Negotiated selves : exploring the impact of local-global interactions on young volunteer travellers

What else does travelling mean? For me, it is the notion of venturing into a new world...seeing things you wouldn't see in Australia....What I love is those moments that show a culture for what it really is...don't get me wrong, I still marvel at great scenery such as the stunning splendour of the Italian Alps...or the raw energy of Katherine Gorge. It is, however, also those personal moments like playing football with local Fijians using a coconut; these are the moments that stay with you well after the tan disappears. It is the awe-inspiring gift of travel that I have fallen in love with, offering up insight into people and cultures. (Richardson, 2006, pp. 38 &39) This excerpt from an article featured in a recent edition of the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) Australia members' magazine, Backpacker Essentials, clearly invokes the idea that during one's travels, interactions with others (and, in particular, interactions with locals) may inspire greater appreciation of the world, its people and cultures. Further, according to the writer it seems that when such understanding or knowledge is attained in a personally meaningful manner, it has lasting impact for the individuals involved, rendering them in some way changed or transformed. These ideas actually echo the stated aims of the YHA, which are - in part - to encourage intercultural understanding and education through travel (Hostelling International, 2006a). They also resonate strongly (albeit in a less schematic way) within the broader backpacking community and are made manifest in a variety of travel media and industries, including the independent and alternative tourism markets, which cater to volunteer travellers (O'Reilly, 2006).