I was only eighteen when I decided to travel with ISV. I was fresh out of high school, unsure of what to do with myself.I wanted to see the world,but was too scared to do it alone.
I started working full time, and fundraising, to save for my trip to New Zealand. I convinced one of my friends to go with me, and together we encouraged each other to reach our fundraising goals.
In a flash our trip began, and ended. I was able to spend the first two weeks on an isolated island off the coast of Auckland. I got very close with the other participants(and even the park ranger!), and it reminded me of all the camping trips my family use to take when I was kid. I had no internet, no cellphone; we washed our clothes and dishes by hand, and chopped wood for the fireplace. At night we would play checkers, make hot chocolate, eat tim tams, and joke about the days events.
The last two weeks were spent quickly touring the rest of the island. We had a jam packed agenda.
I skydived, kayaked, hiked glaciers, white water rafted, and got to try spelunking with glow worms! I did things I only dreamed of, that when I came home it didn't even feel real.
I came home incredibly full, but somehow empty.The month in New Zealand, had given me confidence I had been looking for the whole time, but I was ready to take on the rest of the world. Staying too long in one place gave me the jitters, and I quickly started planning my next adventure
Fast-forward three years later, and I am now living in Hiroshima, Japan, teaching children English. The most important thing that ISV taught me, was the importance of not being a tourist. I carry that motto with me now, and continue to try and be a self reliant resident, here in Hiroshima Japan, giving back to the community when I can.
I don't regret for a minute the decisions I've made, and know I wouldn't be where I am today, if I hadn't allowed myself the time to travel with ISV.
Lyndsay
What would you improve about this program?
Unfortunately the worst thing about my trip were the people, and that's something you can't really control.
I had a fantastic first two weeks, but when all the groups meshed, it became overwhelming. People changed around the wrong kind of influences, and some of the friends I thought I knew from the first two weeks, completely changed. I know if I had gone on the trip now as a 22 year old I would be able to handle my ground, and have enough confidence in myself as a person to not take so many things personally. I found there was a major difference between the 18 to 24 year olds, and there seemed to be an elite crowd, that only the older ones were in, and that everyone wanted to be in. Many of the participants who had just got there mommy and daddys to pay for their trip, showed zero respect for themselves, other participants, and New Zealand. By the time I got to Fiji, myself and my friend were the only two who stayed at the resort, because the rest of our group decided to find their own resort, because it wasn't to their"standards". They came rushing in late at night, saying they had a cab driver waiting outside, and anyone who wanted to come with them better hustle.
Although these events were negative I was able to take a lot from them, learned about myself, and still had a great time. I just think its important to be honest with these kinds of things. I don't necessarily have a resolution to these problems. Ive wanted to go on another ISV trip, but am hesitant of what kind of participants I would encounter. People can really make or break an experience, and I know how difficult it is, because you never know what kind of people are applying to these things, or if their parents are just making them.
