Last Day

Our last day in the Galapagos was one of the best. After another delicious breakfast we went to work just a couple feet away from our lodge. Since this was our last couple hours of community service, we worked hard to clear weeds and plant banana trees for the host family.

After work, we packed for a big BBQ on a beach called Porto Chino. The beach was breathtaking – white sand and crystal blue water surrounded by black rocks. Most of the group quickly threw their stuff onto the sand and headed straight for the water. The waves were huge and so much fun, and a couple people almost lost their bathing suits! Meanwhile others were tanning and reading, and Autumn built a huge tortoise out of sand!

For lunch we had grilled chicken, fresh guacamole, beans, and salad. After lunch we climb up to a beatuiful viewpoint of the beach. From there we could see sea turtles swimming along the coast. Before we left, a couple of us decided to go back into the water one more time. As we were enjoying the water, we spotted a shark swimming in a wave! Needless to say, we sprinted out of the water.
Back at the lodge, we enjoyed our last night in the Galapagos with dinner and a group activity. We discussed the ways that the Galapagos could be persevered, like limitng cruise ships and the amount of tourists that visit every year. It was a bittersweet night, but we were all excited to go to Quito again.

-Sam

Service & Friendship

Today started with our classical breakfast which consists of peanut butter&jelly, fruit, and some eggs. After our breakfast we went to our work place to cut some invasive species such as black berries and Guayaba trees. Hanna and Lauren cut down this tree working together, it took a while but they did it! Oh yeah, one of the cool things that happened was how Sara and Kaylin created a path of their own through thorny blackberry bushes. The path that they cut lead to this humongous rock which they named as “the throne rock”. Today, I too, cut a tree, but unlike yesterday this time it took me like 5-6 minutes instead of 15 !

We also went to this secluded beach where sea lions swam and played. Although the beach was kind of smelly due to our big friends we liked it a lot. The tides were strong, and while Laney was sitting on the sands, listening to her music, calmly having fun, all of a sudden a wave came and let’s just say she had to get up with a wet bum afterwards… Me, Mark and Autumn started eating some chips while Nicole and Lauren were running along the beach and making us laugh with their imitations.

But I’m sure that the highlight of our day was our nightly group meeting. We shared and we cared for each other. Everyone told a little about themselves and in a way we realized how similar or different we were. Nonetheless we grew closer and enjoyed a nice walk under the moonlight (although everyone had flash lights -shhh!-) guided by our amazing guide Fabricio. Well, that nice walk was interrupted by a fun scare from our mentors Crystal and Liz. Anyway, I have to go now because once again we are leaving for work, buuut all of us are sending hugs hugs and more hugs :D! (Oh btw now everyone is sitting on the floor in a circle and listening to “I want you back”by Jackson 5, nice atmosphere …)

-Zeynep

Weekend Adventures

Friday morning we woke early, preparing for the big hike ahead of us. We made our own lunches, packed extra water, and then we were off. The hike started rainy and muddy, and a few of us slipped on mud, especially Laney and Zeynep. Soon the landscape changed to dry and rocky, and then we were surrounded by volcanic rock. Everyone enjoyed taking pictures of the beautiful view of the coast of Isabela. After 10 millers and 6 hours, we were all exhausted and went to bed early.

Saturday was our last full day at Campo Duro and Isabela. We finished cleaning up the green house, and then we made marmalade with fresh passion fruit, papaya, and oranges. We enjoyed lunch at the camp and said good bye to the tortoises. Back at home base the entire group participated in scavenger hunt around town. We had to collect things like coconuts and grocellas, and take pictures of landmarks. After a close race, Zeynep, Laney, Lauren, Alex and John won. Afterwards the entire group cooked dinner, which consisted of delicious fajitas and humus. Everyone bonded over these last few days, and we’re all excited to continue the adventure!

-Sam

Adventures!

To begin another adventurous day in the Galápagos Islands the group got up bright and early to continue our work at the tortoise sanctuary. After clearing out a breeding lagoon and picking out invasive species, we went to a beach where the group split into two and switched between snorkeling and kayaking. While snorkeling, we got up close with some Galápagos penguins and friendly sea lions! The kayaking was also a blast because some people fell out of the kayaks and/or capsized!! The next activity involved volleyball at the beach with some local kids and playing a group game called “mafia.” At night we ate great food and had free time to shop around the town. Overall, a great day!!

-Kaylin and Sara

A Full Day

With an early start and a deliciously filling breakfast, we headed on our first day on Isabela to work at the tortoise conservation centre ‘Campo Duro.’ Most of our work consisted of continuing to build a lagoon and removing invasive plant species from the sanctuary. After a couple of hours of work, we took a break to eat some fresh oranges and papayas and a game of soccer with the local directors which we all thoroughly enjoyed. Then it was time to head back to the hotel and have a hearty lunch of fish, rice and plantains. We then visited a local monument called ‘ the wall of tears’, we were all intrigued to learn from our tour guides that the wall was named after the very back-breaking and cruel work the prisoners of the island during the 40s and 50s had to endure whilst constructing the wall of heavy volcanic rocks. We were lucky enough to be able to enjoy the beautiful views that Isabela has to offer before heading off to a nearby mangrove spring and volcanic tidal cave. It was incredible to see such diverse natural structures within such a small area. We finished our afternoon with a walk on the beach and a team building game involving quick thinking and lots of laughter! In the evening our group split up to explore the town before meeting back at the hotel for dinner and spent some time unwinding and reflecting on an amazing first day in the Galapagos.

–Case and Tally

Standing on the Equator

Today was our first entire day together as a group. A few of us arrived very late Sunday night while the rest of us were sleeping so in the morning some more introductions were made. Once we were all together as a group and had a nice breakfast, we hoppoed on the bus and headed to the equator line! The first thing we did was meet Paola who guided us through the Inti Nan museum where we learned about shrinking heads, a traditional burial in a Tola, how they built their houses, and many, many other interesting things.

All Arrived!

All GLA students have all arrived safely in Ecuador. Check back frequently for blog updates and photos from the road!

Headed Home!

All students are on their way home after an amazing program!

Saying Goodbye

For our last morning in the Galapagos, we went into town to do some shopping before walking to the San Cristobal airport and returning to Quito. While waiting for the shops to open we did our group activity, charades, at the harbour. The locals were very entertained with our antics. Then we meandered through town visiting the souvenir shops and cafés. After stocking up on snacks for the plane, we set off for the airport. We said our heartbreaking goodbye to Fabricio, one of our fabulous guides, and then we were off to Quito.

-Chloe

Reflections

We spent 4 nights and 3 days on San Cristobal Island, spending our mornings doing service work and the afternoons exploring the beaches and town of the island. On Saturday we spent the morning cutting down invasive blackberry bushes on a mountain side and then the afternoon snorkeling with sea lions, sea turtles, and other Galapagos sea creatures. We wrapped up our day with some free time around the town and a delicious dinner back at the hotel. We woke up the next morning to head back to the same work site where we continued to cut a few more invasive bushes and then planted our own endemic Galapagos plants to restore the natural habitat.

We spent the afternoon at a beautiful beach filled with more sea lions and played a game of pictionary in the sand. The water was a little chilly and the sun wasn’t fully out so only Alex and Honour went snorkeling but they said they saw sea turtles, baby sea lions, and colorful fish that were spectacular. Our last day on San Cristobal was spent at a new work site where we cut down dying banana trees to make room for the living ones. We then went to a new beach where we all gathered with the host family from the hostel for a BBQ. This beach was also covered with sea lions just like all the others along with other Galapagos animals. The water was warmer at this beach so many of us spent a lot of time in the water playing around in the waves. We the returned to the hostel to pack our stuff and prepare to leave for our flight the next morning back to Quito. We sadly had to leave two of our guides at this point, Wilson and Fabricio, but Hakan returned to Quito with us. Overall San Cristobal was an amazing island to explore together.

-Danielle and Mark

Greetings from the Galapagos!!

We have made it to San Cristobal island yesterday evening after a rough boat ride on some rocky seas! We stopped at Floreana Island along the way and saw the caves where the first settlers lived in the Galapagos. From Floreana, we departed on our second boat ride and arrived in Cristobal just in time for the sunset. We had some ice cream in town and then headed up to our lodge. We had a lovely dinner made by the family we stay with and then everyone headed to bed early.

This morning we went to our work site where we cleared out the invasive species of blackberries and guava. Tomorrow we will go back to black endemic species to try and restore the area to its natural habitat. This afternoon we went snorkeling in Las Tijiretas where we saw numerous sea turtles, sea lions, and other creatures. We are currently having some free time to explore the town here in Cristobal.

Look for more pictures of our fabulous trip to come!!

A Full Day!

Yesterday we woke up at the same time for every work day and had breakfast at seven. Once everyone was finished we got all of our things together and head to Campo Duro. Upon arriving we got assigned different jobs. Along with four other students – Mark, Konstantine, Erin, and Lianna – I got assigned to get fire wood. At first none of us were excited to just be walking through the forest searching for dry wood but when the local director for GLA, Hakan, brought out two machetes for us, all of us immediately got excited. So for the next two and a half hours we just spent the time jamming to a variety of music and chopping away at the sticks, trees, and branches. Once we got enough chopped wood and brought it back to the shed we head towards where all the others were.

When we arrived all the others were digging an area for the tortoises to nest. Everything was going smoothly except there was a small tree in the center of the area. So for the next hour we all took turns digging around the bottom of the tree, chopping off branches, and pushing and pulling the tree back and forth trying to get its roots to come out. After many grunts, laughs, and cutting we finally got the tree down. Since we were finished for the day with our work it was time to play some Fútbol (heaven forbid we call it ‘Soccer’ Dan!).

About ten minutes in of intense running, shooting, defending, and falling, I unfortunately managed to hurt my ankle by rolling it back. But automatically Liz and both guides Wilson and Fabricio surrounded me to make sure I was alright and they all helped me get to the side line where Liz and Wilson helped me ice it and elevate. Although I now have a ‘cankle’ and five little marshmallows on my foot, it feels a great deal better then how it did when I first got hurt. Once the last goal was scored, I hopped my way up to the buses and we all made our way back to Sandrita (our hotel) to have lunch and change into our bathing suits for snorkeling and kayaking. After our delicious lunch made by the lovely America we once again loaded up the buses and head to Concha Perla.

Although I did not go snorkeling because I did not want to hurt my ankle even more, I got to take some great pictures of iguanas, sea lions, all the people, the beach, and the ocean. When the first group of snorkelers got back they were all raving about how amazing all the marine life was and I got to see all the pictures and everyone was so excited and amazed by what they saw. Soon after the group of kayakers came back in and we switched.

As soon as we paddled out all we saw everywhere were brightly colored fish, sea lions, a swimming iguana(!), blue and red footed boobies, frigate birds, and even a few Galápagos sharks! It was so amazing to be in middle of all the activity and life. On our way back, our guide set us all up side by side holding on to each other’s oars and we had a race back to the shore! Although I didn’t come in first but in second, it was so much fun to be screaming and laughing at all of us trying desperately to get to the front. But the best part was definitely when Mark and Andrew’s boat flipped over when they were about to win and to stay in first place they pushed their boat the rest of the way!

Before we walked back to the beach near the hotel, we all signed the book at the kayak/snorkeling shop and wrote about how much fun we had. At the beach our group leaders Dan and Dessa led us all in a really fun (and competitor game) on the beach. Once we were finished we all walked (or in my case hobbled) back to Sandrita to get cleaned up for yet another delicious meal. After cleaning up our plates we all headed up stairs for some free time then had our group meetings where we estimated about how much water we used per day, then we walked down stairs and had a relay where we all had to transport a bucket full of water to another bucket using anything but something man made. I think it goes without saying most of the water ended up on the ground but the big leaves made some impact on trying to move the water.

We then all head back upstairs to get split into groups where we had to act out public service announcements regarding water that the general public should know and try to change. After many funny skits and even a shoe going over the side of the balcony, Liz ended the night with a visualization about how we are all connected to water and how all the water is connected. We then wrote down in our journals a place that’s really special to us that is connected to water and that without the water wouldn’t be the same. After everyone looked up from their journals we all got to have our free time until 10:30 and then had to have lights off. So while people split up and either went to explore the town together or went to bed early I spent a little quiet time catching up in writing about the days here thus ending another long and beautiful day in the Galápagos.

– Rebecca

Second Day on Isabela

Yesterday was our second day on Isabela island and our fourth day in total. We woke up at seven in the morning for breakfast which consisted of fresh fruit and homemade bread. We proceeded to load into the buses to go to the Eco-center Campo Duro. At the center we learned of the wild and endemic “egg plant.” And started working to clean the tortoise living area of stray branches. While moving the branches we were lucky enough to witness a tortoise mating and get profusely attacked by fire ants. As we continued with the work we also stumbled upon rats. Rats are introduced species and are a danger to the tortoises and eggs so we had to rid the area of their presence. The next half and hour consisted of hunting rats down. Although we only managed to kill one we still helped the tortoises and celebrated with a Futbol (soccer) game where team GoPro took the win. Team GoPro consisted of Andrew, Jessica, Honour, Mark, Erin, Dessa, Alexander, Rebecca, Crystal, Fabricio, and one of the Ecoudorian dads.

After the game we went back to the hostel for lunch and got ready for a tour of the Wall of Tears. The wall is a memorial for the prisoners that died by cruel deaths from the corrupt policemen. After we went to the mangrove forest to walk in the channel leading to the ocean from the forest. The group had a lot of fun pretending to sink in the squishy sand below our feet. After the mangrove fun we headed to the beach for a group activity and played a fun game having to do with misDRAWmmunication. (Drew with our fingers on each others back and the last person to guess the picture drew it on the sand) the ending pictures were pretty hilarious. We concluded with some free time to walk around town, dinner, free time for ice cream, a group meeting to learn more about the Galapagos, and sleep!

-Jessica and Alex

Isabela Island

After many hours of brutal traveling, we have arrived safely on Isabela island in the Galapagos! After heading to the airport bright (as bright as it could be at four in the morning!) and early this morning, we flew into the small island of Baltra. We then embarked on a long journey of transport on boat and bus from Baltra to Santa Cruz and then our final destination on Isabela. We had a bit of time to explore the beach on Isabela where we all played a game in two teams acting as baby turtles going through the difficulty of getting to the water after they’re born. After the intense raise of being turtles struggling to get into the water, we all enjoyed some free time in the water. The water was so blue and so perfect everyone spent the entire time laughing and smiling and just soaking up as much of this experience as we can.

After spending time getting washed up we had a delicious dinner all sitting together at one long table. After cleaning off the dishes and making sure to thank our wonderful host’s then enjoying a bit of free time until our nightly group meeting. Before meeting up with the rest of the group I had a one on one check in with one of my mentors Crystal. She asked me how I was enjoying my time here, she made sure I knew how I knew how I could talk to her or my other mentor Liz about anything and that they only want everyone to have an amazing time. After our conversation ended we went up for the group meeting where we split up into two groups and discussed what community means to us and how Ecuador sees Americas vs how Americans see Ecuador specifically the Galápagos.

It was amazing to hear how everyone’s ideas and thoughts were both so similar and different but what was best was that everyone was not only accepting about what everyone had to say but they were interested in hearing it. After discussing in groups for a bit more, we all joined together and discussed. After we got everything done we made a prayer flag (each person adding a bit of themselves to it) and put it together. Then some people went to explore the town with Crystal and Liz while others stayed for a bit of quiet time. So far our time in the Galápagos has been great and I can’t wait for more experiences to come.

-Rebecca

Welcome to Ecuador!

The majority of our group met up in Miami airport and took the same plane to Quito, where we met the rest in Quito airport. We have a very positive and high energy group, it seems like keeping motivated is going to be a breeze! Liz and Crystal took us to our hotel that we’ll be in for two nights. After our last fast food meal, pizza, our group quickly fell asleep. This morning we were up bright and early at 7:30 and got to know each other over name games. Shortly, a bus took us to the equator and the equator monuments where we did a few experiments and learned a little about the indigenous peoples of Ecuador. Team building games lasted us till lunch which consisted of crunchy empanadas, grilled chicken, fries, and corn unlike any of us have had before. The equator monument was a beautiful building that contained a small museum and information on the Galápagos Islands, which made us all anxious to fly out tomorrow morning. Souvenir shopping was next, some of us had difficulty bartering but the handmade articles made paying full price completely worth it.

Now we’re headed back to our hotel to pack for our early flight tomorrow! We’ll be traveling all day tomorrow until our arrival at Isabela island.

-Erin

We’ve Arrived!

All students have arrived in country and are ready for an amazing program! Stay tuned for blog updates and photos!

Headed Home

All students are on their way home from the Galapagos Islands!

Wrapping Up

Yesterday we sadly had to leave the Galapagos. We spent the morning in town buying last minute souvenirs before we walked to the airport. We landed in Quito and returned to the hotel around 7pm local time.

Today we took a tour of old Quito and it was absolutely beautiful! We saw the virgin statue that protects the city from sins, the central square which was filled with street performers and alive with cultural, as well as some old city streets with artisan shops lining both sides.

This afternoon we are going to a market near the hotel to buy more souvenirs. There we can buy a variety of a hand woven products like ponchos, scarfs, and bracelets as well as some Ecuadorian treats like coffee and chocolate. Hopefully after we can catch the final of the World Cup and enjoy the last night of our journey together!

-Irene

More

-Melanie and Liam
On Thursday July 10th, we, as a group, woke up at 7am, and went to the worksite. There, we encountered a large field of vegetation, and had to remove it all. Machetes in hand, we cleaned the landscape. Removing thorn-filled raspberry plants, trimming the branches of banana and orange trees. And even bringing down an entire tree with just a machete. From there we went to the beach, and snorkeled with: sea-turtles, sea-lions, and ample schools of fish.

As we migrated back to home base we ate dinner. Afterwards, one of our guides, Fabricio, took us up to a vantage point for sight seeing. We arrive and see that this, “vantage point” is a run-down coffee shop, it looks as though it has been uninhabited for decades, and has a single candle flickering inside. We, as a group, are instructed to turn off our headlamps/flashlights, so there, sitting in the pitch black. We are told a story by our guide Fabricio about the coffee shop we were sitting in front of.

We returned from the story telling and sight seeing, for an activity to get to know our group just a little bit better, and then we went to sleep.

Group leaders: Emily, and Nathan

On the morning of Friday July 11th, we woke, and went to a different worksite. Here we removed invasive species (via machete), after the work was finished we walked through a tortoise breeding center which housed tortoises ranging in age of 10 days to 10 decades. We loaded the bus and headed to the beach for a cookout. We: swam, sun-bathed, and even saw a pair of a blue-footed boobies. We returned, and commenced the cookout. A lunch consisting of chicken, guacamole, yucca (a potato-like vegetable), and grilled plantains. We finished this off with some s’mores. From there we returned to home base and packed for our return to Quito tomorrow.

-Nathan

Goodbye Isabela Island

Today was our last day at the beautiful Isabela Island. We woke up early for breakfast, consisting of croissants and our homemade marmalade from our last day of work on Isabela Island the previous day. We then left for Floreana Island, early (in hopes of avoiding rougher waves with the early departure) and about two hours long. Once we arrived at this smaller island we took a bus to the highlands to explore the pirates caves and see a subspecies of the Giant Tortoise. It was raining and pretty cold because we were so high up. The area where the tortoises hung out was very open with feeding trays full of banana leaves and other tortoise food. People are not allowed to step on the feeding platforms so we kept our distance and watched them eat slowly. Next we made our way up to the top of the mountain to see the caves that early colonists lived in (with legends of ghosts and disappearances from our guide Fabricio) and what would have been a nice panoramic view of the island and ocean on a clearer day. After making our way back down, ending the short circle hike, a bus brought us back to the small town near the shore for lunch. Beans, rice, fish, cabbage slaw, popcorn, and exotic fruit juice made for a filling lunch, but next we picked up ice cream for desert before heading to Floreana’s beautiful black sand beach.

Alex and I organized a variation of charades as our group activity on the beach. After the game was over we waded into the water. The blue footed boobies were diving in the water like Olympians with hardly any splash and fish as a reward. A sea turtle was then spotted close to the shore, and soon after we saw three others along with two sea lions. The sea turtles were very big and we could see their tails sticking up as they were hunting. Their heads were about the size of two fists. After watching these animals swimming gracefully in the water we made our way back over to the dock where the boat was. There was a huge male sea lion rolling around in the sand, a mother sea lion nursing her young, and two baby marine iguanas.

Sea lions are starting to seem to be as common as squirrels in the U.S. but we could still have watched them all day. We loaded onto the boat and luckily I got a seat up top with Leah, Hannah and Josh. The top boat view was beautiful and a little less rough on the stomach, although very wet. The boat ride was really long and we arrived at San Cristobal around golden hour and sunset, making for a beautiful arrival to the biggest/most developed town we’ve seen on the Galápagos Islands so far. We had about an hour to get coffee and hot chocolate, attempt to connect to wifi, and stock up on groceries before leaving the beachside shopping area for the wilderness to settle into our San Cristobal hotel.

-Isabelle

Service

Hey guys! On day four we had our first day of volunteering at Campo Duro Eco Lodge. At this location live twelve native giant tortoises of whom we got to feed freshly picked oranges and restore their habitats. Our activities included the removal of the invasive plants, such as the guava plants, digging a lagoon, and collecting rocks for the lagoon. We then proceeded to play soccer with the whole group and our local guides, Tamara and Fabricio. After lunch we visited some important local landmarks. Our stops included The Wall of Tears, La Playa de Amor, and the Marine Iguana beach. After that, we walked to the beach for some team bonding activities. We enjoyed the free time by playing in the ocean and walking around town.

On day five we went back to the tortoise habitat and continued our work there. After that we went down to the harbor to snorkel and kayak. While snorkeling, we swam with the Galapagos penguins, sea turtles, squids, and sea lions. We also saw the blue-footed boobies and baby sea lions while kayaking. Both of these days included important work that benefitted the natural habitats here in the Galapagos. Not only were these activities beneficial to the environment, but they also have had positive effects on all of the GLA participants.

Photos from the Last Few Days:

Service & Visit to Wall of Tears and Humedales

Hey guys! On day four we had our first day of volunteering at Campo Duro Eco Lodge. At this location live twelve native giant tortoises of whom we got to feed freshly picked oranges and restore their habitats. Our activities included the removal of the invasive plants, such as the guava plants, digging a lagoon, and collecting rocks for the lagoon. We then proceeded to play soccer with the whole group and our local guides, Tamara and Fabricio. After lunch we visited some important local landmarks. Our stops included The Wall of Tears, La Playa de Amor, and the Marine Iguana beach. After that, we walked to the beach for some team bonding activities. We enjoyed the free time by playing in the ocean and walking around town.

On day five we went back to the tortoise habitat and continued our work there. After that we went down to the harbor to snorkel and kayak. While snorkeling, we swam with the Galapagos penguins, sea turtles, squids, and sea lions. We also saw the blue-footed boobies and baby sea lions while kayaking. Both of these days included important work that benefitted the natural habitats here in the Galapagos. Not only were these activities beneficial to the environment, but they also have had positive effects on all of the GLA participants.

First Days

Coming into Ecuador, many seemed shy and timid. A long plane ride in addition to meeting strangers can be taxing on a traveler in an unfamiliar place. As time progressed, strangers became acquaintances and new friendships began to form. After this long journey and a late night meal all of the GLA travelers headed off to bed. Although exhausted, a restless sleep came over some of these adventurers who were eager to begin a life changing journey in Quito, Ecuador. After a light breakfast these young travelers embarked on a mission to a local location which features the exact spot where the equator is located in Ecuador. This location is referred to as “La Mitad del Mundo” or the “middle of the earth”. A woman indigenous to Ecuador assisted these GLA members to understand the different cultures that are present in areas such as the Highlands and the Amazon.

At this same destination many attempted to walk on the equator with eyes closed (which is difficult considering the different forces affecting those attempting to walk) and also tried to balance an egg on a nail (which is much more difficult than it seems). After leaving this location all of the travelers then proceeded to a shopping area which consisted of restaurants and also had many different souvenirs that are specific to this area. The group then proceeded to a restaurant where traditional empanadas (meat pies) and other Ecuadorian cuisine specific to this area were served to all of the GLA members. Once everyone finished eating GLA participants were able to walk around this area, socialize, and buy any last minutes souvenirs. After a long day of exploring part of Quito the entire group came back to the hotel and cohesively played games to further enhance the bonds which were formed during the time spent together throughout the day. All in all, the first full day in Quito was one that immersed GLA participants into Ecuadorian culture and fostered stable friendships that will last not only throughout the trip but for many years to follow.

Written by Liam

We’ve Arrived!

All students have arrived and are ready for an amazing program! Stay tuned for blog updates and photos!

Headed Home!

All students have departed safely and are making their way home!

Farewell to Ecuador!

We toured Old Town Quito yesterday morning and were able to visit the national cathedral, the presidential palace among other historic sites.  We also learned all about how chocolate is made and were able to sample to locally-made Ecuadorian chocolate – Delicious!

Ready, Set, Explore

A Treasure Trove of Photos

On Top of a Mountain

On Monday we started work at our new site on top of a mountain. Our work was definitely more challenging than the other days, but we got through it. We pulled invasive species out so they could be replaced with plants that would help the environment. After a long hike through mud and rocks we ate lunch back at the place we are staying. We headed to the harbor for snorkeling, which was an amazing experience. We saw everything from sea lions to sea turtles (and even caught a few glimpses of marine iguanas!). Then, as all great days should wrap up, we had some free time in town to get some ice cream and shop.

On Tuesday, we continued our work on the side of the mountain. We cleared the area we started working on yesterday and planted endemic plants.

Today’s work was a lot easier than yesterday and very rewarding. We took the same hike through mud and rocks again to our home base. After lunch we headed to a beach where we had the opportunity to snorkel. Some chose to tan instead, so we all had the freedom to choose what we wanted to do with our small bit of free time. We followed that up with our group activity, and of course another excursion into town before the day was over.

– Courtney

Goodbye Isabella Island

Today was our last morning in Isabella so we had to say goodbye to the island. The boat trip to the next island, Floreana, totaled two hours so most of us napped the whole way. Floreana was really beautiful and we learned a lot about the turtle population and the history of the island. We also saw the caves where the first colonists lived and heard a ghost story. The next boat ride was another 3 hours and by the time we reached the island we had a limited amount of time to explore the shops in the boardwalk. After that, we arrived at our new hotel in San Cristobal. 

San Cristobal Project

Hi parents and friends.

Today we started to work on a new site in the project here on San Cristobal. We are cleaning out introduced species like blackberry bushes to give space for an endemic plant called Meconia. Everybody seems to enjoy working part with machetes and part by hand and with shovels.

For the afternoon we keep our fingers crossed for some sealions, frigattebirds, and sea turtles while snorkeling at Las Tijiretas.

Best
Hakan

Tortoise Breeding & Lava Fields

Yesterday, we visited the tortoise breeding centre where we were able to see a four month old tortoise. We also ventured on a lovely 10 mile hike. Crazy you say? It was!

However, our stunning view of the lava fields and – of course – the company, made it all worthwhile. We saw a beautiful land iguana and a plethora of colorful birds. At the end of our hike we stopped by a little shop where we were greeted with the comforting smells of sweet empanadas. Those fried treats made us forget the aches and sunburns we had squired from the hike.

Today was our last day of working on Isabella Island. We helped dig a trench for a small lagoon for the tortoises. Then a few of us picked papayas, passion fruit and oranges to make our own marmalade. Everyone pitched in whether it was stirring or juicing. We cooked the marmalade over a bonfire and it ended up tasting delicious! A few of us played a rousing game of soccer where there wasn’t a determined winner. Some people went to see biologists and learn about what they were studying here in the Galapagos.  Then we had a large amount of free time followed by an exciting scavenger hunt. At the moment, we are attempting to cook our own dinner, wish us luck!

– Emma

Building a Lagoon

Today we worked at the tortoise center again and started building a lagoon, pulling out more invasive plants. After that, some of us played soccer and then we headed back to the hotel for lunch. Later on, we went snorkeling and kayaking at the harbor and had tons of fun. We saw giant rays, puffer fish, sea turtles, penguins, an octopus, and a shark. We finished the day with a game of ninja and a hearty meal for our hike up the Sierra Negra volcano tomorrow.

– Kristian and Cori

For the Tortoises

Today was our first full day in the Galapagos Islands. We started our first day of service work at a giant tortoise nursery.  Our guides told us about some of the work we will be doing and why it is extremely important to do for the tortoises. We learned that there are many introduced plants that are taking over the area where the tortoises’ food source grows. We started out by removing the invasive plants and cutting down branches that block sunlight. There are many orange trees that grow there, and we enjoyed eating them while working. After we finished up our service work, we played a very fun game of football (soccer) against each other.

After we enjoyed our lunch at the hotel, we headed out to the old prison called the Wall of Tears. We learned about the history of the prison and saw some very scenic views. We made some pit stops and we were able to take some pictures of the wildlife we saw, such as iguanas, tortoises, frigate birds, blue footed boobies, and even some flying flamingos!  At one of our pit stops we hiked through a mangrove and we swam out to the ocean from a small river. This was one of my favorite activities that we did today. We then walked the beach and went swimming in the ocean afterwards. Overall it was a fantastic day in the Galapagos and many more to come.

– Becca

Another World

-Abby

Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed

Here’s a photo of us, bright and early this morning, getting ready to board our plane to the Galapagos Islands!

Crossing Over the Line

Hello family and friends! I know you are wondering what your kids are up to. So far it has been eye opening day! Last night we arrived in Quito. As we landed, we saw how large and beautiful this town is sitting along the mountains. Today, we all had fun when we went to the equator this morning!  The locals call it Mitad Del Mundo (the middle of the world). The tour guide gave us lots of information and demonstrations on the actual equator. We learned what the equator is and how it impacts our lives. We all walked on the equator line with both hemispheres pulling at us in both directions as if we could not control our movement. Some of us were even able to balance an egg on a nail head on the equator. It was amazing.

Later we went to an open area where we did many leadership activities together and had the opportunity to do some shopping, too. Finally, we went into the tall monument which was a museum and we all learned about the different groups of people who live in Ecuador. So far the food is good and the weather is treating us well.  Tonight may be the last night we have cell service for a while, because we will be leaving to the Galapagos tomorrow morning! We will have limited internet service there and we will blog every night for you. We are very excited to see what are next adventure is in the Galapagos! On behalf of all of us here in Ecuador, we want to say we love it here and wish we had done a longer service! We miss you.

-Scott

Arrival to Isabella Island

Headed Home

All students have headed home after an amazing program!

Last Sunday on Barefoot

Our last Sunday on Barefoot Island was spent relaxing and making the most of the sunshine. Students spent the downtime in the morning taking some well deserved ‘self-care’ time, including reading, washing, sunbathing, and snorkelling; a few of us even decided to take a hike up to the island’s most scenic route. After lunch, we went on kayak adventure to a new beach and new snorkelling site. The aquatic life was out of this world! We are all looking forward to our last day of service tomorrow where we will be working in Kese Village on the community garden.

Soso Village

The day started off with an adrenaline rush as the group arrived at Soso Village ready to hike the mountainous trails leading to Kese Village. The sweat and fatigue were well worth the absolutely breathtaking views seen from the peak. The hike ended in Kese Village where Koroi’s wife, Vika, prepared fresh lemonade, coconuts, and papaya. The group treated themselves to a relaxing afternoon and felt a great sense of accomplishment.

Last Day at Yasawa

After a successful day in the villages, students returned to Yasawa High School one last time. As a sign of gratitude for looking after us and sharing their culture too, the group transformed one of school’s bare concrete water tanks into a vibrant mural! It was wonderful to see such effortless collaboration amongst the group; a true testament to the progress we have made over the past two weeks. The school was visited by Fiji Princess Yacht passengers and students had the opportunity to explain their service program with Vinaka Fiji to the guests and the ways in which we have helped the communities. The guests were blown away!

Malevu Village

The day was spent at Malevu Village where we divided up and joined our host families for the day. The families were more than welcoming and generous in making us feel comfortable and at home. Students had opportunities to explore the village, visit the local farm, and continue to learn more about the Fijian culture and lifestyle. Baskets were weaved, dialogue was exchanged, and new cultural foods were tasted, At the end of the day, we made our way to the boat holding the hands of the Fijian children. A great day of cultural exchange and continuing our life learning journey.

Adventures!

Today was a physical adventure. At service the group planted eggplant, tomato and cabbage seedlings and placed them into the newly developed greenhouse which GLA students constructed in earlier programs. A few of us helped peel the bark off the vivi branches used for constructing the greenhouse’s shelves. When we returned back to base, the group treated themselves to some delicious smoothies. Yum. The evening wrapped up with Eddie’s presentation on the power of positivity and ‘rad’ role models. The take away message… “don’t lose sight of the gorilla!” (please ask your son or daughter)

Yasawa High School

We made our way back to Yasawa High School today where the students had the opportunity to spend time with and get to know their Fijian peers and their culture. Students were surprised by some of their discoveries in Fijian high school and had the opportunity to reflect on these in their mentor session with Heather in the evening. There was a greater appreciation for the educational opportunities and the education system more generally that we have back home. An important lesson for us all to learn, and it’s never too late to learn it!

Kayaking

Another relaxing day on Barefoot Island. Tema gave a Fijian language lesson in the morning and was very happy with how all the students engaged. With some down time before lunch students enjoyed the hammocks and each others company and the general calmness of the island. Lunch was had with the whole group together sat at the ‘Sunset deck’. We managed to get our first group photo together it seems this whole trip! After lunch we put the ‘Adventure’ in GLA, as we all kayaked together around the whole island. It was beautiful, and enabled us to establish just how small the island is, whilst discovering that we hadn’t yet seen much it! A calm and still sea enabled us to appreciate more fully the reef surrounding it and the ‘scariness’ of the reef shelf where the bottom suddenly disappears into the depths. A top weekend and we’re ready for a good week of service.

Weekend!

It has been a busy, fun and relaxing Saturday here in Fiji. The weekend kicked off with Friday evening seeing some ‘old school neighbourhood games’. Our Local Director, Tema, joined in with a fierce game of Sword and the Stone, or Noodle and the Coral as we like to play here, which was a lot of fun.

Saturday morning we took it easy in island style. After a slightly later breakfast we we all took some time in making items of coconut jewellery with help from one of our local staff Koroi. We all made rings from coconuts, sounds simple enough but there is A LOT of sanding involved! A great opportunity to chill and chat whilst learning something new.

After lunch we had our briefing on the Manta Ray snorkelling which we are hoping to do tomorrow. Then it was Lovo time, a traditional Fijian cooking method of cooking with buried food and fire. The students learned to flesh the coconuts before squeezing the meat for milk, sorted the Taro leaves which would be cooked in the coconut milk with onion, and learned to weave their own coconut leaf plates.

There was still time to chill and later play some volley ball, before a spontaneous sunset swim together to end the day. After a big feast on the foods we helped prepare, it’s movie time, and time to rest.

–Vinaka

Week One Done!

First week of service was completed in style this afternoon with a students taking part in fierce game of volleyball! We had our first Marine Service day today as well and the students were involved in a variety or conservation aimed activities.

The morning began with a visit to a nearby by somewhat out of sight beach, where we discovered that not every beach in Fiji is a white sand paradise. Lots of wind blown litter gathers on the non-resort beaches and the team did a great job at bagging as much as possible.

Crown of Thorns Sea Star removal was the next job. We worked together along with the dive team to carefully scout out any of the invasive marine species. We removed 18, collected the data on them for the dive team and saw them buried under the sand, never to harm the reef again!

The afternoon saw the team divide into two groups, Kimmee, Shara, Ross and Maddie collected and replanted mangrove embryos for habitat and marine land conservation. Meanwhile Matt, Sienna and Sabrina made ‘coral cookies’, which we will use to plant new pieces of coral in the next Marine Service day.

A great end to a busy and successful first week. We welcome the weekend!

Another Day in Paradise

Today was another day in paradise. We spent the morning learning how to properly open a coconut and remove the flesh. In total, we carved out ten coconuts which made for a nutritious snack. After lunch, the group cut down timber to use for the shelving units in the greenhouse. The service day ended with a beautiful hike up to lookout of Barefoot Island. We are all eager to get into the ocean tomorrow and explore the coral reefs with our local marine biologist.

One Week In!

Today officially marks the one week point! Time has been flying by as the group continues to grow and friendships deepen. This morning we worked along side Koroj and Lamecki on the school farm building shelves for the greenhouse. Collecting wood, digging holes, and drilling were among the many tasks completed today. Contrasting the strenuous morning, the group spent their evening relaxing after a rich discussion in mentor sessions. As always, we are looking forward to a new day tomorrow.

Naviti Primary School

Today was another successful of service day at Naviti Primary School. Matt, Ross, Sienna, and Sara worked as teaching assistants while Kimmy, Maddie, and Sabrina tutored students in the reading recovery program. When arriving back from service, a few of us decided to get a workout in while other’s sipped on iced coffees while watching the sun go down. Before dinner, we made our own personal mailboxes out of coconuts and then decorated them with different colors of paint. After dinner, the group watched the documentary “Crash Reel” before heading to bed. We are looking forward to working hard tomorrow as we begin the construction of a greenhouse at the school!

We’ve Arrived on Barefoot!

An early start for the group saw us arriving at the port ready for departure. The three hour boat journey was spectacular giving us a scenic overview of the Yasawa Island chain. Sabrina found it a little bumpy and so was happy to finally arrive on the island. Matt discovered the viewing platform at the front of the boat and took Eddie down to join him in flying in the wind! Upon arrival, the group went out for our first snorkel and were able to witness the tropical fish flourishing in the coral reefs. During our mentor session, the group was challenged to unravel their human knot. After a delicious dinner, we met the local staff and learned more about the service work we will be completing this session. We are all very eager to meet the Fijian students and work in the primary school tomorrow!

Nadi

This morning was spent exploring the shops of downtown Nadi. Fijian sarongs, trinkets, jewelry, and henna were a few items purchased on the trip. The group treated themselves to delicious mango and papa smoothies in a nearby cafe. Yum! The authentic food continued as we returned from town. We all had the opportunity to learn about the cultural foods of the Indian community by partaking in an Indian cooking class! Kimmy had the chance to try chicken curry and roti wraps for the first time in her life! The night ended with a Fijian history talk and fire dance!

Bula!

BULA to everyone!

We have the whole crew here and we’ve got off to a great start. Ross arrived with us this morning fresh and ready to rock and all students had a good rest after their red-eyed flights to Fiji.

After a stroll down to the beach today to play some team bonding games the team were off exploring the orchid gardens of the Sleeping Giant mountain. We found a place to sit together and appreciate the peacefulness of the new space. Excitement for the mud pool soon kicked in though so after some very tasty juice we were on our way.

The mud pool cemented our team bond further and to top it all we relaxed in the hot springs looking out towards the mountain. A fantastic start to an exciting program ahead.

-Vinaka