Laura Burja, Volunteer in Costa Rica

Laura Burja, 24 years old, Costa Rica in 2011

What did you enjoy most about your Quest experience?

I really enjoyed experiencing the culture of Costa Rica, and having the challenge of working with the children in the orphanage. I also really enjoyed communicating with and getting to know my host family, as well as seeing the beautiful sights in Costa Rica.

What was most challenging about your Quest experience?

Working in the orphanage was a challenge. It required a lot of initiative, and also there were a lot of children who had difficult behaviors, so it really required patience and persistence.

Describe your volunteer work experience.

I worked in an orphanage in Cartago, Costa Rica. It was an orphanage with about 30 children, ranging in ages from 1 years old to teenagers. I would often take kids to and from school, take kids to the park, and help out with laundry around the house. I also played and supervised kids around the house. There were often not set tasks or activities to be done, so it required volunteers to take initiative and help out wherever they could.

Please provide a testimonial of your experience with as much detail as possible.

My Costa Rica Quest was a great experience that I will never forget. It was great to live with a host family, participate in volunteer work, practice my Spanish language skills, and experience the everyday culture of Costa Rica. It was both challenging and rewarding, and overall a very good experience that has made me really appreciate what I have.