality one can imagine. They were all there to help. “It was
fantastic to be able to meet and work with people of different nationalities,”
Grieger said. “The local people were so appreciative and thanked us constantly for
giving of our time. It also let the people of Costa Rica know that we all cared
about them.”
Vanessa Shaw of Cross-Cultural Solutions is helping to organize Grieger’s next trip
to Thailand.
that way.” With that experience, Grieger feels that she can help other people by