Ecuador: More Host Family Writings

Elizabeth~

One night, me and Flor went to our aunts across the road for dinner. When we walked in, it was really nice! it was spacious and open. The lights were dimmed and all that was there at the time was my aunt cooking in the kitchen, and my smallest sister Yadida sitting alone in the living room. I walked in and jumped on the couch with Yadi. She instantly hugged me and stayed wrapped around me. Right then i was surprised she liked me being it that i don´t even speak her language and because my other sister never really bothered to talk with me.

Thailand: More Host Family Writings & Photos

The following photos were taken by Bennett Haynes.

Savanah~

The Surin homestay was amazing. I learned so much about the people and the culture. The first night I arrived was really dark and I couldnt really see much but it was like camping out in a cool-ass fort on stilts. The next morning my “mae” (mom) was up at the crack of dawn cooking breakfast. Lunch and dinner was rice and eggs, veggies, and hot chili fish sauce. At first I got tired of having the same thing every day. But as soon as my mae found out through awkward conversation that I liked fried eggs she made them all the time, and I still love them. I ate 7 eggs a day! The reason that the meals were kind of plain is because my family and most of the community are self-sustainable farmers; they grow what they eat and they eat what they grow. It is amazing to learn and be a part of that.

Ecuador: Mid-trip Reflections

Isabel~

Before heading off to South America the Ecuador team and myself thought about some stereotypes that we or other North Americans might have about the country. We each made a list and a promise to ourselves to think about those preconceptions while on the trip. Now the Ecuador team is enjoying our last phase of the journey in the community of Yungilla, each paired with another member in a

View of Yungilla

house with a family that resides there. Because it is our last phase of the trip, we´ve been asked to revisit those stereotypes and consider what we have experienced that may have proven them to be true or otherwise. I was most interested in the fact that our country loves to make it seem as though other countries of the world need our help in sustaining life.

Ecuador: Yunguilla Homestay

Adrian~

Prior to travelling to Ecuador, I had many assumptions about the Ecuadorian people and how they live their lives here. Some of which including, the people are very culture oriented, they play futbol, the children are harworking and independent, theres beautiful women, etc. And most of these assumptions were on the right track, except for one I had of assuming food here isnt too good, and ive discovered that the food here is bomb,lol!

One assumption I had was that the people here have less material values, as we from Portland would think anyways. While living in Yunguilla with my host-family, I have seen how well my family among others operate with less material things and values, and Ive seen how happy they can be and are with less material values. Sure my family owns a television and a dvd player, but thats not what brings and keeps them together. the bond they get and grow comes more from the family sitting all together at a dining table three times a day eating and conversating together as a family. The bond and happiness comes when they work hard as hell together to earn a living and provide for themselves. These people wake up early in the morning around 5am to get an early start on the work day. They milk cows, collect dozens of bags of coal, do strenuous gardenwork in their family garden, and even build fences amond many other things. Ive gained such a deeper appreciation for the lives these Ecuadorians live, and have seen and felt for myself what honest hard work is.