Spanish and Turtle Conversation 2 Week High School Special

Volunteering in the Spanish and Turtle Conservation 2 Week High School Special was a one of a kind experience. From the moment that I was greeted by the Projects Abroad staff to the moment when I was dropped off at my flight, I felt completely safe and comfortable. The Projects Abroad staff on my program were friendly and very informative. They made sure that all 13 group members were taken care of and really helped enhance our experience. The turtle camp (Campamento Tecoman) is located on the west coast, right on the beach. The accommodations consist of a main building where the staff sleep, a washroom with showers and toilets, 3 bungalow like buildings where you can sleep and a kitchen. The food made delicious but if you dont like it there is always other food you can make. Along with the buildings there are also plenty of hammocks to hangout in and enjoy the scenery. Everyday we did some community service whether it be helping take bird surveys at the nearby lagoon with a staff member, going to the crocodile farm to rake leaves, volunteering washing the turtles at the turtle research center or just helping around camp in the hatchery. Every night there are patrols to collect the turtle eggs and then in the morning you bury them in the camps hatchery. Depending on when you visit the camp you may be able to release some of the hatched eggs into the ocean. In addition to these activities we also had 2 hours of Spanish lessons each day. For these lessons you are broken up into smaller groups depending on your experience with the language. These lessons really help you communicate with the locals and enhanced the overall experience when you go into town. Not to mention it also boosts your confidence and pushes you to try out new things. For our weekend trip our group traveled to Melaque where we got to experience the more urban side of Mexico as well as bond over the memories made. Never in my life would I have imagined that as a high school student I would be able to experience all that I did, let alone in the course of 2 weeks. All of the experiences, friends and memories that I made are ones that I will never forget. I highly recommend Projects Abroad to anyone who is looking for a hands on experience as well as life long friendships.