When people think of Ecuador, most people probably conjure images of the magnificent Andes mountains, fluffy alpacas grazing on green slopes, the equator, and maybe the giant Galapagos tortoise. But not so many people know that Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet! Due to its variety of geographical regions as … Read More

Written by Kaylee C. I don’t think I quite thought through the omnipresence of language in everyday life until I faced the language barrier in Ecuador. Even though English is technically my second language, by the time I was 5 it surpassed my level of Chinese proficiency (which on the other hand has only deteriorated … Read More

Written by Helen T. Coming into college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. My university forced me to choose a major, so I declared the most ambiguous: exploratory studies. Although I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to be when I “grew up,” I knew who I was: a quirky open-minded, empathetic, … Read More

Written by Ellen G. My internship is at an organization for people with down syndrome that serves as a school as well as a training and research center. This is my typical day: My internship starts at 8:00 am. Each morning we spend a half hour going through our daily morning introductions. When I walk … Read More

Written by Sydney R. Trips to Feria Libre Market can be quite the sensory overload. It’s unlikely you’ll go even a few minutes without a woman approaching you and asking in a sympathy-inducing, yet business-like, voice, if you’ll buy unos duraznitos or a few chirimoyas. Each vendor touts the girth, freshness, durability, or quantity of … Read More

Written by Luke P. The moment had finally arrived. There we were—Abuelita Carmen, Julian, Emilio, and I—our faces looking out to the empty landing strip of the airport, waiting, waiting, waiting. Excitement had kept me up most the night. It had been over four months since I had seen my family from the States. Would … Read More

Written by Natalie K., a Gap Program Volunteer in Cuenca, Ecuador Life here feels natural, I am comfortably settled into my routine, my internship and my family. When I walk around the city, I no longer feel like a clueless gringa, I feel I know my place and purpose here. I obviously still have moments … Read More

Written by Cuenca, Ecuador Gap Volunteer Aidan T. A Feast with Family Last week my host family took me to my mom’s sister’s house. It was on the outskirts of the city and they had a decent chunk of land along with a full chicken coop and several ducks. As soon as we arrived we … Read More

Written by Cuenca, Ecuador Gap Volunteer Luke P. It was going to be perfect. All of the ingredients were laid out before us. The best recipe was ready and waiting. Research on needed adjustments due to the altitude were noted on a piece of paper. Together, my host family, Ellen, and I were going to … Read More

Written by Cuenca, Ecuador Gap Volunteer Sydney R. Recently I had a conversation with my host sister Mary about how as a child, she was never bored. She was out playing on the streets from the moment she got home from school until dinner time, with all of the neighborhood kids. She and her friends … Read More