My favorite color is green. I dig hardware stores, office supplies (specifically, ultra fine point Sharpies), mint chocolate chip ice cream, mid-century furniture, being near water, being near mountains, road-trips, the first night of staying solo in a new hotel, things that are salty, handwritten thank you notes, being barefoot, super comfy plush robes, all products relating to the almighty pig, Monday afternoon matinees, collecting stamps on my passport, meeting new people, studying maps, independent bookstores, beets, Marimekko patterns, hard cheese, raw fish, rare meat, Sin City in 72-hour spells, Scrabble, and anything with bubbles – especially if it’s pink. My name, Charyn Pfeuffer, is a pain-in-the-ass to pronounce. (Hint: It’s pronounced just like Sharon, but with a “Ch” sound. “Pfeuffer” is like the Married to the Mob actress’ last name.)
This year marks the 12-year anniversary of my career as a freelance food, travel and lifestyle journalist. During this time, I’ve authored, co-authored or ghostwritten a dozen books and contributed to more than 80 publications, including TravelChannel.com, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, Sunset, San Francisco Chronicle, National Geographic Traveler, Islands, DailyCandy.com and Seattle Times. By most travelers’ standards, I could easily be considered a jetsetter: I clock more than 150 flights a year and am well-versed in thread counts, massage treatments, and haute cuisine. But crisscrossing the globe many times in search of stories to tell has left me wanting something deeper, so I decided to give up a life of luxury travel, to give back with what I’m calling The Global Citizen Project.
Next month, I’m swapping my BlackBerry for a backpack to volunteer with 12 projects in 12 countries over 12 months. So far, I’ve planned projects like childhood educational development in Honduras, sea turtle conservation in Mexico, permaculture and renewable energy in Portugal, teaching in a pilot program in rural Costa Rica and wildlife/flora conservation in Nicaragua. I launched The Global Citizen Project on Kickstarter.com, an online funding platform for creative endeavors, and raised more than $20,000 in 90 days to help fund the year-long volunteer tour de force.
As I take over the reigns from Rebecca’s blog “A Broad Volunteers,” I plan to share my upcoming experiences, as well as bring attention to volunteer travel, voluntourism opportunities around the globe and other travel gals who are giving back. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 63.4 million people, or 26.8% of the total population, volunteered between September 2008-2009. Of the entire population, 30.1% of women and 21.1% of men volunteered. Just goes to show there are a whole lot of wanderlusting women out there trying to do some good. I hope you’ll join me as I try to do my part.