Our Journey Home

Wow. 

There are ultimately no better words than “wow” to describe this past month we spent here in Ecuador.  Just 28 days ago we were stepping off our plane from Atlanta onto the new grounds of Quito.  19 girls from all walks of the United States, all starting this new journey together.  Small talk on the bus ride from the airport to our hotel proved that we had quite the unique group of girls onboard. At that time, little did we know that all 19 girls would leave 28 days later with wet eyes and thousands of memories that will last a lifetime. 

We spent two weeks in Quito, a week serving at Honrar La Vida, three days in a resort on the Amazon, five days in Baños, and a final week in Cuenca.  Every day brought new adventure and new limits to push; from climbing Mount Pichinca to struggling to order food in Spanish.  Everyday taught us something new.  On our final day of class – July 25, 2014 – we discussed the top five “things we gained from this trip.”  Each Community Groups shared their top five, and as a class we all agreed on these three: 1) Traveling is easier than it looks – anyone with a desire to travel can. 2) Learn to push your limits and take risks – don’t be content with being stagnant.  And 3) Utilize you values, strengths, and charms – or as Carolyn would say, “Don’t play marbles with Diamonds.”  After sitting and reminiscing on the month we spent here in Ecuador, it was evident that these three “things” were present each day.  Each of us can say that we have a craving for travel.  Each of us can leave this trip saying we beat one of our limits.  Each of us now knows what it feels like to acknowledge the strength we hold. 

Our journey home will be a long one.  Our journey home will leave us with tears and a yearning to stay surrounded by all these incredible women.  Once we finally arrive home, one of two things could happen: 1) We could all apply what we learned to our “normal lives” and continue to feel what we felt while in Ecuador. Or 2) We could go home, slum back into the life we know, and forget about all the love and support we felt while in Ecuador.  I know that I will do everything I can to feel the way I felt with these girls.  I am going to work on my strengths, let my values guide my actions, and consciously work toward my vision.

A month seemed like a life-time during our first week, but once the last week rolled around we all agreed that time flew by.  None of us were ready to leave yet.  None of us wanted to admit that there is a very good chance that a lot of us won’t be seeing each other again.  As the week came to a close, many tears had already been shed and many trips to visit planned.   At our goodbye dinner in downtown Cuenca it was made very clear how special this group is.  Each and every girl on this trip has left such an impact on each other.  Every girl has grown from the person they were when we stared this trip: big or small.  I was brought to tears while looking around the room during Megan Clark’s goodbye speech; I could not think of a way to repay these girls for what they have taught me.  These girls taught me to appreciate my strengths.  These girls showed me that I am strong.  These girls taught me that being vulnerable with people you hardly even know gives you 18 new best friends.

"It is part of morality not to be at home in one's home." - Theodor Adorno 

Let the Adventures Begin

Post Amazon = Banos, aka the Adventure capital of Ecuador. 

We arrived in Banos yesterday evening, and the second I got off the bus I knew that it was going to be my favorite spot.  It's a much smaller town compared to Quito, but it still have a great atmosphere to it.  Very walkable, and full of great places to eat and wonderful adventure sites.  

Today was my dear friend Grace's birthday so we had a very eventful day here in Banos!  We woke up fairly early and had class for a few hours where we discussed our vision statements and the people we want to become when we are older.  Our first paper is focused on our vision statement and our goals for the future.  The vision statement isn't focused on material things or destinations; it is focused on our legacy and the type of character we want to have when we are older.  Like, "I want to leave a legacy of love and live life with courage and adventure.  I want to be a thankful daughter, supportive sister, loyal wife, and a strong mother."  Stuff like that.  Most of the time when I try and plan for the future I get super anxious and worried, but this vision statement didn't freak me out, it gave me a purpose.  It made me excited for my future and the person I am going to become. 

After class we went and walked around the town square, got lunch and some ice cream, and took a cab up to "La Casa de Arbol" where there is a swing that you can sit on where it looks like you're going over the edge of the world.  After the swing we went out to dinner for Grace, got more ice cream, and headed out to explore the city some more.  It was so great spending Grace's 21st birthday with her here in this amazing city! 

I'm a Piraña, I live in the Amazon

No big deal, I just spent the last three days on the Amazon river in Tena, Ecuador. 

So beautiful, so colorful, and so so fun.  We stayed at La Casa de Swiso, an incredible resort that over looked the Amazon river.  We stayed there for three nights, had every meal cooked for us, and then were able to relax and re-energize for our next adventure. 

We went on a hike through the Amazon jungle and it was pouring rain.  From there we also went to an animal sanctuary where we saw tons of birds and monkeys that are native to the jungle.  The animal sanctuary takes animals who have been taken from the jungle and kept as pets, which is illegal here in South America.  So, the animal sanctuary takes the animal in and settles them back into the native habitat.

Leaving the jungle was very hard.  It was such a lovely place to recuperate and not have to worry about social media and communicating with anyone.  I could just sit in the hammock on my porch, read my book, and enjoy the beautiful place I was in.  

Cotopaxi

Today we did a bike ride around the Cotopaxi volcano - the second largest active volcano in here in Ecuador. 

Long, windy, mountain bike ride that went around the base of the volcano.  It was such a beautiful site: nothing better than a good view, a nice mountain bike, and a volcano that you could never get sick of looking at.  

Nothing else to really say about today, just some photos!

Kevin.

Wifi has been terrible so that is why I have not been posting... So get ready for a REALLY long post thats going to summarize this past week. 

This past week was the service portion of our month here in Ecuador.  We as 19 GlobalLEAD students spent the past week at private school on the outskirts of Quito called "Honrar La Vida" which in English means "Honor Life."  We were divided up into three groups and we were each assigned a different groups of students.  One group had 5-8 years old, one had 8-13 years old, and one had the 13-16 year olds.  

Honrar La Vida is a school that is dedicated to helping children who come from hard family lives or are potentially living at risk.  The school is such an incredible establishment.  Each and every one of these kids has an incredible life story and they all taught me so much.  Some go and serve to give back as much as they can.  But for me, this past week was all about learning as much as I could from these incredible students.  They all had so much life and love in all of them.  From the spunky 10 year old girls who climb all of over us and do our hair, to the 9 year old boys who would not stop talking about futbol. 

We went to the school every day of the week from 8-11 and worked on English with the kids, and tried our hardest to give them as much love and compassion as we could.  So many of these children are simply neglected at home that many of them hardly ever are loved or cared for.  We as GlobalLEAD students would do arts and crafts, story time, alphabet songs, and dances with the children to create a light-hearted and loving environment.  

There was not a second when I didn't have a children wrapped in my arms or sprawled across my lap.  Every second I got with those kids I made sure that I was there for them to love on and hug.  One kid especially had a soft spot in my heart, and his name was Kevin.

Kevin is 10 years old and is very shy and very conservative.  For the first three days of school Kevin came in the exact same outfit.  I would find Kevin leaving class very often, and when I asked him where he was always going he would say he was going to check up on his sister.  Kevin was very nervous at the beginning to receive affection from any of us, but as the week progressed Kevin and I established a special bond.  He would run and greet me with a hug first thing every morning and would give me a heart made out of pip cleaners.  I would be working with another student and Kevin would come up to me, wrap his arms around me without saying a word, and then stay there for at least ten minutes.  I helped Kevin with his English and he helped me with my Spanish.  All though we could hardly ever understand what the other was saying, it didn't matter.  He understood that I loved him and was so proud of him, and I understood that he was so thankful I was there for him, if only for five days.

Leaving Honrar La Vida today was very hard.  Saying goodbye to Kevin was unbearable.  So many tears and so many hugs.  One little girl Laura was just standing on the stairs staring down at all of us waving goodbye and was just sobbing - needless to say I lost it.  I was so thankful how easy these children accepted me into their lives and all they taught me about simplicity and strength.  I will never forget all the amazing children I was surrounded with this week.

Being at Honrar La Vida made me so incredibly thankful for my fortunes and my upbringing.  Special shout-out to my mom and dad for giving me more than I could have ever imagined.  I know you are both reading this, so I want you to both know how incredibly blessed I am to have the both of you as parents - for multiple and different reasons.  Mom - thank you for inspiring me to take advantage of this incredible trip and teaching me that there is so much to give in this world.  Dad - thank you for showing me what it means to be a "people person" and teaching me that no matter what, there is a positive side to every thing. I love you both so very much and miss you more than you know.  If it weren't for the two of you I would not be here having the most amazing month. 

"As we loose ourselves in the service of others we discover our own lives and our own happiness." 

I Can Beat My Limit

Mt. Pichincha.  15,700 ft.  Active volcano. 

Today I climbed - because the phrase "hiked" does not do this trek justice - Mt. Pichincha, an active volcano here in Quito with five other friends from GlobalLEAD.  It was the most sureal feeling ever being on top of a almost 16,000 peak, in South America, with five other friends who I just met a week ago.  Hardest hike I have done yet, but by far the most rewarding. 

At the beginning of the hike the altitude was very hard for me to handle.  I was having a hard time getting enough air in, and at times it was impossible to catch my breathe.  I thought that hiking to 10,000 was hard, try 15,700.  There were times when it seemed like we would never get to the top.  We hiked over hill after hill, trekked straight up a mile of dirt past the grass line, and then legit rock climbed up a mile of hardened lava and rocks to reach the top of the summit.  

At the top of 15,700 ft you are in the clouds.  So getting up to the top you could not see anything.  It was like you were at the edge of the world.  You could stand and look over the edge and have no clue what was below you.

Never have I ever felt more proud of myself or my physical abilities.  Getting to the top of that summit meant that I beat my limit.  I was as high as I had ever been before in my entire life.  And I was the one that got myself there.  Not a car, or a plane, but my own two feet.  It was absolutely incredible.  The adrenal rush and stupid smile that washed over my face at the peak will stay with me my whole life.  I was hard do not get me wrong, but it was the kind of hard that made you get to the bottom and want to turn around and do it again, because you know you can.  I mean, how many people can say they've climbed an active volcano before?  Not very many. 

"You must do the thing you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt

 

 

 Pure joy at 15,700 ft.