Experience of a Lifetime

While I was very nervous about how this experience would go, the trip exceeded my expectations and gave me memories to cherish forever. I was scared to be meeting so many new people at once, but the atmosphere quickly softened as we played card games and were introduced to each other. Spending time with the other students broadened my horizons and introduced new perspectives into my life. I loved listening to them sharing their stories, as it made me feel closer to these people I just met.
During this trip, I was able to learn more about others, as well as myself. Being immersed in a new culture and its history allowed me to reflect on my goals for the future. We visited La Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles Church in Cartago, where I got to see the beautiful architecture of this country. Walking around the city took my breath away and reminded me why I want to major in architecture- to create works of art for people. We also had presentations given to us by locals about the impacts of tourism, making me think about how my work can affect others.
The GGLs and the PCs were very caring and took care of us physically and mentally. Our guide, Memo, is a local from Aquiares and knows everything about his hometown- giving us amazing tours around the coffee plantation and waterfalls. I know everyone on our trip misses his silly jokes and bits of knowledge.
I consider this trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience that all should take advantage of. We learned how to become more thoughtful in our actions and how we can positively impact others. Friendships were quickly formed and we created bonds that will last. I hope that others who take this journey feel the positive impact as much as we did.