Greatly Impacted My Life

When I first signed up for GIVE, I was excited knowing I'd be given the chance to see another culture and volunteer some of my time. Now, after returning home and reflecting on the trip, I can truly say that we all were fully welcomed and immersed in Zanzibar's and Arusha's culture and that the time we volunteered made an impact we could see. It was all so amazing and far exceeded what I had been hoping for. Working alongside the amazing locals in the classroom and in construction was inspiring and by far the highlight of my trip, even over the excursions we went on. Especially because you had a chance to not only work with them, but to hangout and talk with them after and developed a true friendship.
Further, all of the guides we had (local and non-local) were incredible. They were eager to make you feel comfortable with what you were doing and just plain fun to be around. The staff at the restaurant were very personable. They were happy to keep us feed with plenty of DELICIOUS food every single meal of every day. The staff at the accommodations in both Zanzibar and Arusha were also so great at making sure our rooms were kept up and we were happy. They were always smiling and very welcoming. The best part was that these people felt more like friends than staff to me by the end of the trip, so everything they did for us felt personal.
Lastly, the excursion days were absolutely incredible. They are moments that are a chance of a lifetime and wouldn't be possible, again, without the help of the locals and guides. I learned so much about their culture, the value of community, and even my life. I didn't know what to expect going there, and I was a little uneasy about it all. However, once I was there and allowed myself to be fully immersed in the trip and the culture around me, I never wanted to leave; honest word. I simply can't wait to go again with GIVE and I would tell anyone who has the means to go and make a difference on the world.