Volunteer abroad or at home? Does it really matter?

One question that I had to answer for myself when I began searching for volunteer opportunities was why to volunteer abroad. There are numerous volunteer opportunities, and vast amounts of people that need help, right here in America. I told myself, in the beginning, that I should work first with those in my own country because they are "closest" to me, in simple terms. My national pride told me that this was the right thing to do - help yourself and your own; help others later. This seemed like a good idea with sound logic, until I listened to CNN's Larry King interview the Dalai Lama.

The interview took place shortly after the disastrous earthquake in Haiti in January of this year. At one point, Mr. King asked the Dalai Lama if he believed that he was especially influential because he is a top leader in Buddhism. The Dalai Lama's response made my previously presumed "sound logic" to be completely wrong. He said the following: "I am a simple Buddhist monk. I am a human being, just one of 6 billion. On a fundamental level, we are all the same."

We are all human. We are all the same. I came to the realization that this is completely true when you look at the argument in the most basic terms. On a daily basis, it is easiest and most convenient to worry about ourselves and our well-being. And, when we have the opportunity, we help those that are directly around us because we see them, we know what their problems are. We are able to help those in our absolute vicinity because we know, through first-hand experience, what plagues them. At the same time, however, we ignore the problems of people around the world because we are not exposed to it. We have no vantage point. But if we listen to the Dalai Lama's wise words, that should not be an obstacle.

Each individual person can make small contributions to a large cause. When many people work towards a common accomplishment, the small contributions that each makes sums up to a tangible positive difference. Every little but helps. We are individuals, we lead our own lives. At the same time, however, we are not isolated. Even though we do not personally know everyone in the world, we share a sense of togetherness arising from the simple fact that we all live in this world right now. No matter what culture, nationality, ethnicity, race, sex, age, or orientation, we are all human. We are all one community. We are all one family.

Now, it is normal for people to look out for themselves and make sure that they are taken care of well. However, if you put on the blinders and only think of your own success, then what's the point? This isolation, to me at least, sounds cold and lifeless. If my success, whether it be monetary or otherwise, cannot help others in some way, then it truly isn't a success to me. This world has seemingly insurmountable difficulties that range from overpopulation to poor health care, and from poverty and hunger to global warming.

But of one thing I am convinced. Nothing is insurmountable if we band together. When I think about this on a more general level, I notice that all species of animals work together for a common good. Think of ants. They all work together to collect food and water to bring back to the colony. In the colony, the supplies are distributed equally to everyone (well, equal to all except the queen. She gets more so that she can continue building the colony's numbers). And yet, the supposed most-intelligent, highest-thinking species out there just hasn't gotten it right, at least not on a large scale. For the most part, we seek the highest good for the individual instead of the highest good for the community, the world community. More and more, I am convinced that if the world community, without boundaries, cannot exist, then neither can the individual.

The fact of the matter is, we live in an interdependent world. The United States, along with every other country, has conducted trade, waged wars, signed treaties, and given/received financial help. To pretend that we are isolated and don't communicate with others outside our direct vicinity is misguided.

And so, I decided to volunteer abroad. But, in the end, I'm still helping my community. I'm still working for the advancement of my own.