While most average teenagers are spending their summer vacations going on trips, spending time with friends, or using most of their day on Facebook, Chelsey Galipeau, a sophomore on the Sioux tennis team, was volunteering her time in Africa.

For five weeks this summer Galipeau volunteered at orphanages in Tanzania and Zambia, working with the New Life and Overland Missions Organizations. She taught English and Bible classes, developed sponsorship profiles for villagers and helped with cooking meals.

"We taught them (the Masai) an easier lifestyle," said Galipeau. "We showed them better ways to work with their cattle and on their gardens."

While with the Overland Missions organization, Galipeau was going to villages that hadn't seen outsiders before, with the goal of helping them learn new skills and establish new ways of life.

"It was awesome going to these places, because that hadn't seen anybody else other than the people in their village," said Galipeau. "They were amazed by us. They would touch our skin and feel our hair. It was crazy."

This wasn't the first time Galipeau had been to Africa. She had gone four years ago, which led to her associating with one of the orphanages she recently returned to.

"I fell in love instantly and that place will always hold a special place in my heart, which motivated me to come back," said Galipeau

It was a bit of a rough journey back for Galipeau, as her original plan to go with the pastor of her church fell through. She had to go through other people in order to find a way to get back to the place she loved.

Galipeau's ultimate goal is to graduate from medical school and open a clinic in Africa, where she would live full-time. She simply cannot get enough of it.

"It's just a different lifestyle," said Galipeau. "It's really laid back and chill. I would love to be able to live the rest of my life that way."

Africa isn't the only place where Galipeau has donated her time. She has been to Thailand, where she helped get electricity to an orphanage. She helped in skid row in Los Angeles. And she has helped in Ecuador, too. Galipeau also volunteers at Altru hospital in Grand Forks and with the Special Olympics.

Already juggling such a hectic schedule, Galipeau must now prepare for a tennis season that is just around the corner. She and her Fighting Sioux teammates open the 2010-11 season Sept. 9-12 at the Drake Invite in Omaha.

~Go Sioux~