To be in such a remote village, close to the top of the world, and know that we contributed to the lives of the people there by painting a few houses, building two stoves, and teaching English, was a completely meaningful experience and I look forward to doing more of the same in my life.

Though the accommodations and lack of variety in the food were a little tough to bear at times, I was always reminded of the context that they were in. They were a luxury compared to the homes in the village, and that made it easier to cope with. It also reinforced how fortunate we are in the US. I will never take anything for granted again.

I volunteered on the Road Less Traveled program in Peru. I have a business, a retail gift shop, in New York that I travel back and forth to every month from my home in Miami- I’ve been doing this for the past three and a half years, after losing my fiance and business partner on 9-11. What helped me get through the difficult and painful journey through grief was travel- since 9-11 I’ve been to Ireland, South Africa, Italy, Spain, and several US cities. The Globe Aware program was by far the most fulfilling, and upon my return
home, the morning after in fact, I got engaged again to another wonderful man- we are eloping to Hawaii in May.

Tanya Villenuva

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