Parent Review - From the other side

From home with constant contact via Facebook posts from SPI we felt up-to-date with everything our daughter was doing from the time she left with the group until even after she returned to us.

First international trip and without us it was a scary experience for all involved but exciting for what lie ahead.

She was on her own but with a group. Younger, older, richer, none poorer from all over the country. They all bonded as a family quickly.

4 hours in class every day didn't go over too well but it did pay off in the long run to learn from native speakers instead of some Spanish teacher from Nebraska in the USA. Simple phrases with slight tones made her love the language even more.

Her homestay could have been more involved with the family which was limited to basically breakfast and Good Nights before bed but it showed her how that culture lived day to day.

Adventures included surfing, ziplining, river tubing, and some cultural visits and plenty of time at the beach.

Volunteer time showed them you didn't have to have the latest Apple product to be happy. A simple paint job on the house makes a world of difference when you have a dirt floor.

More school than vacation it was I had hoped for in exposing our daughter to the larger world outside of our smaller town. Goo and bad as far as those with her on the trip as some made the most of every chance to expand their experiences while others simply counted the days until it was over. It was all what you made of it and our daughter made the most of it.

Overall I would send her again in a minute and would encourage everyone no matter their language level to take part in this trip.