Help Center- Do volunteers need to rely on public transportation to get around? What is the typical commute distance between a volunteer's host family home and their internship location?
The ride from a host family to a partner agency is typically around 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the time of day and traffic. While it might stretch closer to 45 minutes during busier times, it’s still a manageable and dynamic part of the experience. The commute offers a great opportunity to observe people's daily life, connect with locals, and even enjoy the view of the surroundings. It's a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the Paraguayan culture while building independence and confidence in navigating public transportation. The volunteer internship schedule is designed to avoid heavy traffic hours.
2. When do volunteers receive their itineraries?
Admissions will be sending out the travel memo and flight details two weeks prioir to the departure date. If you have any urgent questions in the meantime, feel free to reach out to the admissions team directly: admissions@amigosinternational.org
3. What is a travel memo?
A travel memo is a document sent by the admissions team that contains all the essential information about your trip. For example, it provides guidance on what to say when entering the country. Instead of mentioning that you're coming to work—since that could raise questions about work visas—it advises stating that you're visiting as a tourist and participating in volunteering activities during your stay. This is common for many exchange programs. The travel memo ensures you have all these important details, along with other helpful tips, to make your travel experience smooth and hassle-free.
4. Will volunteers have access to WiFi?
Yes, most of Asunción or families in the central area have wifi at home. Also, most cafes, malls and other commercial have wifi.
*Our 2025 Project information Webinar had a guest: Grace Wolf, 2024 Fall Gap Participant. See below questions for Grace.*
- Did you feel safe walking around at night?
Yes, always felt safe using public transportation during the day and never encountered any issues on the bus. At night, I preferred using Uber, where the drivers were friendly and made her feel secure. I also took precautions, like traveling with a friend late at night or after dinner, opting for Uber instead of public transportation.
Note for participants and host families: Public transportation should only be used during the day, not at night. Activities such as workshops, Spanish classes, or internships are scheduled during the daytime. For independent trips, participants are encouraged to use Uber or coordinate with their host family to arrange pick-ups when necessary.
2. I really want to meet people! I’ve heard that internships are a great opportunity to connect with others. Is that true?
Yes, my internship was really great because there were a lot of people in their 20s, which was closer to my age. I had opportunities to grab dinner with them, and one of my internship friends became my closest friend—we’re still in contact and built a strong friendship. You just have to be open and willing to put yourself out there.
The first few weeks of my internship were a bit challenging because my Spanish was shaky. I was trying to learn the ropes of the internship while also figuring out how to connect with people, which made it a little difficult at first. But once you open up and start talking to people, it becomes much easier.
3. How did you feel about your host family? Were there other people, did they have kids?
My host parents were grandpa-aged. They have 4 grandchildren. We also had a handful of dogs, cats, and even a pet turtle, which was really cute. They were all very friendly and welcoming and always made sure I felt at home, which was really nice. One thing that happened was that during the time I was there, it was finals season for school. For a few weeks, my host siblings were really busy, so I didn’t see them much. But outside of that period, I had the chance to connect with them and learn what school life is like in Paraguay