Spring semester of my Junior year I,(
Zach Himmelberger) through
Lewis & Clark's study abroad program, spent
six months in
South America.
Cuenca, Ecuador became my home away from home during my three months of study. I was put up with a host family, who were absolutely amazing.
My host mom was the best cook ever, my host dad was the retired head of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee turned congressman, my host brother was ex-National Champion in cycling, and my host sister was an extremely successful businesswomen with an awesome 8 year old daughter who became one of my best friends. Besides having a great host family, my school experience was top notch. I, along with 14 other
L&C students, attend La
Fundacion Amauta. We took two Spanish classes along with a biology class and a anthropology class. I would have to say the Spanish classes I took in Ecuador were the best classes I have ever taken. Our professors were funny, engaging, challenging, and probably the best ever at what they do. Although I was able to speak
Spanish before leaving my skills and confidence in speaking
Spanish have sky-rocketed.
After the semester in
Cuenca ended in mid-April, two friends, Sam and Ivan, and I headed for the
rain forest. The three of us decided to do some
volunteer work in the amazon with a Quechua-speaking community called
Shiripuno. It was located just outside of
Pto.
Misahualli in the
Napo province in northeastern Ecuador. I spent one month in
Shiripuno as a volunteer..
.it was hands down the most amazing experience of my life. I lived alongside indigenous people who call the Ecuadorian amazon their home. We helped these people with their day to day routines of cutting and gathering
cacao which is eventually made into chocolate, uprooting and planting yucca, feeding and caring for their livestock, making crafts for tourists, etc. During our stay, the people really accepted us into their community not only as driven volunteers willing to do just about anything to help but also as good friends. They looked out for us and cared for us while also making fun of us and hassling us from time to time. Overall, my experience their was great, something I will never forget. The last night we were in
Shiripuno we were asked to say a short something to the people of the community. I told them, "
Aunque era
poco tiempo que estuve aca, la experience
durara por siempre en mi
corazon." (Although I was here a short time, the experience will always last in my heart). We left the next day to a scene of several crying women and children who had come to love us in such a short amount of time.
That was just one experience of many that my time abroad gave me the opportunity to have.
The entire journey of being out of my element and really being forced to open up to a new and different culture is invaluable. Learning so much about the myself, so much about the world, is what made this something that, for me, has changed my life. It has opened me up to the world of travel, to new cultures, to wanting to jump on every new opportunity presented in front of me, which in my opinion, is a great way to live.
Anyways, my time abroad was life altering. I loved every minute of it and if I could do it again, I definitely would!!! I do suggest it to anyone looking to experience something great.
listen); often written pho in the US where it is typically pronounced /ˈfʌ/[1]) is a Vietnamese beef and noodle soup.[2] The soup includes noodles made from rice and is often served with basil, lime, bean sprouts and peppers that are added to the soup by the customer.
