Best Summer Ever

This past summer in 2024, I had the opportunity to travel to Turrialba, Costa Rica through the Global Glimpse program. I can easily say that this has been one of the best moments of my life, and will undoubtedly be a summer I remember for years to come. With so many exciting activities, such as a waterfall hike, a coffee plantation tour, a dairy farm visit, a tour through Cartago, and working on our Community Action Project, we learned so much about the culture and environment of Costa Rica. My trip to Costa Rica has given me the opportunity to learn so much more about both the world and myself, and I recommend this program to all rising seniors as it is an incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Although it’s hard to pick just one, my favorite memory of my Global Glimpse trip was the day we visited a coffee plantation and a dairy farm. At the coffee plantation, we learned about the coffee plants and even got to pick coffee beans and try them. Surprisingly, they tasted very sweet. Later on, we went to a local dairy farm to learn more about the cheese-making process, and I even got to milk my first cow!! Even though I was initially hesitant, it will certainly be something I will never forget, marking just one of my experiences with Global Glimpse.
For our Community Action Project, we filled in cracks with cement in the Aquiares Elementary School gym and painted the outdoor lunch huts. During recess, we played soccer and other games with the kids and got to know them better. On our final day in Turrialba, we were invited to a special dance performance at the school, where students performed a dance for the upcoming holiday. Seeing the students use the gym was incredibly rewarding and joyful, after all of the work we put in to repair it for them. I will never forget the smiles on their faces during the dance, and feeling proud that we were able to give something back to the community that can be used for years to come.
Although many aspects of the trip may seem a little scary at first, you have nothing to worry about!! Traveling alone to a new country can be daunting, but everybody at Global Glimpse, including our fellow travelers, is always super welcoming! From meeting at the airport to playing card games and talking at night, I formed lasting friendships with so many of my peers. During the trip we got to learn so much about ourselves; including our leadership capabilities and knowing that we can be ok in a new environment with new people. We got to learn so much about the environment and challenges of Costa Rica, and how the concerns can be addressed. During the trip I made memories with some of the best people I have ever met that will last for a lifetime. Although I am sad that the trip ended, I can think back to all of my memories and learnings and smile knowing that I will never forget it!