First Impression

In April of 2012, my grandparents took me on a trip to Ecuador as my 16^th birthday present (delivered a year later). We had decided on Ecuador because the trip was more affordable than going somewhere in Europe, and I really enjoyed my Spanish class so it was a chance to practice my Spanish and see a completely new culture. Little did I know that the trip would be a preview to the country that I will be spending a year in starting next month.

My trip started with flights from Boston to Miami, and from Miami to the Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito, Ecuador! I traveled with my grandparents, Juan Carlos the tour guide and 16 other people for the week. We started immediately the morning after our arrival with a tour of the city of Quito. The city was breath-taking with mountains all around. No wonder it is one of the most difficult cities for plane landings. In this 16^th century city, we saw the Independence Plaza, La Compañia Church, and we were lucky enough to visit the Presidential Palace on a day when the President made an appearance.

On our small private tour bus, we traveled to the Middle of the World Monument where I stood with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern hemisphere. We visited Paguche Falls, but not before almost dying trying to go down a hill with our bus at a ninety degree angle that had us almost tipping over. At the falls, we saw unique flowers, a big waterfall, and even a wild horse.

From there, we went to the Otavalo market to see the indigenous people and their crafts. In the maze-like market there were quality handmade goods like woven rugs with natural dyes, traditional clothes, and delicious fruits, vegetables, and meats. Shopping was a great experience for me because I was able to test my Spanish language skills, barter with the locals, and really experience the culture and way of life. Buying a bunch of Ecuadorian souvenirs was a bonus!

We went to Cotacachi, a place famous for leather products like wallets, purses, shoes, and jackets. For lunch, I was brave enough to try a bite of cuy (guinea pig) which is a delicacy in Ecuador and other South American countries. To my surprise, it tasted like fried chicken.

As we continued our travels, my body had to adjust to the extreme temperature and altitude differences. We traveled along high, narrow, roads in the Andes, along rough village roads, and we even traveled by canoe up and down the Napo River in the Amazon. We were in the Amazon for two days during which we toured the jungle and met Quechua families that live in the jungle. In the jungle we had to wear black rain boots to avoid getting our clothes and regular shoes permanently moody. The best thing about the jungle was our local tour guide; he allowed us to taste the natural fruits, and showed us the plants used for medicine. He even demonstrated how the locals rub termites on their skin, which acts as insect repellant against the bugs of the jungle. I was so amazed by the way the natives of the forest use their resources and had everything they needed to survive right there. This made me think that Americans do not know what it’s really like to live off the land.

It was amazing to see the many indigenous groups and the towns- each famous for a different handy craft. Our room in Patate overlooked the highest active volcano in the world, which we saw produce a cloud of smoke. Our guide informed us that it was a rare site and again I was amazed at our good luck on the trip. We visited another big food market and traveled to Cotopaxi National Park, which is 13,000 feet above sea level. The whole week blended together and it felt as though I had been traveling for months.

But all good things must come to an end. And so we returned to Quito and then to the United States. I didn't come back empty handed or unchanged. In fact, my adventure in Ecuador was unlike any other trip I have taken. My trip unintentionally paved the way for my decision to go on exchange. And then, to further my good fortune, Rotary placed me in Ecuador (out of my 5 country choices).  My previous knowledge and experience in the country will certainly come in handy, and it makes me more comfortable and excited to return for a year. Not only that, but I already have connections with people in the country! I am just so grateful to be going back with a fantastic first impression already made, and with an eagerness to start making bigger memories that will impact my life for a long time.