Wow, what a trip! Over Spring break this semester I was able to go to Lafayette, Louisiana and serve for Habitat for Humanity (H4H). As a group of 12, we helped in two different houses that are toward the end of the building process. We were able to help lay flooring in one house, paint exterior portions of both houses, pint and install trim pieces, and paint doors that go throughout the houses. I was able to be part of a group that volunteered 348 hours and I do not believe anyone would say a single hour felt like “work.” The staff was full of amazing people who made everything fun while teaching skills effectively and providing plenty of independence to allow each person to feel they, personally, were contributing. I was able to learn how to lay flooring, true techniques of painting, and the process a house from H4H goes through to get to families in need. Outside of volunteering our group got to eat authentic Louisiana cuisine including homemade seafood gumbo at a Lousinana native’s house! Additionally, we were able to tour Lafayette which I did not realize how special of a city it was. It was not a big city/beach city, yet I enjoyed it so much that I eventually want to go back and visit the area. The group of people in the Buck-I-Serv group were all so amazing. We had only truly met each other on a Saturday, and by the next Saturday, we were family. In fact, we stopp at Skyline in Cincinnati on the wa back to Columbus, and when our waitress was asked how long she thought our group had known each other she guessed, “at least a year.” Overall, I will be participating in future BuckiServ trips because the experience was unlike anything I’ve ever done. Between the community built between our group and the staff and the skills learned Buck-I-Serv trips are well worth the time and money. I cannot wait for my next trip!