If someone were to tell me two years ago that I would be volunteering for two weeks in another country with people I don’t really know that well, then I probably would’ve panicked. But here I am, two weeks after my time in Costa Rica with the ACE program, and I can say with certainty that it taught me more than I ever expected. From the very beginning of the trip, I was jumping into conversations with the local children–laughing, joking, asking questions—and was surprised by how naturally it all flowed. I’ve studied Spanish for years, but being surrounded by these kids gave me the chance to actually live the language. I was having real conversations and building relationships.
At the local soccer tournament, while most of the kids were eager to get on the field, I met a little girl named Andrea who had other plans. She came up to me shyly and said she didn’t want to play. I thought something was wrong, and I asked her if she was sad, and that’s when she shook her head slowly and just said “solo quiero bailar.” “I just want to dance.” Her eyes lit up as she talked about how much she loved dancing and how it was a big part of her life and the Gandocan culture. She told me about the dances she had been learning from her sisters and even stood up to show me a few of her favorite moves, twirling and smiling with so much pride.
This trip showed me that the most meaningful impact often comes from conversations, from showing up with curiosity and kindness, and from genuinely getting to know the people around you.
That moment was one of my favorites from the entire trip. Even though we were in the middle of a soccer tournament, it became our own little dance party. I didn’t expect to have such a deep connection in such a short time, but we laughed, talked, and completely lost track of everything else going on. When it was time to leave, Andrea ran away for a second and came back with a green and orange beaded bracelet. She said it was for me and handed it to me with a big smile on her face. I felt so special, not just because of the bracelet, but the fact that we had built a real connection. Despite our different backgrounds, languages, and ages, we found a way to have fun and make meaningful memories.
That moment with Andrea reminded me why relationships matter so much, especially in service work. It’s easy to focus on tasks, goals, and the impact we’re supposed to make. But this trip showed me that the most meaningful impact often comes from conversations, from showing up with curiosity and kindness, and from genuinely getting to know the people around you. I’ve learned that conversations can happen anywhere: on the sidelines of a soccer field, under the shade of a tree, or in the quiet moments in between. And those conversations? They’re what build bridges, foster understanding, and remind us of the shared humanity that connects us all.