Smiling at the World: A Woman's Passionate Yearlong Quest for Advneture and Love

Joyce Major rented her houseboat, sold her car, left her successful real estate career and took off for a trip around the world -- ALONE!

Major's yearlong global "volun-tourism" adventure unleashed her passion for helping the planet, her enthusiasm for people, her zany sense of humor and her gift of storytelling. The eclectic group of volunteer projects she chose range from monitoring a troop of wild baboons to conservation work in Rio and chronicles heart-breaking tales of wildlife rescue, hilarious re-tellings of misadventures and thoughtful reflections on soul-searching experiences.

Smiling at the World covers the gamut from a 12th century farm restoration project in Italy to a sustainability sanctuary in New Zealand; from newspaper reporting in Ireland to teaching English in China; from wildlife sanctuaries in Africa, Australia, Thailand and England to riding the Trans-Siberian Express and more...