
It’s easy to stay in your comfort zone, or "bubble", where everything is familiar. When I say comfort zone, I’m also including leisure travel at resorts in foreign countries. Resorts are familiar and cozy, they’re designed to have everything drawn out so that travelers do minimal work on their part to relax. Here’s an example: menus are in English, food is prepped in a way that easily recognizable back home, and there’s almost always an option to eat a cheeseburger if you so please.
What I and eight of my coworkers experienced was way outside of that comfort zone, and it was incredible. I would do it all again in a heartbeat, even if that means sleeping in a sleeping bag, drinking instant coffee, and eating beans with every meal. Yes, I would do it all again. My employer, IGS, and Grid Alternatives gave us the opportunity to install solar on an orphanage (La Hacienda) in Tijuana, Mexico. This was a project where we worked, slept, and ate at the orphanage for four days straight. The outcome of the project was to assist La Hacienda on their monthly electric costs, providing a savings that can be allocated to other needs for the orphanage. What I learned is this: never walk backwards, beans are a staple in Mexican cuisine, and experiences like this will change you.


--Colleen Magee