Immersive Experience

Global Goals

#1 - No Poverty and #10 - Reduced Inequalities: During this trip, we worked with a local school to provide their students with school supplies that they lacked. We also traveled to Puerto Rico after the island was decimated by Hurricane Maria, so we witnessed inexplicable adversity that locals had to overcome on a daily basis. By learning about these issues, we were able to become better advocates for those experiencing loss and economic strife.

Puerto Rico 2020

This was a Spanish language immersion trip that I took to Puerto Rico during eighth grade, shortly before the COVID-19 lockdown. The main objective of the trip was to immerse ourselves in Puerto Rican culture and improve our knowledge and command of the Spanish language. Not only did my speaking abilities improve, but it opened my eyes to a world vastly different from my own. We visited Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the local economy and displaced thousands of Puerto Ricans. Seeing the destruction the hurricane caused, coupled with the unified nature of the communities affected by this natural disaster, both devastated me and inspired me to appreciate all that I have. During this trip, we interacted with locals in their native language, visited historical sites, saw beautiful landscapes, hiked in natural parks, and ate delicious Puerto Rican food while supporting local businesses. The most important aspect of this trip was our service, during which we visited a local school, worked with the children in Spanish, and donated materials in order for their students to better thrive.

We participated in a mofongo-making workshop, a traditional Puerto Rican dish. In preparing it, I was able to fully immerse myself in Puerto Rican culture.

We were surprised with a salsa dance workshop after dining on traditional Puerto Rican food. By dancing to Puerto Rican music with locals, I felt connected to both the language and culture of Puerto Rico.

We learned about local history with our tour guide, Adriana, a native of Puerto Rico. She took us on daily excursions through some of Puerto Rico's most important sites. This photo was taken in Old San Juan, PR.

We went on a tour of the capitol building of Puerto Rico. Our tour guide taught us about the unique history of Puerto Rico and educated us on the public's views on Puerto Rican statehood in the United States. During this tour, we also learned about Latino architecture and art.

Global Goals

#6 - Clean Water and Sanitation #13 - Climate Action:

Our guides heaily focused on the issue of access to clean water in Hawaii. Many resorts ciphen water off from native Hawaiians and locals who depend upon their water lines for survival. Also, the problematic tourism industry in Hawaii has intensified the water crisis. Although Hawaii is surrounded by water, a small portion of water on the Big Island is freshwater. Furthermore, much of this freshwater is redirected to the large resorts in order to appease tourists. We also learned about the climate crisis and the danger it poses to Hawaii; islands across the world are sinking, their shorelines gradually shortening. In an attempt to help locals, our service was a regenerative agriculture project that restored a local farm.

Hawaii 2022

This service trip was life-changing. Our focus was on learning native culture, which we did through aiding workers from Hue Hue Ranch in preserving local agriculture. We stayed on Big Island, which has 8 different climate zones and a long, rich history. We traveled with Rustic Pathways, an organization that specializes in connecting travelers with locals in meaningful ways. Each day, we debriefed with our leaders about our experiences, discussed how our actions may affect those living in Hawaii, and were educated about the ongoing issues that plague the state. There was never a dull moment; we were constantly learning about Hawaiian history and culture, interacting with locals, and supporting local businesses.

Exploring Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park. The park served as a refuge during war time in ancient Hawaiian history.

Our tour guide, Chai, at Greenwell Farms, a sustainably grown coffee farm. Chai taught us about the process of cultivating coffee beans, as well as instilled in us the beauty of nature, change, and the simplicity of life.

History lesson with Michaela, a Native Hawaiian and an oral historian at Hue Hue Ranch. Michaela told us stories of the creation of Hawaii, tales of Hawaiian warriors, and the spiritual significance of Big Island.

Tour of the grounds of Hue Hue Ranch and an in-depth examination of the issues plauging Hawaii. We discussed the water crisis, the ongoing housing issues, and the impact of tourism.

We shared a meal prepared by native Hawaiians at Hue Hue Ranch. The combination of flavors was excellent, and my favorite portion of the meal was the ground meat wrapped in a Hawaiian ti leaf.

We traveled to a local farmers market in Hilo, Hawaii. This was an opportunity to interact with locals, to support small businesses within the Hilo community, and to enjoy the most delicious fruit I have ever eaten.

All thirteen students, two teachers, and four guides on our trip hiked two miles to a remote beach. The scenery was incredible, and we were able to swim in the water, observe local ecosystems, and learn about the tides and currents that impact Hawaii.

We hiked the trails of Volcanoes National Park and learned about the volcanic activity and history on the island. Guides took us into a massive crater that felt ethereal and otherworldly. Although it was a low-activity day in the volcano, we still caught a glimpse of molten lava.

Trip Itinerary

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