Although the meaning of the word "volunteer" may be a little different in different cultures, it usually means "a person who gives his or her services." There are many different ways to give services, such as taking care of physically handicapped people and picking up cans from streets and parks. Some volunteers may work in their own countries; others work in foreign countries. They are often people who wish to help people who are not very happy, and of course they do not wish to get money.
Volunteers believe that one person may be able to help another person. But one of my friends told me about a different experience in Calcutta. She heard about Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa's love for every human being made a great impression on her. She went to Calcutta, stayed there for three weeks and worked as a volunteer. She thought she could do something for someone else, and she was proud of it.
"Calcutta is very different from Tokyo. The buildings are old and poor, and the streets are dirty and crowded. Around my hotel there were people who asked for food or money. Some had no legs, some had babies in their arms, and some had terrible diseases. I had a shock when I first arrived. But I got a greater shock when I began to work as a volunteer, and I began to understand something new.
"I worked for sick people who did not have enough money to pay for a hospital. Volunteers come and go so often that they cannot really learn a job or become friends with the people. Some volunteers come and stay for a week, other volunteers for six months. That is the problem. Nurses are too busy to tell you what to do. We had to find work to do ourselves. I washed, helped the people who could not eat by themselves, and tried to cheer up the sick people. I think I worked hard, but I don't think that I was helping very much.
"Now I understand that I did not really go to help other people, but to learn. I was helping myself more than anyone else. It is good to help other people, but I think it is better to live together and help each other. Maybe they don't want your help. Maybe they can teach you, too.
"When I talk about my experience as a volunteer in Calcutta, some people look at me with respect. I think I was able to give something to the people in Calcutta, but I know I took more from them."