Kiwi-family
{Rachael, the Mama of the family}
- Time of past OR future Camino
- walking every day for the rest of my life
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I think the OP received those birthday gift choices from a family member or the like, not from an unsolicited agency. At least that's the way it came across to me. You make fake coupons/tickets from which the gift receiver gets to choose. Say for instance a day at a spa or dinner at a nice restaurant. They pick which one they like better and that's where you take them.I do hope you have checked out the standard scam sites. This is Snopes' view on this approach -->> https://heimdalsecurity.com/blog/airline-scams-3-useful-tips-avoid-scams/.
There will be NZ govt agencies who can advise on this as well.
That was my understanding too.I think the OP received those birthday gift choices from a family member or the like, not from an unsolicited agency. At least that's the way it came across to me. You make fake coupons/tickets from which the gift receiver gets to choose. Say for instance a day at a spa or dinner at a nice restaurant. They pick which one they like better and that's where you take them.
Well, maybe being home alone would be a win situation for the second daughter tooThe ultimate compromise: take the youngest daughter and go to Honduras. With the saved money from other daughter, fly your husband to Spain/Portugal to walk some of the Camino. Trip with daughter, great help in Honduras and some quality time with the husband on the Camino... Win-Win! (Except maybe for 2nd daughter?)
I think the OP received those birthday gift choices from a family member or the like, not from an unsolicited agency. At least that's the way it came across to me. You make fake coupons/tickets from which the gift receiver gets to choose. Say for instance a day at a spa or dinner at a nice restaurant. They pick which one they like better and that's where you take them.
I didn't read it that way, but see now how one could. I hope you are both correct.That was my understanding too.
In her original post @Kiwi-family saidI didn't read it that way, but see now how one could. I hope you are both correct.
Then goes on to sayI received a birthday card yesterday with three (fake) airline tickets tucked into it.
I rather doubt that some scam company would know exactly what types of trips that she would like to take and with whom.1) a trip to Queenstown with my husband
2) a solo Camino in Spain (or maybe with others joining me, dependent - apparently- on the state of the economy and exchange rate!!)
3) a trip to Honduras with my two youngest daughters to work in a children’s home for a few months (we are currently in discussions with the home about this)
In her original post @Kiwi-family said
Then goes on to say
I rather doubt that some scam company would know exactly what types of trips that she would like to take and with whom.But thank you @dougfitz for your vigilance.
Why do you ask?Are you on Facebook?
Sorry to be a pedant, David...but it was the Dalai Lama who said that, and -The Gautama Buddha is quoted as saying
"Strive for personal happiness - result, misery.
Strive for happiness in others - result, happiness."
Sorry to be a pedant, David...but it was the Dalai Lama who said that, and -- I know he would be appalled to be considered the Buddha.
And...totally correct. Much happiness.
Back to Rachael's choice...
And to make other people's happiness and well-being one's work just multiplies that by-product.I guess the thing to remember is that happiness isn't a goal, it is a by-product.
No contest: definitely Queenstown NZ. And while on the South Island, make a side trip to Milford Sound, the Eighth Wonder of the Natural World!I received a birthday card yesterday with three (fake) airline tickets tucked into it. I get to choose which one is redeemed. Perhaps this is a biased place from which to seek advice!!
1) a trip to Queenstown with my husband
2) a solo Camino in Spain (or maybe with others joining me, dependent - apparently- on the state of the economy and exchange rate!!)
3) a trip to Honduras with my two youngest daughters to work in a children’s home for a few months (we are currently in discussions with the home about this)
I, of course, want to do all of them.
definitely Queenstown
Out of curiousity (and no disrespect intended towards you or a generous heartfelt gift), what special talents or skills do you have that would be of benefit to the children of Honduras?
The money spent on airfare would likely pay school fees for them for a long time. If this orphanage accepts volunteers on a regular basis, then the children are repeatedly being asked to make new friends, to trust strangers wandering through their home, and then to have these new people disappear from their lives. It encourages attachment disorders and exposes children to higher risk of abuse and exploitation. Not from you but due to the lack of boundaries they are being taught.
Sorry, I know I'm sounding very negative and I don't want to trample on your joyful gift.
If you decide against the orphanage idea can I suggest another project in Central America? I visited Guatemala last year for 6 weeks, spending most of them on Lago de Atitlán. My purpose for visiting Guatemala was to improve my Spanish, but there are many opportunities in the area to volunteer AND attend a Spanish school. I was very impressed with the project to beautify one of the villages on the lake, Santa Catarina Palopó, in the hopes of bringing more tourism money to this very poor country. If you would also like to take Spanish classes many of the schools in the area can connect you to other charities where you can serve. It's very inexpensive to take classes and live in a homestay. You could do classes in the mornings and volunteer in the afternoons.
Pintando el Cambio - Santa Catarina Palopó
Pintando el Cambio, Santa Catarina Palopó es uno de los 19 municipios de Sololá y se ubica en el lado Noreste del lago Atitlánpintandoelcambio.com
There are many villages around Lago de Atitlan (which is gorgeous, with lots of good hiking). I started out in San Pedro la Laguna at Cooperativa Spanish School, which had very good reviews, but although I found the site very beautiful, I didn't have a good experience with my teachers.Thanks for this excellent suggestion. Would you mind sharing where you stayed and which school you attended? (PM if you prefer)
My understanding on reading the original post is that these free ticket offers were not an online scam, but something her obviously amazing husband made and stuck in her card.I do hope you have checked out the standard scam sites. This is Snopes' view on this approach -->> https://heimdalsecurity.com/blog/airline-scams-3-useful-tips-avoid-scams/.
There will be NZ govt agencies who can advise on this as well.
If you had read the thread in its completeness, you might have seen this was discussed nearly a week ago. Is there any need to labour the point?My understanding on reading the original post is that these free ticket offers were not an online scam, but something her obviously amazing husband made and stuck in her card.
Not much to see in Honduras except poverty. I know. I live in Guatemala which is spectacular with 37 volcanoes, lakes, Mayan ruinsI received a birthday card yesterday with three (fake) airline tickets tucked into it. I get to choose which one is redeemed. Perhaps this is a biased place from which to seek advice!!
1) a trip to Queenstown with my husband
2) a solo Camino in Spain (or maybe with others joining me, dependent - apparently- on the state of the economy and exchange rate!!)
3) a trip to Honduras with my two youngest daughters to work in a children’s home for a few months (we are currently in discussions with the home about this)
I, of course, want to do all of them.
Uh, I think that was the whole idea - to volunteer to help, not just to sightsee.Not much to see in Honduras except poverty
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