thank you CIEE

I met my best friend on that trip, and it only happened because CIEE helped us both get there. We both are not in financially good standing but had a desire to study abroad and they got us there. I met locals and people from all over the country and a handful of us still stay in touch and are good friends, even after being apart for so long. I went back to Bonaire and spent the next holiday season with locals I met on that trip as well. Also, the trip helped develop my passion for marine and environmental conservation. I realized how passionate I was about environmental sustainability and conservation efforts while abroad with them and I'm currently enrolled in a university to work towards one day having a job related to marine conservation. And no, it wasn't a flawless program, there were a lot of issues, but CIEE has great people working in Bonaire; as long as you keep an open mind and really take in the good moments, you'll have an amazing experience. The res hall is clean and a great place to live, you never get tired of the ocean, and you learn a ridiculous amount from working in the living environment and studying in their lab. You aren't challenged but if you put in the effort you learn a lot.