Program Reviews

The greatest lessons we learn are ones we don't remember learning. Traveling alone as a teenager is already nerve-wracking, not to mention being phoneless in Guatemala only furthered my path to self-discovery and pushed me outside of my comfort zone.
As I ventured out into the unknown I discovered new things about myself including my ability to think quickly on my feet and my love for sharing stories. Our lives back home were unimportant now. Forging deeper connections with the environment and others around me blinded my initial discomfort which led me to be more open. Whether it was tumbling up the mountains or hurting hands from kneading tortilla dough I was reminded of the effort it took to build something meaningful.
These challenges pushed me to thrive in any circumstance and make meaningful relationships. Being exposed to unfamiliar situations pushed me to discover things about myself, including my passion for fostering a better community that is inclusive of all.
Upon my arrival differences, I realized aspects of my life I had taken for granted which My host family jokingly poked fun at me for. Now I was a stranger in new surroundings, aiming to gain more knowledge. Through weaving clothing and learning how to make traditional dishes, I acquired a deeper consideration of the little things in life. Activities like eating at the dinner table together contrasted with my busy life in America as long shifts usually hindered my household's ability to accomplish. No matter how occupied they were, it was a daily occurrence. It was bonding through laughter during late-night Uno games and screaming at the TV when our fútbol team missed a goal that I earned connections that could transcend language. Teaching my host siblings more English while they taught me Tz´utujil reminded me of life back home of helping my brothers. Assisting others with their goals has always been a passion of mine.
Taking what I learned and applying it to clubs I lead like Spanish Honor Society and Black Girl Summit has helped amplify the message of service and giving back to underrepresented communities. This year we have implemented menstrual kits and donation boxes to aid those who cannot afford necessities during their period. In the Spanish honor society, we host activities such as toy drives and educational events to inform our students about ways to give back to the world around us.

I loved my dragons Nepal experience! It was an amazing three months of travel, learning, and challenging myself. I'm so grateful I chose dragons instead of a typical tour. In three months you get to live in and explore both a rural village and an urban city, participate in a Buddhist monastery retreat, go trekking in the Himalayas, and more. You get to really immerse yourself in Nepali culture, live with host families, learn the language, and see amazing things too. My instructors were incredibly kind and supportive and I made so many memories with my group. Because of dragons after I finished my degree I came back to Nepal to teach English for a year. Thank you!

This program, and all Where There Be Dragons programs, are incredible immersive experiences that support locals, foster reciprocal exchanges of knowledge, customs, and livelihood, and, as a student, help you grow and develop skills that will benefit you in college, the workforce, and life. I am still in touch with my host families, Spanish teachers, and mentors from Guatemala and Mexico. After leaving this program, I felt more mature and prepared to begin college and continue with life after gaining knowledge and wisdom from the people I learned from, including my host moms and host siblings, instructors, mentors, and program peers.

I had an awesome time with this program. The instructors really worked well together and made sure safety was the main thing during the trip. They made sure there were food options for everyone, including vegetarians and vegans. The families we stayed with and the people in the cities were so friendly and made me feel totally at home. The food was seriously the best I’ve ever had. We talked about what it's like to travel with dragons during the first week. We also did cool stuff every day like boating to see a historic tree, writing in journals during hikes, playing soccer at the places we stayed, and other activities. The first homestay was about 7 days, and the second was 3 days. We got ready for this by having language classes every day for about 3 hours. While we covered specific things, we could also ask whatever questions we had. For anyone who speaks French, there were lots of chances to practice. Sometimes, the instructors had us translate what guest speakers were saying. I was able to talk to my homestay families and other people in the village in French. Your friends will ask you how to say words or phrases in French. I think this is good because it tests your French, and you'll help your friends communicate with their families a little better. Some tough things on the trip were the hikes for some, but mainly communicating with the locals.

I have participated in many summer camps and travel programs and Dragons was by far the best overall experience I've had and I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet many amazing people and learn so much about the culture of Guatemala. My instructors were amazing and my homestay families welcomed me with open arms. While at first it was sometimes hard to communicate, I became more confident making conversation through our daily Spanish classes and the constant interactions I had with locals. My independent study project allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the mayan culture through their traditional practice of weaving, an experience I will always treasure. I gained so much in the short four weeks I spent in Guatemala immersed in a rich and beautiful culture.

The focus of the trip was sustainability and spirituality. We engaged with people who were working with the land through permaculture, tea making, and agriculture. In each place we stayed, we were able to participate in caring for the land and learned from the community. We tried new fruits and learned how to cook Thai dishes. We visited temples and monasteries, focusing on learning Buddhist teachings and meditation. I found community not just with the people that we met while in Thailand, but with the members of my group. I felt supported by my group throughout the trip as we all got pushed out of our comfort zone. Where There Be Dragons has many connections in the places it travels, and the leaders have great knowledge of their programs. This was evident in the selection of places we traveled, or the instructor's in-depth answers to our questions about anything from fruits to history to language. This program inspired me to think of a future for myself around traveling and exploration. A month in a place lets you settle into a routine, almost like you are living there, even if just for a short amount of time. This trip was an amazing experience for me, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore a country, learn from its experts, and travel with intention.

On this trip I had so much fun and I learned so much about the world and about myself. I often found that the hardest and most uncomfortable parts of the trip tended to lead right into the “quote book” moments. Those moments that you just have to write down because you know you never want to forget them. Like when everyone’s last pair of clean pants might have gotten covered in mud from rice planting but that didn’t stop us from singing pitch perfect riff-offs over milk tea right after. Or how I might not have been able to stand up all the way in my homestay house or speak the same language as my family but I had so much fun sitting on the ground building a puzzle with my didi and bhai.
I had the opportunity to experience so much on this trip and every experience taught me incredible lessons, but the most valuable things I learned were those shown to me by the incredible individuals I got to spend this month with. My instructors Shanti, Hemant, and Sushil taught me compassion. Dom and Hazel taught me to laugh at my mistakes and not take life too seriously. Mandira and my other homestay family members taught me that family is so much more than blood.
But with all that there is one lesson that really stuck with me. That life, every single moment, is what you make it. To live in the moment because nothing last forever and even the things that feel hard can become good memories.
If you’re thinking of doing a dragons trip, please do it! Just remember that every second doesn’t have to be comfortable and easy, and everything you do won’t be. So take a breath, laugh at those little mistakes you make, embrace the awkward, be yourself, make every moment count, and find your family. Take the jump, Dragon’s has your back, it’s so worth it!!

I absolutely loved this program. It was life changing and I met some amazing people, had incredible experiences i never would have had otherwise, and grew in so many different ways. I met two of the best friends
The challenges i faced, both inner and outer pushed me in ways I’d never experienced before—new country, new culture, new people, no phone…all well worth it!!
The most important thing on a dragons program is your attitude and mindset. If you’re willing to open your mind and heart to new experiences you’ll find everything so much richer and more wonderful. you get out what you put in.
Dragons will change you, if only you let it.
I will never forget my dragons experience❤️

Going on this program was one of the best decisions I made. The Indonesia Summer Program became a transformative, impactful and very special experience for me. While exploring different parts of Indonesia I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture and language of this country as well as to learn more about the values and beliefs of the locals. The whole itinerary was very well planned and each day was fun and interesting. The homestays offered in this program were definitely the highlight for me. Although worried at first, I was able to quickly adapt and enjoy the lifestyle of each family. I also felt loved and welcomed since the first days of my homestays. This experience with Dragons was truly special and shaped me in a lot of ways. I would highly and truly recommend joining this program as it offers lifelong memories and meaningful connections.

I had a very good experience on this trip. Where There Be Dragons is very intentional about traveling and experiencing other cultures in the right way which was something that I really appreciated. My instructors and group members were incredible and we were all very close by the end of the trip. There was a good ratio between doing fun things like getting outdoors and visiting places that are difficult to visit like Potosí, a mining town in Bolivia. My Spanish improved significantly and I had incredible experiences with all of my homestays.