Introductions

Hello friends! Here is my brand new blog, dedicated to recording my experience at the Alternative Break Citizenship Schools in Portland, Oregon. The conference dates are Saturday, July 19-Friday, July 25th and our service projects will be focused on Environmental Stewardship--hence the color scheme of this blog!

The ABCs cannot have come at a better time. I was looking through pictures from my first Alternative Break trip this year in Ayacucho, Peru, and found myself really missing the experience I had there. Ayacucho was gorgeous, unlike any other place I've ever been to. From the people we met, to the volunteer sites we worked at, to the city life and the vistas and the CCS house, those were 7 of the most unforgettable days in my life. It's easy to underestimate the impact that one week can have on you. My trip to Peru played a huge role in helping me reeaffirm faith in myself. It made me realize that volunteering is something I will always enjoy and want to incorporate into my life, regardless of which career path I pursue.

On that note, I'm so excited for Portland and have been looking forward to it all summer! My friend and fellow Peruvian, Adam McKinney, will also be attending since Portland is his hometown. I've heard so many things from people about how beautiful the city of Portland is, so it's great to be able to experience it firsthand! Today I spent time finalizing my travel plans, including printing my itinerary, booking the shuttle to airport, and picking up working gloves and eating utensils--in lieu of environmental stewardship, we were all asked to be bring our own plates, cups, and water bottles to the conference. After working and and preparing for grad school exams all summer, I think the Portland ABCs is exactly what I need to help recharge and and remember why I love Alternative Breaks so much!