Tanzania: Meaningful Summer Abroad in Tanzania for High Schoolers

My experiences this summer with Global Routes taught me the importance of forming a global community and eliminating stereotypes that plague people’s minds. I have learned to open my eyes to new and different ways of life- making many life-long friendships and many memorable experiences in the immersive process. Because of this new sense of understanding, I am reconsidering what I want to do with my life, the importance of travel and service and the impact I want to leave on the planet I call home. Therefore, I can not express how grateful I am for the experiences, lessons, and relationships Global Routes has given to me this summer- and STRONGLY recommend that you take part in one of Global Routes' cultural immersion programs. .

My experiences this summer with Global Routes taught me the importance of forming a global community and eliminating stereotypes that plague people’s minds. I have opened my eyes to another part of the world, and learned how awesome and transforming this process can be- making many life-long friendships in the journey. Because of this new sense of understanding, I am reconsidering what I want to do with my life, the importance of travel and service, who I want to be as a person and the impact I want to leave on this planet. Therefore, I can not express how grateful I am for the experiences, lessons, and relationships Global Routes has given to me this summer, and STRONGLY recommend participating in one of Global Routes' summer programs.

I chose Global Routes because my mom used to be a leader with the organization so I knew that it was a good option that was safe and provides a very good experience. Global Routes was the hardest thing I have ever done. It was also by far the best thing I’ve ever done. It taught me a lot about myself and helped me work through some problems; I have since been able to work a lot of what I learned into my life which is really nice. It was also so much fun and an absolutely amazing experience in every aspect. I loved everything we did such as safaris, working on the work-site, and living in a homestay. I also loved all the people on the trip; everyone was so welcoming and nice and it was really easy to fit right in. My leaders, Avy and Mary, were absolutely amazing. They exceeded all of my expectations that I came in with. They were always their when I needed them and were splendid in all aspects. Overall, I have no regrets about going on the trip to Tanzania because it has brought me only good things and I loved every minute of it.

Global Routes provided an incredible experience that pushed our daughter out of her comfort zone in a healthy and nurturing way. The service opportunities were unlike anything she would experience in a domestic setting, and I am sure the impact of the trip will be felt for years to come. She came back saying it was life altering and that she can’t wait to return to Africa in the future to be of more service!

In terms of safety and logistics, I can't recommend Global Routes enough. Even though we were sending our 15 year old halfway across the globe, I never feared she would be put in an unsafe situation. In addition, on the return trip there was a major issue with the airline that could easily have created confusion and anxiety in terms of getting the group home. Adam and his team were extremely communicative and were on top of every issue they encountered trying to reroute the group. I was incredibly impressed by how a difficult situation was handled by the organization!

Global Routes provided an incredible experience that pushed our daughter out of her comfort zone in a healthy and nurturing way. The service opportunities were unlike anything she would experience in a domestic setting, and I am sure the impact of the trip will be felt for years to come. She came back saying it was life altering and that she can’t wait to return to Africa in the future to be of more service!

In terms of safety and logistics, I can't recommend Global Routes enough. Even though we were sending our 15 year old halfway across the globe, I never feared she would be put in an unsafe situation. In addition, on the return trip there was a major issue with the airline that could easily have created confusion and anxiety in terms of getting the group home. Adam and his team were extremely communicative and were on top of every issue they encountered trying to reroute the group. I was incredibly impressed by how a difficult situation was handled by the organization!

My Global Routes experience was something I will never forget. I learned more than I ever thought possible. It was definitely a challenge but it for sure shaped me to become a better person. Our trip had 3 different phases, first the cultural orientation, the homestay and service project, then an incredible 3 day safari. Our cultural orientation was at the United African Alliance Community Center in Arusha. We learned a few things that would be super useful at the homestay, as well as bond, try some Tanzanian food, learn a bit of Swahili, and grow an appreciation for the welcoming Tanzanians. Our leaders, Adam and Mary, were clearly very experienced in these situations. They made me feel very welcomed and payed attention to me. I had gotten pretty sick on the airplane on the way there, and they made sure that every activity I was doing I was good with and was feeling better. The homestay and worksite was just an indescribable experience, I seriously do not know how to put it into words. It was just so surreal and educational. I had to kept reminding myself that that was their everyday life. I learned how to cook in the dark and with one flame, clean clothes with 2 buckets, use a squatty potty, and my personal favorite, the bucket bath. The building of the classroom was another unforgettable thing. Seeing the joy in the children and the fundis who helped us build the school was so heartwarming. Definitely challenging but super worth it. The safari was just crazy. It felt like a Disney ride. By the end of this trip, we were all one big happy and loving family. We have a very special bond. Asante sana Global Routes for this opportunity. If you are reading this, go on a Global Routes trip. You will not regret it.

My Global Routes experience was something I will never forget. I learned more than I ever thought possible. It was definitely a challenge but it for sure shaped me to become a better person. Our trip had 3 different phases, first the cultural orientation, the homestay and service project, then an incredible 3 day safari. Our cultural orientation was at the United African Alliance Community Center in Arusha. We learned a few things that would be super useful at the homestay, as well as bond, try some Tanzanian food, learn a bit of Swahili, and grow an appreciation for the welcoming Tanzanians. Our leaders, Adam and Mary, were clearly very experienced in these situations. They made me feel very welcomed and payed attention to me. I had gotten pretty sick on the airplane on the way there, and they made sure that every activity I was doing I was good with and was feeling better. The homestay and worksite was just an indescribable experience, I seriously do not know how to put it into words. It was just so surreal and educational. I had to kept reminding myself that that was their everyday life. I learned how to cook in the dark and with one flame, clean clothes with 2 buckets, use a squatty potty, and my personal favorite, the bucket bath. The building of the classroom was another unforgettable thing. Seeing the joy in the children and the fundis who helped us build the school was so heartwarming. Definitely challenging but super worth it. The safari was just crazy. It felt like a Disney ride. By the end of this trip, we were all one big happy and loving family. We have a very special bond. Asante sana Global Routes for this opportunity. If you are reading this, go on a Global Routes trip. You will not regret it.

This Global Routes trip was the best 2 weeks of my life! Although challenging at times, every moment was truly life changing. I created a new family with my fellow travelers, and the Tanzanians! It was a great experience in which I furthered my global mindfulness and gained a sense of community and family with all of the people I was with throughout the trip. My fellow travelers and I have become friends for life and I will never forget the warm smiles of all the Tanzanians. The trip was amazing and I would do it again in a heartbeat. None of it would have been possible without Global Routes. I truly recommend a Global Routes trip to anyone who wishes to touch others lives while becoming closer with the ones they travel with. If you have any doubts about going on a trip like this, I can assure you that Global Routes leaders offered tremendous amounts of support throughout the trip and they will not let you down.