5 Weeks in Guadalajara nursery

Previously, I had never been out of my country alone before, never been away from home longer than 2 weeks, and yet Projects Abroad made my experience the best time of my life.
Projects Abroad is an incredible, flexible program that gave me the greatest number of options despite my young age. I was looking for program that would allow me to stay for a minimum of 4 weeks, and this was one of the only organizations that had that available for teenagers. Also, after reviewing and applying for multiple other organizations, the prices were not economical and I didn't think I would be able to leave a significant impact within the limited time constraints of the project. If you are looking to make a lasting difference and want to design your own project, Projects Abroad is for you. The organization offers "High School Specials" for teenagers, however I chose to go with the standard program in order to stay for a longer duration, and because it was a better deal. If you are a high schooler applying for Projects Abroad, I would recommend applying for the standard program because it offers more flexibility and gives you a much more authentic Mexican experience.

I worked in a nursery with babies and toddlers, caring for them and feeding them breakfast and lunch, and teaching them English and Spanish. The kids were troublesome, adorable, but above all, precious, and I was a great help to the very poor nursery, as these kids are there for 9 hours a day, everyday. I brought a full suitcase of school supplies, and the kids loved and appreciated the little surprise I would bring everyday; one day, an alphabet poster, a color wheel, or an educational toy. It was pretty awesome working with the babies, too, because I got to witness some of them undergo their developmental stages in the time I spent there. Although I worked at the nursery for most of my stay, I also diverted for one week to working at a summer camp teaching English. Because Projects Abroad is so accommodating, they were able to organize this switch for me very easily. That was also so cool, as I got to be the teacher and teach all these Spanish-speakers their first words in English. If you are looking to be hands-on, this is definitely the program for you.

The staff, of course, provided 24/7 assistance, and my host family was so kind and made for a very lovely household. I bonded with volunteers from around the world, and had the freedom to explore the city and do whatever I wanted in my free time. I can honestly say that I have never had such a fun time while also giving back through community service, and it is so worth it to spend a summer or break in Mexico.