On January 7, 2014 I got a new host brother. A little more than eight pounds, Martín Cardenás is cute, calm, and the joy of my host family. After a long day at work or tiring day at school, my host dad and host siblings always arrive shouting his name “Martín, Martín!” or as my…

06 March, 2014

As a Global Citizen Year Fellow, the holidays are tough. At a time when you normally expect to be surrounded by family, friends, and the holiday spirit, it can be a little disconcerting to experience different customs in a different country surrounded by different faces. Throughout my life I have become used to certain traditions…

24 January, 2014

Hey Everyone! So it’s been a little while since I last blogged. I apologize about that! While in Quito, I decided that I wanted to apply to college again and it took up quite a bit of my time during my first few weeks here in Pedro Vicente Maldonado. But now that’s over and I have been pushing…

20 November, 2013

During my first three weeks in Ecuador, I was living in a
bubble. My host family in Quito was well off and provided the comforts of
Internet, plumbing, and a warm shower. My daily schedule consisted of spending
time with other Fellows, which involved speaking English and being with people
who I knew and could connect with. Needless to…

02 October, 2013

If you had asked me a year ago whether or not I would be taking a gap year after high school, I would have responded with a perplexed smile and said, “absolutely not”. Obviously things have changed since then. Most significantly (and the reason why you’re reading this blog post) is that I am taking…

19 July, 2013