A Positive Experience of Growth, Volunteering, and Fun

I like how the Global Glimpse staff welcomed me, encouraged me, and made me feel comfortable approaching them. During a pre-trip workshop and my time in Costa Rica, the staff encouraged my group to get out of our comfort zone in order to grow. Furthermore, during the trip, a program coordinator encouraged me to be myself. Global Glimpse staff help build an environment where people are accepted and respected. The adult leaders constantly checked in on my and other students’ physical and mental state. The trip was well-planned and organized to ensure the safety and health of students. For example, the adult leaders had electrolytes, which they were able to administer to many of the students when we experienced diarrhea. Furthermore, Global Glimpse staff is always trying to improve by welcoming us to give feedback mid-trip, end of the trip, and after the trip.

In Costa Rica, I interacted with Costa Rican locals by:
Playing soccer with them
Greeting them (they greeted back welcomingly)
Practicing Spanish with them
making tortillas with a local family

Furthermore, I learned about environmental justice and sustainable development and became more interested in contributing to them. My group painted a school with limited resources in a way that leaves a sustainable impact and protects the environment. (We made sure the project contributed to sustainable development by making sure that the paint would stay on by sandpapering the wall and scraping off old paint that was falling off, as well as protecting the environment by using biodegradable paint so when we washed the paint from the brush, the paint doesn’t go down the drain then harm the ecosystem)

During free time, I enjoyed playing games like Mafia and card games (like Egyptian war and Speed). Overall, I had a positive experience with Global Glimpse.