Quito/Ecuador

 Quito/Ecuador Experience

    Hi guys! I'm Andres Manzano Zambrano and through Universidad de San Francisco de Quito and HPU I got to study abroad in Ecuador. I could not have predicted how amazing my time there would have been through the program. 

Quito

    At the beginning I was bummed to find out that the program was 2 months in Quito and 2 1/2 months in Galapagos. I thought I was gonna spend my entire time in Galapagos, but it turns out that was the best pacing for the program. 

    
How classes work for study abroad students is you only take one class for three weeks 9-12 Monday-Friday, and after those 3 weeks you move on to the next class and in total do 5 classes. For the marine bio track that I took our classes were Marine Techniques 1, Freshwater Ecology, Marine Ecology, Marine Conservation, and Marine Techniques 2. In Quito I took MT1 and Freshwater ecology. Every weekend if we didn't have a field trip with the school me and my friends would travel to different parts of Ecuador and explore the country. USFQ gave us so many tips on how best to travel and info on the best places to explore. The coolest places me and my friends went to was Cotopaxi, A huge dormant Volcano with glaciers and did a huge hike and got to cross out lick a glacier from my bucket list!! Other places we went was like Banos, where there's a bunch of beautiful hikes, white water rafting, and hot springs.

Marine Techniques 1

Marine techniques 1 was an amazing class with the incredible Maggie Brandt, an amazing professor who was so much fun to be with. With her and our great TA Ibon we went to the coastal town called Ayangue, where there is a Marine reserve. We studied the rocky intertidal at several beaches and go to see awesome creatures like lobsters, sea hares, and brittle stars! (I actually got a brittle star tattoo on my foot because of it). We also dove 4 times while we were there to study the subtidal environment as well. On the boat ride to our dive site we saw so many humpback whales jumping and playing around. And while diving I got to see octopus, sea lions, and even my first shark. The hotel we stayed at was so pretty and had a a great pool and we always went to the best restaurants for food. The class was way more about practical application and diving practice which was awesome to experience since most college classes are way more theoretical.

Freshwater Ecology

This class was a bit more on the theoretical side for the first two weeks but then we got to do an incredible field trip to the Amazon rainforest for a week!! We went to the USFQ Tiputini Biodiversity station and got to explore Ecuadors part of the Amazon rainforest. Got to see monkeys, river dolphins, caimans, so many species of birds, snakes, spiders, and bugs and got the blessing to even see a jaguar!! The station even has a canopy tower where you can see the vast stretch of rainforest and hear all the birds singing. It was such a beautiful experience. 

Galapagos

Right after the Amazon we hopped on a plane and headed straight to the Galapagos. We stayed at the island San Cristobal which is overall my favorite island because it's the second most populated island (8,000 people) and has easily accessible beaches to be able to go every day. There me and my friends beached essentially every day and even camped a few times at our favorite beach called Puerto Chino. A heads up, Galapagos has not much to do aside from beach (no movie theatre, no people attractions, not many concerts) so it is handy to have a hobby to be able to pass the time. Me and my friends picked up DnD as a hobby and it was some of the best parts of the trip just playing and laughing together. For our fall break we went island hopping and explored the other Islands. Isabela is by far the prettiest island with long stretch of white sand beaches and super healthy nature to go see as well as penguins and flamingos!

Marine Ecology

For Marine Ecology we once again got Maggie as our professor. We got to dive again but now in the Galapagos and got to see so many sharks. We saw hammerheads, black tips and white tip sharks as well as eagle rays and hundreds of turtles and sea lions. 

Maggie got us an extension of her permits and allowed us to do our own independent research project. It was awesome how much trust she gave to us and allowed us to actually pit our field knowledge into use. My group and I were very passionate about our project and we did research on dominant behavior of damselfish and got some really cool results out of it. 

Marine Conservation

Marine Conservation was a much more theoretical class. Talking about management projects and seeing different stakeholders perspectives about conservation. I enjoyed this class because it made me think of how the rest of society especially business owners view environmental issues and how to make it possible for them to be persuaded. We also got to do some DNA analysis in this class for illegally caught fish to see what fishermen are actually selling on the market which was pretty cool to do.

Marine Techniques 2

Then we head probably my favorite class, Marine Techniques 2. This class was taught by Alex Hearn, one of the most knowledgable shark scientists in the world. He taught us about the tracking methods and catching methods of sharks for research. He was also very honest with us about how the world works and corruption throughout environmental and government institutions and how to combat them to protect the planet. He was very welcoming to conversations and loved debating and hearing out our ideas. To add to that we had SO MUCH field work experience with him. 

We got to watch him handle and tag baby sharks and teach us the tagging techniques in person and why they tag them this way. We also got to dive with him as well and saw so so many sharks. Including Galapagos shark that would swim up to 5 feet close to you and we encountered a school of 40 hammerheads which was such an insane and beautiful thing to experience.  We also ran into a school of over 100 devil rays and saw probably up to a hundred white tip sharks as well. 

End Note

The experience I have had to be able to connect with nature in such intimate ways was the best thing I could've hoped for. I got to accomplish so many things on my bucket list and enjoy the beauties of the Galapagos, Amazon and many more environments in just 4 months. To add to that I had awesome professors who gave us so much practical experience on the field with wild animals and techniques to study them. On the social side I got to make a group of friends that I will know and treasure for the rest of my life and go to explore and adventure with them across a beautiful country. The experience was a treasure and studying abroad was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Darkness and the Galapagos

Throughout the Galapagos Island Archipelago, there are volcanic tunnels that have solidified into subterranean pathways. Peaceful and cool, they host a darkness that many people would fear. A lack of light that can only be really experienced underground, the hollow and craggy pathway lit only by our headlamps feels like the beginning to a horror movie. But like anything, if you enter a place with fear it will present you with something to be afraid of. We are quiet, not because we have to be, but because something about the tunnel feels holy. As if it is a cathedral to the secrets of the inner workings of the earth. It is surprisingly peaceful. The darkness and the sound of our footsteps echoing. We decide to turn out the lights and sit in silence. I decide to lay on the ground. In the darkness I feel more connected to the earth than I ever had. For a profound 5 minutes, I feel inexplicable peace. We then turn the lights on, but no one speaks for a few moments. As we explore the caves more, talking about volcanism and geology, there is a deep sense of content. As if our heartbeats have aligned to the movements of the earth’s core. I knew then, I would never feel scared of being underground again.

~Sydney Lewark
SIT Ecuador: Comparative Ecology and Conservation

Floating Down the Amazon

Miles and miles from any town or city, branches of the Amazon river basin wind through untouched rain forests. The sunlight here beams through the leaves of a thousand different plant species, and the sounds from the forest are not dominated by a single group of voices. There is balance here, no artificial mechanism has unbalanced the natural order. Capybara wade at the river’s edge, tarantulas hide beneath the wide leaves, and flocks of brightly colored birds dive across the water’s surface. In the early morning the sky is grey, and the long canoe cuts through the water as a soft rain falls. We count the numbers and varieties of birds as the hunt for food before the heat of the day arrives. After any hour we jump into the cold river water and let the current take us back to the research station downstream. The current is strong but not dangerous. I lay on my back and watch the rain forest pass by. We all hope we will be visited by a pod of pink river dolphins, but we know how rare an encounter is. Despite the cold rain, we laugh and attempt to swim against the current. We don’t want the float to end any sooner than it has to. You cannot see the bottom of the river, the water is murky. But you don’t fear what lies beneath. There is a sense of belonging, that maybe can only be felt in the depths of a protected rainforest. As if the creatures below and above you feel that we do not intend to harm them. And it is that peace of mind, that the sun rises and the day begins.

~Sydney Lewark
SIT Ecuador: Comparative Ecology and Conservation

Life in The Paramo

Thousands of feet above sea level, the Ecuadorian Paramo is an Andean environment, where only the strongest survive. Trees and plants must huddle together for warmth, and organisms must adapt to survive high levels of UV, arctic temperatures, and low level of nutrients in the soil. If you venture out into the harsh terrain, you must brace yourself for the same conditions. Covered from head to foot in order to evade the cold wind, the snow and rain, and the intense sunlight, you feel like I you have stepped onto another planet. But there is an unparalleled beauty to this desolate land. Volcanoes that stand as giants against the brilliant blue sky, seem to be pulled from the dreams of a fantasy painter. The wind is so strong you are unsure if you won’t be picked up and be blown across the face of the gold touched valleys. The feeling of open space is one that not many places on the planet still possess. You can stand at the base of the mountains and watch the landscape spread out for miles and miles. Your breath is short, perhaps because the air is so thin, or maybe because you have glimpsed a remnant of the majesty the world once held before humankind walked the planet.

~Sydney Lewark
SIT Ecuador: Comparative Ecology and Conservation

Oh the places you'll go!

If humans were supposed to stay in one place we would have roots instead of feet.

Over the past year of studying abroad my feet have walked through 35 airplanes and even more airports. Ten countries with numerous cities and sites viewed in each; the soles of my wandering feet have stepped through the same walking paths as the Incas that designed the mysterious Machu Picchu

and the same cobbled walkways as those taken by the Gladiators that fought in the Colosseum of Rome. 

The same marbled walkway that Pericles and other Athenians took to leave offerings and prayers at the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The path that the infamous Berlin Wall once stood as a mocking threat to any that dared try and pass it. 

The streets of Venice, Prague, Barcelona, Reykjavik, and Quito all so drastically different and yet somehow connected by the humbled footprints left by my feet. The Ancient site of the Oracle of Delphi where Alexander the Great ventured to in order to obtain a positive prophecy for his conquests of the then known world.

 The battleground where 300 Spartans and numerous other Greeks fought the Persian invasion of their country at Thermopylae.

The ground where the first Parliament took place in Iceland and the same narrow streets in Quito that are now an UNESCO World Heritage site. 

The romantic and tiny city of Verona where Rome fell in love with Juliet. So many awe-inspiring cities, ancient sites, and wonders of the world. Places that in a normal university year one would never be able to experience.  

May all students have the opportunity to study abroad at least once. Whether it is to discover a country they have always wanted to go to, to learn a new language or improve on one they have learned for years, or even to go someplace they never thought they would want to go.

May all students have the opportunity to live, learn, and love in a new culture. May more students go abroad then those that do not. May the fear of the unknown become extinct and xenophobia be another Greek word that no one understands.

May all university students have the drive to push themselves outside of their comfort zones. May we all go to at least one place we have never been to once a year. May our feet step in the same footprints as the greats, while simultaneously creating a path that someday another person will want to follow.  May we all encompass the brave desire to discover new lands and new people. And more than anything may wanderlust be something that everyone experiences.

Why would anyone want to study abroad in Latin America?

Mitad del Mundo...the middle of the World

Studying abroad in Latin America is difficult. You deal with expensive plane tickets, corrupted governments, active volcanoes, and a complicated language barrier, if you do not speak Spanish. There is a reason why Europe is more popular and more glamorous. In Italy you can take wine tasting classes, in Greece you can learn about the Spartans, and in Germany you can eat some of the best food in the world. So why would anyone choose to spend a semester in Latin America?

Why would anyone want to experience the World’s tallest capitols that tower at well over 9,000 feet in La Paz Bolivia and Quito Ecuador? Experiencing daily life at 9,000 feet above sea level is not for the weak of breath because altitude sickness can kick in at any given time. But, experiencing living in the Andes Mountains, in my opinion the most beautiful mountain range in the World, is well worth the strain on your lungs! Plus once you return to a normal elevation you can basically concur the world.

Why would anyone want to visit Machu Picchu? It’s only one of the 10 Wonders of the World and the site of one of the strongest ancient civilizations the world has ever seen (and this is coming from a Greek). But you’re right flying into the tiny Cuzco airport can be a little overwhelming, especially when WIFI doesn’t exist and you can’t get in contact with you friend whose flight was delayed because we are talking about Latin America here. However, you can always spend 10 hours hanging out in Plaza de Armas contemplating whether you will make your train to Aguas Calientes or not! But if you have any questions of course you would ask the locals who are all more than happy to answer absolutely any question you may have. Be advised that Spangilsh will become a part of your everyday speaking expeditions.

Why would anyone want to travel to the edge of the Rain Forrest to participate in adventure sports? Sure there are more mosquitoes than tourists in New York in Baños; but bug bites are temporary, memories are forever. It is not every day you can ride in the back of a truck to the swing at the end of the world, then go zip-linning through the jungle, go puenting off a bridge (similar to bungee jumping), take a chiva to a huge waterfall, and then end the night salsa dancing at a bar called Leprechaun next to another bar called “Why Not?” Where else in the world can so much be accomplished in one day in one of the most beautiful locations in the world?

Why would anyone want to take a two hour plane ride to the Galápagos?

Maybe you are religious and don’t believe in evolution, but don’t hold that against the tortoises. In the Galápagos you can swim with

any creature you have dreamt of from sea lions, turtles, sting rays, puffer fish, sharks, and penguins. So there are no unicorns, but I am sure they are working on it! Being able to walk on the beach where Darwin once sat observing the wild iguanas is a sight that you will never be able to have anywhere else in the world!

Why would anyone want to live in Quito, Ecuador? Besides for the fact that no parent of any student studying here knows how to say the name of the city, what is there to do in Quito? Let me begin with the people. Except for when dealing with public transportation the people are never in a hurry to do anything and there are so many of them you can never be bored! Ecuadorians are lovers of life and non-spicy food and they are constantly trying to make the griengas feel less nervous about not having the beautiful skin color of the Ecuadorians. I believe everyone wants to fall in love with a “Latin Lover” at one point of their life and that is probably the hardest part about studying abroad.

Ecuadorians love to dance and they will put any American to shame with their hips that do not lie. Dancing is always a part of life in Ecuador even at an Oktoberfest there will be salsa dancing. And of course Quito has a lot of beautiful landmarks you have to see while living here, before time runs up.

Why would anyone want to study abroad in Ecuador? There is not enough time for love, for traveling, for exploring the city, or trying every type of food that you want. Along with school work and going away to experience other areas there leaves little time for anything else.

And timing is never right, whether you are waiting for a bus that already left, a train that you didn’t know where to find it, or the person you suddenly feel passionately about there will never be enough time. Because, studying abroad is a race against the clock. You become friends instantaneously with people that have the same mindset as you and suddenly you are doing everything with them without even thinking about the fact that come December 24^th you will be living thousands of miles apart. You try to plan trips to everywhere you want to see when all of the sudden you realize you are out of money and weekends. You try to build new relationships only to have them crumble under time constraints and language barriers. You learn to use google translate as a part of your everyday life and when you don’t have wifi you are searching for it continuously because you can’t lose a moment when the time you have left is so short. So let me ask you... 

Blue Footed Boobie

Why would anyone want to study abroad in Latin America? The question is why wouldn’t you? Maybe you are afraid of adventure? Maybe you are afraid of being pushed outside of your comfort zone? Maybe you don’t want to make new friends with people from not only Latin America, but from everywhere in the World? Or maybe you are just afraid to live?

The Musical Garbage Truck That Talks to You

Hola! It’s me again only this time I am studying not in Athens, Greece the home of my ancestors, I am studying in the country of the volcanoes.

Volcanoes everywhere! 

Maybe that isn’t the official slogan of the country, but when every single day all you hear about is Cotopaxi (for those of you that do not know it is an active volcano in the south of Quito that is due to erupt at any time) and a president that isn’t allowing for information to be let out about said volcano then you begin to associate the country with volcanoes.

Currently I am sitting in my host families house looking out of my giant window at the first real rain shower I have experienced since arriving to Ecuador. The power is out so I am struggling to see with the dim wet grey light that is peaking in from outside. September the 22^nd marks one month that I have lived in Quito and I find myself reminiscing on how much has changed since I have arrived to the beautiful country that boasts the catchphrase Ama la Vida.

Just one example of the humming birds

One month ago I was frantically throwing clothes into two suitcases and saying my goodbyes to everyone in Rapid City because the night before I had flown in from an internship in New York. Less than twenty-four hours to pack for four months use to seem impossible, but now I can say that it absolutely is not. However, life is about the adventure. When I boarded my plane in Rapid City, SD I had no idea what to expect when I stepped out of customs in Quito, Ecuador. Looking back I could have prepared myself more, but having no preconceived ideas of what to expect has honestly been the best strategy to enjoying every moment since I have been here. So now I will tell you about my experience since arriving to my second study abroad location.

View of the Old Town Quito

Ecuador is a country unlike any other country in the world. 
From the Andes filled with colorfully dressed indigenous people, to the jungle bursting with more species of humming birds than anywhere else in the world, the beautiful beaches separating the land from the sea, and the volcanoes that are always threatening to erupt there are too many activities to do to ever say that one is bored. One doesn’t even have to leave the bustling crowded city of Quito to find differing cultural experiences. From the old town which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site to Quicentro which is the shiny and modern new shopping mall in the center of Quito there is always something new to discover.

View of the River I bungee jumped over

Having traveled to two cities Otavalo and Baños I feel as if there are too many great places in this country to visit that choosing only a few is going to be incredibly difficult. Along with the beautiful scenery are the passionate Ecuadorians that I have met, Ecuadorians much like the Greeks are very focused on family. My host mother immediately took me under her wing and introduced me to the intricacies of life in Quito. However, having to speak Spanish every day is physically draining. I find myself coming home every day from university exhausted both physically and emotionally. Life in Quito is hard, it takes twice the effort to accomplish anything and it’s hard to try and blend in when you are clearly a grienga that is taller than almost everyone. 

Bungee jumping

Having lived in Greece is helping a lot with realizing culture shock and with adapting to another country that functions completely different that the United States. I am also learning a lot about myself since living in Ecuador. First, I should never go into boats or anything floating on water that isn’t a surfboard. Second, I enjoy dancing salsa more than anyone who has never done it before should. Third, Reggaeton is the greatest music to dance to and anyone that tries to argue hasn’t lived. Fourth, planning a vacation within Ecuador is too much work, going with the flow is so much easier. Fifth, the friends you make while studying abroad become your entire life while in the country. Finally, trying to befriend Ecuadorians becomes really hard when you don’t speak fluent sarcasm in Spanish.


Also in case you were wondering about the title, the garbage trucks in small towns play music while picking up garbage and tell you to get out of the way!

Travel with people that are as photogenic as you

I think that is enough with my experience in Ecuador thus far! I hope you enjoy the pictures and stay tuned for my next blog!

Cascada del Pailon del Diablo

View of one of the main squares in Quito