NC State University

by junior Kylee Phyllips

“Why in the world do you want to go somewhere cold for spring break?” I cannot count the number of times I received this similar question when I was asked if I was going to places like Florida for spring break and happily replied, “No, I’m going to Alaska!” After hearing stories from friends who had remarkable ASB trips, I went into my Alaska adventure with an extremely open attitude and the willingness to try anything and give my all. Even though I felt like I gave my all with service, I do believe that I received so much more out of the experience that I ever could have given.

Before being accepted on this trip, I never had even heard of the Tlingit culture. Now I cannot stop sharing stories about it. The little island of Hoonah, Alaska which we visited was full of big cultural statements. The hardest part about this trip to Alaska was remembering that I really was still in the U.S.A. I learned so many things from this experience, from sustainability, to culture, to education, to wildlife, and lots more in-between, I definitely came out of this trip with a new train of thought. Considering that this particular trip was the first of its kind, our team dove into all different facets of service-learning to really see what Alaska had to offer. Two huge categories for service work fall into mind for this area – environmental issues and education, and I will reflect upon my experience with both of these. Continue Reading »

by junior Kate Webber

This spring break I was given the opportunity to go to Philadelphia and work with two parts of the homeless population there, while spending my days immersed in different religions. My trip differed from the other trips offered through CSLEPS in that we were able to discuss our service in the context of religion, which to me are two inseparable topics. This experience opened my eyes to my personal stereotyping of a homeless person and how the homeless population does not fit that stereotype. Continue Reading »

by junior Faran Dulberg

My trip to Belize was truly one of the most amazing experiences I have had thus far in my life. It opened my eyes to a completely different way of living. I feel really cliché in saying that it changed me, but it really did. I learned that even though people are living at poverty levels they are still happy and seemingly content with their lives. Even if they do not have the latest technologies or hot running water in their homes they are able to enjoy life to the fullest they can. Since they have never known all of the advancements we have in the United States, the people of Belize do not miss them. I almost wish that we did not have all of the technologies we have today in the U.S; they seem to isolate people from interacting with each other. With the everyday use of i-pods and video games people are so out of touch with what is going on around in their communities. Technologies that were supposed to help connect people instead actually isolate them. Continue Reading »

by sophomore Whitney Chrisco

As I rustle around in bed the delightful, elegant, but loud and persistent sounds of parrots, toucans, and chickens fill the air along with the pungent smell of several out-houses. I remember that I am in Belize, and I am hesitant to open my eyes, scared to find what may be chilling on top of the mosquito net that separates my safety zone from the rest of the thatch roof hut that I have been sleeping in. I open my eyes and immediately scan my surroundings. There are not any scorpions that have fallen from the thatch roof above, where a family of them live. My eyes move to the cement floor and wooden walls searching for tarantulas. I am again thankful that they have not made it into our one room shed that we called home for the week. As my eyes scan the walls, which are only wooden for the bottom half and screen for the top half, I am not surprised to see a rooster sitting upon the ledge on the outside of the screen. I look to my roommate and I say, “I smell beans and rice. What do you think?” She agrees. We begin to ponder if they ever get tired of eating the same thing, but we came to the conclusion that they probably do not think anything of it. They are grateful for what they have and eat what is available. We immediately remembered that we were going to be having fry jacks (a kind of fried flour tortilla) for breakfast! Our host mom had shown us how to make them a couple nights before and it immediately became one of our favorite things to eat in Belize. Continue Reading »