Things To Do in 2012

So it is a new year, filled with opportunities for most. By the time 2011 came to an end most people made resolutions some are achievable while others we may just not get around to. Well for those who enjoy travelling and have made resolutions around travel and volunteer work then this year holds a lot of awesome destinations for you to consider. You can also consider these as potential resolutions if you had not made any yet.
First thing first, let’s give back, make a volunteer abroad trip and help a community do something that will empower theme and future generations to come, this can be as simple as helping build toilets in a place where there are none and might be a water catchment area, build a school in a rural part of the world, help provide and deliver sanitary pads to female students who have to miss a good part of their academic year because they cannot go to school during their periods. All these can be achieved, all you need is to get in touch with a volunteer organisation such as VCC ORG, and have the arrangements made.
If you are more of a sports fan then you are in for a treat this year. First off we have The African Cup of Nations scheduled for early this year that is in January. The event will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria is also a stand by host in case any of these two nations is not a suitable one.
In June 2012 we have the UEFA European Football Championship. The tournament will be hosted by Poland and Ukraine. There are a total of 16 teams which are going to participate in this tournament, making a trip to witness this tournament can act as a good resolution, especially for sport lovers
If those are not enough, then from the 27th of July to the 12th of august we will have the summer Olympics to be held in London. This is the event for the all-round sports lover. London becomes the first city to host the games a record three times. This will also offer you a chance to visit some of the more famous stadiums in London, including Wembley and the O2 stadium.
For those that are lovers of the democratic process then you can get yourself to witness the 2012 US general elections. Get to watch the voting process and be a part of the euphoric energy that is displayed by the voters also be a part of the tense moments experienced while tallying is being done, and finally be part of the celebrations when the results are announced.
All these events, excluding the volunteer work will be witnessed by the whole world, but most people will not get the first-hand experience that you will receive when you travel to these destinations personally. So just to recap; give back, as part of your new year’s resolution. Once this is done then join the world in having some fun, and make 2012 a memorable and worthwhile year for yourself

Volunteer abroad Airport delays

If you are a constant traveller or even just as a one-time thing, then you might have experienced airport delays or plane delays at one point while you were travelling. The reasons for these delays are several; they could be mechanical issues, bad weather, emergency situations etc. When such a situation arises you may not know what to do with the time on your hands. Here is a list of activities that may come in handy if in case you find yourself in such a situation.
Eat/ drink
Airports all over the world have restaurants and pubs where one can pass some time while awaiting their flights. What you eat or drink may be dictated by the hour of the day, like for instance you may not have some scotch at 10:00 am in the morning, at your departure point, even though your estimated arrival time at your destination it will be midnight. Having a snack before you get on board your plane will pass some time without you even necessarily noticing it.
Browse the bookstore and magazine stands
You may have carried with you a book or two for the flight, but you will find that there are a few choice books at the bookstores that may interest you to add onto your collection. If books are not your thing then you have several magazine stands where you can get the latest magazines to either look through or purchase.
Sleep
Time always moves faster while you sleep, this will also help you feel rested and rejuvenated by the time you are getting on the plane. While sleeping at the airport, just make sure you’re your luggage is safe or somebody is watching over you and your belongings.
Work / Surf the net
Most airports have Wi-Fi; some of them even offer it free of charge. You can pass some time by getting any work that you have with you or that you have pending done. If you have no work, then you can pass time by simply surfing the web. Do some research on your volunteer destination, or the organisation you are going to work with during your volunteer work, chat with friends, the delay will be over before you know it.
Take a walk/ stretch your legs
In the event of a layover then your legs might be feeling a bit crumped from sitting in the plane the same situation can also be experienced from waiting too long in one spot for news of your planes departure. In such cases just take a walk around the airport, this will provide you with some exercise as well as help you pass some time just be careful not to walk too far away from your terminal
Network
Meet with your fellow travellers and start up conversation, you already have a good conversation opening in that your flight has been delayed, you might even find others who are distressed same as you that their schedule has been messed. You get to enhance your social skills while at the same time meeting new people and buying some time before your flight is ready to leave.
Other fun options
There are several other things you can do while waiting for your flight, one of them is taking photos of things you find interesting around the airport, you can also do some people watching in busy airports, where you watch passers-by from different places around the world. Other than this you can plane watch if you are airplane enthusiast. You can also shop at the duty free or depending on the airport you are in, have a spa treatment shower or gamble. In the long run you pass the time and feel less frustrated, with these activities to help you