It’s been a week since I got back from Ecuador, and I’m glad to be back but there’s also a lot that I miss. Overall, my experience in Ecuador was great. Working with the kids every day was nice because even though we were there teaching them serious subjects, we were able to connect with them and form friendships with them. There were definitely some times where it was frustrating working with some of the faculty at the schools we were teaching at because they didn’t understand the importance of what we were doing, it was still really nice to be able to feel like you’re there for the kids and helping them through situations that hopefully they never have to encounter. I’ve gained a new perspective that I’m very grateful for and I’m appreciative for everything I’ve learned from being in Ecuador. I miss the people that I worked with, but am overall so appreciative of the fact that I had the opportunity to go over there to help others.

After taking the time after to reflect on my experience in Ecuador, I honestly really enjoyed it. I was able to learn so much about the culture as well as connect with so many different people over there It was definitely something that took some getting used to at the beginning, especially adjusting to the work that we were doing over there. In Ecuador, I had to teach young children how to set up boundaries for themselves as well as what was considered appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. As fun as it was to be able to talk to the kids and do activities with them to help them grasp the concepts, there were also various instances where we were confronted with instances of abuse in which we would then go on to help the child in need and provide them with all the resources and support possible. Working at Fundación Azulado was really rewarding work but it also had its difficulties, again due to the subject matter we were dealing with.

Aside from work, I loved the views and culture of Ecuador. The food was amazing and the country was full of beautiful mountain ranges, rivers/lakes, ravines, and more. During my time there I was able to visit many different tourist spots and nature spots that were unforgettable. I think my absolute favorite place that I visited was Quilotoa, which is a lake located in the crater of an inactive volcano. Here we were able to hike down into the crater itself and see the lake up close as well as visit small attractions alongside the lake. Again, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to go to Ecuador and it’s an experience that I will never forget.

hello everyone! since i’m writing this ~2wks out from the conclusion of my program, i figured i’d talk about some of my overall takeaways from my loewenstern experience. i’ve been here for a little over 5 wks and it’s definitely felt both so short and so so long. i’ve thrown some pictures at the bottom but you’ll have to get through my blob of text first.

arriving in quito, ecuador, i struggled a lot my first week. it wasn’t my first time in a latin-american country and i’ve definitely lived in some low-resource settings before but it was still hard to feel like i was prepared for my time here. even after adjusting to daily living conditions, the crazy weather (hail, rain, sun… all w/in the same hour), the dangerous political climate (cartels, political riots), and accessibility problems (sun sets early, roads aren’t v pedestrian friendly, street crime rates are high, etc) overwhelmed me. i often ended up trapped home alone (w/ Christina) after work, too nervous to go out and not knowing how to get around. to make matters worse, on my first courageous attempt to explore our neighborhood, a rabid(?) dog chased me and bit me, leading to a midnight emergency room visit, many phone calls w/ ISOS (who i’ve been so grateful for), and eventually a quick getaway vacation to miami to receive medical treatment that wasn’t available in Ecuador.

spending my first half of wk2 locked up in the hotel room or the hospital, i don’t think i was as excited for my loewenstern experience as i’d been a few months prior. even so, i told myself it could only get better and hopped back on the flight. and it did get better. as the wks went by, we got closer to the people we worked with – we got to meet others our age and hung out with them socially outside work a few times. we had an open/serious conversation with our point person from the org (who we are also neighbors with) about how difficult the adjustment had been and she did her best to help us out – she’d drop off food from time to time, or invite her to hang out w/ her and her daughter, and we’ve also visited some cool places around Quito that only a local could show us. apart from her, i’ve come to enjoy getting to know other members of the organization and i’m happy to say that my Spanish has grown along with my friends. don’t get the wrong idea though – i still have plenty of moments where conversations stump me or i have to ask others to repeat themselves. also i’ve realized that Asians are not a common sight in these parts and as a result all of the children at the schools (we work at schools btw) swarm me for autographs, photos, and random requests for Korean translations. i’ve learned to interpret what can be considered rude or microaggressive as curiosity and lack of exposure (and i’ve explained how to say “hello” in Korean so many times that even Christina could teach it perfectly by now). it’s hard not to feel lonely or homesick esp in a strange new place, but things have gotten better as i’ve grown more familiar with the region but also developed a social support system with those around me.

outside of work, i’ve become more familiar with the area and have been able to venture out pretty regularly for errands and mini excursions. the food here is great (im not that picky about food so it’s easy to please me) and we’ve had the chance to eat all sorts of new things (i have my conscience tho… so i’ve avoided ice cream w/ cheese and guinea pig at all costs). even if i’m not out and about, i’ve learned to enjoy my time at home; i’ve used my extra time to read tons of books (i’m happy to recommend some), do some self-learning about things i’ve always put off, and relax (catching up on tv shows or simply laying in bed and listening to music/podcasts). as the weather’s shifted from rain to sun, i’ve put my trauma to the test and gone out running on a trail nearby and can say that (1) running is a part of my daily life now and (2) i don’t even flinch when dogs bark/run towards me.

bottomline, i’ve developed all sorts of skills in my time here: working w/ kids, working w/ teachers, critical communication, Spanish, research, project management, leadership, navigating foreign medical systems, ordering taxis, bartering for items in street markets, running rly fast (the doctor’s advice when i asked him how to avoid dog bites). more than “skills” i feel like i’ve grown as an individual, learning to be more mature and independent and resourceful. i’m grateful for the foods that i’ve eaten, the places i’ve seen, and the people i’ve met.

for those of you who’ve just started your fellowship, don’t give up if it gets difficult and know that it’ll be better! for those who are going strong, good for you and i hope you enjoy every last minute of it. thanks for reading and below are some photos.

me standing on the equator

quito skyline at night

naranjilla ice cream. we eat ice cream at least once a day and they hve so many unique flavors

writing in korean for some very insistent students…