Best Experience of My Entire Life

To say that I had an absolutely fantastic four weeks in Ecuador this summer would be a huge understatement. When I began looking into community service teen trips for last summer, I kept noticing a pattern in testimonials of fellow teens saying they went on “a trip of a lifetime.” At first I questioned this a lot and wondered would this really be a trip of a lifetime or are they just saying that so I’d sign up and go? After spending almost an entire month in Ecuador, I realized why all of these teens said it really was a trip of a lifetime. Going to Ecuador was the best decision I ever made and the best investment my parents could have ever made. In just the course of four weeks, I came back with lifelong friends, more photos than I’ve ever taken and enough memories to share until I die. I learned deeper respect for those around me, true appreciation for everything I have back at home and to pause and take in all the small moments. My group named ourselves “La Familia” (the family in Spanish) and to tell you the truth, by the end of the trip we all felt like family. While spending almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with the same crowd can get exhausting and annoying, I wouldn’t have wanted to spend those days with any other people. We made each other laugh, smile and everyone just felt like themselves. We pushed each other to be adventurous and go outside our comfort zones. This trip taught me so much about myself and the world outside of my New York City bubble and I still talk about my trip to this day. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop talking about it and sharing the memories. If you’re thinking about going on a Global Routes trip, trust me, you’re truly making the best decision yet!