What I liked
My experience with Ninth Wave has impacted the way I think and behave in my everyday life, providing me with new insights on what it means to be an environmentalist and an activist. In Campeche, I spent my mornings working on the organic farm and helping take care of our rescue animals, and in the afternoons I worked in the office drafting and writing articles for environmental organizations such as Plastic Oceans. Being able to engage in this great variety of experiences everyday was both challenging and fulfilling, and helped me contemplate which facets of environmental work are my true passions. Additionally, these activities helped me understand how I can continue to improve my environmental practices to be a better steward of the land I inhabit. My unstructured time in Campeche was equally fulfilling as my official work roles, as I was able to practice my Spanish with community members, learn how to implement sustainable practices in my personal life, harvest fresh fruits and veggies from our garden and the forest, and admire both our rescue animals and the wildlife of Campeche (especially the sea turtles!). Every second of the day I was learning, even on my free days. The last important facet of this experience was the volunteers and Ninth Wave employees I had the pleasure to work with – if you care about environmental conservation and creating positive change, you will have a great time and form meaningful connections with the people you meet in Campeche. The community I was surrounded with provided me with the low-stress environment I need to grow and contribute positively to a group.
