I am happy to report that in the Intag cloud forest region of northern Ecuador, community-based tourism is heating up. Just two hours from the market town of Otavalo, Intag’s ecological reserves have begun to attract a steady stream of travelers. Organizations like the Red Ecoturistica de Inta[...]
Archive for the ‘Ecuador’ Category
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[...]
Let’s Talk About the “G-Word:” Gringo
Here’s my gringo story: I was 18 and I had just arrived in Guatemala to work as a volunteer teacher with Global Vision International. It was my first time living abroad and I barely spoke Spanish. I left my hotel in Antigua to go exploring, and from the window of a house across the street, [..[...]
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[...]
January 27th, 2010 - 6:10 pm § in Ecuador
From College to Crisis and Back: Starting Again in Ecuador
Saludos desde Ecuador! My name is Dan Malin, I am 22 years old and a recent graduate of the George Washington University with a B.A. in International Affairs. I am also just starting out as the new intercultural coordinator at the Intag Spanish School, one of several projects managed by a nonprofit [...]
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[...]
