Anna Davison

 

Having just returned from an amazing trip to Ecuador I thought I would let you and WorkingAbroad know what I have been up to.  I received your report last autumn and decided to go and volunteer with Casa Abierta (based in Quito - Patricio Gaibor). I arrived in Quito in January as a rather nervous volunteer wondering what on earth I had volunteered to do!  However, having been picked up from the airport by Pato and settled into my new home, life in Quito started to whizz by.

 

I took a couple of weeks Spanish class which was invaluable (which they helped set up for me), which gave me the confidence to have a go at the language. I would definitely recommend anybody going to Ecuador to take lessons here or there (much cheaper in Ecuador) as it is hard to get by with no Spanish.

I ended up volunteering in the Amazon jungle living with an indigenous family for a month and a half. I was living about 2 hours away from Tena - a bus ride and canoe ride away. When i first arrived and took the canoe across the river I really wondered what I was letting myself in for!!!  I stayed with an amazingly hospitable family, who although had nothing - gave me the best of anything.  My days were filled with teaching English at the local community school - mainly singing songs - head, shoulders, knees and toes was a favourite; helping the family pick maize from the fields, gardening and helping in the museum.

 

My family had a museum for tourists on their land as we were upstream from quite a few tourist jungle lodges. I helped out with a bit of translation of Spanish to English and enjoyed the opportunity to speak English now and again.  Although a small foundation, Casa Abierta were excellent - I couldn't have wanted for more care, attention and help on organising my time. They also helped me plan my travel routes around Ecuador and generally were fantastic. Now I am back to my normal, mundane life here (only temporarily as I am about to go off travelling again), I will never forget the kindness and generosity of my family in the jungle. The experience taught me many things, but I think most importantly that we are all the same across the world and that a smile does go an awful long way.

Thank you for your report which allowed me to get in touch with Casa Abierta and open many doors of possibility.
Best wishes,
Anna Davison