Quote of the day: “Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon
Question of the day: What have you learned in Ecuador during these past days?
Today was a free day for us Glimpsers; we split into three groups to explore the city of Guaranda, which included shopping for traditional clothes, Ecuadorian foods, and contacting home in internet cafes, or Cabinas. We also used our free time to buy materials for our Community Action Project (CAP). We’re planning to repaint the walls of the Llullundongo school to improve its liveliness and atmosphere. During this free day, we were able to further immerse ourselves in the city and improve on communicating with the locals. It was also a very emotional day for many of us as we finally read all of your comments on the blogposts and got a chance to communicate with friends and family back home. Despite this full day, we were all able to tutor the English students in the evening, and our lessons greatly improved from yesterday. We made a lot of progress in getting through to the students and really felt that we were making a lasting impact on their English skills.
Going out into the city, far away from the comfort of home required courage, which we exemplified through our willingness and ability to communicate with the locals and utilize the resources present in our surroundings, even though these were previously unfamiliar to us. This was in reality an example of our collective courage as a group, first demonstrated by each of us as individuals choosing to leave behind our lives in the US and engage in an immersive learning experience here in Ecuador. In addition, the events today brought up feelings of homesickness in many, which gave us an opportunity to demonstrate compassion for each other as we supported one another in order to persevere and enjoy our experiences here even through this emotionally difficult time. The continuous compassion that each of us received from one another was also key in our ability to demonstrate commitment to our purpose as Glimpsers in Guaranda. The rocky start to many of our English tutoring sessions from the previous day had merged with the emotional turmoil felt from homesickness, which had led many of us to dread the upcoming activities. However, our commitment to creating a positive impact on the English education for the students here as well as our general commitment to bringing home positive experiences from this trip allowed us to follow through, which turned out to reverse the previous mood further through the satisfaction felt from the great improvement in all of our classes. Overall, the presence of the 3 C’s in our group, from the Courage it took to really immerse ourselves in this previously unfamiliar city, to the Compassion that everyone displayed through our communal support of each other during the emotional roller coaster following our calls home, to the incredible Commitment that pushed us to follow through with our English tutoring sessions even though many of us doubted our ability to make an impact at first made the difference. We hope that the variety of experiences gleaned from our first free day will become a template for how we can improve ourselves as people and bring these lessons home to our communities.
We’d also like to send some “Big Love” shout outs to some Glimpsers who really shined today. First off, Carlos’ group (Helena, Ky, Ryan, Lauryn, Sheena, Carly, Darlene, Nava, Yuvi, and Brandon) for using a large amount of their free time to buy CAP supplies at multiple hardware stores. Another Big Love to all our Glimpsers for rebounding at having a really successful day of tutoring. The last Big Love goes to the PC’s for showing up throughout the day, even though they had the day off. We have an incredible group here, and we are all looking forward to our Fun Day tomorrow. – Megan and Ashwin
Cabinas
Tutoring
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Unity Clap
hi lauryn,
we’re so happy to follow your journey through this blog! we love you and we’re so proud of the positive impact you’re having on the world. <3
-g-mo, joppa, & thor
Hey Carter,
This was an incredible blog post today. Getting the feels from reading it. Stay strong. Just thrilled that you all are doing this. Love your new blouse. So happy to see your smiling face on these pictures. The location looks so beautiful as well. We think of you often even though we haven’t written much. xoxoxoxo Mom, Dad, Kyana (and Jenee)
Eunice,
It was so delightful to hear your voice this morning. I did not realize Home without Eunice is so empty, quiet and sad:) Somehow these 2 weeks seem very long, but this fruitful time will grow you so much.
Dad keeps asking how is Eunice there, and I sent all your photos and link so he can actually comment himself on how much he misses you. I am sure Truffle is wondering where you are and wants to ask me if he can talk.
I’m so excited to read your story tomorrow. Have a peaceful night and bright morning!
Love you so much ^^~*
I really felt this post…the reconnection with something familiar while in a different country, that tug of homesickness – everyone rallying and taking care of each other was my favorite part. 😀
Love you and miss you, Grace!
Iana,
I was so grateful to be able to talk with you today. I love ❤️ you so much and am so proud of you and all the “glimpsers”!! Please don’t be too homesick anymore, sounds like you have such an amazing group of kids and adults there looking after you! Enjoy the rest of your time, embrace the duration of you trip and we’ll see you in no time. Love you beyond words and am so excited to hear in person about all the wonderful experiences you’ve had!!
Love,mom ?
So impressed by the way you all are taking on these challenges! So glad to hear today’s classes went well for everyone.
I can’t begin to tell you how awesome it was to talk to you today, Grace! I was in a great mood the rest of the day! Kubrick is doing great – he was in the front pasture with Dito.
I told him the licorice was from you and you’d be back soon 😉
Love and miss you, Mom
Hey Kat! I miss you a lot and I’m so glad you’re having so much fun! I hope you didn’t feel too homesick after the free day today. I’ve been reading all the blogs and I’m looking forward to see more of what you and everybody is up to next :).
Glimpsers,
Thank you for the update, I’m so proud for all of you, you all did an amazing job! way to go kids?
Apryl,
How are you feeling today?
Remember to call home whenever you can. I miss you, but I’m glad you’re having a great time!
Take care!
XOXO,???
Mom, & dad
Alexia! You’re a natural in front of a classroom! Hope those kids fall in love with you just like all your family back home!!
Oly misses you a lot! She asks every night if you’re spending the night in Ecuador 😉
Keep spreading your positivity and excitement! You’re changing lives (even ours) from being on this trip! We adore you!!
Thanks to all the Glimpsers and leaders for doing what you guys are doing!! What a great experience!!
Glimpsers,
Awesome! You all are amazing!
Love, Brandon’s Mom!
Hi Lauryn!
So glad I got to talk to you the other day… I had a feeling you might call so I made sure I had my phone with me even at the gym!
(yes… I went to the gym by myself! ?)
Happy & relieved to see you & all the other glimpers getting along & doing well. & of course… my ever the selfless lolo… why am I not surprised you spent your free time buying supplies for the project(!?)
Love you & miss you ?
Hi Ashley,
It was great to hear your voice yesterday. Your mom wouldn’t stop crying after hearing your voice because she miss you so much. Hope you had a good time exploring the city. Continue doing what you’re doing for the local people there. Can’t wait to see you next week. Love dad, mom, and Ethan.
Looks like you all are having a great time. Keep up the good work and making us so Proud. Can’t wait to see you and hear about everything your experiencing.
Love you Brandon and Miss you ?
Love Dad & Roseanne ❤️
As always, we’re happy to read about these meaningful activities you all do in this trip.
Hi Sophia! We’re so happy to hear your voice yesterday & excitement about everything you’ve done so far in this trip. Happy Birthday!???? (for tomorrow) We hope you’ll have a wonderful day and some sort of a celebration. We will definitely celebrate again when u get back. We love & miss you a lot.
❤️Mommy, Daddy, Iffy, & Pluto & Mars
Hi Kayla,
We miss you so much. Chai misses you too.
We are glad that you are enjoying there. Hope you’re enjoying the place and the children as well. We are so proud of you!!
Love you so much and take care.
Mom, Dad, Nikki and Chai
Hi Megan
So great to read your post today! It almost made me cry thinking about you all being homesick. I miss you ever day.
Mom
Hey Megan, hope you are having a good time tutoring, we miss you at Mathnasium. I’ve been wondering if our telepathy works if we are miles apart. Do you know what color I’m thinking of? (Wait for Megan’s response) if you said (insert color Megan said) then we’re still mentally connected. I saw you’re new adidas jacket in one of the photos, I am definitely stealing it when you get home (; hope you aren’t craving trail mix, LOVE YOU LOTS!
Hi Helena!
Mom and I misses you and we are glad you’re helping out with the community and making great memories. It is nice to see you have the opportunity to help others. Don’t forget to eat and stay healthy and hydrated. Do call us when you have free time. (: I try to post in a few uploads, so I hope you get the chance to read them. Enjoy the rest of your time there with other global glimpers. We’ll see you next week!
Hi Lolo,
I love reading the blogs – I’m so proud of you for doing this — keep up the good work! We love you and we miss you 🙂
Dad
Miss you Carter. Can’t wait for the next post from you guys. Hope everyone is recovered and feeling well. Here’s a great, big, long hug.
– Mom & Dad
Kyana and the kitties say hi
Glimpsers,
its so good to see you all busily and happily engaged. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Ashwin,
Such a nice surprise to hear your voice across the other end of the world. Nice blog! Hope you have a wonderful next few days before its time to head back home.
Thank you Glimpser for being each other’s rock on this journey. The bonds you’ve formed is unique because no one else has gone through what you are going through. Keep each other in your hearts even after you return from the trip. Who knows whether your paths will cross again, but you’ve left imprints in each other’s hearts and minds.
Meia <3
What do you call a deer with no eye?
-I have no-eye deer! ???
Can't wait til you're back home so we can tell each other cheesy jokes again.
Luv,
Mom
Ashwin,
Nice Blog! Thanks for sharing. We miss you but are so happy for the experience you are having. I am noting a big happy smile in the pictures. Keep it up and enjoy the rest of the time in Guaranda.
Love
Baba, Oreo and Alana (Maanasi comes back from Mexico tomorrow)