Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond and we cease to be alone. – Wendell Berry

Hello dear Glimpsers!

We are Fernanda Ramos Díaz (Site Manager) and Stephanie Szuch (Program Coordinator), your Riobamba team! Fernanda is a local riobambeña passionate about farming, good food and sharing her Ecuadorian culture, while Steph is from Minnesota and knows firsthand the value of immersing oneself in foreign cultures and being committed to international education. We are very excited for your arrival to this beautiful historic city to share with you our passions and accompany you on your journey of cultural understanding and self-discovery.

IMG-20160505-WA0001

As we all prepare for this amazing experience, we’d love to hear what you’ve been up to! How are you getting ready for your trip? What are you most excited about?

Here in Riobamba, we are very busy preparing for your arrival. We have been meeting inspirational community members, testing out our food providers (big thumbs up!), and practicing program components that will help you get the most out of the your experience. Our main activity for this past week has been our Wilderness Advanced First Aid course, brought to us by Nate and Kyle, two EMTs/mountain climbers from the U.S. In addition to learning a lot about the human body,  we spent the week moving around and practicing all sorts of scenarios. We are super committed to keeping our Glimpsers safe and healthy,  and after this intensive training we are feeling even more prepared to do so!

IMG-20160513-WA0004
This summer is going to be an incredible opportunity for you to challenge yourselves, to find new passions, and to commit yourselves fully to a truly unique and eye-opening experience. As your Riobamba team,  we can’t wait for you to join us in amazing Ecuador!

Also, don’t forget to include a good hat and sunscreen on your packing list, the Ecuadorian sun is mightier than you might think!

All the best,
Fernanda and Steph