#benvenidos

[susanavieira23]

Bolo de boas-vindas 😍😍😍😍😍 #boasvindas #benvenidos

[rudymassaro]

#welcome #benvenidos #Avezzano #Abruzzo #Marsica #photosoftheday (presso Avezzano, Italy)

[thylacinewings]

BOOP BEN'S SNOOT FOR GOOD LUCK! . . #BenBenIsBestBen #BENvenidos

[benvenidos]

Today has been very long but very rewarding! Started it off with an early breakfast of corn, eggs, tea, and juice from a fruit I can't pronounce with my host mother & sister and walked to El Universidad with my host mother to meet my fellow study abroad students & begin our first day of orientation! I had heard that altitude sickness was most definitely going to happen to me, and I definitely felt it walking to the university this morning. After 5 blocks it was a struggle but definitely worth it to see the residents of Quito and the landscape around us. My group took a shuttle ride to our study abroad center and became acquainted during the ride (there's another Ben in the program, can you believe it?) We got briefed by the staff about safety procedures and the culture of Quito and Ecuador, and then it was off to lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Valley of Cumbayé in Quito that had a stunning view. I haven't seen the big volcano, Cotopaxi, yet because of the clouds but I hear it's beautiful when it's clear and you can see the smoke billowing from its core! After that, we were driven back to the headquarters where we were briefed more and got to enjoy a view from the top of the building. I learned that it's not part of the Ecuadorian culture to wear seat belts (though we did) and that Ecuadorian traffic is mostly chaotic but in a good way. Throughout the day, I've been going through times where I feel fine and great to where I'm ready for a nap and I feel like I've ran a marathon. I'm sure it'll pass in a few days. I arrived home with my host sister, Leslie later on. We played with her dogs (Pipo & Lucas) and she showed me the view from her house's balcony of the valley. This evening, her family and I swapped family photos and watched the COPA America soccer games. My host family consists of my host parents, Victor & Elizabeth, 19 yr Leslie, 17 yr Diansa, 28 yr Victor, and an older brother whose name I forgot. The weather here in the Andes reminds me a lot about Rochester-all 4 seasons in 1 day. Tomorrow, we're taking a walking tour of Quito's historical district, so I'm signing off to save my strength. Hope to post again soon!

[benvenidos]

Studying Abroad

Hello! My name is Ben & I’m studying abroad in Ecuador with IES Abroad as part of their Summer 2016 Enivronmental Studies Program. I will be taking classes in Spanish, Ecuadorian Ecosystems, and Ecuadorian Environmental Policy at the Universidad San Fransisco de Quito (USFQ) and the Galapagos Academic Institute of Arts and Sciences (GAIAS) for 7 weeks.

As part of the program, I will be staying with two host families, one in Quito & one in the Galapagos. I’m very excited and nervous to meet my family in Quito tomorrow, as well as my fellow IES Abroad participants. Visiting the Tiputini Research Station in the Amazon for a week, spending 3 weeks in the Galapagos Islands, and traveling around Ecuador will certainly give me a lot to talk about!

I will do my best to update this blog as often as I can, though I will be without internet access for some periods of time. If you already know me & you’d like to contact me while I’m abroad, please either imessage, email, fb message, or WhatsApp me! If you don’t know me personally, please message me via the tumblr message board.

Thank you to my family & friends for your love & support, I couldn’t have arrived at this point without you all. Mom, Dad, Rachel & Chris, I love you. Kristen, I love you and I will be safe. I’ll post again once I’m in Ecuador! 

BiENvenidos a bordo