Ecuador Team Leapers Dairy

Wouter De Graaf

Hi Guy!
Thanks for the concerns ;)

We are in Atacames at the moment, and the last week and a half has been a lot of fun: I’m having a great time with everyone.And about the blog on your site: I’m writing a blog in Dutch on a site, and I might translate it (or at least pieces of it) to English, but that takes too much time to do over here.

Bye, Wouter

Ed Barker

Hi Guy,

Many thanks for the email, we are in Atacames for the weekend at the moment. everything is going swimmingly in Caimito. a lot of variety on the work but loving it all, shifting soil, making new vegetable patches, preparing cement, pruning cacao trees and much more.

Everybody in the group is also getting along really well. If the first 3 weeks are the hardest I have no doubts that we are all going to have an absolute blast throughout our stay! The biggest downer will be when we lose some people after the Andes phase and they return home.

The food and fruits here are fantastic and we cant get enough of them. The fruits they have are so tropical and delicious!

Anyway must dash as we are heading for lunch before chilling out on the beach for the afternoon.

All the best Ed

Sorry it has been so long in coming, especially as my travels began at the beginning of the summer.

The travelling life is a crazy life and an amazing one as, it does not include any work or study deadlines to meet. I say my travels started at the beginning of the summer, well to me it always feels like summer but I guess that is because in essence this year I am following the sun around the world, its a tough life!

Before I really get into the beef of it all, how are tricks back home with everybody? Work? Studying? (If you still have the pleasure of being in the education system) the rest of life? Really I would just love to know how everybody is getting on and what you have been up to. It seems like it has been forever since I have seen you all.

Time is whizzing by and I have already been in Ecuador for a month, and am now in the Andes Mountains on placement 2 of 3. Part 2 of my travels - Ecuador - began a month ago, but it feels to have gone so quickly yet it’s an eternity since I left the UK for the 2nd time! So far I have seen the middle of the earth (the Equator); La Basilica a church in the Old Town of Quito with 0 health and safety and selling beer, it also gives you 1 of the most spectacular views I have ever seen; Mindo a truly beautiful cloud-forest town in which one could so easily forget time; and in Caimito, a beautiful pacific coast town, for just under 3 weeks.

I have seen crabs, whales, scorpions, condors, tarantula’s snakes and ants almost the size of my pinkie!

In Caimito, a community of just 40 people, the group I am spending my time in Ecuador with (11 people strong - Laura, Louise, Jordan, Courtney, Wouter, Natalie, Lindsay, Nora, Jen, Fran and myself) spent our time continuing the building of the local school teacher’s future home, increasing the size of the school orchard and cacao farming (which for those of you who don’t know cacao is the fruit from which chocolate begins and 1 of the farmers we were working with produces cacao used in Swiss chocolate.

The community is a small but wonderful community and the new teacher’s quarters is in hope that they can attract better teachers to the town with more benefits for them when they join the community rather than having to live within the school as is currently the case.
From our time in Caimito we had a couple of days break before venturing into the mountains and in that time we got to go whale watching off the pacific coast, banana boating, and zip lining in the skyline of the cloudforests surrounding Mindo.

La Chimba is where we now reside and we are restoring a local hacienda, which they hope to use in the future as a tourist centre, with accommodation to attract more tourists and revenue to the town. We are a week in to the work in the Andes and this weekend we have had the opportunity to visit Otavalo, which is the biggest indigenous market in the whole of South America.

It has also given me only the 2nd chance of a hot shower in a month - hot water is a sparse thing in Ecuador (especially for taking showers it seems) although when in scorching weather a hot shower is often the last thing you desire.

I hope I have not bored with my quick fire lowdown of my Ecuadorian adventures. I miss you all, hope you are all doing amazingly well and I would truly love to hear how all are getting on wherever you may be. I am so sorry for the delay in communications however at the present time I am lucky to get email once a week and the weekend.
Much Love Ed

Hi Guy,
Sorry for such a delay in my response but it is always hectic times when we get the rare opportunity to use the Internet and phone.
Everything out here is going spectacularly well. Everybody, myself especially, seems to be having a ball. The living arrangements have been really good and more than happily acceptable, obviously mossy’s and bugs aside on the Pacific Coast.

It was an interesting moment to chase the many bats out of the rafters of our accommodation in Caimtio, all adds to the character of the place.

The country and communities are in beautiful locations and the people of the communities have been so so friendly and welcoming. Our family in La Chimba, I stayed with Wouter and we stayed with Venitzio and his family, were amazing and they made Wouter and I personalised bracelets (which I have seen many around the markets of Otavalo, Atacames and Quito) to remember our time in La Chimba as well as "La Chimba" bracelets for the whole group. The tomato dancing in was a new experience that I will definitely be challenging some friends to back home.

Care and help are more than up to scratch.The projects and tasks have varied a little from what we were told but you did inform that things might alter dependent on what stage the communities were at with their work so absolutely no qualms there. It was great fun hunting for the cacaos after they had been knocked from the trees, definitely a memory to be cherished.

It is great to get time here and there to catch up with the outside world, as when on placement we are somewhat cut-off. This is exactly as I expected and the group have really blended and we have enjoyed some great activities, whale watching and banana boating in Atacames, horse riding and Otavalo, Ecuador vs. Chile in a bar in Cayambe while in La Chimba and possibly my most amazing memory thus far - sitting atop La Basilica looking out over Ecuador (in the first couple of days), it was absolutely spectacular.

Tomorrow we are off to the Telefonico and tonight it is Ecuador vs. Venezuela (I will definitely be donning my Ecuador shirt this evening.
Sorry I just realised that I did not answer the question but thus far I have been thoroughly impressed with the set up of Yanapuma and there really have not been any gaping holes in my expectations. 1 thing I will just highlight is that for the bonding of the group and the team experience as a whole having the Andes placement as the middle placement is perfectly poised, thus having the group living together at the very start and the end.

We really have some stories to bring home but unfortunately for me it is time to run, get dinner and prepare for the footy.I hope all is well with all other groups and also back home in sunny old England!
Cheers Ed

Dear All,

So I am almost done with the Ecuadorian stage of my travels and it has been sensational, so sad to know it’s over. I hope life back home treats you well. It could not be treating me much better right now. I’m currently residing in Montanita with the rest of the team for a few days, a surf town, to chill out. No early get ups and no work to be done. Simply relax, plan for the next step and catch up with "reality" (as it is for me nowadays). It is a welcome break after the volunteer work of the past 9 weeks.

So I left you last time having done 1 week in La Chimba, overshadowed by Vulcan Cayambe, in the Andes mountains. It seems an age ago that we were having to alternate between layers and dependent on sunshine or cloud cover - when the sun was out it was scorching but when it went away it was rather nippy and chilly!

The work of week 2 and 3 was majority paint stripping and repainting the front of the hacienda as the rebuild continued. After work was invariably greeted by a couple of cold beers as we relaxed as the sun went down. Once the sun was gone, around 6.30-7ish, it was home to our host families and dinner (invariably rice and salad for breakfast lunch and dinner!).

It was a way of life that, for the locals, begins at 4am to milk their cows (most had them) and ended directly after dinner. Andean life is one that would definitely require massive adaptation from that of our "western" culture.

The 2nd weekend of the placement had to be 1 of our most random. Saturday was filled my horse riding and a waterfall that apparently would allow is to be back in the community for lunch. Yet it transformed into horse riding and a somewhat "challenging" trek through the jungle, amidst a tropical downpour with most prepared for a sunny short morning out!

We saw no waterfall but we did get muddy backsides after a lot of slippage in the mud under for and returned to the community in time for dinner! Sunday then went from a couple of hours in Cayambe to a whole day and a night's stay with the Ecuadorian national team in action against Chile - victory 1-0 and we partied harder than any Ecuadorians did.

Maybe it is not their style? but the kareoke bar we found, they seem to love their kareoke in this country, was empty )except for us gringos) within 5minutes of the end of the match. I was even brought a beer by 2 Ecuadorian guys to say thank you for supporting their team! We all returned Monday morning at 8.50 in perfect time for work!

It is so tough to compare the communities as all were beautiful in their own right (coastal, mountainous and jungle), They all were filled with wonderful, welcoming and such kind people; And in essence different in so many ways with work, food, weather, accommodation, shower facilities ….and even the group of volunteers (we lost 3 more after La Chimba who were only doing 6 weeks and not 10) but we did pick up another - a lovely journalist for the Daily Telegraph writing a piece on The Leap and gap years. It will be in the Travel section in a few months... watch this space.

Chichico Rumi was simply superb. The work was tough and good fun wall building and material collecting from across the River Napo in a canoe. The community was beautiful, located on an inlet of the Amzon with medicinal gardens, monkeys and panchichas (i think they are called!) running free, a boa constrictor (until it got stolen), turtles and an amazonain tiger (caged obviously). On the final day they also got a baby croc too.

The food was the best of the 3 communities (and not rice everyday). The family who owned the museum was such a close knit and lovely family always friendly and smiley. And the sun was often shining. The monkeys were not all so cute and friendly, Alex defintely was but Lucas was a coke-head (who apparently enjoys chewing on coca leaves!), thieving sexually starved cheeky monkey who would steel anything to smash it up and try and have his way with any animal that moved! It was slightly surreal to arrive on a bus via a tarmaced access road through the rainforest passing numerous basketball courts and also having internet access within the community - all thanks to the oil company who gave the communities these things as payment for allowing the access road to be built.

The evenings and weekends were filled by tubing, grass skirt making, learning traditional dances (to perform in our grass skirts), halloween with hair dying, face painting and tattooing (albeit temporary), and jewellary/bracelet making and obviously our staple requirement of a big night out in Tena. Another event of was our visit to an indigenous sharman to try a South American medicinal drug called Ayahuasca. Used to cleanse the body of bad temptations, bad spirits and any evil within one's self and also to enable you to connect with good spirits and improve one's life.

I can assure you in the location we were in and the current moment in my life (a very good and happy time of being) everything was fine and there were no repercussions, but it wont be done again! The only matter was throwing up but that is common and a sign of the cleansing effect supposedly!

I apologise for how long this email has become. In hindsight we have been doing so much that I wish to write home about. It is crazy to think that I have now already been away for 5 months! I hope that I have not bored you and my photos only add to my stories. My time in Ecuador has been amazing and the finale is to be my 8 day tour of the Galapagos that begins in just 3 days. Then on to Peru, Chile and round to NZ to begin working travels again.

Take care and I miss you all Lots of Love Ed xx

Matt Heinrich

Hey Guy,

I'm absolutely loving it here. After just two days I already feel like the trip was a success. We have seen some great stuff and met some really nice cool people along the way. Can't really talk long but will keep you updated.

Matthew

Hey Alice,

I don’t know how to put into words how awesome this experience has been so far. Everyone is awesome and everything we do is amazing. The rain has been a bit bad, but even it is amazing, I just wish it wouldn’t rain so hard…fingers crossed for sunshine!

Got started on the school kitchen today painting and then the rain started so we worked with beads in the afternoon (making traditional Quechua jewellery). Yesterday we carried tons of bamboo down a hill which was hard but really fun actually because we got absolutely filthy with mud.

Anyways, I’ll keep you updated. I responded to that Californian women who apparently y’all referred to me. Gave her a glowing report and told her I’d be happy to speak with her when I got back to the states for the full report.Talk soon.Matteo

Hey Guy,

Thanks for your email, yeah everything has been going great, I love it. Can´t wait for Bua. Everything has met or exceeded expectations for me, especially with the living conditions, much nicer than I thought they would be. The only thing is I wish we had more fruit in our diet!Cheers, Matthew x

Hey Alice,

Ya everything here is great and the food at Bua is way better than at Chichi! The work is far more physical here but I like that so no problem there. Atacarmes has been great, its nice to chill a bit on the beach. We´ve dwindled in numbers but the people have been great. The last of us call ourselves leap for lifers!!

Anyways, hope all is well with y'all across the pond and talk to you next weekend when we're back in Quito. Matthew

Magnus Williams

Hi there!

i will definately give you a more detailed description of my trip and how it matched my expectations/superceeded them in an email when i am home...

For now, i just wanted to say thankyou so much for what, so far, has been anamazing experience that i really have enjoyed so much...I do, however, need to stick to my initial plan and only do 6 weeks of the project, and `not prolong my time with the leap/yanapuma to 10 weeks (though i was EXTREMELY tempted!); purely because of a lack of funds/available time to travel later in the year.

I have been having a really great time though, which will make going home harder! Everything has been planned out amazingly and carrie has been an amazing team leader; i really have had everything planned for me much more than i expected (in a good way!) while still having lots of freedom to enjoy!

I will email soon with a more detailed answer to your questions!
But for now, thankyou and i hope you are well! magnus williams

Lily Hunt

Hello Guy...

our group arrived in Chichico Rumi on Tuesday after 3 weeks in la chimba.

Im really happy with everything. My host family in La Chimba were so sweet, they did everything and anything they could for us. Their house was lovely and the food was good too... loads of it!

Here the living conditions are also good, its great to all be sharing a dorm, and the food here is yummy too.

Fran is a great leader and really supprtive. We spent alot of time carrying materials in the andes, but the next group will be able to build a wall with the rocks we were moving which is good. the work is hard but fun!

Hope that is helpful to you... i havnt much time right now but im going to try and upload some photos to facebook asap!

thanks again to all in the office... Lily.

Maxine Winning

Hi all,

Sorry i haven't been in contact or kept you updated the last couple of
months, i have an excuse though in the form that i had forgotten my
email password (yes i know, beyond ditsy!)

But I would just like to say a big thank you, as i truly had an awesome time in Ecuador, just the best! I will put pictures up soon.

Kind regards

Maxine

x

Kirstin Price

Hello Guy!

Thanks for the email. Having an amazing time! Chilcapamba is so
beatutiful and the people are lovely, the house we are staying in is gorgeous as well. We finished painting the interior of the nursery yesterday and it looks great, everyone was really pleased.

As I’m having such a good time I’ve decided that I want to stay for the ten weeks if that’s possible? Cant imagine going home after only 6 weeks and don’t want to miss out on the Amazon Rainforesy!

Will try and get to an internet cafe again at some point this weekend, hope all is well in England!

Many thanks, Kirstin!

Rozzie Chisholm

Hi

I´m in Atacames at the mo. Its a town right on the coast, its quite small but after the community it seems like there loads going on! Its got a really nice beach with bars running all along with music and cocktails and street venders selling fruit, chips, meat, fish and juice where we go for budget street meals, because everyones trying to save for travelling after.

The house in the community is really cool we all sleep in one room upstairs and its basically open with loads of big windows where you can see the amazing view down over the rainforest to the sea, it almost feels more jungally than the rainforest community. Different women from the community come in to cook for us each day and one volunteer gets up at 5:30 to cook breakfast with them and then stays in the house all day helping them cook which is quite cool an makes you feel like your helping!!

The food is amazing they no weve had enough of rice and yucca so they cook it in laods of different ways like we hade these fried rice cakes with onion and cheese in that were amazing and we get freshly squeezed juice generally orange or grapefruit with every meal which is almost the best bit. Its cool because were doing a range of work here like working in the schools garden aswell as bits of building.

We spent a couple of days building trenches and damming a river to try and prevent some of the erosion which is a big problem due to the deforestation, were also working with these guys trying to produce a model sustainably grown organically run farm and theyre working with loads of the local farmers and stuff- its quite cool it seem like were really helping with something good.We finish work and eat lunch about 1 here because everything is more chilled out by the coast. Its cool because it means we have all afternoon to chill about.

Weve been down to the beach a few times which is a 30 min walk through the jungle, its abit of a treck especially on the way back up but its worh it for the amazing secluded beach surrounded by jungle! Sometimes we just sit around the house in the hammocks and read, write diaries and play cards eating bananas from a huge bunch nailed to a beam. Its really nice to have the communal space we didnt have so much in the rainforest.

xxxx

Alexander Hutchon

Having an amazing time here. Everyone is getting along really well which is great and the trip is going smoothly. We have spent the last week in the jungle living with an indigenous tribe helping them repair their roof over their roof of artifacts. The male members of the tribe shave the sides of their head and dye their hair on the top bright red. The roof is made of leaves so we have been cutting down massive leaves and moving them.

Everyday we travel to work in the back of a truck or catch a bus. Life in the jungle with them is so different from England. We are sleeping in a mix of wooden buildings and plastic sheet walled buildings with curtains for doors, but its all such an amazing experience, no-one actually cares too much about the bugs! The toilet is an outdoor eco-toilet, which is interesting to use in the middle of the night. We have no showers or sinks and instead wash our clothes and selves in the river with the local fish. Meals are basically soup followed by plantain and rice. I keep thinking I’ve had plantain in every way possible and then the locals prove me wrong by bringing out a new dish. For example we’ve had plantain tea, plantain curry, fried plantain, plantain stuffed with cheese and onion, sweet plantain for breakfast, mashed plantain, plantain crisps and plantain soup :D

Last weekend we went to Ecuador’s biggest market. I bought a poncho, ridonculous mask, Ecuadorian footy shirt and a rug to put on my ceiling at uni! This weekend we are in Mindo, which is famous for its cloud forests and amazing selection of birds. It was also a great opportunity to access the Internet and get phone reception. Looking forward to my second week out here when we get to meet the tribe shaman and start building the roof out of the 9000 leaves we have collected (yep I meant 9000).

Irene Asamoah

Hi Alice

So sorry for the long delay in replying. Thansk so much for all the emails from you and Guy. Ecuador is absolutely amazing. It´s actually far better than I could have imagined!

Right now, we are in the beach town of Atacambo. It´s crazy and vibrant and brilliant. The project work is reallly satisfying during the week, and in spite of the heat and hard work, all seem to be enjoying it. The weekends are brilliant, and it´s great to have the chance to explore different parts of the country on these days!

Unfortunatley, I´m having some trouble uploading my pohotos and videos, and so the blog has kind of fallen through, but it should be no problem when i get back to England...possibly sooner if i can get the technology sorted by then...I hope it´s not too much of a problem. I´ll try and post snippets of what we´ve been up to on facebook, and send emails more frequently.

Ciao!

Irene x

Steffie Bartlett

Having an amazing time! everythings brilliant, and have made some amazing friends here aswell. I dont have much time at the minute to send photos and stuff, but i definately will when i get home ... going to enjoy the hot showers and variety of food quito offers while it lasts, but cant wait to get started on the next placement!

I will send you stories, photos and videos
back home ... speak soon, steff x

Hi!

Now I have a bit more time at the net cafe i though i could give you a more detailed blog of everything we´ve been up to. I´ll start from the beginning =)

Ok so when we were in quito for the first few days we went to the old town and went to the church and just did generally touristy bits, with a couple oif spanish lessons aswell. In the evenings we had a classic team bonding sesh through the means of alcohol and got to experience some of the amazing nightlife in Quito!!

By the time we travelled to Bua, i think everyone was pretty enthusiastic to really begin our time here and get going with our first placement. the coach journey wasn´too bad, and our first ride on the back of a pick-up truck seemed pretty novel at the time!

As soon as we arrived to the tsachilas, Alfonzo gave us a little inductory talk and showed us round ... including our first look at the eco toilet! not as bad as expected =) Me aimae ollie and rosie got the ´hut´by the river, which we thought was a good move! It was fun to get to work on the first day, seeing what we were really doing to help the tribe and get going collecting leaves. . . we were all pretty enthusiastic on the first day and got loads done. Breakfast at 6.30 everyday was a bit of a push, and we managed to miss the 7.10 bus acouple of times making us a bit late for work =/

I loved bathing in the river! even though you never actually get clean, and it is pretty freezing ... but its one of those things that i´ll prbably never get to experience again!

The second week we didnt need to get a bus to work because we were more directly doing the museum roof. It was nice to have a more hands on approach and actually see our efforts pay off. The tsachilas are such hard workers and they often got double the amount we got done in the same amount of time! It was amazing to see the new roof go up, and to learn about their traditional methods and techniques.

It was nice in the afternoons having cultural activites because it gave us the chance to have a break from work and also learn about the tribe and their culture. We saw the cacao farm and also had one afternoon where richard gave us stories. It was such an odd story i was sure i was completely misunderstanding him, so everyone just sort of had to nod and smile along ... it turns out the story was that surrealafter all!

Going to mindo for the weekend was fun because we got to go zipwiring over the rainforest canope and tubing on the rapids. We also had another night out on the town ... which resulted in me and amaie trying to help jaimie into his locked room by climbing thorugh the window and somehow breaking theirbathroom sink - luckily we only had to pay $20 which was a lucky escape! but we did come outside to see alex sittin in the hostal completely naked after running home as a dare - really odd night!! but still fun =D

We also went to atacames for the weekend which was equally as fun, and most of the girls managed to receive some informal salsa lessons, so we reckon we´re going to be pro´s this evening for our actual lessons.

Can´t wait to go to the coast, will let you know how that went when im back home i guess, and send in all my photo´s and videos as soon as i can.

Sorry for the essay, but in a nutshell everyones having a great time and a once in a lifetime experience ... its all going too quickly!!

Steff x

Kirstin Price

Helllo Guy, i hope you and everyone at The Leap are well and enjoying the summer!

I have been home from South America for two weeks now and have been looking back over the ten weeks that I spent in Ecuador and it really was the most incredible experience! I just wanted to send you an email to say thank you so much!

The three communities were amazing and each one so different, and the people in them were amazing! Our projects allowed me to do things that I would never have had an opportunity to do and I have a real sense of pride in what we achieved. I have taken a lot away from the experience, including an incredible new group of friends, and am very pleased I decided to go to Ecuador with The Leap.

My parents also wanted to say thank you as the regular phone calls from Alice really put their minds at rest, especially right at the very beginning and I know that they felt reassured that I was safe. The Yanapuma staff were fantastic as well and I felt totally supported throughout each placement.

A great big massive thank you! I want to go back already! I would definately recommend The Leap to anyone wanting to take a gap year and my mum has said the same!
Best wishes,
Kirstin x

Amy Wood

Yep we are happy with our living conditions, once we got over the fact that we might be sharing our rooms with spiders and ants in Bua it was all good! I think I can deal with any bugs now haha. Our expectations are being exceeded and were definitely getting lots of support. Finishing the museum roof was very satisfying!

Ill put photos and stories on to the Internet when I get back, as the time I spent in Internet Café’s here I’m e-mailing friends and family. :-)

All the best,
Aimae x

Lucie Orr

Hey Alice,

I don't think I ever thanked you guys for such a brilliant time in Ecuador, so here it is now: THANKS!! I had such an amazing trip and met some pretty cool people.

: )

Lucie

Rose Munday

Hey there!!

Sorry i've not been in touch sooner, think I was the last person from my group (Ecuador April Leap) to get home from travelling. Just wanted to say thankyou sooo much for my time with the leap, had one of the best experiences of my life!! I tried to fill in the online survey thing you emailed about it but have forgotten my password to the leap website - i dont know if they would be any way of finding out what it is,if not i can just send my thoughts in an email..?

The project was absolutely the fantastic- loved our team leader, the group, the familys we stayed with were just amazing and so friendly, the food and accomodation were great too (was worried since Im a vegetarian but it was absolutely fine,almost had too much food in the amazon and felt rude not eating it all!). Loved the weekends away and would advise everyone to try all the activities ie white water rafting!

Also I absolutely loved the chance, as did all my friends, when we got to teach and I think if it was atall possible to make more of an official slot for this everyone would find this really fullfilling! The kids were so happy and interested in you,it was so sweet :)

It was the best adventure I've ever had, everything was really well organised and felt safe at all times - have heard that our team leader Emily wasn't re-hired by Yanapuma which is a shame as she was absolutely awesome! had such a good time and I thought the group sizes were perfect to make friends,and me and 4 other girls went travelling down South America after which was amazing! I've also been to Australia for July and August hence why i havent got in touch sooner.

I also loved how the Leap was a small and personalised company,everytime I rung up predeparture,everyone seemed to know who I was which is something people I know who have gone with different companies,have not had.

I'd be really interested in what you said about going into your old school to talk about volunteering...I won't be near to my old school anymore as I am going to University in Leicester but i'd even be happy to go into schools there as I know a few people via my cousins. I'm sure mon ey will be tight next year so earning for talking about something i've enjoyed so much would be perfect..! Let me know, and thanks again for these last few months!!!!!!!!!!

Rose Munday xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ben Stasiuk's mum

Hi Alice,

Thank you for the update. I enjoyed reading Jay's blog. An enthusiastic young boy's tales of Ecuador!!

We have talked to Ben every weekend. He is having a wonderful experience. He enjoyed the work they just finished and found the people in the community charming and warm.. He found out that some of the folks had never had pancakes. He got a family recipe and made pancakes for them last week. They loved them. He also was so touched by the birthday celebration for him. Games, cake and blindfolded to find a sign that everyone had made for him.

I must say we are all impressed with your organization. Every detail is taken care of and I have no misgivings about Ben's safety or his lack of support. Ben thinks SO HIGHLY of Fran. He has told me more than once that she is awesome.

Ben requested a care package on his next return to Quito filled with US candies that some of the kids from England have never heard of , like Tootsie Rolls. What would be the best address to send that to for him? Thank you for your update once again.

Sue

Flora Malpas

HI Guy,

Everything´s good, the house in Chilcabamba was lovely and the family were really sweet. The community seemed to really appreciate the work we did and were really welcoming towards us.

Sophie and the Yanapuma staff are looking after us really well :)   all good ;)
Flora

Yvonne Ross

Hi Guy,

I am really happy so far thanks. Living conditions are absolutely fine. we´ve just returned from Chilcapamba to Quito, it was a really good community to work in. The family treated us really well and we did lots of rewarding work. They gave us plenty to do so we were kept busy but it was worth it in the end when they thanked us with a little gift and showed how grateful they were.

We dug a 5 metre hole at the school and we finished the last Leapers hole at the nursery so they have 2 working toilets now. We also dug trenches and mixed lots of concrete to make a path around the community centre.

Weekends have been good, we did some hiking and visited Otovalo and Ibarra. Sofie has been an excellent leader and has made sure we´re all fine.

I´ve had no problems so far, it´s all been really good! Everything has been running smoothly and i´m having fun, my expecations have definitly been met!

I´ll try and email again after the next placement in Bua.

Bye for now,
Yvonne

Hannah Byrne

We got to the rainforest last Sunday, and it’s amazing. We stay in little huts and wash in the river. The downside of this is that we always end up smelling of mud when we have finished cleaning ourselves! We also have an eco loo that everyone has near enough got used to. J

We mostly eat lots and lots of rice. yum. We have established that the worst food imaginable is mashed plantain, which is what we were presented for breakfast the other morning. No one could swallow it. Banana chips are the best!!

We started work on Monday morning, and had to get up at six in torrential rain. But soon it got brighter! Wednesday was possibly the most tiring day of my life to date. We used machetes and cut down 1000 leaves that were about 1m wide. We then carried them through a huge mud-slide hill in the rainforest and stacked them in piles of 100. Everyone was so exausted, including Davis, our team leader. Davis is really funny, and we all enjoy mocking his American accent and his retarded phrasing, such as "its definately possible". he also currently has a cold, which just makes things funnier.

It rains most nights in the rainforest, in a big way. REAL rain. Sometimes it wakes us up! we are currently in a small town called mindo, which is where the cloudforest is. We spent this morning zip wiring through the mountains which was awesome! We all got soaked as we went through some clouds. i did a zip wire upside down! It was amazing.

We head back to the rainforest tomorrow morning, and next week we are building now that we have the leaves for the roof. We also get to get up at 7 next week which we are all looking forward to.

The tribe we live with are awesome. Alfonzo is the leader and he helps us work. He has that cool crazy hair. His son is cool too, but i cant remember his name. He plays cards with us in the evening sometimes, and pretends not to know the rules. He then wins. Cunning.

Anyways, everything is good and we are having an amazing time. we are all really close as a group and we all have so much fun together.

Hope everyone is well! Be safe, loads of Ecuadorian love, Hannah xxxxxxx

Hannah Byrne

Last week in Bua went really quickly! The work was mainly stripping trees and cutting down bamboo. But we are working within the community this week, so we can get up at 7 and not six. The four of us in our cabin have demanded funny phrases from davis when he wakes us, which makes the mornings funnier. I am on top bunk and end up falling out of bed from laughing so much that it has become routine.

Wednesday night we made the fatal mistake of leaving our cabin light on. it was horrific. there were moths EVERYWHERE. You Couldn’t walk through the room without one hitting you in the face. So a moth genocide ensued, with my flip flops being the main source of weaponry. We couldn’t kill all of them, so izzy and i turned the light off and sat outside for a while and waited for them to disappear. When we sat outside, we saw loads of fireflies which was awesome. We have also seen some HUGE spiders this week. at the river, there were two the size of my whole hand! it was crazy.

After a long coach journey yesterday thanks to traffic, we are now in a town called banos, which is bigger than mindo and in the mountains. Later on, we are going white water rafting and then going for a swim in a thermal spring in the evening.

We all get on really well and have loads of jokes. There are dogs everywhere here, and we enjoy rating them on a happy scale of 1 to 10. i am sorry to report that a 0.2 was spotted when we were in the truck collecting bamboo. However, there is a excessively happy chicken in bua, which we have rated at a perpetual 9.

We go back to bua tomorrow morning, and then work Monday and Tuesday. We then have a leaving ceremony all of Wednesday and then go back to Quito Thursday morning. We will be sad to leave bua, its such an amazing setting.

unfortunately i got two mosquito bites above my eye, and then i slept on my hand, which resulted in disasterous concequences. my eye swelled up so that i couldnt see out of it. as a result, i walked into a tree. Luckily it didn’t hurt and was therefore purely hilarious. It went down by lunch though thanks to Lauren’s antihistamine cream.

That is all for now! Hope everyone is well!