Hello everyone, it’s your Leaders of the Day for today, Louis and Aaron. It really has been a true pleasure to be the leaders of today. We started today off bright and early at 2:34 AM when the hotel’s doorbell began to ring with no foreseeable end. Louis got up from bed in a less than happy mood to check out what was going on. He realized that there were three guests locked outside and the security guard was nowhere to be found. After a few moments of back in fourth in broken-two-in-the-morning Spanish, the security guard was found in a dormant state and received a colorful morning wake up from Louis. Classy.
After the “morning” event we once more woke everyone up at the painfully early hour of 6:00 AM to the humorous and unforgettable monologue of Robin William’s “Good Morning Vietnam” radio broadcast (as yelled by Aaron with gusto). After gathering the sleepy masses from their hovels, we marched down to breakfast to find and wonderful array of food and drink awaiting us. This included; french toast, pollo con arroz, a warm raspberry drink, Guava marmalade, and hot mint tea. After noshing for a good forty-five minutes we began our odyssey to the Chimborazo mountain. 
We first stopped at the mountainside monument to Simón Bolívar and the fallen hikers and explorers of the Chimborazo Volcanic Mountain. After a prayer in the Ecuadorian mother tongue Quechua, we repacked ourselves into the buses and headed down to the trail head for what would become a truly amazing hike.
Our guides confidently lead the way through a frigid and windy desert, complete with gusts of dust and freezing winds, towards a lush and fertile river valley. While walking, our tour guides educated us on the wildlife of the region, including but not limited to; a small grass like plant with sedative powers roughly twice the strength of chamomile tea when brewed, and a rare species of undomesticated llama that at one pointed dwindled down to a mere two hundred strong, but now thanks to the Ecuadorian Natural Preserve they stand over seven thousand! The lush part of the trail was incredible, everyone in the group found a renewed motivation to keep pushing forward after admiring in awe, the intense natural beauty of the Chimborazo river valley. It was Louis’ favorite day without a doubt and holds a very special place in Aaron’s heart. The same can be said for everyone else as well. 
After an hour or so of napping on the bus, we arrived at our late lunch where we ate in exhausted silence while dining upon delicious pork chops, plantains, and chicken noodle soup that did in fact heal the soul. Upon returning to the hotel, naps were had, showers were taken, and journeys embarked to sources of caffeine and the internet. Many of us called our parents to say happy Father’s Day and to confirm that we indeed were still alive.
When we returned to the hotel we started our Community Action Project planning session for our second and last day of work the Carlos Garbay School. While many challenges were brought up, we are confident that our project will continue with the same vigor and efficiency as Friday.
Dinner, yay. We arrived famished and parched, and ready to dine. Unfortunately, due minor scheduling issues dinner was not ready the moment we walked in. Louis walked into the kitchen to find Ms. Oji and our wonderful chef Isabelle furiously working away. Louis jumped right in helping make deformed empanadas the looked more like perogies, and Russian chubreks. Aaron was the true hero of dinner time, while Louis, Ms. Oji, and Isabelle worked away under the time pressure of hangry teenagers Aaron brought out his talents as a great entertainer and MC. He kept everyone occupied with jokes and conversation starters while dinner was being prepared. Thanks for saving me, Aaron.
Thanks for reading the blog, we hope you enjoyed it. We’ll hear from you tomorrow and remember, GOOOOO GLIMPSERS.
Best,
Louis Bulka & Aaron Moore
Glimspers,
Wow, job well done. A volcanic hike is a true blessing of an experience. We wish we could have been there with you. Unfortunately, for you, your time is quickly coming to an end. As you wrap up your time here, remember to show your true gratitude to those Ecuadorians that opened the doors, homes and hearts to you. You are creating memories with them. Thank you goes a long way in any language and any culture. Use it and use it often. That being said, thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Zack–Thank you for calling me to wish me Happy Father’s Day. It certainly wasn’t the same without you here. You are the first reason I was given the title of father. I would not be one without you. I love you and cannot wait to see you on Wednesday. CODE.
Bryn
Great picture! Looks like you are having fun. What a great experience.
Elena & Tim
Hey Bao Hoa,
It was so nice to hear your voice today. It’s so funny that we literally fight everyday when you’re home but I misses you so much when you’re not here. The house feels a little bit empty without you here. I want to go get some Spartan’s taco last Saturday night but no one would go with me. There’s no one to bicker with me here so I cannot wait for you to come back. Only 4 more days, so be good and keep up your hard work. We’ll see you soon! I love you!
Big sis
Shreysi,
Love the snowy mountains in the pictures. Going by your jackets, seems super cold! Now I know why you were so tired when you had called me. It was so great to hear your voice and see your Father’s Day wishes on chat. I missed you even more today if it were possible!
Ms Oji is looking like an expert chef!!
Yet another wornderful super active day for you all. Hope you get good night sleep when I am typing this message. Miss you- Dad
Wow you guys had a long day!! Shreysi, no wonder you sounded so tired during your call, but we appreciate that you managed to chat and call today and wished daddy Happy Father’s Day. The description of the hike and the pictures of the mountain are so beautiful, I wish I was there with you too! I hope you rested well and got ready for another beautiful day. See you soon- we are all waiting for you. Love you- mommy
Luisa, I am looking forward to seeing the pictures from Chimborazo!
I am on my way to Milan today. Many kisses
shreysi and luisa- that hike sounds absolutely amazing, can’t wait to see you guys in a couple of days! I love you and miss you
Hey Glimpsers!
My name’s Layla, this year’s GG intern in the Bay Area. I did Global Glimpse in 2016 and traveled to Constanza, Dominican Republic. However, I had such an incredible experience with GG that I wanted to keep doing something like it, and ended up deciding to take a gap year after graduation, and just got back from living in Ecuador for 7.5 months helping in a local school’s English department and living with a host family! I lived in the northern part of the Sierra in Ibarra, just a couple hours north of Quito, and never got the chance to visit Riobamba, but I can just imagine how much fun you’re all having with GG and in Ecuador. I’ve loved reading all your blog posts, as they take me back to when I was still in Ecuador. I hope you’re enjoying the breath-taking views of nature and volcanoes, the new local food (I see you’ve already tried quimbolitos, fava beans, and chocho! And mora, I’m sure you’ve had some delicious mora juice by now), and experiencing the beautiful culture of Ecuador. Get your hands on some granadillas, they’re my favorite fruit ever since living in Ecuador! Anyways, I look forward to re-living my GG trip and Ecuador vicariously through your blogs. Love seeing the Spanish, by the way. ¡Buen trabajo! Nos vemos, Layla
Wow. That looks absolutely beautiful. But you all look a little cold!!! 🙁 I hope you were all warm enough! I can’t tell you how lucky you are to be able to experience all of this!
Wow! The blog, the photos. You help us experience this amazing time with you. I’m so impressed with all of you Glimpsers. Savor these last days. Ben, we all really miss you and can’t wait for the house to be complete again. Love you.
Bryn,
We are so glad to see the picture of you! It looks beautiful. We’re so happy you’re having this experience. Thanks for the phone all. We can’t wait to see you.
Dad and Mom
I love the part of jumping right in the kitchen Louie!!! That sounds like the Chef’s son.
The mishaped EMPANADAS also sound like you. We actually stayed on Simon Bolivar street somewhere in the world, probably Mexico.
Glad to see your practicing your hiking and leadership skills for Camp U!!!!
I hope the teaching has been meaningful and eye-opening.
I’m sure you are loving all the opportunities to chat in Spanish. Lucky Guy.
Your group sounds incredible.
Be sure to bring me back a wonderful picture of your favorite moment(s).
Love you to pieces, Mom.