Alumni Interview with Sophie Macc

What inspired you to travel abroad? 

I have always traveled from a young age with my family. Once I reached university I spent my holiday and most of my student loan, unfortunately, on traveling. I love to experience new cultures and places. I never make a plan, just book flights and go. I find I always come back with a new view of the world. 

Why did you choose your specific program/organization? 

I chose Oyster World Wide as they were so friendly and helpful. I had a spare two weeks in my travel plans and emailed Oyster World Wide explaining that I love to travel, I love all animals and wanted to volunteer somewhere that made a difference. I received an email a few hours later with lots of ideas and projects that suited my time frame and the rough areas I was already traveling in. I only booked my Oyster Worldwide volunteering project a couple of weeks before the start date but they were fantastic from start to finish, answering any questions usually within hours of me sending emails or proving me with information packs that gave very in-depth details about the project. I felt prepared and ready by the time the start date came. 

What was your favorite part about your host Borneo? 

I have traveled to Bali and Malaysia before but never reached Borneo. It was nothing like what I expected and the rainforest was such an amazing experience. There are also beautiful empty beaches on the island, perfect for relaxing. We got to experience the 'Rainforest Festival' whilst in Borneo. It was a very friendly and safe country full of people who love to share their culture with you and there was amazing wildlife. 

What made your experience abroad extraordinary? 

Working with animals every day, the people, both staff and other volunteers. 

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

We got lots of help from the local staff and long term volunteers. They knew all the animals inside out, their personalities, stories and how they needed to be cared for. The staff was very knowledgeable about all the animals and helped share this knowledge. They helped you with all the tasks and took each day as it came. They were able to read the group to know if we were tired or if we found something particularly difficult, they would give extra breaks, get more help or simply add music and food later in the evening as incentives. It's a very small team so we become friends. 

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

Stayed longer!

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

Each morning we worked in teams directly with the animals, helping to hide food for them and clean their night enclosures. This was hard work but made fun by music, the friendly and fun staff and made all the worthwhile once you learned the stories of each animals and how they came to be at the sanctuary. We then had a lunch break in the heat which was time for ourselves to relax, play games, swim in the river, take a much-needed nap or spend time with the animals. Each afternoon was different. We got to participate in releasing animals back in the wild (special moments I’ll never forget), create enrichments for the animals (hiding food or creating puzzles for them to keep them challenged), painting inside and outside enclosures and daily maintenance. 

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad? 

Our evenings were free time. We spent them doing a night time jungle walk, spotting many different animals and plants, swimming in the river (watch out for crocs- we didn’t see any), playing games, cooking and eating together, watching movies, and getting to know each other. You will meet many people of different ages and walks of life, each on their own adventure. It’s a fantastic way to meet new people and make new friends. I went on to explore Singapore with the girls from my house after the project. 

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

I had great accommodation, simple, basic and came with a few “creatures” but was more than what we needed and actually much better than I had imagined. We had a weekly food budget but shared our cooking within the group to stretch the budget. 

What is one thing every future participant should know about this program before it begins? 

Enjoy every minute because it will be over very fast. Take every opportunity to do everything offered even if you feel tired or you're a little nervous you will enjoy it. 

Would you recommend your program/provider to others? Why? 

Definitely they were very helpful from start to finish. 

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

Meeting new people, experiencing different cultures, helping to give back, seeing amazing animals up close, hearing their stories, gaining confidence, seeing the world, and gaining independence are all benefits of traveling abroad.

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

It has made a real difference in how I do my part to look after the environment. 

What does meaningful travel mean to you? 

It means leaving nothing but footprints and taking nothing but memories. It means helping to make a difference no matter how small.