Before arriving in costa rica I was very nervous and even though I was given a great amount of helpful information I couldn't help but be a little bit apprehensive. Once I arrived it became clear that I was definitely not alone and help would be there for me all along whenever I needed it. The first weekend I became very familiar with the town and costa ricans themselves and their 'pura vida' lifestyle. I was lucky enough to go zip lining the second day I arrived and it was an experience I know I will never forget! I was very excited to start working and going to bajo tijares the first day was a bit of a culture shock for me and it really impacted me because I was never familiar with people living like that. The children were so loving and kind I could tell that they really enjoyed me being there. Over the course of the first week it was tough to connect with a few of the kids. Some never even connected with me at all, but the ones that did really opened up and were so happy and bright despite their situations. Some of them reminded me of my own younger cousins and I know I will never forget about them. I'm so thankful that uVolunteer gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in the costa rican culture and be able to meet some amazing kids. I hope that I made a positive impact on them because they definitely had a positive impact on me. Anita

On the first day all the new volunteers are given an orientation about the culture and shown around the small town. This was so much fun. That afternoon, despite my jet lack I went zip lining with a few volunteers. It was so easy to make friends with everyone. All the volunteers were very like minded. On the Monday, it was my first day at the orphanage. Ligia takes all the volunteers to there projects on the first day, so you don't get lost. The journey was extremely easy. From the dorm I would walk ten minutes to the bus station and then take a 10 minutes bus ride. I was made very welcome by all the Aunties (Tia's) at the orphanage. I was so worried about not being able to speak Spanish but that really hasn't been a problem at all. I am now an expert and charades. The Tia's are so friendly and patient with me. And of course the children are so, so wonderful. There are 13 children at my orphanage, all under the age of 10. They just want to play and receive lots of cuddles. I try and help the tia's out as much as possible. I would clean the floors and windows for them, I would also help feed the children and clean the dishes afterwards. They are so appreciative of any help. You have to work Monday to Thursday at your chosen project. You then have 3 days at the weekend to go visit all the amazing places in Costa Rica. There really is so much to do. I have had 3 weekends to travel and I have been zip lining, to the beach, seen a volcano and been white water rafting!! The volunteers all go away together, which is so much fun. They help recommend hostels and tour companies, as well as explain the easiest way to get there. You really are in good hands here! I had an amazing time here is Costa Rica. The people are so friendly and welcoming. The way of life is so relaxed here, which suited me perfectly. The landscape is absolutely stunning. I have nothing negative to say about my experience. Thank you so much the staff. I love you all. You really have made my experience here unforgettable.

This is the second time I've been to Ghana and it still impresses me that you can buy pretty much anything from the comfort of your tro-tro seat; breakfast, laundry soap, razor blades, phone credit, school books...you name it! I've found Ghanaians to be incredibly friendly and curious... the hugs and smiles from the children at Hour of Grace Orphanage have always managed to make my day! I can't believe my four weeks in Ghana is almost over! Reflecting back, it's amazing how quickly I've learnt to forgo Western conveniences, such as bus timetables and public toilets, and embrace Ghanaian conveniences, such as tro-tro (mini-van) shopping. This is the second time I've been to Ghana and it still impresses me that you can buy pretty much anything from the comfort of your tro-tro seat; breakfast, laundry soap, razor blades, phone credit, school books...you name it! I've found it particularly exciting when stumbling across that thing I gave up looking for yesterday when sent north, south, east and west by well-meaning locals who wanted not to disappoint an obruni (white person) but to point them in the 'right' direction! There are many other things I will never forget about Ghana. Among them, walking to work alongside goats, chickens and the occasional cow, the shout of "obruni" followed by the sight of a young child dashing out onto the road to catch a glimpse and wave good-bye, and the chaos of Korofidua on Market Day, a stark contrast to Sunday mornings when the whole town, it seems, is at Church. As well as having enormous faith, I've found Ghanaians to be incredibly friendly and curious. While incessant calls of "Akosua (Sunday-born), where are you going?" and "Where are you from?" have been overwhelming at times, the hugs and smiles from the children at Hour of Grace Orphanage have always managed to make my day! Popular activities have been colouring, making animal masks and decorating smiley face biscuits (the kids had never seen icing or 100s and 1000s before but were won over when assured it was all sugar!). Working with these children has been the highlight of the trip; my only regret is not spending more time with them! It would be great to have volunteers teaching English so as to help the kids at school. I have spent most of my time in Ghana working at St Joseph's Hospital and have been fortunate enough to work alongside three Ghanaian physiotherapists, four Ghanaian students and three other volunteers. Having mostly worked at an acute hospital in Australia, I've enjoyed the opportunity to work in the outpatient department with a mixed adult and paediatric caseload (conditions such as stroke, back pain, fractures, Cerebral Palsy, Erb's palsy and Talipes). If working at St Joseph's has taught me one thing, then it is how to adapt. Challenges have included testing my imagination skills with limited equipment (disposable rubber gloves serve well as kicking/punching bags for kids with broken arms or legs), rehabilitating patients who have presented up to two years post-stroke (it's not uncommon for patients to seek alternative therapies such as witchcraft and herbal medicine first) and trying to be a makeshift occupational therapist, speech therapist and orthotist (these therapies are either rare or non-existent in Ghana and so it would be GREAT to have people help out in these areas too) all at once. While being caught outside my comfort zone at times, I have been able to pester my work colleagues at home with incessant questions thanks to the luxury of internet access in the dorm! The location of the dorm in Koforidua is ideal. A short taxi ride (or 30 minute walk) takes you to the centre of town, from where begins many a weekend adventure. I'd recommend the Wli Waterfalls in the Volta Region, Mole National Park and Paga in the North, and the many beaches along the coast. The Bradt guide is invaluable when making travel plans so be sure to take it along. Failing that, the locals are always willing to point you in (maybe) the right direction! I hope Ghana is as memorable for you as it has been for me. Kate

It was a great month working with a local football team and local college sporting teams such as track and field, basketball, badminton, table tennis and volleyball. Since the West African Poly games are coming up, I was very busy volunteering with various teams. At the college, it was track and field qualifications for the West African Poly games. Most of the athletes competed in bare feet, socks, and a few pairs of shoes. Kofi, the 20 year old man who represented the IT students, won the 1,600 meter race by running it bare foot and still managed to break the school record held for 15 years. As a volunteer, it took long days to help prepare the field for the event. We had to measure, chalk the lanes for the runners, pick up and move large rocks, dig a large hole for the long and triple jump. The best part about getting the long and triple jump pit ready was going to a local saw mill with other Ghanaians and bringing the saw dust back on our bicycles. The day of the event was filled with hundreds of people from the local community, and the local college. The telecom company MTN, sponsored the event by giving the winners of each event shirts, trophies, and hats. A very memorable event that I will never forget! I really appreciate UVolunteer for being organized and providing the volunteers with such a nice environment to live in. Great showers, kitchen, food, staff and a clean house with comfortable beds. Koforidua is surrounded by mountains, so it's a great place to have weekends off. It's close to waterfalls, hiking in the mountains, bicycle riding, local villages,and easy access to festivals in the Eastern Region. Only a quick ride to Accra to see any major attractions in Ghana's capital city. I really enjoyed the Ghana experience.

My first time travelling outside North America, to Costa Rica, reached and exceeded all my expectations. A friend and I got bored at home and decided to travel, after deciding on Costa Rica and a quick google search, it appeared that the uVolunteer program would be a perfect match for us. uVolunteer helped us organize our travel info, and were very helpful in letting us know what was and wasn't necessary to pack. Im very grateful that I was allowed to do this program on such short notice, as many other programs wouldn't have let two guys zip down to costa rica on 10 days notice. Upon arrival, we were greeted with hugs and smiles at the airport and although it had been 24 hours without sleep, their energy was infectious!! Arriving at the dorms was shocking. I assumed in my head that we would be living in cabins or tents, but the house is closer to a hotel. Hot water, comfortable beds, wifi, 2 meals a day and laundry have made the time spend here incredible! On our first day we were given a tour of beautiful San Ramon, perfect weather, even better people, and a tight nit community made us all feel welcome. The fruit market is a must see, with produce I havenever heard of in my life including dragonfruit, and guanabana ( a watermelon looking fruit that it white instead of pink, slightly creamy, and ten times as sweet). After the tour of the city we were taken to Bajo (the village where most of the children from the community center live), which was easily the most eye opening experience of Costa Rica. There homes were little more that glorified shacks, with a single light bulb and no beds, however I have never met happier people in my life. They were all very welcoming and friendly and wanted to share what little they had with us. I cant believe my time here is over already but I can honestly say that these were the best three weeks of my life!

I chose UVolunteer for several different reasons. The organization seemed be a very ethical one, emphasizing working through organizations in the community. Programs offered were interesting and varied. I had a hard time picking out which one I wanted to do. I chose community center type projects each time because I felt like I was qualified for them and that I could make a difference. Each time that I volunteered I had a person who picked me up at the airport, gave me a detailed orientation, and also gave me a tour of the community. Throughout the program they offered continued support and checked in frequently to see what I was doing. At the community center at Bajo Tejares I played several different roles. The community center was located in a community that one could see really needed such a place to exist. We were given a tour of the neighborhood which was a little shocking. The houses were really tiny and a few of them just had a lot of trash around them. Drug use and teen pregnancy were big problems in the neighborhood, and the community center gave the kids a viable alternative to this as well as positive attention from adults. The educational component was a big part of what they did. We got to help out with English classes for adults and teenagers in the community. Two other volunteers and I worked with the adult women's class. It was a little challenging, because the women all had different levels and attendance seemed to be directly related to the weather. We had to go really slow, slower than I had thought because pronunciation was really difficult for them and a lot of times they were scared to even talk. One thing was certain though, the classes were always fun! The women made it seem more like a club than a class. The ones that did know more really helped each other out. I really wished we could have made the class a permanent thing, but because of the school schedule starting again, it wasn't possible. At night I got to help teaching the English class at the college in San Ramon. I had so much fun with them. Getting to work with adults was cool because it made you feel more a part of the community. The learners were all really motivated and seemed to want to be there. Since one of the most important parts of a language is talking ,the classes were conversation based. This made it really fun and I felt like it was a good way for the students to learn. I would recommend getting involved in this to anyone who does uVolunteer. It feels like you help them so much, and they get to help you as well. Jennifer

Arriving in Ghana for my volunteer trip to work in an orphanage, I learned one thing right away, never expect things to go the way you had intended. This is an important lesson in life, and has always been very hard for me. So on the first day right away I was challenged with things not going the way I had imagined them to go. One memorable moment I remember is when I was trying to teach the children about gentle touch, and patting or rubbing the shoulder to get my attention, instead of hitting or pulling aggressively. One memorable moment I remember is when I was trying to teach the children about gentle touch, and patting or rubbing the shoulder to get my attention, instead of hitting or pulling aggressively. This was a hard lesson for them, as in their culture they are used to rough handling and gentle touch does not really exist. As I explained to them how to do it, and that I like it better than being pulled on very hardly, they really understood and started helping each other out by reminding each other and demonstrating it on me. It was really sweet to see how one girl showed another one what a " gentle touch" was and how quickly she responded and started doing it that way. Overall my experience at the orphanage was truly wonderful, and I would not trade it for anything, despite its challenges and obstacles. It was an experience I put myself into and I think it has made me a stronger, more adaptable person because of it. I am glad to have been able to share something with the children and hope that the time I spent with them will leave some kind of impression or memory in there minds to carry with them for the rest of there lives. Ghana is an amazing country, rich with culture, flavor and excitement. There was never a dull moment in Ghana and my time here has enriched my life in a very positive way.

As soon as I arrived, I was greeted with the love and warmth of Jack and his relatives. On most evenings, myself, Alex, & Sarah would eat a whole variety of delicacies with all of Jack's, Aunts, Uncles and cousins at his Grandfather's house. This house is no ordinary house!!! With over 3 generations dining on one floor, from baby Sanchai to Grandfather Boontrong, this house is full of laughter, love and great food of course!! Staying here changed my whole perspective on travelling. Most people who travel to Thailand overlook the Isaan region, for it's lack of tourist sites. But for myself, it is the true face of Thailand. Whilst slowly devouring my favourite Cappaccino Ice Cream at the riverside Milk Cafe, I remember the scores of children playing fun and games in the late afternoon sun, monks in their rich orange robes gathering in the temple courtyard, and locals finishing their daily duties, getting ready for the most important meal of the day. I spent most of my afternoons by that riverside cafe, watching the world go by, enjoying an occasional conversation with a curious Thai, while the crimson sun set descended beautifully over the peaceful town and the winding river. By day, I was an assistant teacher at the local secondary school. Here, I would help Ajan (Teacher) Phusita in class, in a number of ways such as pronunucation, grammar and spelling. Again my role went beyond that, as gradually I realised that all of the above were secondary. The students wanted to know more about myself and the culture that I represented. Furthermore, many seemed to be very interested on my thoughts of Thai culture. Hence, teaching in Phonphisai enabled the opportunity for myself as a teacher, and the students, to teach English through the means of sharing both cultures. The phrase 'time of your life' is used too easily in this day in age. I do believe that my stay with Jack, and his family in Phonphisai, was the best time of my life. I discovered so much about the world and myself. Yet, there seems tobe something in my heart which urges me to return there one day in the future to rediscover the adventurous Joe, and to rekindle the friendships which I forged. The true Thailand awaits to those who are adventurous enough to seek it.

Let me start by saying that up to this day, my trip to Costa Rica with uVolunteer has been my BEST trip. Lost among the Ticos who awaited for friends, family and clients at the airport. When we arrived at the dorm with two other volunteers (who are now family to me), it didn't take long at all to already feel at home. The orientation the next morning around San Ramon was a great way to see what San Ramon is really like and definitely helped me to get around later by myself. This 12-block city is extremely friendly and contains everything that you could ever need. After bungee jumping and doing white water rafting during my first weekend, I was definitely set to start working on Monday ;) My project was located at the community center in San Ramon, a community where poverty overtakes most people's life. On our first day, we went around the houses of Bajo to see what people lived in, which were definitely very small houses that could barely fit an entire family. However, this tour was very helpful in understanding the daily lives of the kids we would be working with in the community center. Lastly, the option of teaching classes of different levels to adults at the university was another wonderful experience. Although it made our days a bit longer, seeing all the students motivated to learn each night made it all worthwhile. Teaching English to young adults and older ones definitely opens many doors for them in their lives and careers. Therefore it was my biggest pleasure to share my knowledge of English with them. I can't describe enough how wonderful this experience has been and how much I'm grateful for it. I have now made many wonderful relationships with the people of uVolunteer and many other volunteers, which I will be sure to maintain forever. I know that we will all for sure meet again. But for now, I'm not sad because it ended. I'm more than grateful that it happened

The little expectations I did have were definitely exceeded when I arrived and met the staff and settled in. Everyone was extremely warm and friendly from the moment I was picked up at the airport. The weekend was busy exploring Koforidua and getting familiar with the Ghanaian food and culture .After seeing how people lived in the town I was relieved to find our dorms very comfortable and clean. Before we began camp at the Orphanage, we were brought to the orphanage to meet the staff and children. Sunday night we spent planning how we would execute the English and Sports camp for the next two weeks. I was glad to find that Nat and the team had already done some basic lesson planning for the week so I felt prepared. Mon-Thurs we worked from about 9am-3pm at the orphanage. The days were well organized and it was comforting to have local staff and teachers there to help us as well. I was pleased that there were other volunteers with me during the program so I could not only make new friends but also have co-teachers to plan with. Even though I am a teacher, the work was challenging but extremely fun. Coming from teaching in West Philadelphia, I was blown away by how well behaved, well-mannered and respectful the children were. They were eager to learn and try new things and their excitement for us being there was incredibly rewarding. On the weekend, Nat accompanied our group on a trip to the Cape Coast and was an excellent tour guide. At the end of the two weeks, I could have never imagined how upset I would be to leave the children. The children are amazing and really make everything about working at the camp completely worthwhile, in just two weeks I felt a developed a really strong bond with my entire group of kids. Overall, my experience is exactly what I was looking for in a volunteer program. I made sure to stay open-minded and patient the entire trip. At times, when I wanted to feel frustrated with some of the ways of the culture, I reminded myself that it was part of the whole learning experience. I would not have done anything differently and I am completely satisfied with the program. I felt by having the opportunity to immerse myself in the culture I was able to come away with a life changing experience that I will surely never forget.

The little expectations I did have were definitely exceeded when I arrived and met the staff and settled in. Everyone was extremely warm and friendly from the moment I was picked up at the airport. The weekend was busy exploring Koforidua and getting familiar with the Ghanaian food and culture .After seeing how people lived in the town I was relieved to find our dorms very comfortable and clean. Before we began camp at the Orphanage, we were brought to the orphanage to meet the staff and children. Sunday night we spent planning how we would execute the English and Sports camp for the next two weeks. I was glad to find that Nat and the team had already done some basic lesson planning for the week so I felt prepared. Mon-Thurs we worked from about 9am-3pm at the orphanage. The days were well organized and it was comforting to have local staff and teachers there to help us as well. I was pleased that there were other volunteers with me during the program so I could not only make new friends but also have co-teachers to plan with. Even though I am a teacher, the work was challenging but extremely fun. Coming from teaching in West Philadelphia, I was blown away by how well behaved, well-mannered and respectful the children were. They were eager to learn and try new things and their excitement for us being there was incredibly rewarding. On the weekend, Nat accompanied our group on a trip to the Cape Coast and was an excellent tour guide. At the end of the two weeks, I could have never imagined how upset I would be to leave the children. The children are amazing and really make everything about working at the camp completely worthwhile, in just two weeks I felt a developed a really strong bond with my entire group of kids. Overall, my experience is exactly what I was looking for in a volunteer program. I made sure to stay open-minded and patient the entire trip. At times, when I wanted to feel frustrated with some of the ways of the culture, I reminded myself that it was part of the whole learning experience. I would not have done anything differently and I am completely satisfied with the program. I felt by having the opportunity to immerse myself in the culture I was able to come away with a life changing experience that I will surely never forget.

The arrival here was better than I could have hoped for. The flight was easy and I didn't have any trouble even though it was my first time flying alone. The dorm was fantastic. It was very clean and comfortable and it has been really nice to have wifi to stay connected to home. The hammocks outside provided hours of entertainment after a long day and the beds are really comfortable. Unfortunately while I was here there weren't many other volunteers (2 others for one week and one other for another week) but we managed to have fun despite the lack of excitement in the dorm. Some of my best memories here have been on my weekend trips. My first weekend we went on a day trip to Volcano Arenal and Baldi Hot Springs. If you are short on time, I would recommend skipping Arenal. It was cool but there were definitely more exciting things I would have rather done. But whatever I did, the bus rides to the destinations have been some of my favorite times. The next weekend I went alone to Monteverde. I highly recommend this if you are traveling alone, as it felt very safe and I met many other travelers from all over the world. I went ziplining, to a butterfly garden, and on a night hike, which were all fantastic. And the orphanage, the main reason I came! I have to say it was probably one of the most difficult things I've done. I was at a new orphanage that doesn't really have enough caretakers (called Tias) for all of the kids, and it showed. Every day was exhausting as I entertained at least 8 kids at a time for hours or helped the Tias clean and cook. My Spanish has improved tremendously just speaking with the older kids and with the Tias and I feel like I have made at least a small difference in their lives. While some moments were hard, the way they would run up to me to greet me at the beginning of the day and the way they would laugh when I played ball with them totally made up for the other times.

I arrived at San Jose airport after 26 hours f flights from Australia! We dumped our bags and immediately fell asleep! I woke the next day to the smell of a traditional Costa Rican breakfast of Pinto, eggs and bread. Delicious! Afterwards, we took a tour around San Ramon with our lovely coordinators I learned a lot about the culture in these first few days and started to get an idea of how my stay in Costa Rica would be! The next day, I was put on a bus with instructions to change to another bus, then another! This was very daunting as I spoke very little Spanish! Nevertheless, I arrived safely that afternoon at my destination- La Marina Wildlife Rescue Centre. I had a quick look around, then was taken to my host family where I could finally unpack my bags and settle in! Shortly after my arrival, I was introduced I Victoria, an Austrian volunteer and my new housemate! Victoria and I became very good friends over the two weeks that we stayed together. Our work at the zoo consisted of preparing food, and feeding the animals in the morning, then cleaning enclosures and paths in the afternoon. It was very tiring work, but also very enjoyable! I met so many new and interesting people! (and animals). The towns, jungles and beaches on the coast are all so beautiful and diverse! Everything I saw looked like it could be on a postcard! But be careful not to drink the water! One of the more interesting experiences I had here was working at the zoo, chopping bananas when a big earthquake hit! Bananas went flying, all the animals fell over and went crazy, trees fell down! Two weeks of crazy adventures later, I'm sitting at the San Ramon dorms again, wishing I could have stayed longer! But I will never forget the experiences I had here, either alone or shared with the friends I met along the way. I am so grateful to uVolunteer for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, and I'll be sure to come back and do it all again!

From the time I arrived in Udon Thani and was met by Jack and some of the other volunteers, I knew it was going to be a great experience. After arriving at the house, I was quickly shown the way around, introduced to Jack's lovely parents, shown my room, the Thai shower, not to mention the garden and the 'infamous' plumjack tree, followed by the first big meal prepared later that night. That meal was shared with several members of Jack's family, the Professor and his wife, music, song, and everyone gathered on the thatch mat for a full evening of revelry. My primary reason for going to volunteer was to teach English and push myself to do something I had never tried before, but living with Jack and his family offered a chance to get to know the real Thailand as well. We lived in the village of Ban Thin Dung with only a few hundred inhabitants and several kilometers from the nearest town of Phon Phisai, population less than 9,000 inhabitants. The children would start the morning with a call of 'Hello Teacher'. "Hello Students, How are you"."Fine Thank You and How are you". The students had learned some prior English by reading and writing but often didn't know what all of it meant or were often embarrassed to practice in front of the 'farange' or foreigner. I was able to assist the farmers in harvesting the rice while being rewarded with a welcome into their homes for dinner or joining for the 'rat hunt and barbecue'. For the nights where we were looking for something a bit quieter, a sunset cocktail on the banks of the Mekong would set the night up perfectly before the occasional karaoke to finish off the night. The whole experience is something I won't soon forget. Almost everyone made an impression on me and the hospitality shown by Jack and his family was beyond expectations, not to mention the wonderful Thanksgiving meal prepared as well. I only wish that I had more time devoted to do more, but I will look forward to my return as soon as I am able.

It all started with a class. I took AP Human Geography as a junior in High School and what I learned about the world totally transfixed me. I was eager to go out and experience it and live everything that we always pondered in class. I stumbled across Uvolunteer, read the program, and was immediately interested in what they had to offer. I researched it a little bit more and emailed the coordinator to receive more information about this awesome program. Everyone I worked with was kind, friendly, and willing to deal with me and my busy schedule. In Costa Rica I was met by a Uvolunteer coordinator right at the airport. I never had to wait for any inconvenience at all. What I really love about the Uvolunteer program is that is gives volunteers to network with people from around the world, build friendships and bonds, and volunteer at the same time. I was fortunate to meet people from England, Massachusetts, Texas, California, and Costa Rica. All the people are great and we still keep in touch all the time through email and Facebook. They are life-long friendships. I, specifically, had the opportunity to enjoy diversity in my volunteer experience here in Costa Rica which I was so grateful for because it allowed me an advantage to work with more volunteers and more people within the community on various projects. I volunteered at the Community, teaching English, writing, and reading, playing organized games of soccer, basketball and baseball, and working with kids of all ages. The children are so great, despite their living environments at home, they were tolerable toward the volunteers and they were polite and appreciative to all of the volunteers as well. I was also given the opportunity to work in construction and aided in the development of a house for a woman and her daughter, mixing, pouring, and leveling cement and working with the local constructors was amazing. Lastly, I was given the opportunity at night to teach English at the University, which was an immense pleasure because the people and the environment are so great and they are there and willing to learn every lesson that is shared with them. I enjoyed my experience overall with Uvolunteer and I am already making plans to schedule another trip through them in another part of the world. I am grateful that I had all the opportunity that I did have and I look forward to coming back. Thanks Uvolunteer, for all the amenities, the love, the patience, and the hospitality; you made it a pleasure and I am forever grateful.

This experience has been so amazing it is hard to put into words. Coming here I expected to have a good experience but I never expected to learn and grow so much as a person. Out of all of the volunteer companies I looked at I am so glad Uvolunteer was my choice. On the weekends I have traveled to some amazing places with full planning support from the coordinators. They help you figure out where to go, how to get there, and even once you reach your destination they are so willing to help you smooth over any bumps. I have very little Spanish and have had no problems the month that I have been here. This experience has been so amazing it is hard to put into words. Coming here I expected to have a good experience but I never expected to learn and grow so much as a person. Out of all of the volunteer companies I looked at I am so glad Uvolunteer was my choice. From the beginning the staff were beyond helpful in my application process and questions. Upon reaching the country they were all so welcoming and determined to make me feel at home. On Monday Ligia accompanied me to my project site at Madre Verde Reserve in Palmares. To get to the project there was a short and inexpensive bus ride. The station is a ten minute walk from the dorm and they the locals teaches you all of the ins and outs. Upon arrival I met the project director who was so welcoming and nice. For the last three weeks I have been working at the reserve taking care of the butterfly garden. Being at Madre Verde it is so peaceful and calming. It is a perfect place to spend the last month of my summer. Every breakfast and dinner is served from the kitchen of Dona Isabel. She is the sweetest woman and an amazing cook! I couldn't have asked for better authentic Costa Rican food. I have fallen in love with this country and I am so sad the experience has come to an end. I wish I could stay here so much longer. I have met lifetime friends and had a truly amazing experience. If you are reading this to decide wither to choose Uvolunteer I urge you to book your project with them! I don't think I could have found better people, a better project, or a better experience. Pura Vida!

The streets where overflowing with people, music and dancing. Before long I was dancing with newly made acquaintances that were actually impressed by this French Canadian girl dance moves and rhythm and was extended the compliment of "you truly dance like a Ghanaian woman". I truly loved and enjoyed my first day here and if this was a sign of things to come I knew I would love it here. Seeing it was the Christmas holidays I didn't get the opportunity to meet the children at the orphanage until Tuesday, and that is when I fell in love. I realize that this sounds very clich� but these children have thought me several valuable life lessons during the past month. The importance of faith, love, not to take anything for granted and the value of a smile are just a few lessons that I have learned this past month. Fred introduced me the Queen mother and her family and during my stay I have become a member of their family and their love, kindness and generosity will never be forgotten. I attended the wedding of her son and mourned a loss with them, ate fufu (of which is my understanding am the present record holder, 3 fufu meals), celebrated and danced with them. Their door was always open to me and their spirit of kindness and hospitality will always be treasured. They are my family now. My passion for photography was more than fulfilled and I was able to extend my interest of photography with the older children at the orphanage. My young friend Bryce certainly took a liking to my cameras and I happily gave a few pointers to this young man's new found interest. Market days were certainly a favorite day of mine as there were many interesting subjects to be found and photograph. My introduction to the Chief of Adweso and his family has allowed me to have some insight in the everyday activities of a Ghanaian family. My friendship with Chief Nana has given me the opportunity to meet some very interesting people and to witness the responsibilities that come with this position. I also had the opportunity to befriend a man whose life purpose is to eradicate some of the customs of the Trokosi Tribe. Stephen Awudi Gadri is the founder of Trokosi Abolition Fellowship International and author of the book: The Revealed Myths about Trokosi Slavery: Human Rights Violation. This kind and gentle man has helped save and free over 3800 girls and women from a life of slavery within the Trokosi community. I consider myself truly honored to have met this man. Last but not least my new found friends, Annette my compass, Fred my dance partner and Naomi my care taker. There are not enough words to describe how you have made this opportunity one of my life's most amazing experiences and journeys. Your friendship, insight and guidance have been more than helpful and you have helped me deal with some of the difficulties and comprehending some of the challenges of being immersed in a new culture. Believe me that at the end of each and every day as I washed my feet of the Ghanaian dust I counted my blessings and even though I washed away the dust I will never wash away the lessons of my 28 days here. Again I am truly blessed to have met such wonderful people and I am definitely planning on coming back to Ghana as now I have family.

I arrived in Accra and the volunteer coordinators were waiting for me at the airport; they have been helpful and kind since then. My experience was wonderful because of their guidance and support. Saturday's orientation provided useful cultural information and helped me to navigate through the busy town of Koforidua. Every sight and smell was a new experience for me; the community was welcoming and made me feel right at home. On Monday I met the amazing children of the Orphanage. Their smiles and kindness exceeded my expectations. One of the volunteers, introduced me to the volunteer room filled with medical supplies. I quickly learned to nurse a wound and care for the children. The rest of the week went by quickly; I kept busy teaching the third grade class lessons. Each day we reviewed math, English, and science. Teaching this class has been the most rewarding experience. My students greeted me each morning without a complaint, eager to learn. I spent the following weekend in Accra. My roommate Katie and I took a tro-tro ride into the capital on Friday. We dined at a beautiful outdoor restaurant and toured the city. We had a chance to see the Nyame Memorial, Independence Square, and the local beaches. On Saturday we walked through the Art Center and local markets. My African mask will be proudly hung on my wall when I get back to the United States. The fun continued on Sunday. Fred, Annette, Katie, and I hiked to Akaa falls and had lunch on top of Umbrella Rock. The scenery was breath taking. It was great to get away from town and experience the outdoors. My final week at the orphanage was better than the first. I formed close bonds with the children and took in each moment with them. I was the assigned teacher, but I found that my students taught me just as much each day. I purchased a pencil and sharpener for each of my students because I noticed their lack of supplies. This small gift made their day and mine. Also, we ventured to Shia Hills Resource Reserve. Our tour guide had a gift. After meeting the ostriches, we went deeper into the reserve in hopes of seeing the baboons. Within a few minutes several baboons emerged from the forest. We feed them bread and learned interested facts about the group dynamic. The lands of the reserve are beautiful; I highly recommend taking this trip.

Some of the kids had never seen a farang before, so the sight of 3 tall farang (of which two blond-haired girls) scared many away. After a while, they got used to the appearance and tried to communicate with us a little. Teaching there wasn't always easy, especially in the lower classes, because their English is mainly limited, but They are really eager to learn everything you tell them, so if you prepare some good lessons, you can really expand their vocabulary and understanding by a thousand per cent. After school, he took us to see many things: We went to see the sunset on the Mekong in the boat of a fisherman, we saw an Isan pottery maker (and they let us make one ourselves, no great success!), we saw the market of Lao coming over the river to sell their goods at the side of the Mekong, we went to a village celebration (one of the funniest things I've ever done!) , he took us to his master, a monk in the mountains of Loei, for two days... and many many more things. If you want to really get to know Isan and its people, Isan is the best place to stay! After two weeks, the two Dutch girls continued their journey through Thailand and I remained in his house 'alone'. I was afraid that it would be not as much fun as it was with them, but that turned out to be not true at all! Isan is just never boring. Two weeks later again, I stopped teaching at Dungkhampee school and went to Chumphol Phonphisai, the highschool of Phon Phisai. That was really one of the best things that ever happened to me! I've had so much fun with the teacher (Ajahn Yu) and especially with the students (many of them were my age). Thanks to Chumphol, I let many tears when it was time to leave Phonphisai. Thanks to Chumphol, I've got many friends in Thailand. Leaving Phonphisai was really hard for me, having to leave him and his lovely family behind, leaving Chumphol and my friends behind, it made me realize I was actually leaving home. Jeroen

I feel I have really had the chance to experience what it is like to live in this part of the world and I am profoundly changed by that experience. Saying goodbye to the children was devastating. Most of them did not understand that I was not coming back, which was hard. It was the few who did understand that hurt the most. I have gotten to know many of them very well and leaving their beautiful smiles made my heart heavy. I wish the best for them. I hope I will get to see some of them again someday, and the reality that I won't saddens me. But I know I have made a lasting impact on their lives, even if it is a minor one. I only hope they remember something of me or that I have taught them. Saying goodbye to my friends here is also hard.They have become good friends of mine, and I am certain we will see each other again someday, but it is sad to know that things won't ever be as they are now. We have each helped form a little piece of our life history together and that is a bond I will treasure. We have explored so much of Ghana together, and shared a lot of stories. I am so glad to have met them and I cannot wait to see them again. Overall my trip has been a wonderful one. I feel fulfilled and happy. I thought my coming here would satiate my thirst for travel for a while, but instead it has only created a yearning to see and do more. I love knowing there is an entire world out there to explore and so many people to meet. I will definitely use uvolunteer in the future if a trip such as this one is possible for me. I love what they stand for and their emphasis on making such a trip affordable. Now, if you don't mind, I am off to finish packing to go home, see my fiance, my puppy, and to start dreaming of my next volunteer abroad adventure. Christine