1. What were your initial impressions of Ecuador as the plane was landing in Quito?
   
2. What was your favorite or least favorite meal on the trip?
   
3. Tell me about Luis. 
   
4. What region of Ecuador was your favorite? Describe why (Ecuador has four and we visited two the Andean mountains and the coastal region).
   
5. Which indigenous group was your favorite that you visited? (We visited two)
   
6. Did you make any new friends on the trip? Who? 
   
7. Would you visit Ecuador again? What part would you go back to? 
   
8. What risks did you take on the trip? 
   
9. How did visiting Ecuador change your world view? 
   
10. Did you participate in "Solo en Español"? 
    
11. Show me your favorite photo you took on the trip.
    
12. What type of things did you purchase on the trip (junk food)? 
    
13. Is there a journal entry or two that you would be willing to share? 
    
14. What did you miss about the United States? 
    
15. Did you get home sick at all? 
    
16. How did Ecuadorians react to our group when we walked around different places? 
    
17. How was the geography in Ecuador different than our geography at home? 
    
18. What are some of the difference between Quito and Guayaquil?
    
19. Did anything embarrassing happen to you on the trip? 
    
20. What was served at almost every meal (three things)?
    

Thanks again for this opportunity to invest in your children. They truly were a joy. 

~ Adam Thornton, Brent Sheffield, Alex and Meghan Blake

~Adam

Today we have a few posts from some of the boys on the trip.  As you will read they are much more brief and to the point than our previous bloggers.  Also, they don't like being thirsty or stinging jellyfish. Read for yourself:

After our time at the beach we headed to our hotel for the next two nights. I can say with 100% certaninty that this is the coolest and best hotel we hae stayed at on the trip. We are tucked back in the jungle and have the entire property to ourselves. Our rooms are private cabannas with porches and hammocks. I can't wait to post photos of the property tomorrow. The property also has a pool, a ping pong table, and two pool tables for the students to enjoy. 

After checking in we took a short walk down to the beach to watch the sun set. 

Tomorrow will also be a memorable day as we head to Isla de la Plata to snorkle and observe the wildlife. 

Today was our longest day of the tour so far - we left the hotel right after breakfast and arrived at the hotel tonight after 9:00pm.  It was packed with fun experiences and learning.

We started off the day heading to a school on the outskirts of Guayaquil.  At the school students performed cultural dances for their parents and for us. After the dancing we played soccer against the kids from that school and it didn't go well for us.  We got beat pretty handily.  Afterwards we taught them the basics of American Football and had an opportunity to talk and take photos with the students there.  We had the opportunity to give service as well.  All of our students took turns to paint the walls of one of their classrooms. It was a great opportunity for us to help out and give a little to some people in need. 

After the school visit we headed to Mall del Sol which is exactly what it sounds like - a mall. I was surprised to hear that we were heading to a mall but the students loved it and we all enjoyed comparing the similarities and differences between a mall in Colorado versus a mall in Ecuador.  We found big differences in the prices of American products - they were much more expensive in Ecuador.  

After the mall we drove to a park in the downtown area of Guayaquil where iguanas walk freely everywhere.  I think the people in the busy park were outnumbered by the iguanas covering the grass, the sidewalk, and in the trees.  

We walked from the park to the shores of the Guayas River and followed the river along the path on our way to one of the hills of Guayaquil.  We hiked the 444 steps to the lighthouse at the top and enjoyed the views and the overpowering heat/humidity.  We walked many miles today and by this point most of our students were dead tired. To recover from our walk/hike we enjoyed $.75 shave ice and lots of water. 

Finally, we boarded the pirate ship Henry Morgan and it took us on a cruise of the Guayas River at sunset.  Many students used this time as a chance to hone their photography skills and get some great photos of the huge river, the lighthouse and hill below, the sunset, and (of course) themselves.  The boat ride was a much needed rest from the heat of the day and the rigors of walking almost all day. 

Dinner was late but good.  Our most common food item of the trip was present at this meal again - plantains (served both as chips and smashed flat as cakes).

Tomorrow brings rest, sun, and the beach. I think we will all enjoy the chance to cool off in the ocean. 

-Brent

Wow. This entire trip has just blown my mind. First, the people are so incredibly nice and cheery. They are super optimistic about literally everything. Yesterday, 2 of the groups played soccer and freeze tag with some of the local children while the others played the Ecuadorean version of volleyball and got free avocados. With total strangers! But, it was the most meaningful thing, in my opinion, that has happened. It really just showed me that these are people too. They're just a little different. To me, it separated fancy America, where some people think they are better than everyone else that's different than them, from simple Ecuador, where everyone is the same, no matter what. 

Plus, the landscape is gorgeous. I mean, this place is just as green as Ireland! And we just got to the coast! 

I think everyone on this trip is having a blast. I don't think I've ever branched out this much culturally in my entire life. From eating different foods, like llama and guinea pig, to seeing the tiny different things that make all the difference.

So, parents! Don't worry about your children! I guarantee that they are perfectly safe and having the time of their lives!

-Megan Steinheimer

Wow. This entire trip has just blown my mind. First, the people are so incredibly nice and cheery. They are super optimistic about literally everything. Yesterday, 2 of the groups played soccer and freeze tag with some of the local children while the others played the Ecuadorean version of volleyball and got free avocados. With total strangers! But, it was the most meaningful thing, in my opinion, that has happened. It really just showed me that these are people too. They're just a little different. To me, it separated fancy America, where some people think they are better than everyone else that's different than them, from simple Ecuador, where everyone is the same, no matter what. 

Plus, the landscape is gorgeous. I mean, this place is just as green as Ireland! And we just got to the coast! 

I think everyone on this trip is having a blast. I don't think I've ever branched out this much culturally in my entire life. From eating different foods, like llama and guinea pig, to seeing the tiny different things that make all the difference.

So, parents! Don't worry about your children! I guarantee that they are perfectly safe and having the time of their lives!

-Megan Steinheimer

In the Cotopaxi National Park we got a hiking tour around a lake called Limpiapungo, which means clear or clean door. Mr. Sheffield, our tour director Luis, and myself translated for the local guides who took us around the trail and told us about the ecosystems and wildlife located in the area of Cotopaxi. After the tour we had a bagged lunch in a rest area of the park, and there was a snack shop that offered some local foods, including coca tea. Ask your student if they tried this local hot drink! We then headed on to where we would be staying the night... with one more stop planned. In a small restaurant on the way to Rio Bamba, students had the opportunity to try the Ecuadorian delicacy Cuyi, better known in English as Guinea Pig. Every student tried a bite, and the concensus was it tasted like chicken. 

When we arrived at our hotel on the outskirts of Rio Bamba, we split up into groups to explore the little town that we were assured was extremely safe. This was an awesome opportunity for students to get a glimpse into some real lives of real people in Ecuador. One group ended up playing an impromptu game of soccer, while another group bought coke in glass bottles from a local store. Some students were even invited to play a game of EcuaVolei, the Ecudorian version of Volleyball which has only 3 players per team, a higher net, and a harder heavier ball. A couple of girls struck up a conversation with a woman who was transporting greens in a wheel barrow. Her name was Irma, and she invited some students back to see her house. Hesistant, Mr. Thornton and myself went with the students and Irma showed us her Guinea pigs, her rabbits, and her black Guinea pigs. When we left to go back to the hotel for dinner, she gave each of us an avocado as a gift. She was a wonderful example of the kind of hospitality you can find in the countries of Central and South America. Dinner was a meal of tomato soup, beef, and fresh tomatos and beats followed by sweetbread for dessert. We followed up dinner with a meeting and team building activities.  Students are all tired and ready for bed and an early start tomorrow, when we'll be visiting a community who raises llamas.  

We got on the bus and traveled close by to the old city Quito where we visited three different churches that date back to the 16th centuty: The basilica of Quito, Santo Domingo and San Francisco. We were given an extensive tour of Santo Domingo where we saw some amazing art work and architechture. We visited the Grand Plaza, which is the center of the city and also the location of the Presidential palace.  

We took a 35 minute ride from the airport to our hotel where we were able to see some of the countryside and outskits of Quito. Once we arrived at the hotel we were able to check in and rest for a few minutes. We then took a walk to a local super market to buy water and other food/snack items. Walking through the city and buying all types of new fruit was a great experience for all. 

Dinner was at our hotel and included chicken, potatoes, bread, and a salad. 

We all super tired and looking forward to a night of rest and a day of sight seeing around Quito. 

~Adam