“Life is not about how many breathes you take, but about the moments that take your breath away.” – Alfred Hitchcock
« This quote only made sense to me when I experienced it… ».
Emmy, a block-release student working with Globalong, tells us about her experience…

It was 8am. We had spent a week at a friend’s, in Pasadena, Los Angeles. That morning, we had packed our tent, sleeping bags and flash lights, all the materials we needed to start our backpacking journey, the most amazing adventure I had been looking forward to for so long!

My friend and I hit the road and drove for 8 hours. We left the big city to go to the Grand Canyon National Park, which had such beautiful surprises in store for us. The road was long. As time went by, we couldn’t contain our impatience however as this change of scenery progressed before our eyes, we were already travelling so much.

After an 8 hours’ drive, we arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park camp site. We set up our tent, from where we would hear wolves howling for the next three nights. Excited about discovering the Grand Canyon, we took the buses that are available along the road on the South side of the park and headed towards Hopi Point vantage point to watch the sunset.

Remember this feeling, when you felt like you’ve just heard the best news and you’re feeling teary-eyed, your heart racing, butterflies in your stomach…

Then you can understand the way I felt when I first saw the Grand Canyon, this magical place I dreamt of seeing for years. Its depth and colours, this silence, this landscape taking your breath away made me feel like I was looking at a work of art in a museum.

I cried because I was so impressed. I cried because one of my dreams had just come true. Because I’d made it happen. I cried because I was happy to be where I was at this point in time. I cried because I realized how many wonders this Earth has to offer us and how little people are concerned with them.

The next day, as we were hiking down the Grand Canyon, I met many magical people who tended the trails. After a few minutes’ chat, I thanked them because all they do is very helpful.

Globalong understands all this. This is why today, you can take part in an eco-volunteering programme they offer at the Grand Canyon.

Now, I can safely say that to me, travelling is not a way of escaping my life but a way of finding my path in life. Travelling with Globalong is travelling differently, being connected and responsible. I believe that my next trip will be different and much more rewarding, thanks to Globalong.

If you want to embark on the adventure by becoming one of those little magical men that I met during my hike, click here to discover the eco-volunteer program.

See also the photos of the volunteers who participated in eco-volunteer missions in the American West by clicking here.

For more information about programs, please contact us at info@globalong.com