What Does a Volunteer Actually Do at Hillside?

Four months into volunteering abroad: the honest version of the work, the stretch, and what you don’t always see coming.

A physical therapist’s real-world look at volunteering and living in rural Belize.

As promised, I am kick-starting a 5 part series on life living and volunteering at an international clinic. Here is post one!

A question many people have asked me when I tell them I’m living in Punta Gorda, Belize:

“What are you doing out there?!”

Short answer?

Serving the kindest set of people with my mad rehabilitation skills
Sweating daily as if I am knocking on Hell’s door
Slowing down with self reflection
Jungle living
Speed boat taxi-ing to a beach town

The list goes on.

But in all seriousness, I’m here as both a physical therapist AND the Rehab Director — and what that looks like changes more than I expected.

The Role (and the Reality)

Some months are heavier on director duties. Some months I’m fully back in clinician mode.

For February, we had two students and one volunteer PT on site. Students usually rotate every four weeks, but this group is here for eight. The volunteer PT is also here for eight weeks. So this past month was a blend — part Rehab Director, part physical therapist, part clinical instructor.

Students roll through almost every month… except May and October (so far)

In May we have no students, which means — you guessed it — more patient care for me.

I took this role with the intention of NOT seeing patients full-time. Unfortunately my go-to Yiddish saying of Man Plans and God Laughs will be in full effect most of May. I will mostly do PT things (75%) and a little less rehab director duties (25% ). It’s teaching me to be less attached to my plans and more accepting of change…more accepting of what the day actually brings. Apparently I still have flexibility reps to build.

Not All Volunteering Is the Same

There are different levels to this whole volunteering thing.

Short-term volunteers might stay a few weeks to a few months. Two weeks is usually the sweet spot (and understandably so). The first week alone is often spent just getting your bearings — learning the team, the flow, and how to function as a volunteer preceptor. Students run the show but as a volunteer you are guiding and facilitating their growth! Clinical edu-ma-cation at its finest!

Long-term volunteers (name that song: “It’s me – hi”) carry a bit more responsibility.

Since I’m in a management role, my weeks can include:

Weekly meetings
Random VIP drop-ins and tours
Explaining what rehab actually does at Hillside
Coordinating rehab-related events
Managing schedules
And whatever curveball shows up before lunch

I also “manage” our rehab tech. In reality? She manages herself. She’s been here for over a decade. She knows what works, what doesn’t, and quite literally where everyone lives. Without her, I would absolutely be floating in the Gulf of Honduras.

The Work Behind the Scenes

When it comes to participating in community events or even hosting an event, planning between the parties involved isn’t as timely or organized as one would expect. Sometimes communication is fluid such as with the Ministry of Health or Education about community needs and event expectations.

Other times it looks like organized chaos.

Case in point: collaborating with the Rotary Club of Belmopan, a Rotary Club group from Illinois recently came down to host a pediatric orthopedic consultation clinic. On very short notice (my favorite kind of notice), we were asked to bring children from Punta Gorda who might benefit.

Simple in theory.

In reality, it meant:

Finding a charter service to Dangriga
Contacting families
Cross-checking with previous participants
Prioritizing who would benefit most
And doing all of that while still showing up fully for students

Despite the chaos, we were able to bring a few children who needed care.

It’s a whirlwind balancing being present for students and doing administrative work in a timely manner. I haven’t fully mastered the balance yet… but turning off my notifications has been a surprisingly effective strategy.

When I’m with students, I need to be a clinical instructor first. Everything else – including my want to stay connected back home – can usually wait an hour or more.

Scheduling… But Make It Rural

I also manage outpatient and home health schedules. Sounds straightforward, right? Not always.

If a home health patient lives 30 minutes away → they probably need an afternoon slot.
Walk-in referral from the medical clinic → plug them in if possible. If there is no room → next available appointment.

Easy peasy!

But many patients travel up to a couple of hours to get here. Sometimes there is only one bus back to their village. If the appointment doesn’t match the bus schedule, it is back to the drawing board. What continues to humble me is this: people still come. They arrive before the clinic opens. They wait. They show up incredibly grateful. That level of commitment changes how you think about access to care

Let’s Talk About the Pay (Because Everyone Asks)

Short-term volunteers are not paid. Flights to and fro? Typically on you. Time off from work? Also on you. This is very much a values-driven choice for most people who come. As a long-term volunteer, I do receive a stipend. And it is… challenging to live on.

I took roughly an 85–90% pay cut to be here.

No complaints — this was absolutely my choice. I came looking for a reset and a step back from the grind of full-time patient care. What I wish I had fully appreciated was how tight the lifestyle math would feel. The stipend covers the basics.

It does not comfortably cover:

Frequent travel
Regular dinners out
Surprise lunch invites
Weekend adventures

Even with savings and planning, my type A brain frequently hits the panic button.

Thankfully, there is a higher power making sure I have what I need… while gently reminding me I do not, in fact, need to take a trip every weekend. Rude but fair. I just do my best to budget while still enjoying myself.

The Time Perspective Shift

I am officially at the four-month mark now.

Every first Friday of the month, we run a community Fitness Friday class. Our new Development and Enrichment Director recently made a flyer, and seeing the calendar laid out stopped me for a second. I have nine Fitness Fridays left.

Nine still sounds like plenty….Until you realize how fast the first four went.

If you’ve been curious about volunteering in a rural setting, what happens stepping off the traditional path — especially in healthcare — we’re just getting started.

Next up: how YOU can volunteer (MDs, NPs, PAs, PTs, OTs, SLPs… we need you).

PS: I hope you guys are enjoying this blog! Sending love and good vibes to you all. You are missed. You are loved.

With Love From Belize,

Allora Mariesa