In this kaleidoscopic quilt of “how I changed the world” tales , 10 individuals share their private, far-from-pedestrian adventures as wide-eyed VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) Bahaginan volunteers in godforsaken corners of the world.

Each chapter takes you through the cross-cultural volunteering experience: last minute applications, pre-light confusion, encouraging (or not!) first impressions, accent/food/religion jungle navigations, zero-judgements when in culture shock, getting the job done, high expectations, development dilemmas, sexual harassment, wayfarer travels, unlikely friendships, culturally-broken romances, little miracles, and finally, the journey back home.

More than just a pseudo-”overseas volunteering for dummies” handbook, Journey is a rousing chronicle of the author’s winning struggle to break away from the unreflected life, shed false needs, discover their true place in the human potpourri and more importantly, leave an impact in people’s lives. It’s fact-laden, not textbookish; poignant, not sappy. Stir the dormant idealist in you with a flip of a page.