jtorr016

EAST COAST I left Ecuador almost 3 months ago and have been catching up with family and travelling around my own country during that time.How different things are! Both Jeremy and I were unsure on what to expect during our 4,000 mile back country road trip from FL-RI. Would there be a lot of tourists? Easy access camping? Friendly locals? It was definitely a new experience and here are a few highlights: -Roadside fruit/vegitable(it really said that!) stands throughout the Southern States -Winding roads of Virginia -Jamestown and the Colonial Parkway (even better than the Blue Ridge Parkway!) -Friendly locals in Ashville -Meandering about in Boston -The elk in Smoky Mountains, bears throughout Virginia and many birds fluttering about FL -The local beaches of Little Compton The main differences: ... read more

As my time in Ecuador draws closer to an end I can take a breath of jungle air and look back over the past year. My time with the charity brought me numerous travel opportunities, encouraged me to interact with the locals, introduced me to the love of my life and showed me that change doesn’t always have to be monumental, whether within oneself or those you can reach. Everything matters. First off, on a personal note I’ve seen much more of this country, its inhabitants, traditional foods and customs than I had intended when I originally purchased a month-long adventure to Ecuador. I see how the children adore story time, speak what they know of English and try to say what they don’t. I understand more about the luxuries, opportunities and resources that are present ... read more

The more I teach, speak and learn to love the children in this small part of Ecuador the more bothered I become. They do not seem to grasp that a whole other world is at their fingertips. You ask them in what other countries they speak Spanish and they name Puyo, Ambato, and Quito…all cities in their country. Some of these children are so bright and could aspire to much more, but the mindset of the parents and sometimes even the directors does not encourage doing something extraordinary. Education here in the Pastaza region is much different than that of the Western world. The children learn about agriculture, poisonous plants and tactics for crossing the street safely. They learn about life’s practicalities while the developed world teaches their children classic literature, technology and the arts. This ... read more

It doesn't really seem as though I have been back at the jungle house for three wonderful months! So as for the promised tales about our "Arajuno Jungle Lodge". Ha. It went nowhere near how we planned! Apparently our doubts were based in truth and we worked very hard to try and keep the 33 people happy but ultimately they left early. Our dinner was a fiasco...not enough bowls/plates/forks, a pan of dropped veggies, a botched batch of rice...and we didn't even have enough liquor to satisfy their needs! Luckily we had some Puro Puyo (a local grain alcohol made in some grandmotherly lady's bathtub) and gifted it to our unhappy guests. However, once they left Rachel and I felt a wave of relief crash over us. The following day we went into Puyo during Carnival ... read more

I'm back and writing from the jungle! It is strange how quickly the vibe in the house can change. I left when there were 10 people in the house, most of whom had been there for a number of months and I returned to just Racehl and myself! We have had a few volunteers in and out and the outlook is good :) I feel as though I have hardly had any time to breathe since my return. The house always seems to need so much attention, nevermind the lesson plans, teaching and entertaining the volunteers. Oh yes, and I got the flu! Thankfully it passed after only 2 weeks but I learned that the pharmasists do not ask any pertinent questions- they just hand out pills...the first of which I was allergic to! Secondly, the ... read more

The return to South America did not go as expected. For some reason I expected for everything to go smoothly and that the visa paperwork would be processed quickly and I would be back in the jungle before New Years...well here it is, the 4th of January and I'm still awaiting the paperwork's arrival! Bogota's Darker side Bogota is a city of two faces; astetically, the buildings are drastically different, either built with a modern design or the old colonial set-up, complete with flower filled balconies and painted with bright colors. However, it is not the buildings of the city that set it apart, rather the people. Many people enter and leave these buildings dressed in expensive clothes and suits while a massive number of the city's other citizens sleep outisde these same buildings, wearing rags ... read more