Alumni Interview with Juliana Ferrer

What inspired you to travel abroad? 

I was inspired by my love of adventure and I wanted to have a chance to step out of my comfort zone. 

Why did you choose Sea Turtle Retreat with Outward Bound Costa Rica? 

I chose my program, Sea Turtle Retreat, because I love helping the environment and specifically sea turtles. 

What was your favorite part about Costa Rica? 

My favorite part of Costa Rica was how diverse it is and how friendly the people are. 

What made your experience abroad extraordinary? 

My experience was unique because I had the opportunity to meet other Girl Scouts from all over the United States who share the same interests as me. I also had a challenging moment in Costa Rica when we were hiking straight up a mountain to go ziplining. I was really struggling to get up and so I sat down to rest for a minute. While I was sitting, I felt a surge of strength and shot up to finish the climb. That experience was both inspiring and challenging and it pushed me to finish when I wanted to give up.

How did the local program staff support you throughout your program? 

Our instructors always helped us out when we needed it, and in addition, they guided, encouraged, and allowed for us to have the best experience possible. 

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad? 

I wish that I had embraced the free time and used it to talk more with the other girls instead of sitting in my tent. 

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like. 

In a typical day, we would make breakfast and then have a little bit of free time before we would go out and work on our service project for the day. For example, we painted barrels for recycling in the community and we also did a big beach clean-up. Then, we would come back to our base where the locals made lunch for us and eat. After lunch, we would have quick lessons from the other girls about the sea turtles and Costa Rica. We would then have some more free time to just do whatever we wanted.

Before dinner everyday, we would go down to the beach and watch the sunset. Later, we would make dinner and have a really good time. After we washed our dishes, we would hang out at the tables and just talk to our friends. Then we had our nightly meetings where we talked about our day and we did do night patrols sometimes after the meeting. Then the day was over. 

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad? 

In my free time, I liked to write poems or journal about what we were doing so that I could remember it when I got home. One of my favorite things we did during free time was play with the kids that lived right next to us.

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it? 

So we had two places that we stayed, the first being the Outward Bound Costa Rica base and the second being a base on the coast. At the Outward Bound base, we had bunks, blankets, and indoor bathrooms. At the coast base, we slept in tents of three with mats, sheets, and outdoor bathrooms. I was actually pretty happy with both accommodation situations. 

What is one thing every future participant should know about Outward Bound Costa Rica before their program begins? 

Before going on one of these programs, I want others to know that you can't use bug spray around sea turtles, so bring some clothes with long sleeves. 

Would you recommend Outward Bound Costa Rica to others? Why? 

I would definitely recommend the program because it was truly one of the best things that I have ever experienced. 

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is? 

I have always wanted to leave the United States and travel; this trip accomplished that dream. 

Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life? 

I definitely miss my time in Costa Rica, and since I got back, I have to say that I have been drinking way more water. Also, all of us on the trip started a group chat so that we can talk. On my trip, I learned that there is such a thing as working too hard. I also learned that there is no end to people's kindness even if you might test or push them a lot.

What does meaningful travel mean to you? 

In my opinion, a traveler is going to do business or a mission trip while a tourist is going somewhere for enjoyment and relaxation or a break from work. Travel is made meaningful by the experiences you have, the people that you meet, and the differences you make in your life and the lives of others.