discover ecuador – Pushing Forward

I am once again blogging my reflection of my Discover Ecuador week. I want to model for our students as well as share my experiences and learnings. Two amazing weeks gave me much more to think about than I could write but here are some of my thoughts as well as photo “evidence”.

For the second week in a row I was away with students for Discover Ecuador trips, it was another great experience. Working with the 7th grade class at Camp Kuri Kucho (thanks to Gabo Cadenas for the above photo) was an absolute joy! The community, San Pablo Urku, welcomed us with open arms and we felt totally at home as we worked to support the projects of this small community. My experience with the 7th graders was just as amazing as my trip to the Amazon the week before but different in many ways, most obvious of which was the weather!

Accomplishments

The biggest outcome of this week for me was the impressive and inspiring work achieved by the 7th grade group. In the week prior to our visit the 9th grade class had been in this community starting and working on some projects. The 7th grade continued their work in many areas and started a few of their own projects.

IMG_6142 2.JPG — The first five rows of a 15 row water tank. Each plastic bottle is filled with dirt to create a “brick”. Foundation laid by 9th grade last week.

Over the course of the week we were able to see the fruits of our labor as the projects progressed. Our students felt tremendously proud of the work they accomplished.

The main focus of our work was centered around the local school. In this community they have a school of about 90 students from elementary school up through 10th grade. The students in this school are from the surrounding villages and could be seen walking great distances to get to and from school each day. The AC students were able to connect with these students as they joined the 45 minute school break each morning. Playing soccer, basketball and joining conversations with the local students, our kids got to know the community members better. The connections they established gave even more meaning to the work we were completing on their behalf.

One of the highlights was the opportunity for our students to take part in a lesson with some local students. The topic was about the use of pesticides and the harmful impact they can have on the agriculture and the environment.

Classroom “theory” time before doing the “practical” in the garden.

After the lesson our students worked side by side in the garden with the local students to begin planting either potatoes or fava beans (habas). Since this school is a rural school they’ve worked to establish a sizable organic garden for their students to learn the process and importance of farming. Much of our service work involved this garden. It was a unique experience and opportunity for our students to work in a meaningful and real context with the local students.

Ernesto teaching us how to milk a cow and other fun facts about cows and their milk production.

Aside from the wonderful service work completed by our kids we had a lot of other learning opportunities throughout the week. Afternoon activities allowed the kids to learn to make tortillas from scratch, learn to milk a cow, and upcycle a plastic bottle into a “maceta” (a pot for plants).

Maceta creation station led by our fantastic project leader, Karen.

Each student participated in all of these activities and had the chance to come home with their maceta and a plant. Other opportunities included learning to conserve water (a very valuable resource in this community) by taking a “bucket shower”,

Buckets getting filled for our “showers”. Hot water boils on the other side of that wall, each person gets about half a bucket of hot water and fills the rest with colder water.

working as a team to wash their own dishes and silverware, and sharing a bunk space with over 15 other classmates. All in all, our 7th grade group had the opportunity for a lot of amazing takeaways from the week.

What I Learned at Kuri Kucho

While this was a tremendous learning experience for our students there were also some great takeaways for me too. We worked hard during the day and enjoyed the afternoon and evening team building experiences. The students learned countless lessons this week. I too learned a few lessons of my own through this experience and also a few good reminders!

Last week I talked about how much I learned about my tolerance for rain. This week, I learned just how valuable rain (and water in general) can be for a community. San Pablo Urku lies in a very dry area and is currently in the midst of the dry season. We were constantly reminded of this fact since they only have running water a couple days of the week. Students (and teachers) had to deal with toilets that didn’t flush with the push of a button, an absence of traditional showers (they waste a lot of water), and dust and dirt all over everything. While we were there we experienced a day of rain and could see first hand just how valuable that water was to the community. Water collection tanks filled, plants and crops received much needed hydration, and the whole community smiled as we sheltered from the rain (they knew how important that water was!) Water, the essence of life, is constantly on the minds of this community…something we take for granted everyday was put into a very different perspective at Camp Kuri Kucho.

Another good reminder of things that we take for granted was the importance of certain types of food. I can walk out my front door and within two minutes be at a pizza place, a sushi joint, a noodles restaurant, or cevicheria. In San Pablo Urku the staples are potatoes and fava beans. Every meal includes one of these very filling foods that also provide an amount of protein to their diets. Meat is rare and when included it is a treat. Cuy (guinea pig) are raised by almost all members of the community, as well as chickens. Cows provide milk,

There were lots of sheep around San Pablo Urku.

sheep provide wool, but both exist as a rare delicacy as far as their meat is concerned. The last night hamburgers and french fries on the menu, it struck me as to how foreign this menu must be for the local community…something so normal to me is completely foreign two hours down the road.

Wonderful Experience

Waking up each morning to the sight of Cayambe looming over head was an absolute joy. I didn’t let a chance to appreciate this beautiful sight ever pass me by.

A hike with an amazing view as a reward, beautiful!

We had clear mornings each day and I even woke up one night at about 4:30 to see a full moon hovering just over the volcano…awesome! Beyond the amazing scenery was the chance to take in a completely new experience with our students. Visiting this community and working alongside the maestros to improve their garden and water tank was inspiring. Community service is important for the people we help but perhaps even more important for the inspiration we can take away from the experience. I feel very thankful to have enjoyed this trip with the 7th grade students.

Last week I was lucky enough to join the 10th grade class on their trip to Camp Amazonia near the communities of Rio Blanco and San Alberto in the Amazon Jungle. It was my tenth school trip in as many years and each has been unique in its own way. This was my first time taking high school students on a trip and I can now say I’ve traveled for a week with every grade from 3-10 except 9th grade. This trip included lots of hard work to help the local Kichwa communities, team building, cultural activities, and a trip to the Jumandi Caves. At the end of the week everyone was exhausted but there was also an overwhelming sense of achievement!

Awesomeness

Every time I take one of these trips there are wonderful examples of how amazing young adults can be when they are pushed out of their comfort zones. This past week certainly did that, kids and adults alike were challenged in situations that went well beyond our everyday routines. Right from the start we got right down to business with some hard work in the morning and then again after lunch. We started the day in the rain and ended in fierce heat and sun. Not only were we pushing ourselves hard to help these communities but the weather was pushing us as well. However, by the end of the night everyone made it to dinner with a smile on their face and a sense of satisfaction in their hearts.

Working hard to create a botanical fence line.

The sense of community that develops over the course of a week like this is impressive to say the least. Students who are struggling for one reason or another are picked up by their classmates without any teacher intervention. Classmates who hadn’t really engaged with each other in the past can be seen walking, working, eating, and hanging out together. New friendships are formed and old bonds are strengthened. As important as community can be in international schools, trips like this are crucial!

I’m not sure there are words to express how impressed I was with the efforts of the 10th grade group over the course of the week. Through torrential rains, back breaking work, spiders and other critters, these kids stepped up in a huge way. The work they did this

Heading out to plant trees, helping to reforest a recently devastated area.

past week will benefit those communities for years to come. Our students may never return to this area but their mark has been made, their efforts were not in vain.

What I Learned About Myself

While this was a tremendous learning experience for our students there were also some great takeaways for me too. This trip was, by far, the most physically challenging of the school trips I’ve enjoyed. I’m not shy about some hard work and I enjoyed every second of getting my hands dirty this week. However, I learned a few lessons of my own through this experience.

First off, I used to think that I would do pretty much anything to be out of the rain. I HATE rain, or at least I used to think I did. I mean, I’ve always loved a good thunderstorm but that’s conditional on me not being caught in the down pour. In the Amazon, when it rains, it pours. When it pours in the jungle there’s just no way to avoid it, no way to stay dry, get dry, or even remember what dry feels like! However, it’s warm outside which makes being wet much more tolerable than I had ever realized. In fact, by the time we got to Thursday and got stuck in yet another torrential downpour I was so used to the rain that I soaked it up and enjoyed every last drop. I learned that I could manage being wet, even soaked with boots full of water!

Another great reminder for me this week had to do with being prepared. While I was prepared with all of the right materials and supplies, some of the kids weren’t. Usually I pack extra and plan for this situation but for some reason I didn’t this week. I gave up my gloves and came home with some blisters as trophies. Not all of our kids had the proper footwear but thankfully Camps International had extra boots. Finally, when it comes to being prepared in the jungle…bug spray is your best friend, I got lazy at the end of the week and my legs got eaten up! Pack heavy and take extra gear, especially if you’re staying in cabins and not carrying it around all week.

Thankful

At the end of the week I feel extremely thankful that I was able to join this experience with our 10th graders. We made a difference in that community, we learned about the Amazon, and we grew closer as a group. Working alongside this inspirational group of young adults made me a better person and a better educator. The best news is that I get one more week, this time with 7th grade…I can’t wait!!

Hiking in the jungle, we stopped next to a 300 year old tree to learn how to create our own headwear.

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