Experience of a lifetime

I just returned home from assisting with the "Madre Crea con Hijos" construction project for two weeks volunteering with Maximo Nivel. This was a women's rehabilitation facility with children located in Coronado in the province of San Jose.

Some of the daily tasks included installing sheet metal, laying concrete, painting, and tiling. I went into the project hoping to make a difference and that is exactly what occurred. As you complete each and every day at work, you notice all the progress and improvements that have been made and you get this uplifting feeling. It is truly a surreal experience knowing that your hard work is well appreciated.

The Maximo Nivel staff made the whole volunteer trip as smooth as possible right from the very first day of orientation to the last. They were well organized and always available to answer any questions that you had.

The accommodation at the home-stay with the host family was a unique experience for me and I really enjoyed it. The home cooked meals are really good and if one of your goals is to learn Spanish while volunteering, then this is one of the best ways to do it.

The whole experience was truly amazing from contributing to your project, to exploring the beautiful sights of Costa Rica, to making lifelong friendships with the volunteers at Maximo. The best advice I can give anyone considering volunteering abroad is to just do it! Once you immerse yourself in the culture and begin assisting at your project, you will not look back. Numerous discussions among volunteers are usually with regards to planning another volunteer trip in the near future.

All in all, Maximo Nivel was a great organization to work with and I felt this trip opened up new horizons for me. It was truly an experience of a lifetime.

PURA VIDA!