Putney Student Travel

Putney Student Travel’s Career Costa Rica program was the most rewarding experience of my life. In many cases, it was my first time doing so many things that I wouldn’t typically imagine myself doing, such as snorkeling, adobe construction, night hikes in the middle of the rainforest and sea turtle patrols. Alongside the incredible activities, the lodging was also amazing. We stayed in numerous eco-lodges (each with similar sleeping arrangements to attending camp; 1-4 per room) that gave us the opportunity to experience some form of luxury while still immersing ourselves in local Costa Rican beauty. Each location also offered incredible Tico, American and some Italian food with vegetarian options. We dined alongside each other at a family-style table for all three meals of the day and occasional snack. We genuinely were like family and I felt fully supported by both the students and staff. I honestly miss everyone so much already (it’s been a week). The group leaders were also very chill and shared so much wisdom about the customs, culture and different wildlife we encountered. In one instance, a student had to be taken to the doctor and it was a smooth process, with the kid being able to receive appropriate care. However, the worst part of the program was probably the late nights and early mornings during the few days that we were helping out with sea turtle night patrols. I truly had a blast and sincerely hope that I am able to travel again with Putney. From the commute there to our very last moments together, I don’t have a single regret.

Putney Student Travel’s Career Costa Rica program was the most rewarding experience of my life. In many cases, it was my first time doing so many things that I wouldn’t typically imagine myself doing, such as snorkeling, adobe construction, night hikes in the middle of the rainforest and sea turtle patrols. Alongside the incredible activities, the lodging was also amazing. We stayed in numerous eco-lodges (each with similar sleeping arrangements to attending camp; 1-4 per room) that gave us the opportunity to experience some form of luxury while still immersing ourselves in local Costa Rican beauty. Each location also offered incredible Tico, American and some Italian food with vegetarian options. We dined alongside each other at a family-style table for all three meals of the day and occasional snack. We genuinely were like family and I felt fully supported by both the students and staff. I honestly miss everyone so much already (it’s been a week). The group leaders were also very chill and shared so much wisdom about the customs, culture and different wildlife we encountered. In one instance, a student had to be taken to the doctor and it was a smooth process, with the kid being able to receive appropriate care. However, the worst part of the program was probably the late nights and early mornings during the few days that we were helping out with sea turtle night patrols. I truly had a blast and sincerely hope that I am able to travel again with Putney. From the commute there to our very last moments together, I don’t have a single regret.

Putney Student Travel’s Career Costa Rica program was the most rewarding experience of my life. In many cases, it was my first time doing so many things that I wouldn’t typically imagine myself doing, such as snorkeling, adobe construction, night hikes in the middle of the rainforest and sea turtle patrols. Alongside the incredible activities, the lodging was also amazing. We stayed in numerous eco-lodges (each with similar sleeping arrangements to attending camp; 1-4 per room) that gave us the opportunity to experience some form of luxury while still immersing ourselves in local Costa Rican beauty. Each location also offered incredible Tico, American and some Italian food with vegetarian options. We dined alongside each other at a family-style table for all three meals of the day and occasional snack. We genuinely were like family and I felt fully supported by both the students and staff. I honestly miss everyone so much already (it’s been a week). The group leaders were also very chill and shared so much wisdom about the customs, culture and different wildlife we encountered. In one instance, a student had to be taken to the doctor and it was a smooth process, with the kid being able to receive appropriate care. However, the worst part of the program was probably the late nights and early mornings during the few days that we were helping out with sea turtle night patrols. I truly had a blast and sincerely hope that I am able to travel again with Putney. From the commute there to our very last moments together, I don’t have a single regret.

Putney Student Travel’s Career Costa Rica program was the most rewarding experience of my life. In many cases, it was my first time doing so many things that I wouldn’t typically imagine myself doing, such as snorkeling, adobe construction, night hikes in the middle of the rainforest and sea turtle patrols. Alongside the incredible activities, the lodging was also amazing. We stayed in numerous eco-lodges (each with similar sleeping arrangements to attending camp; 1-4 per room) that gave us the opportunity to experience some form of luxury while still immersing ourselves in local Costa Rican beauty. Each location also offered incredible Tico, American and some Italian food with vegetarian options. We dined alongside each other at a family-style table for all three meals of the day and occasional snack. We genuinely were like family and I felt fully supported by both the students and staff. I honestly miss everyone so much already (it’s been a week). The group leaders were also very chill and shared so much wisdom about the customs, culture and different wildlife we encountered. In one instance, a student had to be taken to the doctor and it was a smooth process, with the kid being able to receive appropriate care. However, the worst part of the program was probably the late nights and early mornings during the few days that we were helping out with sea turtle night patrols. I truly had a blast and sincerely hope that I am able to travel again with Putney. From the commute there to our very last moments together, I don’t have a single regret.

Putney Student Travel’s Career Costa Rica program was the most rewarding experience of my life. In many cases, it was my first time doing so many things that I wouldn’t typically imagine myself doing, such as snorkeling, adobe construction, night hikes in the middle of the rainforest and sea turtle patrols. Alongside the incredible activities, the lodging was also amazing. We stayed in numerous eco-lodges (each with similar sleeping arrangements to attending camp; 1-4 per room) that gave us the opportunity to experience some form of luxury while still immersing ourselves in local Costa Rican beauty. Each location also offered incredible Tico, American and some Italian food with vegetarian options. We dined alongside each other at a family-style table for all three meals of the day and occasional snack. We genuinely were like family and I felt fully supported by both the students and staff. I honestly miss everyone so much already (it’s been a week). The group leaders were also very chill and shared so much wisdom about the customs, culture and different wildlife we encountered. In one instance, a student had to be taken to the doctor and it was a smooth process, with the kid being able to receive appropriate care. However, the worst part of the program was probably the late nights and early mornings during the few days that we were helping out with sea turtle night patrols. I truly had a blast and sincerely hope that I am able to travel again with Putney. From the commute there to our very last moments together, I don’t have a single regret.

I had so much fun at Putney on my Greece and Italy trip. My leaders were well-educated and made the experience so much fun. The students that were with me were kind and inclusive and I came home with so many new friends. Overall, I loved my experience with Putney and am planning to come back next year.

I truly went inside Iceland, I did not just do the superficial or touristy stuff, I felt that I truly went inside and deep into Iceland. I went from the most common city, to some truly unique places. I truly lived Iceland.

My experience on my trip to Italy and Greece with Putney Student Travel was the highlight of my year! I made many new friends along the way all from different places that made the trip even more enjoyable. I discovered many new foods, places, and cultures. I found a new person within myself that made me into a very out going and living to my fullest person. Having had the opportunity to be apart of the Italy and Greece trip was the best trip to occur during my summer and has filled me with endless beautiful memories that will last a lifetime!

I had the best time of my life during my trip to Argentina. It was something completely different that forced me to make friends and try new things. I met so many amazing people and had so many life changing experiences! At the end of the trip I was not ready to leave. It is a time in my life that I will never forget.

My Putney Iceland trip was an amazing experience I will never forget. I made many great friends and memories I will never forget. Through Putney’s guidance I was also able to see great personal growth in myself.

There are no words to describe how amazing this program was. To any who are considering it, go for it you will gain a new appreciation for everything around you, make friendships that will last a lifetime and discover a whole new world at the same time.

Writen by the parent of a 16 year old who traveled with Putney in Juley, 2022. The following are the Putney's questions and my answers from Putney's evaluation request after the competion of the trip wit a few minor edits. What were your expectations for your child's program? Did the program exceed, meet, or fall short or your expectations? We signed our son Owen up for the High School Language program, Ecuador & the Galápagos, Service & Spanish Immersion in the Andean Cloud Forest From Putney’s website: Practice your Spanish daily on this high school language immersion and service program in Ecuador, as you work hand-in-hand with local friends in a small village. None of the above took place. Undertake meaningful community service initiatives this summer and spend a week with a host family. Not a day was spent with a host family. Volunteer to construct a community center, shadow farmers as they harvest crops, and cook meals alongside your host parents. None of the above took place. Explore the Andean páramo, and snorkel, hike, and kayak in the incredible Galápagos Islands to cap off your program. Our expectations were for Owen to have a strong opportunity continue his Spanish speaking learning and skill. We expected that only Spanish would be spoken with a few exceptions. We expected Owen to live with a native family for one week. What was promoted and promised was a lie with a few exceptions. I communicated with Owen and others on the trip. They all stated there was very little Spanish spoken. it was not a priority. They did not live with a native family. We were deceived. Basically, a bait and switch by Putney. We are extremely disappointed with Putney Student Travel. What gave your child the greatest sense of accomplishment? What did your child gain from the program? Our son Owen was upset and disappointed with the Putney program. It was not at all what he read about this program. He was upset with us and thought Putney lied about what his experience would include and entail. Do you feel the program included the right balance of time spent on projects, cultural activities, adventure, etc? What would you like your child to have done more/less of? The program did not at all included the right balance of time spent on projects, cultural activities, adventure. I would have liked and expected Owen to spend a great deal more time speaking and practicing Spanish and living with a local native family and less time doing manual labor digging a ditch.

I expected to gain fluidity and skills in Spanish during my classes, which I definitely feel happened. I also expected to learn about the culture of Barcelona through immersive experiences and activities, which were always fun during our afternoons and evenings! I personally gained a lot of confidence in my Spanish speaking. I always felt accomplished after speaking to a local, or understanding what was said in a metro announcement. Anything that allowed me to practice with Spanish led me to feelings of great accomplishment and allowed me to further my Spanish skills. Highlights for me were activities in which we got to immerse ourselves in the culture of Barcelona and explore skills/areas that we hadn't had the chance to explore during our morning classes. Some examples would be a cooking class, a graffiti tour/workshop, or visits to interesting museums. I think that the program hit a perfect balance of cultural immersion, adventure, day trips, experiential learning, and group bonding. I loved the diversity of daily activities and how each day felt like a totally new experience. I think that each class taught me something new and were always well prepared and thought out by the leaders. They were engaging and fun. I never dreaded a class! The other students on the trip were a huge part of what made the trip such a great experience. My group cared about each other a lot and we took every opportunity possible to eat lunch with each other, explore the city during free time, or hang out in the common room until curfew. We had so much fun together and I wouldn't have changed my group for the world! My leaders were also a crucial part of my trip. I think they all brought something different to the table and many of them formed close bonds with all of the students. I loved a graffiti workshop we went to towards the end of the program. We got to talk to a local graffiti artist, go to his store, see him point out his own art on the street, and learn to make some of our own. As it was towards the end of the program, all the kids were really close, making it really fun to talk to everyone while creating some really cool art. The artist with which we took the class was also very fun to work with.

I spent 3 weeks with the most amazing and like-minded group of kids out there. Every text and call I made home I told my parents how much of an amazing time I was having, to the point where they got a little annoyed. I loved this program. I would say my Spanish skills improved while I was in Spain. I had no clue what my Spanish class would be like, but ended up loving the open curriculum and the fact that I got to speak with so many different locals. The people and the free time to explore. I loved all 24 of the other students!!!!!! I really liked the leaders and think they balanced each other out. I was trying to not have extremely high expectations as I knew little about Putney in general and the program in specific but was still hoping for great people and amazing leaders. Every part of this trip exceeded my expectations.

I didn't know what to expect going into this program since I had never done anything like this before. The program was very engaging and it was an experience that turned out to be more than I had expected in a positive way. The greatest sense of accomplishment for me was first going on this program even though I was very nervous for it. Also, being able to go outside my comfort zone, without anyone I know for a while in another country. I also gained a lot of self confidence coming out of this trip. For me, the highlights of the experience were making new friends who I grew very close with and being able to walk around Barcelona and seeing all the culture everywhere I went. I also loved going to the beach towns and seeing the all the beautiful beaches in Spain. I felt that it was well organized for the most part however towards the last week of the program, I would have liked to see more art and architecture things and do more activities with art. I did not find that the workshops were that useful but I did find that they were engaging and that there were times in the business class that I found interesting. I would have probably wanted more group dinners and not so many small group dinners. I also would change the Pyranees excursion and make it a one night stay instead of two. I enjoyed the hiking down and seeing the views of the Pyranees, however the rest of the excursion was not enjoyable for me and I felt that it was unnecessary for us to stay the night there. I enjoyed every student on the program and a big part of the reason why I enjoyed the trip so much was because of the students that I became friends with on this trip. I liked the leaders for the most part and I felt comfortable and safe being in a foreign country with them. They always found fun things to do and I enjoyed having conversations with all of them. One of the things that we did in the business class, was meet with this professional photographer and retoucher named Sergio Miranda. He was interesting and I really enjoyed hearing his story and how he figured out his career and what he wanted do.

I was expecting to meet a lot of new people and build strong friendships. The program exceeded my expectations and I made more than just friends; we created a family bond I personally gained a traveler's experience in a foreign country and also the chance to meet new people and create lasting bonds. The leaders were engaging and helpful because I got to learn about culture in Spain in a different way. Everyone was amazing and I couldn't have asked for a better group. They had strong knowledge of Barcelona which was really helpful for getting around. Going to the beaches was always so amazing.

I expected the group to work together to change the lives of those in the village. However I did not realize how much this program would also change my life. My expectations were definitely exceeded. The work, weekend excursions, food, etc. was all amazing. While we were teaching the kids in the village, we got the opportunity to talk to some of them about their hopes and dreams for the future. Multiple kids said "they wanted to be teachers because we inspired them". This made me feel like I was really making a difference in these kids lives. Through this program, I was able to realize that it is not that difficult to change a person's life as long as you put in a little effort. I also learned to not get caught up in the little things in life. The highlights of my experience was teaching English to the local children, visiting Hoi An, and Ha Long Bay. I feel like there was a good balance between projects and cultural activities. However I would have added more adventure activities.

To be perfectly honest I had no idea what to expect for this program. My expectations for the community service exceeded due to the interactions and immersion into the community. I cannot not put into words how incredible the youth union and villagers were to us and the relationships and impacts we made in such a short period of time. I don't know if this is an accomplishment, but when we were leaving the school all these young kids were crying and youth union members were crying. In result I started crying and I didn't even realize how important these people had become to me in the few weeks we were there. My personal gain was definitely the relationships that I got out of this program. I'm also learning not to be as judgmental because it was very easy to judge these people for their simple culture or even their friendliness when in reality I have a lot to learn from them. My highlights were being in the village, making some of my best friends, Hoi an and Halong bay yes I think it did. I do not think we should've spent that much time in Hanoi. I think we could've spent more time in Hoi an.

I did not have too many expectations for the program other than that we would do a lot of service work. I think it far exceeded my expectations. A big part of why it did was because of the relationships Putney has formed with the people over there. I loved how on the weekends we would travel places and during the week we would stay in the village. I didn't expect to do this, but I loved it! Living in the village is such a unique and special part of this trip. What gave me the greatest sense of accomplishment was when I finished painting my two classrooms. When I first got there, I knew I wanted to try and make a positive impact on the village because of all they will have given us, so when I was able to freshen up their classrooms a little bit for my independent project I was happy about that. I know that I have been impacted by this, but I am not quite sure yet. I think in a couple of months or maybe years it will become more clear to me. The highlights of my experience were honestly the whole trip! However, I especially loved every time we were in the village. Safari was also really amazing because of our guides and how much knowledge they had. I wasn't the biggest fan of the construction work, but I didn't mind too much because I knew the impact it would have and the value of the work we did. I would have liked to do more service work, but maybe that would not have been possible to still do enough cultural activities and adventure. I'm sure everything we did was carefully planned and were reasons for everything, so I wouldn't have changed anything.

I expected to leave the program with a better understanding of the world and myself. I would say that the program overall definitely made me think in new ways which I saw especially after the trip in adjusting back to American society. Leaving Tanzania knowing that I made healthy relationships with the people there opposed to stereotypical tourists gave me a sense of accomplishment of doing the right thing. I found myself in situations where my ability to empathize, persevere and stay positive was really pushed and I think I've grown as a person because of those moments. I loved working in the village alongside the locals and the safari at Ngorongoro Crater. My leaders were also fantastic and were my favorite parts of the trip as well. Most people in my group did it, but I didn't have any time to do my independent project and I would've liked more time to do that. The work hours on the house were perfect because we would get a nice break in between to rest which I really appreciated. Everything felt like it had the right amount of time though.

I expected to be more of an outsider in the village and within my group. I think Putney did a great job of making sure that we were fully integrated into the culture of our group and of Tanzania. This program exceeded my expectations. I think the feeling of really being recognized and on common ground with the people of Maji Moto at the Goodbye Ceremony just solidified my feeling of accomplishment. I realized the success of the whole trip at that moment. More small-scale, though, our construction project was my service-related highlight because I could really see our progress. I loved the feeling of seeing exactly what we built. Personally, my goal at the beginning of the trip was to let go. By the end of the trip, I was definitely more relaxed and more flexible. I was able to just appreciate what we were doing, and not worry about whatever was coming next. My highlights were the food because it was amazing, our independent projects because we were able to really focus on what interested us and go in our own direction, and the safari. I will say that I don't think the safari would have been such an eye-opening experience had we gone at the beginning of the trip. We were able to really see the impact of tourism from a non-tourist perspective. I also think we were more appreciative of the safari having already been acclimated to the culture and values of Tanzania. It was like a final goodbye to the beauty of the country and the people. Yes, I Think the balance worked well. Our weekend excursions gave us a nice understanding of other parts of Tanzania.

Before going on this trip, I didn't go through many ideas in my mind. All I knew during the days leading up to the trip was that I was going to Tanzania. The only expectations I had was that I was going to be helping a community and learning about the culture. Those two were strongly exceeded. It wasn't that I had just learned about the culture or JUST helping the community, but I had become apart of the community. I felt at home, I felt comfortable, and I felt collaborative and happy. The only expectations that fell short for me was before the trip I had hoped to make lifelong or strong bonds of friendship. I loved my group as a whole but because of groups within the group that started to form from two girls who had already known each other, it became obviously divided at points. Because the entire trip was quite incredible and amazing, group dynamics didn't affect how I overall felt about my experience. On the last day one of the girls who I created a friendship with told me she would remember me when I left. Hearing that while reflecting on the first day where I didn't know many of the children, I felt more than accomplished. I think creating so many bonds while learning so much about each kid gave me an accomplished and an attachable sense. Personally, it was so hard to let go and say goodbye and because of that I gained strength. It's so hard to pick even a couple highlight because truly the entire month was quite the highlight of my life. If I were to pick a couple though it would be the waterfall hike. That day in general was so rejuvenating and lively. The adventure of hiking to it made me feel accomplished and we created so many memories by seeing the beautiful treasure of that waterfall at the end of the hike. Another one was meeting every single person in the village. I know that might sound extremely vague but I never took any of the moments we spent dancing on the soccer field with the kids or the welcoming and closing ceremonies with members of the village. The people of Maji Moto were each a highlight. Getting to know them and their families was such a wonderful experience. Of course also the safari was so unforgettable. I loved how we got to travel to the Masai villages as well as seeing animals. One thing I would have wanted to spend more time on was our independent project. We only got about three or less days to work on them which gave some time but I wish there was more time for that so we could be more involved what ever we did for a longer period of time. On our trip it was hard for that because we had a tight schedule but maybe if things in the schedule were altered it might have worked out to spend more time on the independent projects.

I came into the program extremely excited to both engage with a small community and explore the more well known parts of Peru. I think that my biggest expectation was that the program would be both a fun and rewarding experience and that expectation was definitely met, if not exceeded. Doing community service in Qenqo gave me the greatest sense of accomplishment, because a lot of the work was somewhat strenuous and I wanted to do my very best for the community, but I wasn't completely sure how much I could accomplish physically, especially given the altitude. It was extremely rewarding to be able to do all the heavy lifting to help the community. I got a similar sense of accomplishment from a hike that we took to the Sacred Lake outside of the village. More generally, from this program I gained a lot of knowledge about Peru, and what it is like to live in a community like Qenqo. I also feel more confident about my Spanish coming out of the program. For me, the highlight of living in the village was all the time we got to spend with the kids there. I love working with children, so teaching them english and playing games with them in the schoolyard provided me with some of my best memories from the trip. I also thoroughly enjoyed the soccer matches that Putney students and villagers played together. Although at times they were exhausting, they were also extremely fun. Outside of the village, the highlight for me would have to be Machu Picchu, which is a place I have wanted to visit as long as I can remember. It was just incredible to be there. I think the program had a pretty good balance of community service and cultural exploration. I enjoyed doing the service work and was happy to do a lot of it. As stated above however, I would have liked to spend more time in Cusco to learn more about the history and culture in the city. If there was an area of cultural exploration that was lacking in the trip, I think it would be in history. The Inca Empire is obviously a huge part of Peruvian history, but I felt like Machu Picchu was the only place we really delved into it. I would have loved to see some Inca sites in Cusco, or the ruins in Ollantaytambo. That said, I signed up to go on a community service trip, and overall I thought the balance of service to exploration was very good.

Going into my trip to Peru I expected to do community service, practice my Spanish, hopefully make some new friends and experience a new culture. What I actually go out of this experience was much more. I feel like everyone came in contact with, my leaders, friends, the children in the village, and the adults I met, all had a tremendous impact on me and taught me so much. I feel like I was able to immerse myself as fully as I could in a new culture and it was amazing. We did so many fun things on the trip and I had many new experiences. I personally think that from my time living in Caycay, I gained a much more open mindset. The children were always so happy, even with the little amount of material goods they had which has taught me that your really don't need stuff to be happy. I think I also improved my Spanish by having to practice and speak it constantly. I absolutely loved every part of this trip! I think it would be very hard for me to pick out one favorite part but I loved my time in Caycay, doing various activities in Cusco, rafting, and visiting Machu Picchu. I think that there was a good balance of everything but I wish we had done more things regarding culture.

My expectations for my program were that I would learn about a new culture and meet new people. The program met those expectations, but it also did so much more. I didn't expect to make the long-lasting friendships that I did. I also didn't expect to connect with the local kids in the village as much as I did. It was amazing to see how sad the kids were when we had to leave because it showed how much we were able to connect with them. I gained from this program knowledge about another culture and a deeper appreciation for the daily hard work that the locals do every day. The highlights of my experience were playing with the kids, doing my independent project, and seeing Machu Picchu. I think the program had the right balance of everything. If the time at the village was any shorter, we would not have been able to make as strong connections with the locals. We were also able to explore Cusco for a few days, which was a really nice way to get a feel for the culture in a big city there.

My expectations for the trip were that I would get to further practice my Spanish, meet and interact with Costa Ricans, experience new culture, scenery, while being pushed out of my comfort zone. I would say this trip definitely met these expectations and certainly exceeded them in interacting What gave me the greatest sense of accomplishment was being able to see the progress that our group made on the construction projects. It was very rewarding to see how much we helped build/improve. For example, when working in the concha, the kids would often stop by, and it was very rewarding to see how they excited they were about our painting it. The highlights of my experience were the home-stays where we got to stay with a local family. I also enjoyed interacting with the community while working in it because I got to use my Spanish and experience the vastly different culture. In general I think there was a pretty good balance of time spent on each activity, but sometimes there was a bit of a lack of adventure activities. I would have liked to have done more exploring of the area in San Jose de Rivas.

I went into the program hoping to improve my Spanish (specifically speaking) while also having fun and helping a community, and both of those goals were met and exceeded! I'll admit I was not so keen about the independent projects before I completed mine, but wow, doing those interviews ended up being incredibly rewarding in terms of learning Spanish and learning about the community, and also a whole lot of fun. Highlights included interviewing members of the community, hiking to "La Piedra", swimming in the river by the village, talking with Macho (village work leader), surfing and going to the beach at Playa Uvita, horse back riding, and white water rafting! I felt there was a great balance and I don't remember thinking we spent too much or too little time on any activity.

Going into Putney's Costa Rica community service trip, I expected the leaders to be inviting and caring towards everyone in the group. I am happy to say that Maddy and Bryan have both succeeded in doing so and throughout the trip, I was able to talk to them about anything and feel as if I was talking to a very close friend of mine. Going into the village and helping out with several service projects gave me the highest sense of accomplishment. I'm not going to lie, going into the village the first night I was very overwhelmed but during the time being there with the little kids and helping out the community I began to learn that you don't need the finest things to be happy, all you need are a great group of people. One highlight of my trip was white water rafting. Through this activity, I became close with several other people within the group and remain to communicate today. The second highlight of my trip was being able to see the smiles on the kid's faces when playing with them. Not only did the little kids hang out with us but some of the older kids would talk to us, and we would get along well even though there was a language barrier. The last highlight of the trip was the traveling day into the village. Although the ride was very long, I was able to look out the car and appreciate the beautiful scenery surrounding me. I think the trip was balanced out well.

My expectations for the program as I was going into it were to have interactions/friendships with the local people, working alongside the locals to complete our community service projects, and to have fun. I believe that the program exceeded my expectations. The thing that gave me the greatest sense of accomplishment was finally finishing our large scale community service project, and seeing the difference it made in the locals lives. What I personally gained from the program is maturity (due to the fact I was away from my family) and to be more responsible. The highlights of my experience in Costa Rica were zip lining, white water rafting, beach days, reveling down a cliff, visiting and swimming in various waterfalls, and playing soccer with the locals every now and then. Yes, I believe that the program was well balanced in terms of how our time was spent.

I was expecting to be able to practice my Spanish abilities, meet new people from all over the country and the world, make a meaningful impact in another place, and see things I had never seen before. This program went above and beyond my expectations and I made incredible lasting friendships and a completely life-altering perspective on the world that helped actually guide me in a different direction for my plans for the future. I gained incredible friendships, both in the Dominican and within the Putney group, improved my Spanish, and felt so satisfied and accomplished after finishing 20 floors for 20 houses. The highlights of my experience were getting to work with and meet locals while we worked with the cement. Although it was difficult work, it became very fun for me and my friends, and leaving La Guazara was the hardest part of the trip. I would have loved to have spent more time in the village working on projects, but I know not everyone felt that way so I think it was just the right amount for everyone. I also would have liked to do more cultural activities like when we went dancing in Santo Domingo at an outdoor concert.

I would say I went on the trip expecting to help out the community, make new friends, and get to spend time learning about the The greatest sense of accomplishment I got was on the last day when one of the little girls from the town gave me a hug and told me thank you a lot of times, and at that moment I felt like I had actually been able to impact a life in a positive way. This program gave me perspective Seeing Machu Picchu, becoming friends with the kids in the village yes, I think it was a good balance. But, I think in the village we were really roughing it, so I wish that our first weekend break was a bit nicer.

I had pretty high expectations for the trip, but at the same time I had no sense of what to expect from the country and the program. The trip exceeded every one of my wildest expectations and was the best three weeks of my life. My greatest sense of accomplishment came from the physical demands of the trip and how I worked hard with those. Our community service was a lot of hard labor, and we also embarked on a trek. My ability to do these things filled me with pride. I took so much away from the trip: a better sense of my own potential, newfound strength, gratitude, and trust in myself and others. Every moment of my trip was incredible- there wasn't a single part I wouldn't do again. The highlight was probably getting to know and care for all the others on my trip. I had an amazing set of students and leaders. I think we could've maybe done a little bit more community sevice, but at the same time I don't think it would be worth losing any of the cultural experiences and time spent with the community. A good balance was struck that gave us the best possible experience.

I tried not to picture the trip much before I departed so I could come in having an open mind. The program definitely met if not exceeded my expectations. The greatest accomplishment I felt came from the positivity that surrounded our group and community and knowing that I had impacted that happiness in some way. Personally, coming home I felt more confident as a person just knowing what I am capable of and all the options in life I get to choose from. The highlights for me were definitely forming friendships with the local children because I felt so good around them and it made me happy knowing that I hopefully somehow impacted their life or at least their summer. I enjoyed experiencing a different culture than what I am used to. I liked spending lots of time on projects, however I wish we could have had more time for adventure as a group in regards to exploring the country outside of our host village.

I really didn't have any expectations, I knew I wanted to have fun, make friends, and have a great experience knowing that I made a difference in the community. The program certainly exceeded these expectations, I made friends for a lifetime, and had some of the best experiences of my life. I couldn't have asked for anything more. My greatest sense of accomplishment I think is from knowing how happy everyone in the village was to see us come back and to see our finished projects on the fence made me feel accomplished that I had played a part in it. Personally, I gained friends I know that will last for a life time, and memories that I will never forget. I was finally able to come out of my shell on this trip, and it made a huge difference on the emotions I felt when we were about to leave. The highlights of my experience was definitely being able to help out in the kitchen in the village, learn Spanish from the locals who taught me how to say things instead of laughing at me, snorkeling in the Galapagos, and being able to spend time with two of the coolest leaders ever. I think we could have spent more time on the projects, since I know that with three projects; the quesaria, the fence and the macheteing, not all of us had the opportunity to do all of them, however, I would have liked to be able to experience all three of the jobs, instead of focusing on macheteing and cheese duty.

I believe this trip exceeded all expectations I had for the program. I assumed the trip would be meaningful and I'd make new friends over the course of the program, but I never would have thought it would have been so heartbreaking to leave my new friends, both those living in Nepal and the other students on the program. Additionally, it was heartbreaking simply to leave Nepal, the place I had called home for the past 3 weeks. It was definitely the most profound experience I have ever had in my life. My greatest sense of accomplishment came on the final day of our stay in Salleri, where the students at the school we were completing our service at exchanged a final ceremony with us. Over the course of the two weeks we had been in the village, those students had come to learn my name from my being in their classrooms and seeing them around. As we were giving a dance for the students, they chanted my name. I felt accomplished in the sense that I had made a significant impact on these students lives, even though I thought I hadn't. I would love to say everything about the trip was a highlight, but instead I shall share a few. One highlight of the trip was meeting part of the group at the airport hotel and meeting the rest in JFK the next morning. I thought it was going to be awkward meeting the other group members--people who I had never met before, who were diverse in customs, lifestyles, and interests. Yet those first moments in the hotel we sat together playing cards with another Putney group going to the Dominican Republic, sharing our lives and just talking. It relieved what stress I had about our group. I will always remember that moment in the JFK airport hotel. Another highlight was the first moment we actually stepped into Kathmandu, and we went to a Stupa together. That experience has transcended any other cultural experiences I have ever felt before. It was so amazing seeing all the people who live, work, and practice Buddhism near the Stupa. I also remember not seeing any other white or American tour groups, which added to the authenticity of the experience, because it made it clear these people aren't only catering to tourists. And another highlight was the opening ceremony the girls at the hostel we stayed at gave for us, where they performed traditional Nepali dances and sang songs. These performances signified their greatfulness towards us for coming and helping them and their community. It was a heartwarming welcome to the village. I think there was a great balance of cultural exploration, hands-on community service, and adventure. I wish we had more time to prepare final group projects, as I thought they would have been so interesting to see with a little more time to prepare.

My expectations for the program were well exceeded. I was very excited for the trip so I had been reading the itinerary over and over again most days. But to my delight the program included much more opportunities than I imagined. For example it was an honor working with the Small World. They are an amazing organization with a great mission and they organized so much for us. Also on our trek, we trekked on the Lower Everest Trail, which surprised me because I couldn't believe the trail eventually led to Base Camp. Finally we had the opportunity to meet two artists in Kathmandu; it turns out they were two of the most well-recognized artists in all of Nepal. I am very impressed by Putney's ability to organize such meaningful opportunities for all of us. The greatest sense of accomplishment for me was the connections I made. Everyone from the Small World was so welcoming and helpful towards us. Also it was great bonding with the students at White Hills, the school where we did community service, through playing soccer, teaching a class, and performing dances. It made me happy seeing how excited they were to see us everyday and it feels great knowing that if and when I go back to Nepal, I'll know I have connections. One of the main highlights has to be my group. I've made amazing friendships thanks to the program. The trip wouldn't have been the same without everyone who was there. I loved everything we did in Nepal, so I would say experiencing the various cultures in Nepal was a big highlight for me. This was my first time traveling outside of the United States, but experiencing and learning about other cultures has still always been one of the most fascinating things for me. The day we spent in Taksindu, on the trek, was a very memorable day for me because we had a lesson on Buddhism at the local monastery from a monk, I had the opportunity to visit and ask questions to an elderly monk at his house, and finally that evening we sat in on a puja ceremony. It was so interesting learning about Buddhism through first hand experiences. Seeing the ways of life of everyone we saw in Nepal has influenced me because I now feel more inspired to make my own lifestyle changes. It certainly did. I would have felt a little bit more accomplished if we had down more construction, as mentioned above, but I wouldn't want that to take away from the other activities we did like visit the Tibetan Refugee Camp, or attend the Saturday bazaar. Also our trek was three days of trekking, with one day of rest in Taksindu, I would say this was a perfect balance for us as a group.

I had very few expectations for the trip since I didn't know much about it. I knew no one who had gone on the trip before and I did not do a ton of research on it so I went in with a very open mind about what was going to happen. The program exceeded my expectations because I had so much fun and never once regretted going on the trip therefore I would say it did not fall short whatsoever. Reaching the top of the Cotopaxi Volcano and living in the village for 2 weeks gave me then greatest sense of accomplishment. Climbing that volcano was the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life so reaching the top was a great feeling. When cleaning up in the village and packing up I felt really proud of myself for enduring those 2 weeks sleeping on a concrete floor with no hot water and complaining very little about it because I didn't think I would be able to adjust to something so extreme and not just adjust but enjoy it. I gained a newfound sense of perseverance and definitely learned some things about myself that I wouldn't know unless I embarked on a journey like this. The highlights were definitely the Galapagos Islands, Cotopaxi and the Hacienda we stayed in, and Otavalo. Those little weekend excursions were perfect breaks from the village that made the trip much smoother and more exciting. I wish we had more time to work on our independent projects because they felt a little rushed at the end of the trip but other than that I felt it was perfectly balanced. If I had spent any more time in the village I would have gotten really sick of it and same with the Galapagos so it was a perfect balance of service and fun.

I went in having almost no expectations, since this was the first time I had ever been to Asia, as well as the first time I had been on a service trip. The trip exceeded everything I could have possibly imagined. While I knew it would be a life changing experience, I was not expecting how intensely eye opening, reflective, and inspiring the trip would be. I think the 3 day trek gave me the greatest sense of accomplishment, given how difficult it was. I am not a habitual hiker, so to complete this uphill and strenuous trek made me really believe in myself. I know that I can do anything with the right determination and support. One of my favorite things was the dance lessons we had every afternoon, and then getting the chance to perform the dance at the school. I loved the lessons themselves- it was an amazing opportunity to be so involved in the culture. However, it was even more rewarding to show the students at the school our dance, and see how excited and grateful they all were. Even though I was expecting more time spent on service, I wouldn't have traded it for the valuable cultural experiences that we had in exchange. The structure of the program was perfect.

I was expecting to learn a lot about myself and the culture that I was traveling to, but I wasn't expecting to meet so many awesome people. The program by far exceeded my expectations with the amazing things I learned and awesome experiences I got to have. Hiking Cotopaxi was definitely an accomplishment. Although the view from the glacier was not great because of the clouds, the sense of pride we all felt because of how hard the journey had been was worth it. Also, hearing Juliana speak in Spanish to the villagers and understanding the conversation completely was an awesome feeling, as well as stumbling through my own conversations with the adults in the village. Snorkling in the Galapagos, horse-back riding in Cotopaxi, and taking trips to Otavalo were among my favorite parts. Being with my new friends in the car and singing along to stupid songs on our way to the cloud forest was an unforgettable experience. I loved all the adventures and cultural exploration that we did on said excursions.

The program exceeded my expectations. I knew it was going to be fun, but it truly was amazing. The leaders and the trip itself were beyond anything I could have expected. I had the greatest sense of accomplishment building the school, just seeing the kids smile and know that they would be able to learn in those classrooms was an Amazing experience. Personally I think I gained more value for what I have at home but also care to understand you can be happy with so little. The highlights of my experience were the people, leaders and students. I don't think the trip would have been the same without them. I also really enjoyed the trek to the monastery.

Going in I thought it was going to be nothing like I had every experienced before. I was going to live in conditions unfamiliar to me, sleeping on the floor, trying new foods, practicing Spanish, getting to know the villagers and helping them with the projects. The program far exceeded my expectations. Not only did I make amazing connections to my leaders and the group, but also the people in the village. Playing soccer with the kids and mixing the cement were some of the highlights of the trip. In the village as part of our fence building project, my and two other girls mixed cement by hand using shovels and it was easily the hardest thing I have ever done. We ended up missing lunch with the group and ate 30 minutes later because we were working so hard. We wouldn't stop working until the huge pile was all done and put into wheelbarrows. I remember the feeling when we finished that enormous pile and I felt nothing but pure happiness and accomplishment. It was initially this huge comprised of 7 wheelbarrows-worth of rocks and dirt and two bags of cement powder. I have never felt happier doing the work. I learned that if I put my mind to it I could really do anything and all I need is a positive attitude. When we hiked Cotopaxi, I really struggled and I relied on my friends and pushed myself through to do it. Before we added the water and began mixing, I first looked at the huge pile of rocks and dirt I didn't think I would be able to do anything with it as mixing cement is something I was very unfamiliar with, but I put on a smile and worked hard and I did it with the help of my friends. Playing soccer and teaching English to the local village kids was definitely a highlight of the trip. It was just so much fun and the kids seemed really interesting in learning both English and things about us. Just being around them made everyday so much better. The experienced mentioned above regarding working through lunch and mixing the cement was another highlight. I loved doing kitchen duty and taking trips into Otavalo getting food for the group. Dressing up in traditional garb and going to the San Pedro holiday parade and celebration was amazing. The villagers made us feel so welcome and took good care of us. We also met up with Community Service B and played a soccer game against them which was great. We really bonded as a group that day. Hiking Cotopaxi and riding the horses was also amazing. The entire Galapagos experience was incredible. I remember snorkeling at Kicker Rock and seeing a sting ray, shark, and sea turtle all in a five foot radius. I have snorkeled before but I have never seen anything like that. I thought it was a great balance. As I said before I would've like to spend a little more time on projects however we did spend a lot of time preparing lessons and teaching English and playing soccer with the kids which was awesome.

I purposely set my expectations low for the trip as it would allow what would occur to blow me away. Yet, I have never been so blown away as the trip exceeded my most perfect dreams. My greatest sense of accomplishment was seeing the villagers cry during the groups final goodbye. It felt so warming to know that the work we did and the friendships that we made would stick with them and they appreciated it. Personally, I was able to check off my dream and along the way I made friends, family, and left an everlasting mark on a community for one in return. The highlights of my experience was every single day in the village. There was not a moment where I second guessed my choice to attend the trip or felt down in the slightest manner. I felt like as if there was a perfect balance between time spent on projects, cultural activities, and adventure.

I would say the program exceeded my expectations. After doing the Costa Rica Program last year, my expectations were already supremely high for such an experience but the Ecuador trip just blew me away. I expected to become attached to another fantastic village and our Putney group, to thoroughly enjoy the Galapagos and the little weekend excursions, etc. Almost everything went above and beyond. Our group had some of the kindest, funniest, hard-working individuals I've ever met in my life. Four weeks with them just wasn't enough and I miss them dearly. Even our two leaders, Gregorio and Julia, were not just our guides, but our friends as well. They led with confidence and courage, but catered towards each individual thoughtfully and when they need it most. I loved our village. The kids were fun to play and chat with and the adults provided deeper insight into their community and who they were as individuals. I can't really compare this village to the village in Costa Rica because each community is different. It's like apples and oranges. I love both fruit, but for very different reasons. The Galapagos just blew me away. I was expecting a sort of tropical resort vibe from the Galapagos but the eco-friendly attitude left me speechless as well. The ability to be so close to some animals in their most natural environment and behavior was incredible, and the snorkeling expeditions, beaches, private tours, etc. were all gems. There was not a single moment in the Galapagos where I was bored or waiting for something to happen. The other weekend excursions were fantastic as well. They were gorgeous places with an insightful history and deep knowledge of the surroundings. Gregorio and Julia also gave us plenty of free time to explore and cater to our own needs. Although a select few abused this, the rest of us loved freely walking around Ecuador. The highlight for me was Cotopaxi. I absolutely loved every moment of the day when we climbed Cotopaxi, every moment. The only thing I would say didn't meet expectations was the food. In Costa Rica, every meal in the village and in the rest of the country was excellent. There were varying textures, meats, side dishes, etc. to fill our stomachs after a long work day or after travelling around the country. However, in Iltaqui, our group often had to have soups for lunch and dinner with three side dishes that rotated on a daily basis. After awhile, our group tired of these same meals (the soups were differing in flavors, but not by a lot) and we wanted something to sink our teeth into. The food outside the village, however, was good. The food had a major Ecuadorian theme with hints of an American touch that reminded us of home when we needed it. The climb of Cotopaxi. Our group had been doing various hikes throughout the trip to prepare for this gargantuan climb but we were well prepared. At the base of the climb, there were strong winds and rain/snow pelting our faces. Everyone pushed through the grueling and freezing weather as a unit. Later on, everyone went at their own pace but when I first reached the refugee camp (since I was the first one in the group, not trying to brag...), I had an immense sense of accomplishment knowing that I pushed myself physically and mentally and it proved to be worth it. The feeling I got was indescribable, but in words, I guess it would be sky-high happy. I wanted to share this feeling with the other students, so I ran inside dropped most of my sweaty gear off, and headed back out into the freezing cold. Since I was so hot, the cold didn't bother me. But, I partially went back down the mountain to further cheer on my struggling companions. I cheered them on and gave them motivation and when everyone else reached the refugee camp, I felt closer bonded to the group. It was phenomenal. After a bit of warming up, a majority of the group decided to climb up to the glacier. The glacier hike was harder than the first part of the hike but what a reward we got. Reaching the topmost point that we could go just gave a huge confidence boost to the already insanely giddy group. Everyone was insanely happy and me and a few of my friends experience a runners high. Everything was just perfect that afternoon. I gained an immense sense of unity and strength in numbers. I found that being a cheerleader to my weary friends wasn't a monotonous task, it was enjoyable. It gave them that little edge to finish and push themselves mentally. I got immense satisfaction out of that. Along with this, my group members began understanding why I pushed myself as hard as I did (Through work and now the climb of Cotopaxi) and I became closer friends with everyone as a result. As mentioned above, the climb of Cotopaxi was a clear highlight. Literally the perfect day for me and nothing was wrong or bad. The day we snorkeled at Kika (Kicker? The rock that looks like a shoe/sleeping lion) rock. All the activities that day were an incredible amount of fun (The snorkeling, private beach exploration and swimming), the animals we saw and interacted with were phenomenal and the group I was in (We were forced to split into two separate groups) had a phenomenal time talking on the boat, rocking out to songs and so on. The last highlight was our final evening meeting. Everyone revealed their highlight of the trip and that they were saddened to leave and loved everyone so much. Though there were a lot of tears, it signified that our trip may be over, but our friendship certainly isn't. I think the program was overall balanced. The only thing I would've liked was more diverse projects, but I can understand why Gregorio and Julia elected to do one main project. We poured all our budget on making the canals on the side of the road in Iltaqui because it was the most beneficial project to the community.

My expectations for my program was to have a lot of high school students in my group. I thought we would primarily focus more on service work while we were there. When I arrived at the airport there were only 9 students including me. We became a very tight nit group towards the end of the program. I really loved how small the group was because I got to make connections with every single person there. My program was for community service in Fiji and I really loved the work we did there. We would spend four to five hours a day working on the footpath. I thought that was the only thing we were doing, but instead we also focused two hours each day to experience the village life in Navakawau. I really appreciated that time to explore the culture of the villagers because I got to learn a lot about their lifestyle and On the second to last day before leaving the village, I helped build a wooden bench on top of the hill. The next day when I was walking around to say my goodbyes to the kids I saw a little kid crying because I told her I was leaving soon. I sat down with the kids on the bench that outlooks the whole island in silence. It was not awkward silence, but comfortable silence. It then hit me - where I was and what I was doing. I helped build a footpath up the hill for children to go to school. I built a bench for children to have a place to sit. It has been a privilege to have the opportunity through the Putney scholarship to experience what it feels like to have a role, a place, a duty in their village. I would have never had an opportunity like this if I did not have found this program. During my trip there were many highlights, but the moment that stood out to me the most was the first few days I was in the village. We were driving up the hill and children were running out of their houses to greet us. The children and adults did not know who we were but they were so happy to see us. Everyone welcomed us into their village with open arms during the welcoming ceremony. I was so happy to be able to interact with so many young children and adults who always put our safety and health before anything else. Villagers would always check up on us every hour to see if we were doing okay. Imagine tens of children coming up to you every hour to check up on you. I have never felt so important in my life. Living in the United States you never see such hospitality and happiness for each and every person. Hearing the word "Bula' every morning was the highlight of my experience. I wish we had more time adventuring the village. I felt that we should have walked around the village more to learn more about the structure of the village. We stayed in one specific spot when working on our service project and we went to certain houses to engage ourselves in cultural activities but did not have much time to learn about the basic function of the village. Besides that I thought everything we did was the perfect amount. I loved how we did service in the morning and cultural activities after lunch.

I was hoping for some sightseeing, water sports, interactions with the locals and we were able to do all of that very thoroughly, which I was very happy about. My greatest sense of accomplishment was being able to fit into, if only temporarily, not just one foreign culture, but two. Everyone in my group except me was from North America, and for the first week and a half, there was a huge cultural disconnect between us. I felt like I wasn't a part of the group for a long time. So, I'm incredibly proud of the fact that despite it getting very tough at times, I held on and grew from it. Similarly, I was also fitting into the Fijian culture, making friends with the locals, and just living in a completely new atmosphere. I think I gained a lot of self confidence in this trip, and I've learned about two new cultures in one go. Interacting with the locals was a huge part of my experience. Also the beauty of the Fijian islands. Coming from Delhi, where nature is practically nonexistent, it was really breathtaking to see the oceans and islands and beaches and waterfalls. Additionally, I think I got an amazing group and the best leaders one could ask for, which just enhanced my experience. I feel like due to some technical issues, we weren't able to spend as much time on community service as was specified, and so I wish we did more of that. AS for everything else., it was perfectly balanced. I do wish we got some more time for snorkeling.

In terms of the activities we did, the trip met my expectations because we did hard work in community service and had lots of fun outside work. This trip far exceeded my expectations through the way I bonded with members of our host village and with the other students on the trip. We hiked Cotopaxi and I'm not an outdoorsy person so I felt extremely accomplished when I got up the volcano and continued up to the glacier. I was so happy to have a practical use for the Spanish I've learned in school and it definitely improved. I also think I gained a better sense of myself through seeing myself in such a new environment and taking more risks than I normally do. It's a wonderful experience to travel with a group of total strangers because it allowed me to be more independent and open up to new people and experiences. Seeing the Galápagos was such a wonderful and unique experience and I loved getting to learn and explore in such a special environment. Everything was so beautiful there and it was a really nice conclusion to a trip filled with so much hard work in our host village. I think it was very well balanced because of the time we spent working alongside villagers and going into town to observe more urbanized Ecuadorian lifestyles. We got to do a lot of outdoor activity but it was mixed with lots of chill time to talk and play games at our home in the village. The little weekend excursions were amazing and the last week in the hacienda and Galapagos was such a good mix of relaxation and outdoor exploration.

Our 16-year-old daughter LOVED this program! From the counselors to the kids (all of whom she had never met before), the writing program, and the cultural exploration – she loved every minute in Ireland and has not stopped talking about it. She is not typically one to go on and on about something but she still (9 months later) gushes about her time with her "Putney friends" in Ireland. The counselors did a fantastic job quickly bringing the group together to create a vibe where the kids felt comfortable and would share creatively – no small feat when you only have 12 days together. The fact that she is still in touch with many of the kids tells me so much. She got a tremendous confidence boost and came home even more inspired to pursue a career in writing. I couldn't recommend a program more highly – I felt informed every step of the way and was confident she was in great hands while overseas. Thank you, thank you!

I had a great time and was able to meet some of the most amazing people. My group leaders were fantastic and so much fun. The activities that’s we did were so interesting and eye opening. I loved my trip!

Literally this was the most amazing experience of my life. I totally recommend Putney. They really get you to learn a lot about a culture in a short amount of time and you will make SO MANY amazing friends from around the world

One of the best trips I’ve ever been on! Tokyo Abroad was an eye opening and fantastic trip I was able to experience. The city itself was incredible and culturally fascinating. The courses I took on the program were full of opportunities to explore and adventure and learn. I was surrounded by amazing, kind and inspiring people.

I am a traveler! Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved learning about different cultures! The Putney student learning trip to France allowed me to try new things and get out of my comfort zone. I enjoyed the seaside town of Trouville, learned about the history of Mont-Saint-Michel, shopped in the chaotic streets of Paris, kayaked around Pont du Gard with my homestay sister, and enjoyed a surf lesson in Cap Ferret. This learning experience really helped improve my conversational French and I recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their French in a quick and fun way.

I chose to do Putney Student Travel's 24 day community service trip to Costa Rica. This was my first trip like this alone and at first the length of it scared me. After arriving in Miami to meet with the other students on the trip for our group flight I met Jeff, one of our group leaders, who welcomed me with a smile and great positivity for our three and a half week adventure together. At that moment I knew that 24 days would not be enough. After just that one night of meeting all these new and incredible people I felt like they were all my closest friends, I was shocked, I never thought I could connect to and love strangers the way I did in such a short period of time. We all only continued to grow closer and closer, which honestly I didn't think was possible because I felt so at home with every single one of them. Once we all arrived in Costa Rica we met our second group leader, Gabi. I could tell from the moment that I met Gabi that her kindness and support for the group would become contagious. As a group we completed rewarding community service projects in a small community called San Jose de Rivas. There I connected with many local families and made friendships that will last a life time, shedding many tears as I left them on our final days. I went into this review trying to make it short and sweet but there is no possible way to sum up this life changing experience, if I had hours of free time I would tell you every single detail because not one moment went forgotten. All in all this program was absolutely incredible and it fulfilled me in a way I didn't know I needed until I went on the trip. I would send my future children on this program because of how essential I think it is to a person and their individual self awareness level. My trip to Costa Rica occupies a large part of my heart, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

I had a great trip this summer in Spain. My group went all over the country and got a chance to see some places where tourists don't go, like the northern coast and the Picos de Europa, which are these really awesome mountains that nobody knows about except mostly Spanish people. We also went to Madrid for a few days, which was probably the best part of the trip, and then got to meet Spanish kids that are our same age and learned about just how they live and what their lives are like. It was hard to communicate at first, but I felt prepared from our language lessons to at least be able to have fun and get to know the locals!

My expectations for the program exceeded anything I could've asked for. I did not understand to the full extent the strong bonds I would form and the amazing people I would meet. I expected to make some friends and help others in order to better improve their lives. I did not understand the service I would be receiving in return which is the amazing culture I'd be immersed into and bonds I'd create. At the end of the last day of community service, when all the work was finally done and we were moving on and leaving Tongo forever, I felt extremely accomplished in the work we had completed knowing I put my all into it. I personally gained a sense of community and an understanding of how different the world is in different places. The highlights of my experience included a combination of playing with the children in the village and getting to know them and learn about their lives, along with being in Nadi after the community service and seeing the different sides of Fijian life.

I had an amazing time with Putney Student Travel's Community Service Nepal trip! It was one of the most life-changing experiences I've had. I met so many new people who quickly became some of my best friends (who I still keep in touch with!) and got to see so many perspectives different from those of the people I usually interact with. I had the ability to help those in need, and seeing the smile on the little children in the orphanage and school's faces, who were thankful for us just spending time with them, made me appreciate how lucky I am to have the opportunity to help. it was one of the best experiences of my life, and I will never forget it.

Putney provided a completely unique experience with engaging activities, mountainous, exploration, and amazing food. For two weeks, our group of 18 students and 2 leaders enjoyed all of what Argentina and the Patagonia have to offer. We indulged in countless servings of Argentine beef, marveled at the Perito Moreno glacier, hiked a glacier and ate lunch at the summit, and skied for three days at Cerro Castor in Ushuaia, the southern most city in the world. These highlighted activities are just some of the forms of exploration we were able to experience. I would recommend the program to anyone who would like to explore a new culture, a foreign mountain range, and the nature of a largely untouched land. You will come away feeling genuinely aquatinted with the region. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in this program and I hope to return to Argentina in the future to continue my exploration.

I went on the Community Service trip to Costa Rica with Putney. Overall, the experience was one in a lifetime and thoroughly recommendable. I live in the UK and travelled to Miami to meet with the group who were made up of two leaders and 13 kids. The other kids were mainly Americans, with the addition of two French boys and a girl from the Netherlands. The mix of people worked really well and we made lots of progress with our community service project. I was away for a well-structured month which consisted of working weekdays and 'vacation' excursion trips on the weekends to explore the vast activities that Costa Rica has to offer. During the weekdays we stayed in the remote village of Biolley. Here there is a small-scale coffee plantation where we helped out by mixing and laying cement, moving and making coffee beds, weighing and bagging coffee and lots of other general jobs around the ecolodge. We also helped out with the cooking which allowed me to bring home new recipes to cook for my family. We got to know the villagers very well and were even invited to do homestays for a night. On the weekend excursions, we went to various parts of Costa Rica to do activities like surfing, horse-riding , zip-lining, white-water-rafting, plunge-pool jumping and swimming in waterfalls. On top of this, we got to see some incredible animals including sloths, toucans, tarantulas, crocodiles, monkeys, iguanas and parrots. All in all, if you are looking to go to an amazing country to meet some amazing people, both local Costa Ricans and fellow group members, then you should choose the Putney Community Service trip to Costa Rica.

This was one of the best experiences in my life. Going into this trip I expected nothing, all I knew was that I was going to Costa Rica with my twin sister. We did not know anything else about the trip, we did not know a single person. Now when I look back at the trip I would not have spent my summer any other way. I meet some of the most interesting and fun people I have ever met, everybody came from a different place and everybody had different stories. But we learned to grow as a family. I look back and think of the people in Costa Rica as my second family, they will always be there for you and care for you. Even though the work was hard, it was all worth it in the end. Seeing all of the local peoples faces once we finished our projects was one of the happiest moments in my life. Every single day everybody woke up with a smile on their face and they were ready to work. And of course we did not only work every single day, we also had time for the group just to bond and enjoy each others company. The costa rica trip that Putney provides is a great learning experience, it also gives you the feeling of a second family. I strongly recommend this program for teenagers because it is mind blowing and you learn a lot, you also get to meet some amazing people.

Writing this review as a parent, I can't say enough about Putney Student Travel. All the arrangements and communications were clear and timely, they have a 24-hour-a-day-live-person phone line to call if you have any worries, and my child totally loved her experience. The itinerary was varied and included a few fun tourist things as well as literary exploration and of course seeing the beauty of Ireland. The two group leaders gave the kids just enough freedom and mixed up smaller groups so everyone got to know everyone else. My daughter will never forget this trip and talked about it nonstop for days after she returned home.

My daughter, a rising HS junior at the time, had the time of her life on this trip last summer. The leaders were fantastic, the other students on the trip were amazing, and the itinerary was perfect. She could not have had a better experience.