Program dates: 01/11/2015 – 04/18/2015
Academic study focuses on intensive language study, and the history, culture, and socio-economic institutions of Ecuador. The program is centered in Cuenca and includes field trips to Jatun Sacha (primary rain forest) as well as local areas of interest. The 7 students on this program lived with host families while in Cuenca.
Recent posts [display all posts]
Master of Survival - 26/3/15 Some of us learn how to speak another language. Others excel in the sciences, mathematics, dance, and poetry. We are practice-rs beginning, growing through trial and error. or we progress, become proficient, fluent and yet still learning while some, the fewer of us, the dedicated, the bloody and sweaty, the diligent, determined, the […]
Gringa Gratitude - 27/2/15 I’m writing this on a Friday afternoon on the rooftop of our school Amauta, sharing a rare moment of solitude with the city and a piece of gluten free berry pie from one my favorite gringo cafés. This morning in Chilca Totora was very relaxed, probably because our main compañera Maria forgot we were […]
Highlights of Ecuador - This picture is from our first week in Quito. Mayana and I were extremely excited during Changing of the Guard, which happens every Monday in Quito. I felt like I was standing next to the British soldiers that never move. This officer was very stoic as well, but totally willing to let us take a […]
Chilca Totora - Every Friday instead of class we all go to our volunteer sites. I volunteer at Chilca Totora along with Mayana and Ellen. Chilca Totora is a small rural community 30 minutes outside of Cuenca. Every Friday we flag down a taxi who does not know what he is getting himself into until he is driving […]
Our First Carnaval in Ecuador - These blog posts are something required in this program, so others can understand better our experiences and our lives in Ecuador thus far. We have been slacking on posting, but believe me when I say that is a good thing. This first month has been packed full of amazing opportunities, places, people, food, learning..it’s hard […]
A nun just sprayed me with water - There seems to be a common question which I keep asking myself “Am I actually getting college credit for this?” This experience has been more than a dream so far and I often have to pinch myself to realize that this is my life. A highlight of this week was our biology class this week […]
Haikus y fotos de mis primeras experiencias - 18/1/15 Copas de Café Están perfecto para Escribiendo Cups of coffee Are perfect for writing Soy una Gringa Es obviamente por Mi primera vez I am a gringa It’s obvious for My first time La Paradoja Y sincronismo están En todos partes The Paradox And synchronicity is everywhere 1) Soy Judia, que Está aprendido Muy […]
La Confesión de una Gringa de las Calles - Quiero empezar este puesto con una poema pequeña que lo escribí en el café “San Sebas”: 1/2/15 Desayuno de San Sebas San Sebas is a refuge for the gringos And those heavy of heart and breakfast. The two white girls on the couch next to me speak in English. About misogynistic men, plays they have […]
Yet another incredible week - This past week has been a blast. We have fully submersed into academia with books, worksheets, writing assignments, pruebitas, project proposals, research, and studying. We have even had the opportunity to cook traditional Ecuadorian meals. Each of us were assigned two dishes to prepare for Thursday and on Wednesday we all took a field trip […]
First Week in Ecuador! - We’ve been in Ecuador for just over a week now, and so far I am totally in love. Not only are the sights we’ve visited beautiful, but the people we have met and the experiences we have had have all been so beautiful. I loved visiting Mindo, where we stayed at a butterfly sanctuary and […]