Actually the trip of a lifetime

After one incredible summer with Travel for Teens in 2014, I knew I wanted to travel again this past summer with them. I had my doubts that any trip could live up to the first one, but TFT proved otherwise instantly. Our first night in Chiang Mai, we made wishes on floating lanterns and released them into the sky, setting the bar pretty high for the rest of the trip. But every single day was better than the one before. We volunteered at elephant sanctuaries, caring for the elderly and playing with the babies, then went on a two-day white water rafting trip down the Pai River, which brought a lot of us out of our comfort zone in the best way. I won't outline the whole itinerary, but I think that everything that we did taught me a little more about myself and about the world around me. And the best part was the bonds that I formed with the other students on the trip- we came in as perfect strangers, but walked away best friends. The entire group was able to connect with each other with not one person left out, which I think is really special. There is no sugar-coating and no exaggeration when I say that it was the best 17 days of my life.