Rio Rio Riobamba!

I visited Trevor in Chimborazo and it is a very beautiful community. It was about 11200 ft. which is higher than Esperanza. My lungs had a pretty good work out as we hiked around. The community was built on an old hacienda, and some of those structures still exist, such as a bull fighting ring. The architecture of it was amazing, very detailed. Hopefully I will be able to figure out how to post pictures on here sometime soon. Yesterday morning when we woke up Chimborazo (the mountain- extinct volcano) was covered in snow, and some of the other higher peaks in the community were as well. It was an incredibly beautiful sight. I have been lucky enough to see both Chimborazo and Cotopaxi many times, but I was never this close to one of the highest peaks in South America.

World Vision has an office in Chimborazo and it works with about 15 different surrounding communities as well. It was interesting to see the office, it is where all of the sponsorship of local children is organized, as well as local development projects, such as nutrition and education are also organized. The community is trying to develop eco-tourism as a way of bringing money into the area to help establish some sustainability. I have a website and some other information that I will post when I am back in Quito.

I spent most of the day yesterday in Riobamba which is one of my favorite cities in Ecuador. Its a little more quiet than Quito or Banos, not so touristy. They have an amazing pizza and pasta restaurant here, as well as a great artisan mercado. I had my first really hot shower since I arrived in Ecuador and was able to catch an episode of Law and Order en espanol. Now I am on my way back to Quito, I will be meeting two other girls from my program at the airport tomorrow night, and the rest of the group arrives on the 31st. Also if anyone would like a postcard and I don´t already have your address, just send me an email. Oh a parade supporting President Rafael Correa just started! Exciting. Hatsa Luego amigos.

landed

I arrived in Quito last night just before midnight. Everything went smoothly.....no delays with the planes and my luggage is here also. It is so nice to be back. I forgot all of the little things about this city that I love. Twenty five cent bus rides, lunches for three dollars, and mora juice.

My host family from the last two summers has opened a cafe. It is really nice, coffee, tea, juice, breakfast, lunches and snacks. Elizabeth took me to get a cell phone today. It was very exciting! So I am now a resident of Ecuador, well for a year at least.

I am going to meet Trevor in Riobamba on Sunday and we are going to go to Chimborazo. And I am very excited to see the mountains again. Although I do have a beautiful view of the mountains from where I am staying right now. It will be nice to be in the mountains again.

56 hours to go...

Wow, 56 hours does not sound like a lot of time. Around 9pm last night it hit me that I am leaving very soon, and I am not quite ready. As far as packing goes, its a task that I dislike more than going to the dentist, and I really dislike going to the dentist. I'm not sure how much space the medical supplies will take up since I won't be picking them up until about 9 hours before I leave. Haha. Right now I am picturing myself waddling through Newark Airport lugging two back packs and a suitcase. Its the first time I have flown this far by myself, and I don't think its quite occurred to me yet that for the first time I won't have Trevor there to help me carry all of my stuff. Haha. What are best friends and travel buddies really for? Carrying my stuff.

Once I get slightly settled in Quito I am going to visit Trevor in the Chimborazo area. He is working on an internship with CIDA (Canadian International Development Association) and World Vision. He is working on a community development project in a rural community that is about an hour away from Esperanza, the community that I first volunteered in during the summer of 2005. I am incredibly excited to get back out in the mountains, away from cell phones, computers, busy streets, and concrete.

On a slightly more personal note I would like to say how grateful I am to have such a wonderful support system around me. My family and friends in both Canada and Ecuador have been incredibly supportive of me from the very beginning. I really don't think I would be able to participate in the exciting opportunities that have crossed my path without them and their support. Muchas Gracias para todos!

the journey thus far

Well, my travel visa came through and now I'm just waiting on my student loans... I've added several links to this page, and if you have time you should check them out. They are all sites that are quite interesting and many of the programs and projects are ones that have influenced me a great deal, and have helped me get to where I am today....12 days away from what will undoubtedly be a wonderful year and learning experience. I've included some brief summeries of my selected links below. :)

Ayuda Directa is a wonderful non governmental organization. Its founder is a man named Michele who was formally a banker from Italy. I first met him in the summer of 2005 when I was working on a service learning project in the community of Esperanza in partnership with Saint Thomas University, Universidad Catolica, and Ayuda Directa. This organization focuses mostly on grass roots community development projects, focusing on improving sanitation, water quality, education and health care within rural communities of Ecuador.

CONAIE is La Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas del Ecuador. It is an organization that supports the rights of Indigenous people within Ecuador. The majority of those who live in poverty in Ecuador are Indigenous persons who have been mistreated by their own government. This organization has been very influencial in attempting to establish rights and equality for Indigenous people within Ecuador.

The Ecuador Project is a project that is a partnership between Saint Thomas University and Universidad Catolica in Ecuador. I was a participant in the project during the summer of 2005, and I was a coordinator for the project in the summer of 2006. The website has not been updated in a while, but there is a lot of useful information about Ecuador and past projects on it. I hope to help bring back the Ecuador Project in the summer of 2009.

Manduriacos Solidarios- this is the website for the women's cooperative I am involved with.... the loofahs! Yes this community cooperative makes much more than just fair trade organic loofahs. There is information about other products that they produce and also provides information on where the profits and donations go to.

Trent in Ecuador Program is the program that I am participating in this year. There is information about some of the different field placements that past participants have been involved in, and some information about Ecuador and the program in general.

UNDP Report- Ecuador 2006 is a country profile report done by the United Nations Development Program. There are some interesting statistics on this site.

the countdown is on

Well, I'm leaving for Ecuador in 14 days. Some friends of mine suggested that I start a blog about my travels and experiences while in Ecuador, and it seemed like a good idea. I'm going to post updates and photos about the different projects I'm involved with....as well as some funny stuff that I'm sure will happen.

I'm bringing some medical supplies that the QEII hospital in Halifax has so generously donated and giving them to medical clinics in rural areas around Riobamba.

I'm going to be meeting up with Michele and the gang from Ayuda Directa, my host family, Eli and Sarita, and of course don Trebor who is working in Riobamba. I'm also excited to see Meche, Lisha, and Marisa, and her baby!!!

I'm going to visit the ladies of the Manduracios Solidario (who make the loofahs along with many other wonderful products) and give them the profits from the loofah sales.... and start working on a new partnership... perhaps fair trade rum?

And of course I am going to visit Esperanza and my wawas!! and San Miguelito also. I will post new pictures of the finished projects.... the community centre in San Miguelito and the new bathrooms in Esperanza.

Alright I think that's it for now. Thanks for everyone's support with the loofahs and whatnot. I'm a lucky girl to have the friends and family that I do. Chao Amigos.