What is it really like?
“Well, here I am - - almost the middle of our adventure. Looking back to 6 weeks ago, I am aware of how much I have changed.
I can recall sitting on my squeaky bunk bed during the first two weeks of orientation, tears running down my face, because I thought I made the biggest mistake of my life. This was leaving everything I called home, and venturing off into an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar faces, for what seemed like a never-ending three and a half months.
But now, those 12 unfamiliar faces have become the faces of my 12 new traveling companions, who I have come to know and love.
The places we go are new, almost weekly, but traveling alongside this group makes all the challenges we face seem like a piece of cake. I have seen how we can make it through anything. We have all shown how quickly and well we can adapt to new, and sometimes unexpected, situations.
I came on this trip with ideas of what I thought it would be like. I didn’t know how much this program would exceed my expectations, and I am pleasantly surprised daily by our new adventures and how we all conquer obstacles with ease and smiles on our dirty and sun-burned faces.
Now that I have put all of my worries and fears aside, all I can do now is enjoy the ride. I look forward to all the things to come and all the knowledge I will gain from the 12 wonderful women with whom I am traveling.”
-Courtney, Washington, junior