What inspired you to travel abroad?
I went to Costa Rica last year with SPI for two weeks and I knew I wanted to help the world and improve my Spanish.
Why did you choose Global Works - Travel with Purpose?
I liked how they were focused on a specific mission and they take equal time for each trip to certify its safety. They have a lot of options and something for everyone.
What was your favorite part of Spain?
My favorite part of Spain was a little village outside of Palencia called Amayuelas. It was very community-based and you got to know the people who lived there. My favorite memory was playing soccer with my host family. It showed me that you don't have to speak the language to communicate.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
You could physically see the impact you made when you did community service. In Costa Rica, we helped a family with their home. We made a concrete floor, painted their house, and stained the wood on the windowsills. While I was in Spain, I got to clean out a river of over 300 plastic bottles, I pulled out invasive species from an area. In both situations, we were able to see what we have done. In Costa Rica, it was smiling, appreciative faces and a newly painted house. In Spain, it was a pile of plastic and a pile of weeds. I could see what I was doing was helping the world, even if it was just putting a smile on someone's face. There was also a great balance of different things, city time, group conversations, and cultural immersion.
The trash we cleaned out from wetlands in Valencia
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
They were incredibly helpful. I always felt emotionally and physically safe. I could ask them any questions about the area or a Spanish translation. If they didn't know the answer they would find out and get back to me
Describe what a typical day in Spain looked like.
It depended on the place we were in as we traveled around the country. In Amayuelas, we woke up, had breakfast with everyone, split up into teams for the farm work or housework, met up to stack wood, had lunch together, had an hour or two for a nap, then split up again to learn a skill (bread-making or calligraphy), and lastly we had dinner and some free time before heading off to bed.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I enjoyed making friendship bracelets, talk about school, singing songs, and playing group games.
Did you notice a development in your Spanish? Explain.
Yes, I felt that I was able to understand things quicker and form sentences quicker as well. It was helpful when the people I talked to understood I was learning and there were times where people started talking slower so I was able to understand.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
Mostly hostels in the city, a homestay when in Valencia, and a guest house in Amauyelas.
Castle in Segovia
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Having your phone taken away is the best part of this program. They still give you their numbers in case you get lost in the city, but it is very unlikely because they are very clear with their instructions and maps are issued whenever you walk the city alone.
Would you recommend your Global Works - Travel with Purpose to others? Why?
Yes, you get to experience so much in 3 weeks, the cultural immersion, the use of the language, and my favorite part, the community service.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Meeting so many different people and being able to talk and connect with them.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
It has given me more leadership skills and made me more comfortable in a big city.
What would you say to a student who was deciding between this program and another?
I would tell them to have a clear idea of what you want to do when you study abroad. For me, I was very specific, I wanted to improve my Spanish and do community service. If you have a passion for a particular aspect of travel, find a program that caters to your passion.
If you could go back for one day, what would you do?
I would visit my host family and show them how much I have grown. Show them that they made a positive impact on my life and continue to do so.
