One of the Most Amazing Things You'll EVER Do!

Traveling with ISV is truly an experience. From the time I submitted my application I was SO EXCITED! You can go more places besides Costa Rica and do conservation (working with the wildlife) or community (working with the people) projects. I chose conservation and did spotted dolphin/poison dart frog research. My project group was lucky to have been in a place with the rainforest on one side and the ocean on the other (so beautiful!). A week before my project I participated in the Spanish Lessons and stayed with a host family. They were so amazing--they made me feel like a part of the family and were friendly and welcoming--and I plan to go back in the future to visit them. On our adventure tour we had native Costa Rican guides to take us around and do the different activities with. They were some of the most amazing people I'd ever met and made you feel completely safe. We went white water rafting, zip lining in the canopies of trees, and much more! The accommodations from the Spanish Lessons and my project were amazing but on the adventure tour you feel like a queen/king--everything is decked out. We had a hot tub in our floor in the one place! Everything was also extremely safe. There was always someone checking in on us whether it was our Host Mom, our project leader, or our tour guide. I ended up getting two ear infections while I was there (one in each ear--I get them often) and there were people in the California office checking on me (in a different country!) and my project leader took me to a hospital to get medicine (it was truly a Costa Rican experience, by the way, because I got to see how actual Costa Ricans live). Overall, it was a great experience. It's not a vacation program because you're there to volunteer but you do have a lot of fun--even if there are conflicts with other volunteers or whatever (sometimes the ones who do think it's a vacation cause problems). Aside from the conflicts, you will make a bunch of friends and keep in contact with them--it's hard not to, you meet a lot of great people from all over the world and can even use them as a resource in future travels! ISV looks out for the volunteers, offers many resources to help, and has offices in each country they have programs in so it's really great. I loved the experience so much that I became a Student Rep, referred a bunch of friends (to do it!), and am planning to travel again ASAP! :)