I experienced so many amazing things this August during my volunteer abroad program in Sri Lanka. It was such a wonderful way to end my summer! I can hardly believe I’m already home and preparing to start school and go back to my normal life.

But you take a part of everything with you. I know I have. Sri Lanka is now a part of me. Because of my time there, I will live more simply. I will find more joy. I will be more grateful. I will be more generous.

I became friends with people from The Netherlands, England, China, Scotland, France, Denmark and Germany while on the project. Not to mention all of the other wonderful people from around the world I crossed paths with along the way. I encountered so much kindness in Sri Lanka. A woman who didn’t speak any English fed me on the bus. The children in the village always came to greet me. No one had any bad intentions and they may have been some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met.

 

I was able to do so many different adventurous things with my time there like:

• Hiking the Knuckles Mountain Range
• Visiting three national parks
• Snorkeling
• Swimming in one of the widest rivers I have ever seen.

There are definitely some things I’ll never forget from this experience, like seeing ancient ruined city of Polonnaruwa in the pouring rain, staying in backpacker caves along the ocean, riding a nine and a half hour train through the breathtakingly foggy hill country, meeting a man from a village of one and celebrating my last night in the country atone of the largest Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka.

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who made this unforgettable experience possible for me, like the staff at Greenheart Travel and my family and friends who donated to my Go Fund Me account. I am lucky. Without you, this would not have been possible.

While volunteering at the elephant conservation project in Sri Lanka, I have learned so much about myself, Sri Lankan culture and the issues facing its diverse biodiversity. The staff at SLWCS has so much knowledge to share with you. You will walk out of this volunteer project knowing so much more than you would have ever thought you would. Not only do you learn about elephant issues, you also learn about birds and other small mammals along the way.

We all know about the many issues being faced by endangered species across the world, but it becomes so much more real when you see it first hand. The staff here have dedicated their work to the survival of these animals. You work with people who are constantly involved in making a difference.

First off, human elephant conflict is a very real issue in Sri Lanka. It’s detrimental to both species involved. Elephants eat farmers crops because of a decline in food while farmers shoot and often kill elephants in retaliation. The species don’t get along well, and elephants have become very fearful of humans, enough to sometimes kill them.

We spend the mornings looking through a lot of poop to see what elephants have been eating. Many have raided farmers crops, leaving behind watermelon seeds, eggplant seeds, and rice. There also is a serious trash dumping issue going on in Sri Lanka. A lot of trash is dumped in the jungle, and with elephants not having enough to eat, they eat the trash. One of the saddest parts is seeing that many are eating multiple plastic bags, cigarette butts, plastic straws and stones.

In the afternoon we watch for elephants from either the tree hut or the lake. The staff has taught me how to tell the age and sex of an elephant from hundreds of feet away as well as how to tell them apart from one another. Not having much of a science background, I have learned the value of research. You come as a volunteer to help them collect data. This data includes their eating habits, their migration patterns, and elephant identification.

Yes, in ways it feels like data collection is not enough. It sometimes feels like it’s not making enough of an impact. Even so, without the help from volunteers it would be very hard to gather as much data. Without the data, they would not be working towards solutions to the issues faced here. Everyone here is so grateful for your efforts to contribute. Everything, no matter how small, makes a difference.

 

Volunteering here in Sri Lanka has been so wonderful. Every experience can be different from the next. You will work with different volunteers from week to week and your weekend trips are open to anything you feel like doing. It’s a great mix between travel and volunteering. Everyone’s trip ends up being a bit different from one another, but I can guarantee you will find five fantastic things once you arrive here:

1. Total immersion into the local culture. The project is fairly isolated in a small rural village near Wasgamua National Park. It’s about a five and a half hour bus ride from Kandy and about forty five minutes from the nearest town, Hettipola. It may seem intimidating to be so far removed, but it’s honestly one of the best parts of this experience. You get to experience Sri Lanka in a way most visitors never do. By day, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the Knuckles Mountain range, throughout the day you’ll be greeted by children as you drive through the village, and by night you’ll have an unbelievable view of the stars

2. A field house that provides simple needs for living. There is intermittent electricity, open walls, cold showers and occasional wifi. It’s a great community style living situation that’s comfortable. Yes, it will be different than what you are used to, but it’s a great opportunity to simplify. There is a cook who prepares all of the meals in a traditional cuisine everyday (who just might listen to a request for one of your favorites). There are even two cats and a dog that come to visit quite regularly.

3. An amazing staff and volunteers. You really could not ask for better people to work with. They’re knowledgable, kind and have a great sense of humor. Since everyone stays at the field house together, you’ll form great relationships with everyone. Volunteers always spend week nights hanging out and you’ll probably end up going on some weekend adventures together too.

4. Surprisingly easy transportation. Traveling around Sri Lanka is really easy to maneuver although it can be somewhat time demanding. There are plenty of buses, trains (which are the best because of the beautiful views) and tuk tuks that will get you to your destination. Even if you don’t know exactly what you are doing locals are very helpful and will get you where you want to go. There are plenty of things to do and the transit is a great way to see local life.

5. Truly wild elephants. This means that some days you may see a large herd and some days you may not see any. They live freely throughout the island so we return to certain locations to observe them each day. Some may come a nice distance from the truck, but you won’t get too close to any of them. They are often afraid of humans in result of the human elephant conflict that is so strong here. Bring a pair of binoculars and enjoy being able to see these animals live freely.

I can hardly believe that I depart from Sri Lanka in only a few days. I don’t feel ready yet but I suppose all good things must come to an end.

Saturday I leave for a month to travel 25+ hours to the other side of the world to volunteer with elephants. I am super excited but also have no idea what to expect whatsoever. But that’s the best part, isn’t it?

People ask me why I am going on this trip. Why Sri Lanka? Why elephants? And I don’t really have a specific answer. I haven’t dreamed of Sri Lanka for years. I actually (embarrassingly so) wasn’t totally confident in where it was on a map until I interned at Greenheart Travel.

“It’s an island off of India? Woah! Who knew?”

And although I always have thought elephants were amazing creatures, they’ve never taken my number one rank as favorite animal (but they may be my favorite by the time I return).

What I can say is that I have dreamed of volunteering abroad.

For the past few years I have scoured the internet looking through programs all over the world doing all sorts of things. I have always been interested in animal programs because of my love and passion for them. So the more I researched, the more I looked into programs that made a difference among the other species we live with. There wasn’t any specific country or specific thing I wanted to do abroad. I just felt the need to go somewhere and make some kind of difference.

But when does the dream of volunteering abroad become a reality? When are you actually ready to go on that adventure? I’m not sure you ever actually are. I’m not sure you’re ever fully prepared for that type of unknown. And that’s why when I heard about the elephant conservation program, I knew it was time. The opportunity arose, and I had to go.

As a passionate traveler, I have many places I want to go, some maybe more than others, but I am open to everything. Sri Lanka, as I learned more about it, became more and more interesting to me. I love learning about religion and food and culture, all of which are abundant there. The idea of being on a program in nature appealed to me greatly as a person who loves the outdoors. And getting to learn first-hand about issues affecting elephants and to actively make a difference, well, there really wasn’t any persuading necessary.

So, I take it as it comes. And here I am, heading off to a place I could have never expected. I know I will look back on this moment of having no idea what lies ahead and be so happy I went.  Cheers to the journey.

The most valuable aspects of who I am today have come from my life changing experiences abroad. I have grown as a person and learned more from my trips than I have from anything else. I’ve realized a lot about myself, how to interact with others, and how to deal with situations. I’ve learned how to admire beauty, be spontaneous, and explore.

All of the things I learned abroad have translated directly into my daily life, making me more confident, friendly, and positive. I have come to understand that to have these kinds of life-changing experiences, you have to do some very simple things.

Here are my five pieces of advice to anyone going somewhere new.

Be Fearless

Sometimes this is the most difficult thing for new travelers. I was a little scared when I first went abroad too. I have come to realize, however, that fear holds you back. You can’t be afraid to do something you have never done before. If you are, you will have regrets.

Every moment is an opportunity, and if you’re too afraid to take it, you will miss it. A lot of moments only happen once, don’t miss your chance. Be open. Come out of your shell. Do things you never thought you could do.

Meet People

This will be the most life-changing part of your journey. Some of the most amazing memories I have from my trips are all of the different people I met along the way. You take a little piece of their personality with you everywhere. The more people you meet, the more you will grow.

You can’t be afraid to be open with someone. People love to talk, and each and every one of them will have something to share with you. Get to know them. Learn from them. Be friendly, share a smile with someone, say hello.

Find friendships, find new perspectives, and find kindness. You will come across people from all walks of life. They may not be like you, and that’s okay. There is a lot of value in experience and interaction.

Be Positive

Take everything as it comes, and roll with the punches. I’ve enjoyed my trips much more because I stay positive through tough moments. Not everything can be perfect, sometimes you’ll eat something really weird, sometimes you’ll meet rude people, sometimes you get lost.

Learn from everything you go through, and keep a good sense of humor. Don’t plan too much and don’t have any expectations. Just know that whatever happens will be great. Negativity never once helped a thing.

Do Things Alone

There is no better way to travel then to go at it solo. I went to Ireland by myself and it was the most freeing experience I have ever had. I realized a lot about who I was as an individual. It is one of the prime methods for self-discovery. You are open to completely different things, and you’ll find independence, a new sense of self-determination, and a friendship with yourself that you’ll never lose.

You must start by being your own best friend. Don’t be afraid to do things you want to do, even if it means going alone.

Embrace Change

Accept the fact that you’re going to be different in some way or another by the time you make your way home. I never even considered this when I began traveling, but it really is true. Each trip has changed me in its own way. I didn’t fully realize the transformations that took place until I was placed back in my comfort zone.

You will have seen a different type of life in a different part of the world. Your views will change, the way you handle situations will change, you personality may even change and it will all be for the better. You’ll probably want to go somewhere again, as soon as you can.

 

Shannon is a college student in Chicago currently interning at Greenheart Travel. To read more about how travel has inspired her, check out her blog post How Wanderlust Found Me

How do you make the most of your travels abroad? Share your comments below!

By Shannon Elder, Greenheart Travel Intern

When you find passion, you follow it. You are the only person who can create your future. You make it happen. This is why I am excited and honored to be interning at Greenheart Travel. The more places I go, the more I learn about myself. These are experiences everyone should have.

I was born in Denver, Colorado to two travel-obsessed individuals who work for major airlines. A very generous perk of their career is the ability for family members to travel for free. For this I am very lucky. I am grateful. I would not be who I am if it was not for the opportunities they provided for me. Maybe wanderlust is in my DNA, or maybe I found it on my own, but either way I have found myself to be a traveler.

This was my childhood. I have seen the glaciers of Alaska. I have seen the volcanoes in Hawaii. I have seen almost all of the Highway 101 coast line. I have seen New York City and Los Angeles. I have seen cities for a week or longer, I have seen cities for a day. I have camped in every state of the breathtaking West. I have stood on the summit of a mountain 14,000 feet above sea level. I have seen both oceans and thirty seven states in between.

The first time I left the country I was fourteen years old. I ate seafood on Spanish coast line, appreciated impressive architecture, found myself in something completely foreign. The spark for trekking the world only ignited from there. I saw elegance in Monte Carlo, Monaco. I experienced true Italian food in a small city in Tuscany. I grasped the reality of ancient cultures in Tulum, Mexico. I explored markets in London. I wandered one of the most amazing parks in Vancouver, Canada. I ate chocolate covered waffles on a street corner in Brussels, Belgium.  I took in the gorgeous beaches in Georgetown, Grand Cayman. I met some really funny locals in Jamaica. I drank my fair share of beers in Ireland. I hiked through the jungle in Costa Rica.

I am independent and driven because of my journeys. They have shaped who I am, changed my values. I have learned respect. I have learned compassion. I have learned openness.  I have learned to take every opportunity; to never be afraid. Situations don’t always go ideally; sometimes they are better, sometimes they are worse. You begin to accept things you cannot change, you go with the flow, you enjoy each moment for what it is. You find love in the people you meet along the way. You’ll learn how gracious and beautiful most human beings are, no matter where they live or what background they come from. You will find happiness and you will find freedom.

The world is a very big place. It’s bigger than where you grew up, it’s bigger than your comfort zone and you’ll never know all of it. That’s what makes it so beautiful. There is always something to find. There is always someone to meet. There are always experiences to be had. There is so much left to see, and I’m not stopping anytime soon. There is a life to be lived, without any regret. Don’t hold yourself back. Go.

Where is your wanderlust taking you? Share below!