Eco Volunteer UP Foundation

My volunteer experience was the most valuable, unforgettable experience of my entire life. I fell in love with the people, the culture, the music, and the country. I am already looking at dates next year to return. I was pretty nervous on the plane to Quito, but when I saw Fredy at the airport with a sign with my name, my nerves calmed. Maria, Fredy, and their family are just wonderful people that I already miss very much. My first 3 weeks consisted of volunteering in the daycare in Quito with the little babies. They were just adorable, and I'll never forget dancing with them! I made friends with all the ladies that worked there, and we just laughed all day as we tried to learn each other's language. I also took 2 weeks of Spanish lessons, which helped me a ton! It was pretty intense with 4 hours of classroom a day for ten days, but I saw huge differences in my ability to communicate with the people during and after my course. While living in the city, I took three professional salsa lessons, and also informal lessons from Maria's family! I traveled on a day trip to Otavalo where I bought gifts for my family and friends, and I also traveled to Mitad del Mundo and stood on the equator. My last two weeks were spent in Las Tolas in the cloud forest two hours northwest of Quito. This was the most unforgettable and moving experience of my life. I lived with a family right in the village. I spent my days helping the people of the village on community projects, such as weeding the community garden, building a patio in front of the church, and making signs for their buildings. I also helped the artisans in their workshop with making jewelry from seeds and things from the forest. I hiked to two beautiful waterfalls, the next village, and to the lodge where other volunteers lived. The people of the village are the hardest working, most caring, and humble people I have ever met. They value their community and their culture. By this point, I could communicate fairly well with them, which makes the experience even that more valuable. It was extremely hard to leave because the people of this small village had become my family. From this experience I learned that a smile goes a long way, and that people, no matter where they live or how, all laugh with each other, cry with each other, and care for each other in very much the same way, and that we all take what we are given in life and try to make the most of it. The only way to really appreciate the experience is to have an open mind, an open heart, and a sense of humor. Just take it all in. This has been an experience I will hold very close to my heart for the rest of my life. I encourage everyone who has the courage and the passion to learn and help others, to take this opportunity as a mind, soul, and life growing experience.