Hi everyone! It is a little bittersweet writing this post knowing that the in-country portion of this experience has already come to an end, but I am so grateful for everything that came with it. This trip challenged me and gave me experiences and connections that I will carry with me for a long time.
Our trip definitely did not start the way we expected. We were originally supposed to travel from the 7th to the 14th, but after multiple delays due to thunderstorms, our flight ended up being canceled with no available reschedule until the 9th. This left us stuck in Houston, Texas, with not much to do. At the time, it felt frustrating and exhausting, especially not knowing when we would actually make it to Trinidad. However, what seemed like a terrible situation turned into one of the most meaningful bonding experiences for our group. We sat on the airport floor in a circle playing games, asking each other questions, and getting to know one another while everything around us felt chaotic. I remember writing in my journal that I didn’t care what happened as long as we were all safe, and I truly meant that. Looking back, this experience taught me that even in difficult or unexpected situations, there is still room for connection, patience, and positivity. It also showed me how quickly a group of individuals can come together when faced with uncertainty.
Once we finally arrived in Trinidad, everything finally felt worth it. We landed late at night, and Denise from All People Be Happy had pizza waiting for us, which was such a small but thoughtful gesture after a long few days of travel. She even offered to do our laundry overnight for those of us who had not had access to clean clothes in days. That level of kindness immediately made me feel welcomed and taken care of. It set the tone for the rest of the trip and showed me how meaningful small acts of generosity can be. That first night, I did yoga outside under the stars using a blanket Denise gave me, and I felt such a strong sense of peace and gratitude in that moment. After such a stressful start to the trip, it felt like everything had finally fallen into place.
One of the most memorable experiences from the trip was going out to Matura Beach at night to look for leatherback sea turtles. We went out for two nights, from around 8pm to 2am. Even though we did not see any turtles, it was still one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. We used red lights to avoid disturbing the environment, and the stars were absolutely beautiful. The conversations flowed so naturally, and time seemed to pass so quickly. We also spent time talking with the Nature Seekers staff, learning about their lives, their work, and their perspectives. Their dedication to conservation, especially working long nights for months at a time, was incredibly inspiring. This experience taught me that there are so many different ways to live, and there is no single “right” way. It really opened my mind to different lifestyles and values while also showing me how much we can connect despite those differences.
We also visited places like Paramin, the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, and the Mermaid Pool, which all highlighted the importance of ecotourism. These experiences showed me how environmental conservation and community development can go hand in hand. Organizations like Nature Seekers create job opportunities for local residents while also protecting the environment, which is especially important in smaller or rural communities where opportunities may be limited. Seeing this in person made the concept of sustainability feel much more real and tangible. It helped me understand that ecotourism is not just about attracting visitors, but about creating a system that benefits both the environment and the people who live there long-term.
Going into this experience, I was unsure what to expect in terms of how we would be received by the local community. While I did not expect anything negative, I also did not fully know what that dynamic would look like. However, my expectations were exceeded in the best way possible. Everyone we encountered was incredibly kind, welcoming, and open. I truly felt accepted the entire time I was there. It was refreshing to experience a culture where people openly greet each other and take the time to connect, even in small interactions. One small challenge that came up was the language barrier. Even though everyone spoke English, there were moments where the accents made it a bit difficult to understand each other. We worked through it by slowing down our conversations, listening more carefully, and being patient. Over time, it became easier, and it actually made me more intentional in how I communicated. It reminded me that communication is not just about speaking, but about truly listening and making an effort to understand others.
One of the class readings that felt especially relevant to my experience was “Points of Discomfort: Reflections on Power and Partnerships in International Service-Learning.” This reading discusses how service-learning experiences can sometimes create power imbalances or unintentionally position communities as “needy,” even when that is not the intention. It also highlights how students may enter these experiences thinking they are there to “help,” without fully understanding the complexities of the community they are engaging with. Reflecting on my own experience, I can see how important it is to be aware of these dynamics. Our role was not to fix problems or assume what the community needed, but rather to listen, learn, and collaborate in a respectful way. The reading also talks about “points of discomfort,” which are moments that challenge your assumptions or make you question your role. While my experience did not include any extreme discomfort, there were moments that made me reflect more deeply on my position as a visitor and learner. This reading reinforced the importance of approaching these experiences with humility, openness, and a willingness to critically reflect, rather than simply focusing on what we think we are contributing.
Overall, this trip reassured my love for traveling and building connections with people from different backgrounds. It also made me reflect on the importance of community and how meaningful it is to feel connected to the people around you. The sense of community that I experienced in Trinidad is something that I hope to build in my own life moving forward. One of my favorite moments from the entire trip was lying on the beach at 1am staring up at the stars and even seeing a few shooting stars, and in that moment, the future felt full of possibility.
