What was the impetus for your third time volunteering abroad with ISV? Why did you choose another Spanish-speaking location?
My volunteer group looking out over the Amazon in Ecuador.
Yet again, I found myself recruiting more students to travel with ISV, and before I knew it I had enough to earn a free program in 2011. I decided to sign up for the third time and fundraised the money to cover my flights, travel insurance, and extra costs. Ecuador was the only country that had any available spots by the time I signed up, but I absolutely love Latin American culture and was excited to visit South America for the first time.
What was your living situation like during your volunteer program in Ecuador?
My project in Ecuador was deep in the Amazon rainforest, so we stayed in a cabin on-site that was built by previous volunteers. We had several bedrooms, a shared bathroom, a basic kitchen with a living area, and an outdoor fire pit surrounded by hammocks. We cooked together and fell asleep to sounds of the jungle. It was pretty incredible.
Squirrel monkey in Ecuador.
How were your experiences volunteering in Costa Rica and Ecuador similar? How were they different?
I found the food and hospitality in Costa Rica to be similar to that of Ecuador, with a few local exceptions. In Costa Rica, I stayed with a host family, but in Ecuador we had a separate cabin for the volunteers. While both countries are Spanish-speaking, they each have their own set of indigenous languages that vary based on region and tribe.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while volunteering in Ecuador?
We had to walk up and down steep hills in the mud and rain to get to and from work each day. It was difficult at first, but it was a great workout and made me appreciate how hard the owners of the sanctuary work every day!
After all of your ISV program experiences, what is your favorite memory from volunteering abroad?
I would have to say whale-watching in Ecuador. Two humpback whales came right up to our boat, looked at us, and spouted. After that, they followed our boat breaching and waving in the open ocean for over an hour. I felt so connected to nature and it was really moving.
Humpback whale breaching in Ecuador.
How have your experiences volunteering abroad impacted your life?
Volunteering abroad has opened my eyes to the incredible difference students can make in communities that really need assistance. It’s shaped who I am as a person, and I’ve been lucky enough to find my passion through ISV and turn it into my career.
