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[...]
Posts Tagged ‘Ecuador’
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[...]
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[...]
It Pays To Do Some Research
We’re in the process of checking out different ways we might be able to volunteer when we head back to South America in a few months. As was the case last time, we’re doing our homework and throwing the net pretty wide as we explore several of the options out there. Upon inquiring about [...]
Expanding Opportunity
The news is a downer. We’re on a news diet in our house, but I switched it on for a lightning speed session. In just a couple of quick minutes, I learned a lot about how the USA’s unemployment rate is set to spike above 10% (despite the recent dip). Of course, [...][...]
