Peru Service and Adventure summer 2018

This past summer (summer 2018) was my second year traveling with Travel For Teens, and my first year as a counselor in training, or CIT. In July, I set off with TFT on Peru Service and Adventure. This was the trip of a lifetime! For 21 days we traveled around the beautiful countryside and immersed ourselves into the rich Incan culture. What I loved about the trip is the equal balance of both the service work and the thrill-seeking. The community service we did for the schools and in the town of Misinay, Peru was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. This portion of the trip is where we got a sense of what life is really like for these people. For a few days, we were a part of the family and community. We were welcomed with open arms and were sent off with the warmest of hugs and heavy hearts. The goodbyes were bittersweet, as we all would miss our host families, but were excited about continuing on our adventure. The other half of the trip was just as inspiring as the first. Being the adrenaline-junky that I am, I was thrilled to go white-water rafting, walk across suspension bridges in the Amazon Rainforest, stand in awe of the beauty of Macchu Picchu, and visit the great floating islands of Lake Titicaca! Everyday was a new adventure and an checkmark off the bucket list! I am so thankful for the opportunity to experience it with TFT, the memories and the friendships that I made will last me a lifetime. Also, for me I had the unique experience of being the CIT for the trip, which gave me insights on what goes on behind the scenes. It was a new level of responsibility that allowed me to bridge the gap between the students and the counselors. I loved this incredible learning experience and it added so much to my trip! Needless to say the trip was an once in a lifetime adventure for me, and Peru now holds a very special place in my heart. All thanks to TFT!