Insight Abroad - Voices

It was the best and most adventurous thing I have ever done! It was a first but definitely not the last time that I will travel with CCS. The people at the placement, with whom I worked, made the experience so memorable for me.

I was completely impressed by the staff and help during my CCS trip. I had never done anything like this and now I cannot wait to do it again! I believe that everyone should go out of their comfort zone, at least once, and take on a new place and a new culture. I will live forever with the satisfied feeling of knowing that I tried to make a difference while I was there.
Micaela Moderow, Brazil Volunteer

I never dreamt that one week would really allow me to focus in on my passion. The opportunity to witness the change in the students' development after merely 5 days is incredible. They did grow more aware of their surroundings, of different cultures, and of a world they really don't have a solid knowledge of. I feel that our presence opened their eyes up and made them aspire to want to work even harder to become successful and to change their status.
Zeina Saab, Costa Rica Volunteer

My experience was phenomenal; truly, there are no words that give justice to what I had experienced and how it all changed me!

I am sincerely grateful for having had the incredible opportunity to participate in the service projects. I had always wanted to become involved in service on another level, and working through CCS opened the doorway for me.
Amanda Derr, Peru Volunteer
Wilkes University - Alt. spring break

To show their gratitude, the homeless shelter staff invited us to a church service where they recognized our work and therefore encouraged others in the community to go out and do service as well. A TV news station happened to be at the service for Holy Week, heard about us and the shelter and our Good Friday breakfast, and asked to come to it. They ended up doing a piece on us and we were on the news. I am thrilled that we helped the shelter get so much exposure within the community, which hopefully made a lasting impression on their ability to help others.
Chapin Cole, Brazil Volunteer
UCSD - Alt. spring break

This was definitely a life-changing, eye-opening experience.
Andey Akard, Peru Volunteer

[My overall experience] was fantastic! It was a great mix of activities. I loved my free time and perspectives programming. It was a great balance. I got to see so many different perspectives of the culture.
Jennifer Repede, Brazil Volunteer
College of Charleston, SC - Alt. Break

I would rate my overall experience as outstanding in all respects. The one week Insight program is very well balanced between the work placement, cultural experiences, sightseeing and free time. On arrival, everything was very well organized and prepared, including the orientation packet outlining the week’s activities. Very little was left to doubt prior to departure or during the program. With no exception, the in-country staff was above expectations in terms of professionalism and English/Spanish communications (particularly Jose and Irving). The “Home-Base” facility was more than adequate, very clean, well located, etc. --- in short better than anticipated. And the food---there are not enough adjectives to describe how good the food was and the great job done by the cooks.
Stanley Brown, Costa Rica Volunteer

I wanted to fit as much of an experience as possible into one week, and Cross-Cultural Solutions definitely came through for me. It felt like a month's worth of activities packed into one week that passed by in what seemed like hours. It was phenomenal. Also, CCS puts volunteers right into the culture of the country - with the locals, working side-by-side with the people. I was a volunteer, not a tourist.
Samantha Yanco, Brazil Volunteer

The best thing I have ever done in my life!
Joann Hayslip, Peru Volunteer

This was definitely an 'Insight' program. I feel it provided me with very important, even essential points about Costa Rican culture and some of the pride, struggles, history, world views, and flavor of the community in and around Cartago. This experience opened the door, opened my mind to the importance of volunteering--both for all my friends around the world as well as for myself.
Marci Gurton, Costa Rica Volunteer

My overall experience was unbelievable ... I can't even explain it to my friends and family when they ask me about it, because it is hard to explain what I had experienced and all the emotions that went along with it. The people I met and things I had the chance to see and do were simply unreal. Working one on one with kids my own age and younger, teaching English, playing games, etc. was such a life changing experience. I have never felt so appreciated and welcomed into a community before. Seeing the children's faces light up when we would walk in everyday to our volunteer placement was priceless ... it was really tough leaving both the daycare and the AIDS hospital/clinic at which we worked.

Traveling with CCS has and will probably outweigh any vacation I will go on in regards to spending time lounging around on some exotic island, like the majority of my friends did. All I can say is that this trip has already had an impact on my daily life, and who knows what kinds of impact it will have on my future. I will take this experience, and the friendships and memories of this trip with me forever; not many people have the ability to say that.
Megan Sheridan, Brazil Volunteer

I had a fantastic week that far exceeded my expectations. It was interesting, fun, and very rewarding.
Heather Lang, Costa Rica Volunteer

I expect that what I have learned about myself and about others will influence practically every part of my life from here forward.
Dana Zlotucha, Peru Volunteer
Wilkes University - Alt. spring break