Rafting the Napo River
Rafting is awesome! Today, we rafted the Napo River - a very cool whitewater experience. I rode in the front of the boat for the first part of the day. I got really wet, but it was so much fun! Later, Erin and I went down a rapid on our backs. It was sort of scary, but with our lifejackets and helmets on, there was nothing to worry about. We got back in the boat and our group hit some great class III and IV rapids! A fun day for sure.
-Malcom
The Amazon
Now we are really in the jungle! We left Quito yesterday and made our way to the Amazon Basin via a drive across some beautiful country. For our first night, we went on a night hike and got to see so many cool things that only come out at night. Today, we canoed to a native village where we visited one of the houses and got to learn a lot about their culture. We got to try some sugar cane and a welcome drink made of a root vegetable called yuca. After that, we took a day hike there and were so close to so many monkeys. It was so cool! Our guide also taught us about some of the really unique native plants and birds in the area. I have never been anywhere like this before!
-Charlise
Service in the Andes
We arrived into camp at around 2:45, and the next few days we are staying in the schoolhouse of a small village. It is just so cool here! All of the people are so welcoming. When we arrived, they immediately gave us a place to rest. It is really amazing seeing how these people live in the Andes. Their lives are so different from mine. We have a full schedule ahead of us painting, planting, and teaching. The students at this school are adorable. We played soccer after we got settled in to our rooms at the school. I'm really looking forward to spending time with these school children....this may be my highlight of the trip.
-Jess
The Galapagos
Today, we started the day on South Plaza Island. We took a two-hour hike and saw loads of sea lions, crabs, iguanas, and birds. Then we had a short motor to Santa Fe Island. We swam in the bay there and got to go snorkeling with sea lions. It was amazing! The water was so clear, refreshing, and beautiful. The day ended with a trip to San Cristobal Island where we got to walk around the town for a little while. We came back to the boat for dinner, played some games, and now we are getting ready to sleep on the deck. Tomorrow we are going to Darwin Station to see the 350 lb. tortoises!
-Devon
Otavalo Indian Market
Spending a few hours wandering through the indigenous market outside of Quito was one of the great highlights of my trip. After putting our bartering skills to the test, I was able to buy some authentic souvenirs to take home. My favorite purchase was an amazing hand knit sweater with great colors. It will be perfect for those Midwest winters. Best of all, it only cost $5 American dollars! I really hope my family likes their gifts as well.
-Jojo
