Blazer Update!

So with the last Rotary trip only a few days away I had to take out a dust off my Rotary blazer. On the trip we are attending the national Ecuador Rotary conference so blazers are a must.

Las Islas de Sueños, Los Galapagos

This is in fact real

Is it possible to dream for 4 days straight? Cause I’m pretty sure that just happened. I still can’t believe where I just was. So basically 4 words describe Galapagos. Out. Of. This. World. Just like the amazon, there are literally no words that I can use that really shed light on these magical islands. Just incredible. So the first day we got there in the airport San Cristobal which is on a smaller island right off of Santa Cruz, where we were staying. So took a little ferry across the way and then a bus ride, about an hour, to the hotel. On this one small bus ride though the vegetation changed drastically. It started off desert like, a lot like Arizona. 

Then slowly the shrubs turned into bushes, which turned into trees, which turned into tropical palm trees, then into Vermont-like trees and plants, then into amazon like rain forest, and then back again. It was ridiculous. We stayed in Puerto Ayora, this popular harbor town on Santa Cruz. The town was quite nice, very touristy with all the tourist shops and diving tours of course, but cute. The marina was really nice as well. Tons of boats, lots of sail boats, which I was happy to see. You’d expect more motorboats with all the different tours and that being the means of transportation between islands. But it was about even. So we settled into the hotel then went to the other side of town to see the Charles Darwin research center, which was where a lot of the land tortoises live. They are HUGE. Its amazing. We got to see Lonesome George, who’s the last of his species and between 110 and 120 years old. After that we had free time on the town which is ride on the water so we all just found a spot to look out over this majestic turquoise water and right away saw sting rays, sea lions, crazy looking crabs, and tons of birds. The nightlife of this place was really fun as well. We went out to a salsa bar that night which was so much fun to just dance with all these people that have truly become life long best friends. 

Penguins!

There were 40 of us in my group. Saturday morning we got up and walked about 40 minutes to Tortuga Bay. Which I guess is the nicest beach of the Galapagos, and my god was it beautiful. It literally just looked like the pictures of paradise, only I was actually there. A white sand beach that just stretched on for so long, with rolling turquoise waves. So beautiful to be there. After a morning and early afternoon there, we walked back and then went to the lava caves. Galapagos has lots of volcanoes with 6 of them active. 

Tortuga Bay

There’s been over 50 eruptions in the last 200 years which is quite a lot. So from the lava flow beneath the surface it creates these massive tunnels. The look man made but they are only from the lava cutting away at the rock to make them. So we walked through one that was like 600 m. Pretty cool to be somewhere where absolutely no sunlight could reach. Galapagos islands are actually moving a few centimeters every year because of the activeness. The next day we were split into smaller groups, got on a boat and were off to island Isabella. It’s the largest of all the islands and has 5 of those 6 active volcanoes. We went snorkeling in this little bay which has some of the best in the islands. It was spectacular. The water is soooo incredibly clear. Could see so far. We saw sting rays, crazy fish, all weird looking sea urchins, and the sea iguanas. There are TONS of iguanas every where, but the ones that can swim and dive under water are my favorite. In the water they look like Godzilla the way they swim. To see them from under the way was pretty cool. Then we found a family of sea turtle on the bottom. It might have been 10-12 ft deep and there were four or five sea turtle just chilling on the bottom. My goal for this trip and always had been to ride a sea turtle like in movies or cartoons. 

Lava rocks

Well with my opportunity right there I dove down and came in really slow and then ran my hands along his shell until I got to the sides and had a grip. He then started swimming slowly and got faster and faster. I let go when I didn’t have any more breath. I surfaced and was completely speechless. I literally couldn’t speak a single word. All I thought was how special that was. Then I hear my friend from behind say “Koda! I got a picture of that!” It was one the specialist moments for me of the trip. After an hour or so of snorkeling we got out and went for a walk through the lava rocks. The rocks look really cool and are all formed from hardening lava. We later went to another tortoise center where they bread them. So that was cool to see that. We went to this little pond where a bunch of flamingos were which was cool to see wild flamingos. After we went to another incredible beach. Again, out of this world. Went back on the boat after and saw a big whale, a massive manta ray (around 10 ft across) and tons of other life. Monday we got up and took the boat again but to the island Santa Fe. This island is known for the cactus vegetation it has as well as the rocky shore with spectacular cliffs. Here went snorkeling again in this cove and you guessed it, out of this world. This was the best day snorkeling. Tons of tropical fish, again stingrays and this time we got to swim with sea lions. They are the cutest things in the world. The babies were all swimming around us and playing with us, but then the mom kept coming by and she was big. Shed come at us with her mouth open like trying to bite but you could tell it was more just to scare us and protect her children. What an adrenaline rush though. To see these animals that you usually only see on tv shows or in zoos, are right here in front of me in the wild. I had the biggest high as this moment; I was high off of life. Such a special moment for me. 

Catchin a ride

 

cliff jumping

       After we went back to Santa Cruz and the hotel to eat lunch. After we walked about 30 minutes to these cliffs where we could jump. It like crack in the earth with these big cliffs and the sea water came in and its so deep but soo clear. So of course I felt right at home cliff jumping, as that’s what I do all summer long in Vermont. So that was really fun. That night was the last night and there was a farewell dinner at this ranch and it was so much fun. We sang karaoke, played pool, swam in the pool. Then my really good friend Kelcey and I played together again. She plays guitar and has the most beautiful voice, I love it so much, and I played some bongos that they had as this place. It was really fun. 

sunrise

       The next morning I got up at 5 to watch the sunrise. I walked across the street, to the end of the pier, and sat on the railing next to a pelican and settled in for what was to become the most spectacular site in the world. I watched the morning bustle of the harbor as all the fisherman were heading out and all the tour boats getting ready. As the sky got brighter the horizon got prettier. Now this sunrise had some pretty tough competition, going up against that in the amazon, which was unbelievable. So I kept an open mind, not expecting anything amazing incase I was to be disappointed. But I was in for a treat. All of a sudden the rays from the sun shot up into the sky and it looked like a bunch of spotlights in the sky. That was just the pre-sunrise, as those rays started to fade and the sky got brighter I thought that was it. But then the horizon became more of a fiery orange and I knew it was about to get even better. As the sun finally crept above the horizon at 5:43am a family of sea lions were passing by right below me. The sun got higher and higher and I just felt this amazing warming sensation come over me as the rays just washed over my face and body. I was in such a meditative state.  I keep saying how I get these feelings of joy and love for where I am and they always come as such cliché moments. For instance, watching the sunrise in the Galapagos. I would say very few people in the world have or ever will see that, and the entire time the only thing that was going through my mind was how I’m the luckiest kid in the world. I’m only 18 and look where I am and what I’m doing. People would do anything to be where I am and work their wholes lives for things like this and I basically have it given to me. Yeah I worked hard with things to get here, but in perspective to others, I’ve barely lifted a finger. I mean don’t get me wrong this year hasn’t been all rainbows and lollie pops, to learn a new language, live with a different family, make new friends, and to discover who you really are is no easy task. But at the same time, our problems are miniscule to those of others. I just wish everyone could experience what I’ve experienced. I literally consider myself the most fortunate kid in the world. All of us on exchange are. To be doing what we’re doing at such a young age is mind blowing to me. If we keep this up where will we be in 10 years? 20? When were 60 what will we have done by then, where will we have traveled? Who will we be? The questions are endless and will only be answered with time. This is what hits me the hardest, and all of that is what was going through my head as I watched the sun come over that magical horizon. I will never forget this trip and I will never forget watching that sunrise for the rest of my life. The things I am doing and living right now are what are shaping me into the person I’m to become. And to be honest, I absolutely love who I am and the direction I’m headed. 

 (If you click on the photos you can see them bigger)

 

so cute

Carnival

Oh wow. This past week was carnival. Yes the same carnival that's so famous in Brasil, they also celebrate it in Ecuador. And its crazy. I went with my really good group of friends to one of their farms down south in Patate. They have like a second home out in this beautiful setting in a valley right at the base of a volcano. The volcano is the most active of all the volcanos in Ecuador. There's been two eruptions in the last 10 years. And at night you can see the lava at the very top, it was really cool. But as for this farm, it was amazing. Just when I think I see one of the most beautiful places ever, Ecuador shows even more beauty. This place never ceases to amaze me. This farm was about 200 acres and the majority of it was clementine trees. There was some other fruits and vegetables but tons of these clementine trees. So as you could imagine it was clementines for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in between, they were so delicious. They also have a good amount of cows for milk, as well as a good amount of horses. So I got to ride horses again on this farm with all my friends and played games on them. We would go bareback riding in this field and then just try to push each other off, it was so hilarious. We also just rode all over this breath taking farm. As for the carnival part, they have a game called carnival. Its where you get everyone as wet, dirty, gross, and cold as you can. We played on teh farm with each other and other family members that were there. But the more fun is when we loaded up with a dumb amount of water balloons and buckets of water and got in the back of this truck then drove through town. When you go into town EVERYONE is wet or about to get wet. It was a massive water fight with random strangers, it was so much fun. When we were in the back of the truck we were trowing water balloons left and right and at the same time getting hit from balconies or from other on the street r other passing cars. It was so incredibly fun. They also have this silly string stuff but only its like shaving cream but shoots really far and thats really popular as well. And you play this all 4 days of carnival. When you go out in public on those days you wont come home dry, I promise you that. When we came back to Quito I don't think I had one set of dry cloths. It was too funny. Such a great thing to experience and be part of. Especially with my best of friends here. It made me realize how much Im going to miss them when I leave. As for some exciting news, my moms flys in tonight and is staying for 2 weeks. I'm so excited to see her. We're going to travel all around Ecuador for those two weeks and I'll finally get to show someone my life here and where  I live and what I'm doing. Its going to be a great time.

La Amazonia

This guy will kill you if you touch him

The Lagoon

 If this year isn't already life changing by itself, I had a life changing trip. I just got back from another Rotary trip (yes another) and this time we were in the Amazon for 4 days. I feel safe to say that I’ve traveled quite alot all over the world and seen a lot of beautiful places and special things. With that being said, this was the most incredible trip I've ever been on. Yes only 4 days, but 4 days of enchantment. We went to Cuyabeno which is the very north part of the amazon in Ecuador. It's on the border or Colombia and Peru. Its a nature reserve as most of the Amazon is now, so all the animals and wildlife was so incredible. I literally have no words to describe what happened. It was just a really special trip for me because i finally got to get back in touch with nature. Oh how I've missed her. Coming from vermont where I'm outside all the time in nature and the mountains, and then being put in a big city is hard. Don't get me wrong i love Quito and living here, but i do miss the nature aspect of life. So where better to experience it again than the place with the most amount of organisms and life in a square meter than anywhere else on earth. ANYWHERE! Where we were was pretty much right on the equator, and its true, in one square meter theres more wildlife of all forms than anywhere else. Also in one square kilometer it has the most amount of tree species than anywhere else. So needless to say it was breathe taking. We saw tons of different types of monkeys, (actually got to hold one) tons of insects, spiders of all different sizes, including the largest tarantula there is, boa constrictor, crazy looking birds, toucans, macaws, crocodiles, piranhas (we fished for them), deadly frogs, caterpillars that if you touch them you die within a few hours, and most surprisingly was dolphins. Did you know there are dolphins in teh Amazon? Me neither until our guide was like oh hey look, its the pink dolphins, and yes they’re actually pink. So crazy.

Scorpion Spider

Rainbow Boa

As well as all the different trees and plants that look from outer space. The lodge we stayed at is on a lagoon, so everyday to get anywhere was in these small little boats and it was truly my dream come true. Now all the animals and wild life was out of this world, and with me going to college for marine biology and wanting a profession that deals with wildlife, this was actually my dream, no joke. But one of my favorite parts (which is really hard to say because it all was my favorite) was we got to go to a Shaman. They’re the “jungle doctors” of the Amazon. Its like a medicine man with Native Americans. They’re very spiritual beings that help others with sicknesses or illnesses with the knowledge of the jungle. They use hallucinogenic teas that are made from different things from the jungle, to see within you and see their visions that help you. It’s a very cool practice. Anyways so we got to meet with one and hear his story of becoming one, which was very interesting to listen too. We then had the option of having a spiritual cleansing by him if we wanted. I’ve always wanted to receive one of these, so when we were able I was overly joyed to have the opportunity. It was so relaxing and such a special moment for me that I will never forget for the rest of life. So anyways coming away from this trip I have no doubt I will return. I fell in love with this place and am going to try my hardest to go back and study or just live in one of the villages there.

            This first week back was tough. The whole time in classes or anywhere I was just day dreaming about being back in the Amazon, I still cant get over the feeling I have within me. There are no words to describe it but it’s such a wonderfully incredible feeling. But life goes on for now, I still love where I am here in Quito and love my life here.

Sunrise in the Amazon

           Well they say a pictures worth a thousand words you go. enjoy

What just happened?

Time flies when you're having fun...the greatest year of your life. I am writing this update almost exactly half way through my exchange, give or take a day. Where did time go? I know I say this every post I make but it still feels like I haven't been here all that long. But at the same time I feel as if this is my life and I'm not on vacation anymore. So I have a little bit of the both feelings. Yeah, it's weird. The update is the same, having the most fun ever. I love this life. As for actual happenings, nothing too out of the ordinary of just living here. Since christmas and new years its been pretty low key. Just going to school and hanging with friends. I had one of those feelings though as I was playing Ecu-volley (a version of volleyball only played in ecuador) in this amazing setting with a backdrop to die for. The feeling was as if time literally stopped and i was just standing there looking at my life and where i am physically and where i am mentally. Almost like an out-of-body experience. But if i had to put a finger on what it was that i was feeling, i would say love. Love for my family here, and back home, friends here, friends back home, and love for myself. Simply love for this beautiful country and place that I have this amazing privilege to be in. I've had a few of these intense feelings before but never this strong. And i think that's due to my ever growing connection with where I am as i grow as a person as well. I also have these thoughts of what if I didn't take this year? Where would I be? What would I be doing? But the most thought provoking is Who would I be? One of the times I was thinking of this recently a song came on my itunes. It was Other Ways by Trevor Hall. If you haven't heard it, listen to it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPi-mkGko2o&ob=av2e. The chorus goes like this. "Well I think about all the other ways I could've played, All the other simple moves I could've made, All the other cards that I could've dealt, All the books I didn't read upon my shelf, All the other ways I could've sung my songs, I've realized that none of it went wrong, It was all play, How could it be any other way?" I was like wow, thats perfect. That's what I was thinking about, all the other things I could have done and where would I be because of them. But I always come back to the same result, I did it all right because I love where I am in life.
          As for what I'm looking forward to more than anything at the moment is my next Rotary trip on friday. We're going to the Amazon for 4 days. It looks incredible. We're split into smaller groups and the first group just got back and I've been looking at all their pictures and it's driving me crazy because I just want to be there right now. But it's only 2 more days so it'll come soon enough. I be sure to put of photos and tell you guys all about it when I come back next week.

Pictures for the last post

Feliz Navidad y Año Nuevo!

          Christmas??? It really snuck up on me. Time flies when you’re having so much fun. And that’s really the word that describes this year, fun. Among a load of other words such as; amazing, spectacular, unbelievable, eye-opening, incredible, and definitely unforgettable. I’ve realized recently that I think almost everyone should take a year abroad or at least a part of a year. The things that I have learned and will learn are plentiful. The things I’ve seen have given me new viewpoints. And this experience has just simply changed me. All of these things are for the better and can benefit anyone who is willing to embrace them. I will, until the day I die, tell and strongly encourage people to travel for a period of time, preferably when they’re younger. In the case of an exchange, not many people can say that they have had more than one family in their lives. And even fewer can say they’ve had more than one family in their lives that they love. And this is the case I feel like for most exchangers. Of course some people don’t get a long with their families and might not be the best of times when you’re living there. But once you can step out and look back on your year living with a different family I guarantee you can thank them for everything they did for you and taught you.
          As for the Christmas festivities, they were plentiful. Because its almost 100% catholic here, its an extremely important holiday. They have Novena which is the nine nights before christmas the whole family gets together at someones house and celebrate. It includes readings from various books and then playing music and eating. It's completely focused on the kids, as they do all the readings and have the small instruments to play along with and sit in the center of everyone. The first night as the book was coming my way I was like they wont make me read. Wrong. I had to get up in front of my huge family and read this passage in spanish about baby jesus. It was the first time I think I had to read spanish in front of a group of people. Although i was a bit nervous it felt really good. So each night was that and then they celebrate christmas on christmas eve. So we all got together and my grandmothers house and my god, i've neer seen so many presents. Theres so many kids and people in teh family it makes sense, but still, wow. The presents literally were pilled up past half the height of the tree. It was absurd. It only took an hour to get through them all though, i was expecting at least 2 hours. Anyways so that was a really fun night. And then christmas day they dont do anything which was a little weird for me. But it was cool to be in something different than im used to. Then new years. Oh my goodness, what fun. New years here is a very family holiday actually. So the whole family got together again and it was incredible. Everyone was having so much fun dancing, singing, taking pictures, and jsut goofing around. They have all these funny little traditions here to bring good luck and wanted things in the new year. As for midnight though, nothing like i've ever seen before. Everyone goes out into the streets of the city and just parties and lights off fireworks. The ENTIRE city sky was lit up with fireworks. No matter where you looked you'd see fireworks, and big ones at that. And then they burn these life size dolls which symbolizes the old year and to get rid of all worries and bad things of the past year and to bring on the good fortune of the new year. Well i didn't know that they pack fireworks inside of these dolls as well, so when you jump over it (another tradition) fire crackers go off and its quite exilerating. Then the party goes all night long. So all in all I would have to say it was the best new years i think i've ever had. I loved the family aspect and just being with my family here is so much fun. Such a great experience.