This time last year, I was beginning to revise for what would later come to be known as the worst six weeks of my life: A-level exam season. Now, I’m beginning to write a post about the past three months I spent volunteering in Guatemala – safe to say, I have had a slight life glow-up! Thinking about the three months spent in Guatemala with Gotoco will always come with a deep sense of gratitude and nostalgia. I’m not entirely sure how to sum it up, but here I am, giving it a go. Let’s see – I made amazing friends, learned a new language, learned how to start living more mindfully and in tune with nature, connected with locals, and was able to see some of the most beautiful views ever, pretty much every day. In Guatemala, every day was an adventure. We worked on farms, stayed at a permaculture center, and took lessons at a Spanish school – frankly, if you had told me last year that now I would be able to say I’ve worked on a farm in the highlands of Guatemala, I may have chuckled. ¡Pero es verdad! I left for Guatemala on my own, having no idea who the people I was going to spend the next three months of my life with would be, but the universe most definitely delivered in terms of people, including the most wonderful host family with whom I stayed, along with two other participants, for six weeks. I think this was honestly such a wonderful first-time abroad experience for me – I knew I had people looking out for me, so I felt safe, while also having some days off to explore and be more independent. I can safely say that the experience has given me the confidence to know that I can travel and do things that may have scared me in the past. One last thing is that I always had the idea that when I went traveling, I would go “solo.” I think this experience has taught me how special it is to share meaningful experiences with others. So, also something to think about. The moral of the story is that if you think you might enjoy the program, you probably will, and you’ve also got nothing to lose! So why not? ¡Adiós!