After a little siesta, we all regrouped in the hotel lobby, ready to seek out some dinner. We could hear through the open windows that the festivities of the afternoon had only intensified, and we were excited to see what was going on outside.

I have recently come to the realization that I am cursed. No matter how hard I try, I just cannot get my Pad Thai to taste like it did from the street carts in Bangkok. For the rest of my life, I will be forced to pay $1,600 in airfare every time I want to eat proper Pad Thai.

Volunteering locally is often a whole different ballgame than volunteering internationally. When you volunteer locally, you get to drive home to your house, make your own dinner, and fall asleep in your bed. But when you're volunteering internationally? That transportation, that dinner, and that bed are often being provided for you.

The man in front of us eyed our bags suspiciously. His Spanish came at too rapid a pace, and I was at a loss for what he was saying. He had already grabbed one of our bags and was rifling through our possessions, tossing our things carelessly out of the bag. He met our gaze and repeated what he had said before, this time much more forcefully.

A few weeks ago, on our second trip to Mexico City, Tim and I had the pleasure of exploring Teotihuacán with my sister and her husband. As home to the third largest pyramid in the world (the Pyramid of the Sun), the archaeological site didn't disappoint.