Coming from the city/suburban life of California, I knew I wanted an experience that I've never had before. Red Road gave me that and so much more. I was able experience harvesting rice, making ecobricks from recycled plastic, repurposing recycled glass bottles, resoiling moringa trees, herding cows, playing with the village kids, and so much more! Every day I got to do something new and different.
Coming from the city though, there is a huge adjustment to living. The living quarters is a wooded hut, the bugs reign the nights, we encountered snakes and scorpions, options to clean yourself are minimal, and if the clicking sounds from the bugs aren't keeping you up at night, your sweat from the hot and humid air will. But all that to say, isn't that the point?? It's a shock and I wouldn't advertise as a glamorous experience but if it was then I wouldn't be getting the experience and growth I sought out after.
What makes this experience so amazing was how sweet, pure, and kind the resident family and locals were, and the fun memories I developed with the fellow volunteers. Luckily, I stayed with 3 others all a year in age apart. We shared travel stories, the culture and languages of our home countries, music, meals, etc.
It's been a year and a half and I still remember it as clear as day. I highly recommend this experience for anyone that has a thirst for something real.
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Harvesting rice. For something that sounds not so hard and difficult, it was so hard and difficult. I'm so glad I did this though because it gave me a first-hand glimpse into understanding what the life was like for these villagers. We started cute thinking it would be a nice, fun experience, taking photos, when it quickly became grueling. The other volunteers and I were just laughing hysterically from how hard it was (and how the mother from the resident family was doing this better than us... while pregnant).