The decision to volunteer internationally is a monumental commitment. But it is only the first step. Determining where to go, what to do, whether to go independently or with an organization, and which organization are considerations that will define the quality of your experience. Traveling internationally to volunteer-more than other forms of international travel-is an education.

Writers on the subject of international volunteerism have their own sets of do's and don'ts, but the unstated truth behind all the good advice is that YOU are ultimately responsible for the outcome of your experience. so it is YOU who must educate yourself. The following are some common sense ideas and tools to help your search.

KNOW YOURSELF FIRST You can't get somewhere if you don't know where you want to be. Some volunteers know exactly what they want to do and where they want to go. Many of us only know we want to do "something useful". One way to hone in on what works for you is a self-assessment, a process of discovery and refinement through a series of questions and answers, preferences, and tolerances. A personal profile will emerge, if you write it down, that you can use to evaluate possible opportunities. For example, if you're particular about the water you drink and you prefer a private hotel room with western-style menu options, maybe you shouldn't choose building a water-delivery system in a remote part of Mali. If being able to communicate well with the locals is really important to you, choose somewhere where you can speak at least a rudimentary version of the language.

Your likes and dislikes are important. As we get older, often we must learn to temper our dreams with some new limitations. That's okay, so long as you're being honest with yourself. There are so many opportunities to serve that you can one to match your needs. Don't forget to put on your list any special dietary needs, medication requirements, or access to healthcare.

Perhaps the first question to ask is why am i doing this? There are not right or wrong answers, only honest and candid one. And there is a long and varied list of why people want to volunteer. (click here to read "why volunteer") A second question could be which issues or causes are important to me (e.g. literacy, women's health, social justice, etc.)? Do I want to leverage existing skills i have or to develop new ones? How long do I want to commit for? Am I happy in humid, tropical environments where much of the underdeveloped world lives? As you ask yourself these questions, expect that one questions will expand to five more. Also helpful is to list what you don't or can't tolerate (e.g. dormitory living, manual labor, cold rain, etc.) Bounce your profile off of family and friends, too (i.e. does this sound like me?).

If you're still having trouble deciding what you want to do, use the Internet to see what's available. Two sites are excellent to view the amazing range of what's out there. www.idealist.org and www.volunteerinternational.org. If you're resourceful and well-traveled in the developing world, you might prefer finding a situation independently. (ed. note: see future articles for suggestions on this).

NARROWING THE PROCESS Since rewarding volunteer opportunities are available worldwide, one logical place to start is geography. The world is a big place, but you can shrink it quickly by starting with a continent (e.g.Africa) that interests you, then moving to a country (e.g. Kenya), then locating organizations that place people in Kenya.

Another approach is to best utilize your existing skills. It doesnt make sure for a surgeon to be planting trees in Kenya when he/she could be saving someone's life. We all have something to offer, if we've been raised in the developed world. Experience with agricultural methods, diving, social activism, any kind of health care experience, computers, management, teaching, engineering,, writing--there are literally dozens of ways to contribute. As a native English speaker, you could help teach English as a Second Language (ESL). Every organization offering global opportunities has a web site. Visit them and make contact with those that interest you. Read their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to educate yourself. Thorough read their site and think about if their mission matches your values and skills.

CHECK REFERENCES Your most reliable resource for finding out what it's really like being somewhere is people who have already been there. Most organizations will be willing to avalanche you with testimonials and past-participant contact information. Talk to as many people as you can. Prepare your questions in advance, knowing what's important to you, and listen carefully for the enthusiasm behind the words.

BE CLEAR ON COSTS We all have budgets. Determine yours and make sure all costs are identified before you make a payment. Costs for international volunteering range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. List all costs (airfare, internal transportation, food and lodging, insurance, discretionary, etc.) and clarify which are included in the fees and which are not. Check with a tax advisor to see if you can deduct the fees on your taxes. Many organizations qualify as 501(c)3 tax exempt groups.

LEAVE ROOM FOR SERENDIPITY No one asks all the questions possible. Part of volunteering internationally is adventure, and the magic of adventure in encountering the unexpected. Often, many things in the developing world don't always go "as planned" anyway.

No matter what you do, it makes a difference. And you will return an enriched person, too, because as you learn about others, you learn about yourself.