Global Works

It’s safe to say that this trip was certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I had no clue what to expect when I first arrived. I could tell each and every one of us was excited and nervous, which made it so easy to meet each other and form friendships. Our trip leaders were incredible; helping us adjust, leading us through the day, and always being there if we had questions or needed help. I was lucky to go on a trip with such an amazing group of kids. I met people from all around who shared my interests and were open-minded to getting to know everyone and creating long-lasting relationships. The service was an eye-opening experience. I was touched by the sense of community and love the people who I met valued so much. It was clear how hard they worked, not only to rebuild their own houses but others as well. We enjoyed working as one big group. There was always something to do and help out with, and it felt good to know that the people we worked with truly appreciated our help. The service was an integral and unforgettable part of the trip, but so were the other countless activities and late nights we spent together. Kayaking in the bioluminescent bay was so fun, and an amazing way to end our trip. Our trips to the beaches every day led to a lot of laughs and memories. The nights we spent in the Big Yellow House are something that I will always remember! We had a bake-off, played countless games, volleyball, and lounged around listening to music. You could always find someone to talk to and something to do. We took a dance class, had a karaoke night, and spent one night learning about the culture of Puerto Rico. My trip was so enriching and fun, and I am so grateful I got to experience it with incredible people. I would definitely recommend this trip, or any trip Global Works offers, to anyone who wants to meet new people, learn about cultures, and spend an amazing time somewhere new!

I had never traveled somewhere without my parents before. I was nervous to say the least. Global Works welcomed in our group with open arms and I feel as if everyone was able to have a great experience from there. Making concrete for houses was awesome because you get to know the other people who you are working with. It was also satisfying to see that we were making differences in people's lives. The experiences outside of service were also really cool and stuff you wouldn't see just sitting at home.

Before discovering Global Works and this trip, I was searching for a summer activity that I could attend that satisfied my love for traveling while also serving as a way to help a community in need. Fortunately, I decided to go to Puerto Rico. The trip was amazing! It allowed me to make so many friends, experience a new culture, serve a community, gain travel experience, and to overall learn more about myself. Before going on the trip, I knew almost nothing about Puerto Rico or the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria, but after attending the trip, I returned home with incredible eye-opening stories and experiences to share. The trip leaders were all amazing and truly wanted to get to know each and every traveler and make sure everyone was healthy and actively engaged in service and the experiences. All information before the trip was clearly provided and made my parents feel more comfortable with letting me travel alone to the Caribbean, and I was able to call my parents daily, which they appreciated. If you are wondering whether or not you should go, I would 100% recommend this trip!

This trip had an amazing itinerary and very supportive leaders! Adam and Sarah were fantastic and bent over backwards all the time to make sure we felt as safe and happy as possible. We saw some stunning sites on the trip too. One highlight was the three day kayak trip where we got to swim in the pacific ocean and see such cool wildlife. Every guide we met on our journey was very experienced and could answer any question you asked. The trip was packed of fun activities but still had time for sleeping in and spending time getting to know others. However, I noticed this trip had a very specific demographic of upper class kids from private schools who had no problem using slurs and derogatory terms in everyday conversations. If that isn’t you, I probably don’t recommend the trip!

My Global Works trip was truly inspiring, the leaders were great, and I had an amazing time. When I think of my Global Works trip, it’s my home stay that comes to mind. It was really fun to go through your day with another family from another culture, eat food with them, play with their kids, even go to work with them...it was awesome to be part of a Costa Rican household. I never thought I would learn to catch 20-pound tilapia or harvest star fruit, avocados and mangos on my host family's farm (and, I didn't know that limes could be green on the outside and orange on the inside!).

I thought the kids in my group were all really authentic, creative, and open-minded about trying new things and activities. I felt like we really built a community together. I would do this trip again...a thousand times over!