Why did you choose this program?
I love working with children and I felt that I could connect with them easily due to the lack of language barrier. I wanted to create bonds with them and make them happy for the period of time we were to spend together. I believed that their childhoods deserved to be sprinkled with this week of fun and the thought of being a part of that made me excited.
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
Our advisors helped a group of teenagers become a strong team. They led us in the right direction so we could know each other and create a balance in order for the camp to go smoothly. We had to basically build a camp to last a week. We came up with themes, teams, activities for indoor, outdoor, and art (and we couldn't repeat anything!) and we had to prepare each other on a teammate level for the work to come.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Be ready to not have everything go on schedule or exactly how you expect it to. Spontaneity is key. There will be days when the weather forces you to change things up. Other days your timing will be off and you might be early or late. Sometimes opportunities will present themselves and you'll have to take a risk and hopefully enjoy the outcome. You may even forget what day of your trip it is, where you are, or what the date is. Always know that life will keep going.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
We did a lot of team building at the beginning. There was a lot of time to bond within our group. Every day there were lots of activities. We had the opportunity to participate in rafting, kayaking, cow milking, zip lining, swimming, and snorkeling. At some point I'd have an energy crash but the delicious food (it was fantastic everywhere we went) and my group woke me up. We spent most of our time within our group but we did meet some people in the city or at places we visited.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it and/or how did your views on the issue change?
I think I was mostly afraid of not being friends with everybody. We were a group of 18 teenagers, of course not everyone would be best friends. By the end of my trip I realized that being close with every single person was virtually impossible. None of us finished on bad terms with each other, we were all friends, but I'm glad to have had a few best friends in my group. It wasn't an issue, just a gradual acceptance of reality.
Do you expect to go back?
100% yes. I have a bucket list of places I want to visit so I have this mindset that I need to fulfill it before I repeat, but I will absolutely return to Costa Rica. The kids we counseled mean a lot to me and I want to go back and see where they are in life. The Ticos were wonderful people and I genuinely enjoyed being in that atmosphere.