I wanted a guided experience where I could focus on serving and know that all the logistics were taken care of. Plus, Village Book Builders has a great track record with making an actual generational difference in the villages that they serve. Also, I love Mexico and the village we were going to be serving in was beautiful!
Alumni Spotlight: Rebekah Clark
Rebekah loves to travel and experience new cultures, while serving!
Why did you choose this program?
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
They had multiple meetings before we left to prepare us for our projects and also all the logistics. They took care of all our flights, vaccinations, and everything we would need down there. While on the expedition, they made sure we had everything we would need to have a safe enjoyable experience. They were amazing!
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Make sure to try all the food at least once.
Some of the food is very different from what we eat here in the US and nothing like what you would find at say Taco Bell, but the ones I tried were amazing!! You only live once, so go ahead and try something new! I wish I would be been more adventurous with the food.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Each day we get up and eat breakfast at around 8 am, and then after some quick updates from the leaders, we head out to the village which is about a 15-minute drive.
Once there, we teach classes for the next three hours, taking breaks every 35 minutes where we can play with the kids or work on the library.
After lunch, we go out and do home visits. This was the best part by far.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
My biggest fear was safety! I am so glad I went with a guided tour; the coordinators knew the area well and were able to keep us safe at all times. They did a lot of work to make sure we were aware of all safety procedures and what to do in every circumstance. I felt a little unsafe in Mexico City, but we didn't spend much time there. I felt completely safe in the village.