2020-04-03
The past seven months in Ecuador taught me a lot. If I could go back in time to August and give advice to myself, this is what I would say. Advice for Future Fellows: Ecuador is so much colder than you think it is. Bring sweaters and warm socks. Also bring things to do. Bring...
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2020-02-02
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of home. I keep having the moment of thinking, “I want to go home”, and not really knowing where that is. Is Sayausí home? Is Michigan? Is it both? Neither? I don’t think home is a single defined place for me right now. All I know...
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2020-01-12
A quick photo summary of our trip to the Galapagos Islands! Fam selfie in the Guayaquil airport on our way to San Cristobal One of my favorite parts of San Cristobal was the overwhelming presence of sea lions. We kept finding them in the funniest spots—chairs, porches, sidewalks. The view from the balcony of our...
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2019-11-04
This weekend was the Fiestas de Cuenca, which is basically a four day long celebration of Cuenca’s independence. The city comes alive with thousands of people, tents selling artisan goods, bands performing, and flags in the streets. Charlie and I spent Friday afternoon walking around the festival and meeting up with Aya and Alissa. My...
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2019-10-13
(Alternatively titled: “Chaos Reigns and Trump Isn’t Even Here!” – Thanks for the suggestion, Dad.) I have not left Sayausí in nine days. Let’s be honest, I have barely left my house in nine days. Just over a week ago, Ecuador entered a state of emergency as people took to the streets to protest the...
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2019-09-22
It’s been exactly two weeks since I arrived at my homestay, and it’s crazy to me how quickly it’s begun to feel a little bit like home. I took a taxi home from Cuenca and was struck by how familiar the lights of Sayausí looked coming up the hill. The soft Spanish music and gentle...
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One of my host mom’s favorite phrases to say to me is “poco a poco”. Slowly, mija. The first day we met, she told me the story of her family, how her children miss their father but every day it gets better. Poco a poco. Each morning, she reassures me that I will...
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2019-08-27
I tried to write this blog over and over again in the last few weeks I was at home, but I could never quite get it right. I think this whole thing felt too surreal. I couldn’t even begin to process the idea of leaving home. I kept getting stuck on this idea: I am...
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