Hi!  Welcome to our study abroad trip to Ecuador!  We have plans to see a variety of climates and cultures including areas in Quito and Tena.  Specifically, we’ll see Plaza del Teatro, Basillica, and Cerro El Panecillo.  We’ve got a great group of McKendree students from a wide range of backgrounds and many will be making their first visit abroad.  Below you’ll be able to read about each student who is accompanying us on this fantastic trip.  Stay tuned for updates on this blog.

Dr. Phil Wilhelm and Dr. Darryn Diuguid

Sandra Evans

Hola, My name is Sandra Evans and I am a graduate student here at McKendree University.  I am so excited about returning to Ecuador.  This will be my second trip and I can’t wait to visit the schools in Quito.  Last year, I had the opportunity to visit the Madrileno School and it was a fantastic experience.  The children were eager to learn and they all welcomed us.  I look forward to working with them again and sharing my experience with others when I return home.

I am also looking forward to visiting the Equator and the Misahualli (in the jungle) and the hot springs (ahh).  I plan to take tons of pictures and explore as much as I can.  Maybe I’ll even take a photo of an Anaconda (yikes)!

Anthony Rhoads

Hello!  I’m Anthony Rhoads, a freshman math major at McKendree.  On campus, I am the treasurer of Alpha Phi Omega and co-president of Rotaract, as well as a McCat and Green Team member.  I am most excited about the time we will be spending in Tena and the rain forest where we will go whitewater rafting and zip lining.  I am extremely afraid that I have forgotten most of my Spanish from high school and nervous about trying some of the more exotic dishes, such as cuy (guinea pig).  I first became interested in the trip during an informational meeting that my University 101 class attended.  I am still very excited and can’t wait until we leave on Monday!

Kat Studley

Hola muchachos y senioritas! Me llamo es Kat Studley 🙂 Hablo un poquito espanol, so…

I am so excited to be going to Ecuador. My older brother Robert went on this trip a few years ago and after comparing his itinerary to mine, he became jealous. I found out about this trip in math class, and the prospect of seeing a rainforest made me almost leap out of my seat. Then, when I found out we’d be going white water rafting, I just couldn’t resist. I absolutely love traveling and I am dying to take photographs of the lush landscape and beautiful people there. Oh, and if I get to ride a llama, I can die happy :).

Shannon Fuehne

Hola! Me llamo es Shannon Fuehne and I am a sophomore here at McKendree University.  I am double majoring in Mathematics and Economics and Finance and plan to graduate in 2013.  I am beyond excited to leave for Ecuador! I am most excited to go into the rainforest and experience all of the different cultures that exist there.  Also to see all of the animals in the reserves and other wildlife will be so exciting.  White water rafting is going to be awesome as well.  I cannot wait to see the Otavolo Market and buy as many souvenirs there as I can carry.  I have never been out of the country and I consider this to be the first of many more times.

Amanda Sweet

In one week we will be in Ecuador!  I am very excited to be a part of this experience.  Me llamo es Amanda Sweet and I am a junior at McKendree University where I major in mathematics.  On this trip I plan to open my mind to how the indigenous people live, try their food, and be involved in their culture.  Also, I cannot wait to see the rainforest along with the breath-taking mountains.

Haleigh Albers

İHóla! Me Llamo Haleigh Albers.  I am a junior at McKendree University and am absolutely thrilled to be going to Ecuador! I am an Econ/Finance major with a minor in Spanish.  After hearing about the trip to Ecuador, I immediately knew I wanted to go so I could immerse myself in the culture and language. This is going to be my first trip out of the country. I am most excited to see the indigenous people and the way they make their livings. I am also very excited to visit Otavalo, the largest indigenous market in the world. I think this trip will not only be the best experience I have had in my 20 year life but will also change my perspective on different cultures completely!

Rachael Valbert

Hi! I’m Rachael Valbert.  I’m an elementary education major with hopes of teaching second grade. I love to sing and act. I’m really excited about seeing the rainforest and being on the equator. I’m curious about how schools are organized in Ecuador so I’m excited for that as well. I decided to join this trip because I have never been out of the country before and the call of zip lining through the rainforest was too strong for me to resist.

Monica Heimos 

Hola Muchachos,

I am so excited about this trip! Can’t believe it’s only six days away! I am so thrilled to learn and immerse myself in culture. I cannot wait to go to the indigenous markets, see a volcano and mountains, visit schools and play with children, and see the rainforest!  This is my first time out of the country, which is the main reason I decided to take this course. I want to experience something new and different from the U.S.  Also, I weighed the fact that this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity; not many get to experience a different culture. This trip is going to be amazing!

 

Drew Walker

I can’t wait to be in Ecuador! My name is Drew Walker and I am a mathematics major. I originally became interested in this trip because I was forced to go to the informational session and the rest is history. The idea of being in a country that loves soccer as much as I do, the plane ride (I love planes), and experiencing a whole new world and culture is so exciting. Hasta la vista United States, hola Ecuador!

Andrea Sullivan

Hola!

Me llamo Andrea Sullivan. I am currently a second year chemistry major. I am super excited to go to Ecuador and experience a different culture. This will be my second time out of the country. Two summers ago, I traveled to Costa Rica and that was a life changing experience. I am excited to see the different cultures and compare it to how we live in the United States and how people live in Costa Rica. Being a shop-a-holic, I am very excited that we have the opportunity to travel to Otavalo, which is the home to the largest open-air indigenous shopping market in the world. I am glad to have the opportunity to travel out of the country with my fellow classmates.

Vamos!

Dr. Phil Wilhelm and Dr. Darryn Diuguid