Laura Spiker, Volunteer in Tanzania

Laura Spiker, 21 years old, Volunteer in Tanzania

Describe your volunteer work experience.

I worked around the orphanage and helped in the construction of the high school. I also taught English for a couple weeks and did HIV testing.

What did you enjoy most about your Quest experience?

 Being completely involved in the culture and gaining a new view about life and how it's lived in other parts of the globe.

What was most challenging about your Quest experience?

Becoming a complete and obvious minority.

It was definitely difficult to get used to when it's something that people around you don't experience very often, but once I was used to it I was fine.

Tell us how you feel overall about your experience.

My entire experience in Tanzania was amazing. It's difficult to find words to express the love I feel for the culture and people there. It's so wonderful to have the opportunity to volunteer on a different continent.

Living a completely different life for 12 weeks really makes you appreciate all the great freedoms and comforts here in America. I'm so thankful that I took the time out of my life to travel and experience another culture and I can't wait to return to Tanzania, as well as many other countries.