After a few days in Trinidad and Tobago, it is time to reflect on the experience I had during my time there. I was very excited to be there; it was my second time out of the country and my first time in the Caribbean. There was also a sense of ease leading up to the trip, even after our original flight to Port of Spain was canceled due to bad weather in Houston. I was given the option to either work on the Bolivia or Trinidad groups, but I ultimately chose Trinidad because the project aligned with skills I wanted to build for my future career. Delivering project management and grant writing modules is such a unique, hands-on experience, and I am glad I chose to take part in it. I don’t regret any decisions I’ve made in this course, as Trinidad was truly the highlight of my year. While much of the experience was new, there were also aspects that felt unexpectedly familiar to me.
Working with Nature Seekers was a wonderful experience. Trini’s are incredibly calm and welcoming people, and collaborating with them felt like working with the best coworkers possible. Our group delivered a project management fundamentals presentation, and it was well received. I was proud of how prepared we were and how confidently we presented our material. Beyond the presentation itself, engaging with the Nature Seekers staff throughout the trip was both insightful and inspiring. We had the opportunity to learn about their work in sea turtle conservation, as well as their broader impact on the local community. Receiving their feedback on our presentation was especially valuable because it helped us refine our final deliverables to better meet their needs. They also did an excellent job of introducing us to Trinidadian culture, which made the experience even more meaningful.
This experience was important because it allowed me to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting. It is one thing to learn about project management concepts in a lecture, but it is completely different to present those ideas to a community that will actually use them. I quickly realized that knowing information is not the same as teaching it effectively. The experience taught me the importance of engagement, balancing structured content with interaction and adapting to the audience in front of you. One of the most impactful parts of the trip was how our project evolved in real time. Initially, our work was supposed to focus heavily on grant writing and project management, but after engaging with Nature Seekers, it became clear that project management concepts would be more immediately useful to them. We also had to present way earlier than expected, right after our orientation with nature seekers. As a result, we quickly adjusted our presentation and shifted our focus to project management completely.
This shift was important because it ensured that our work was actually valuable to the organization. It also demonstrated the importance of being responsive to client needs, something that is essential in consulting and professional environments. Through this experience, I learned that flexibility is critical in any project. No matter how much you prepare, real-world projects will never go exactly as planned. Communication gaps can also impact outcomes, as we initially did not fully understand the client’s priorities, or rather, they changed without our knowledge and that’s fine. Ultimately, this experience helped me develop a more consulting-oriented mindset. Instead of focusing on delivering what we planned, we focused on delivering what was needed.
I learned that effective work, especially in international settings, requires more than technical knowledge, it requires an understanding of people. The strong sense of community in Trinidad stood out to me, and it reinforced the importance of community-centered thinking when working on projects that impact real people. Before traveling to Trinidad, I expected the people to be friendly and welcoming, and I anticipated noticeable cultural differences. The warmth and kindness of the people stood out immediately, and there was a strong sense of community in every interaction. The team at Nature Seekers was passionate about their work, which made collaborating with them even more rewarding. However, some aspects of the experience were different than I expected. There was a clear preference for oral communication over rigid templates, and less emphasis on formal, structured presentations. Instead, the environment was more collaborative and conversational. This required us to adjust quickly, especially when it came to keeping our audience engaged.
Two major concepts from class that directly applied to this experience were partnership and communication. Partnership, as discussed in class, should not feel transactional. It is built on mutual benefit and respect. This was evident in our work with Nature Seekers. They’re not just a “client,” but an active partner in the process. Their feedback guided the direction of our project and helped us shape our final deliverable in a way that was truly useful to them. This experience reinforced the idea that meaningful work comes from collaboration, not just execution.
Communication was another key concept that played a significant role. Throughout the project, there were moments of misalignment, particularly regarding the shift in focus from grant writing and project management to just project management. This highlighted the importance of continuous communication and clarity. I learned that clear communication is just as important as technical skill in any project. Without it, even well-prepared work can go over the audiences head.
In addition to the professional aspects of the trip, interacting with the local community was a major part of the experience. Whether it was casual conversations in the capital or late night on the beach, observing the local slang and writing it down for future use, or simply experiencing daily life, I gained a deeper understanding of Trinidadian culture and learning about new cultures will always be heartwarming for me.
Despite being in a completely new country, there were many moments where Trinidad felt familiar to me. In some ways, it reminded me of Guinea. Port of Spain felt similar to Conakry, and Matura reminded me of Kankan, the village my parents grew up in. Even the Nature Seekers guest house reminded me of my grandmother’s house. This sense of familiarity was unexpected but comforting. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the connections within the African diaspora and how culture and environment can transcend geographic boundaries. At times, people even jokingly asked if I was sure I wasn’t Trini, which made the experience even more special.
On a personal level, this trip helped me grow in several ways. I became more confident in my ability to present and adapt in unfamiliar environments. I also gained a better understanding of what real-world work looks like; messy, dynamic, and constantly evolving. Most importantly, I improved my ability to adapt, listen, and collaborate. Impactful work is not about having the perfect plan, but about being able to adjust, engage with others, and work together toward a common goal. Trinidad was more than just a place I visited; it was an experience that challenged me, inspired me, and, in many ways, felt like home. Moving forward, I will carry these lessons with me as I continue to grow both personally and professionally.
