Incredibly enough, I have finished my six month volunteer and work experience in Ecuador. I have mixed feelings of sadness to leave this great country, and excitement to return home to see my family and friends. All of my various work and volunteer experiences here absolutely gave me a true feel[...]
Author Archive
At Some Point I Became Lorena
When I first arrived in Ecuador everyone wanted to call me Lorena, but I was very adamant about the fact that my name was LAUR-EN. Not Lorena. I felt that I was making an effort to pronounce everyone’s names correctly (I wasn’t calling José “Joseph” just because thatR[...]
Aftermath of Chilean Earthquakes
A week after the powerful earthquake, measuring 8.8 in magnitude, the people of Chile began three days of national mourning yesterday. It may take several more weeks to completely understand the enormity of the damage caused by the earthquake last Saturday, the more than 120 aftershocks, and the s[...]
Taking the Plunge
Recently, I was talking with a friend who would very much like to move abroad to either work or volunteer her time. Of course, my immediate response was “Do it!” but the conversation quickly turned from where to start looking for opportunities into a list of reasons why she couldn&#[...]
Lo bueno, lo malo y lo feo
Teaching English to children in Ecuador has been a fantastic experience. Most of the children are very eager to learn and I’m happy to be a part of their education. However, within my very first weeks here I noticed a very disturbing trend: a lot of the kids cheat. At first I thought i[...]
My Country, ‘Tis of Thee
What is it about world travelers bad-mouthing their countries of origin? Is it out of shame, or do they really dislike their home country that much? Did I miss something in the secret World Traveler Handbook? I cannot tell you how many countless times I have come across various travelers / vol[...]
Staying Flexible
If there is one thing I have learned during my time in Ecuador, it is to remain flexible. And to have patience. Lots and LOTS of patience (for example: it took six visits to the Exterior Relations office to extend my visa 90 days). By nature, I tend to like things orderly and timely. However[...]
Pollution Matters
While I’ve grown accustomed to many of the changes of living away from my home country, one thing I have not gotten used to is the air pollution here in Ecuador. In any of the major living areas, you will discover that the constant stream of buses and trucks makes for a very smoggy experience. T[...]
“…But Is It Safe?”
When I initially announced my plans to move to Ecuador for six months I was met with a lot of concern regarding my safety, especially as a young woman traveling to South America on her own. Being of an adventuresome spirit, it hadn’t even crossed my mind to consider my plans a risky proposit[...]
