Currently...

Right now, I am a fishing captain in Alaska. I have also started a new website called http://www.therealalaska.com" rel="nofollow">The Real Alaska.

Besides avoiding the stray dogs, out of control taxis and sweltering heat, I am the Controller for http://www.blueenergygroup.org/" rel="nofollow">blueEnergy Group. blueEnergy is an international renewable energy NGO based in Bluefields, Nicaragua, which happens to be one of the poorest parts of the country. We install and capacitate rural communities along the Caribbean Coast with wind turbines, solar and water filtration systems. Additionally, Nicaragua boasts the title of second most impoverished country behind Haiti, so one can imagine how desperate the situation is.

As the Controller I manage a small local accounting team in a bilingual office. I manage all financial transactions of blueEnergy and hold a focus on our microfinance projects with http://www.kiva.org/" rel="nofollow">Kiva and our local microfinance institution (MFI).

Working in Nicaragua means always being flexible. There is no day-to-day, except keeping an open mind. People and the entire culture do not operate in the way many of us are accustomed to, so my day-to-day involves teaching and learning.

Before I escaped...

During my very short heyday in the corporate world, I worked as an Analyst for a finance company based in Seattle, WA. I was a former intern and took a job offer during my senior year, thinking I had the world at the palm of my hand with a fancy office and comfortable pay-check.

I don’t discount the work of my former employer because there are many great people who enjoy what they do. What is relevant is that the company and my position were not a good fit for me as an individual.

My moment of truth...

If someone were to have told me a year ago that I would be living in Nicaragua, acting as the Controller for a renewable energy NGO and not getting paid, I would have choked on my tie.

However, after I spent three weeks in Argentina during the holidays backpacking around Patagonia, I knew I needed to break free. I began dreaming up perfect scenarios of giving back to the world while gaining a valuable education in renewable energy and microfinance.

Lo and behold, here I am, living that exact dream. Almost immediately after I began my career, Lehman Brothers collapsed and so began the financial meltdown. The mood within the office began to worsen, and I gained a new view from my desk as piles of employees were let go. I stared at an empty floor.

We found out about the second round of layoffs through an online finance blog and no official word was ever mentioned beforehand from any executives. I was tired of living in fear and being surrounded by such negative energy. When you put 20 people in an office who all are worried about their jobs and their futures, even without any word being voiced, a chill of darkness shrouds the atmosphere. All the employees are great people, and I had a hard time stomaching our dismal moods. I gave my resignation four hours after the second round of layoffs occurred. If they were going to make adjustments, they may as well account for one more.

The back-end of my resignation is that I was presented with an opportunity to commercial fish with my father and take over as captain when he needed to leave. Before college, I spent every summer with my father commercial fishing along the Aleutian Peninsula.

I welcomed the opportunity to challenge myself to captain a boat and perhaps make a good sum of money while doing so. I figured that the financial prospects would allow me to pursue volunteer options abroad.

Before leaving in June to Alaska, I applied to blueEnergy and Kiva and accepted blueEnergy’s offer in July. I had two weeks after the fishing season to prepare myself to live in Nicaragua for eight months. My dream very quickly became reality.

Planning for it...

At first, I found the search extraordinarily daunting when trying to narrow the best opportunities abroad. I began to ask myself “in a perfect world, what do I want to be doing?” Once I narrowed down that rather daunting question (daunting is a theme when making such a drastic change) I then focused on a geographic location.

That helped narrow down the field and allowed me to hone in on my Internet research. I kept a spreadsheet (very Analyst of me) of the multiple opportunities and the specifics about each.

I recommend people first ask themselves what sounds fun. If you are having fun with your current job, I doubt you would be reading my story. Start with fun and begin narrowing your search. For some strange reason, part of what I believe is fun is challenging myself to accomplish goals that I would never have thought possible. I think I found my match!

If you are interested in volunteering, don’t be surprised if organizations ask for a pledge or donation, especially if you are looking at a period of less than six months. In reality, the organization has to put forth a great amount of energy to get new short-term volunteers on board and train them.

I pay a futile amount to blueEnergy to cover my room and board, albeit I am still getting a good deal because my small donation doesn’t cover all monthly costs. If you choose somewhere that is inexpensive like Nicaragua, know that your money will go very far. I am spending pennies on the dollar compared to what I would be spending in Seattle.

I recommend doing your own personal fundraising and create a basic webpage through many individual donation sites and explain what you are embarking on. Sign up for a marathon or another event.

Running was the best form of mediation while clearing my head and it serves as an excellent catalyst to challenge yourself before leaving the country. It will give you loads of confidence and also an excellent channel to fundraise.

The worst and best bits...

Worst things: Leaving my friends and life behind. I believe this is true for most people who leave for a long period. Know that when you return home, you will have tremendously changed, while your previous life is almost the same.

The best thing about my experience is feeling alive and free again. I’ve gained self-confidence by captaining a boat in Alaska and living in Nicaragua. Instead of feeling trapped and defeated, I feel enthusiastic and confident.

Best advice...

I looked to a few mentors for advice when making the change. One of them is a wonderful lady I met who works for Kiva. She told me her story about the banking world and the switch to microfinance. She encouraged me to tackle all the craziest experiences I could concoct and get out into the field.

My parents gave me all types of advice (of course) but they encouraged me to follow my dreams, as cheesy as that sounds.

Finally, my former university advisor never ceases to support my decisions and offer sage advice. This person has lived through their own doubts and whirlwind adventures and ingrained in my head: Do what you love. Do what you know. Do what you want to know. Do what you love.

Useful resources and information...

Books

• http://www.amazon.co.uk/Green-Volunteers-Voluntary-Nature-Conservation/dp/8889060123/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268003458&sr=8-3-spell%20" rel="nofollow">Green Volunteers by Fabio Asuenda
• http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eden-Project-Perspective-Relationship-Psychology/dp/0919123805/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268003479&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">The Eden Project: In search of the magical Other by James Hollis
• http://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-One-Bryce-Courtenay/dp/0143004557/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268003497&sr=1-2" rel="nofollow">The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

Websites

• http://www.idealist.org/" rel="nofollow">Idealist
• http://kiva.org/fellows" rel="nofollow">Kiva Fellows Program
• http://www.blueenergygroup.org/" rel="nofollow">Blue Energy Group

Events

Get involved in social events that attract similar minds in what you are interested. In Seattle, I attended http://www.greendrinks.org/" rel="nofollow">Green Drinks, where sustainably conscious people gather and learn about their work.

Also, I attended our local microfinance-networking group. I met a lot of great people at these events.

Videos

This is one of the most inspirational speeches I’ve ever heard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc" rel="nofollow">Steve Jobs at Stanford Graduation