Working in Puerto Rico was one of the best experiences of my life. Not only was it my first time out of the “continental” United States, but it was my first time entering a place where English is not always everyone’s first language. Between living in a light house on a nature reserve, exploring a rain forest, dodging iguanas and boa constrictors, getting eaten by bugs, sleeping on the triple bunk, visiting the waterfall, kayaking in the bioluminescent bay, riding the catamaran, snorkeling, visiting Old San Juan, eating authentic Puerto Rican cuisine, and playing with children at Hospital del Nino with twelve other girls that I’ve grown to love, you’d think that this experience was more vacation than volunteer work! Even our work was a fun experience! We cleared out “Lengua de Baca” plants to make room at la Reservación Natural, built some plantation boxes, planted some trees, and gave Three Kings Day gifts to our friends at the hospital. Visiting Puerto Rico was an experience that taught me about different cultures, how to bridge the language gap, humility, how to properly hammer a nail, and how to swing a pickaxe properly without hitting your knee (whoops!). Overall, I would have loved to stay in Puerto Rico forever. The beautiful views, great company, and delicious food made all of the hard work that we did MORE than worth it. I’m thankful for Serve Beyond Cincinnati for giving me yet another unforgettable traveling experience.