Madrina
Heather Kurtz
March 23, 2012
One of the last things my mom told me before I left for Ecuador was to not come home with a man or a baby. Well I half listened. I do not have a man here. I have a daughter! Wait Before you all start panicking and getting plan tickets to Ecuador to punish me. ...
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Learner vs. Knower
Heather Kurtz
March 6, 2012
During fall train in August we were told to be learners and to come into Ecuador as Learners not as Knowers. Well, I listened, but I did not understand what the difference was or how that would affect my experience in Ecuador. I recently took a trip with some friends and learned the difference, and...
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Wow What a Girl!
Heather Kurtz
March 6, 2012
When you were eleven what was your day like? I went to school, played sports, came home and fought with my sibling. Here my aunt is eleven and her days are a little different. She goes to school and does her homework, and on weekends plays soccer. The difference is that she does not fight...
Read More¿Una Profesora? Who, Me?
Heather Kurtz
January 31, 2012
In early January, the Prefecto (governor) of Napo came up to me and asked when I was leaving Ecuador. When I told him in April, he announced, “That’s great! So, now you are going to teach English”. You do not tell the Prefecto no. So I got a little worried about what I was going...
Read MoreLa Navidad
Heather Kurtz
January 25, 2012
When you think of Christmas what do you think? For me Christmas is: snow and sledding, time with my family, and presents for everyone. One thing I love about Christmas are the decorations: the green and the red, the Christmas tree and my Grandmother’s Christmas village. I love to decorate the house and put up the tree; it is a lot...
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Home Sweet Home
Heather Kurtz
December 13, 2011
I am amazed by how much I feel at home here in Atacapi. The week I spent in Quito was fun but I missed my family so much. I was wondering how they were doing and wanted to know how the baby was because my parents said that the other children had spent months in...
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Gracias
Heather Kurtz
December 10, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving. I am so thankful to be here in Ecuador. I am thankful for the life lessons I am learning. One of which is to be grateful for all that you have. I spent the weekend in Quito celebrating Thanksgiving with all the Ecuador fellows. It was great. In this time I learned that I have many things...
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Oh Baby!
Heather Kurtz
November 30, 2011
My baby sister On November 18th, my host mother here in Tena had a baby. She had a girl. It is very difficult to explain having a baby to people in Spanish. I received a call from my host mom at 3:20pm, on the 17th. She said that she was in labor. She called me because she...
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Expectations
Heather Kurtz
November 30, 2011
Throughout Fall Training at Stanford, Global Citizen Year asked us what we expected when we got to Ecuador. Although I do not know what I expected when I got to Ecuador, I never thought I would be a well-known local celebrity. I figured that I would be just another volunteer coming to change the world. As...
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Un Rio
Heather Kurtz
October 19, 2011
While in Atacapi, my community, I have discovered many things. There is one that really made me think. This was the river. I never knew all the things that a river can be. Most of you know I have a passion for white-water kayaking. I am constantly watching the river levels to see when I...
Read MoreSaying Goodbye
Heather Kurtz
October 14, 2011
I’m going to miss the strawberries, because they are sweet and organic and cheap, and I will miss the carrots because one is almost enough to be a complete meal. I will miss getting on my bus on my way to Ambato and feeling the wave of relief that it actually showed up. Even though...
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Mountains
Heather Kurtz
October 3, 2011
Everyone climbs mountains of some form. Well, today the 30 of September we climbed mountain Pasochoa. This was a great climb and learned many things. I realized some of the mountains I have climbed here and some that I am still climbing. Pasochoa was a beautiful mountain. I loved climbing it and seeing all of...
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Adaptation
Heather Kurtz
October 3, 2011
One of the hardest things I have learned my first few weeks in Ecuador is to adapt. I never knew how valuable a quality that is. To be able to see something and to not react but instead to realize it is different and change yourself so that things work for the better. My week...
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My Job
Heather Kurtz
September 2, 2011
I am so exited. I am on my way to Ecuador. I will be learning Spanish and Quitwa. I am going to live with a family and work on a farm. This is going to be great, and I am so glad you are all here to share it with me. These past weeks have...
Read MoreIntroductions
Heather Kurtz
July 6, 2011
Hello, I am Heather Kurtz, a 2012 Global Citizen Year Fellow. When I was told to write about myself I said “Not again!” I am the salutatorian of my class and have had to write about myself many times already. But for you who read this I will do it one more time! I live...
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