Written by Kora Battleson, 2023-24 Latitudes Student
Experience in Camarones, Ecuador:
My experience this semester in a small town called Camarones (shrimp) along the coast of Ecuador has been incredible. One thing I love about the work I do is every day is different with some sort of surprise.
My week typically begins and ends with a hike through the reserve which usually takes about 4 hours to monitor monkeys. On these days we do our best to find a perfect time slot when the sun is out and there’s no rain (considering the fact it’s rainy season it’s pretty challenging). We do this because the monkeys are more active and vocal when there’s no precipitation, making our research as accurate as we can. We look at the location of the troop, how many there are, the genders and ages, and many more characteristics.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I go to a lovely coffee and chocolate farm that is run by Narcisa and her family. For the first couple of weeks, I have been working on a mural attached to her house. I also pull weeds and assist in any other work to help prepare her coffee beans and cocoa. On Wednesdays, I help out in the nearby town of Tabuga and teach English classes. This was something I wasn’t expecting to do during my semester but it’s one of my favorite things to do, as I love interacting with young kids (I’m usually set up with girls from ages 12 to 15). All these activities have been so fun and I love learning from the people in this community.
Water Quality Project with Julia:
This week Feb 26th- March 1st, a University of Wisconsin Alum named Julia came to visit to learn more about the water quality project here at Ceiba. I was lucky enough to tag along with her and the team: Majo and Dome. We studied riffles (water movement due to rocks), temperature, speed of current, surroundings (has human impact or environmental issues affecting this river?), and macroinvertebrates.
Challenges and Growth:
Many things have positively challenged me during my experience here in Ecuador. One of my biggest challenges that has stood out to me is being comfortable in a new environment. This includes certain amenities like only having access to cold showers, delicious but repetitive food, constantly itching myself due to bug bites, hearing loud noises while I sleep, not knowing if it’s a seed falling from a tree branch, the howling of monkeys, or an ocelot’s footstep crawling on the leaves behind the house. Being at Ceiba has pushed my boundaries that I didn’t think was possible. I usually feel comfortable with being in the outdoors 24/7, I could almost call it my second home, but this place has opened my eyes to a whole new perspective of escaping into the jungle. I have learned many things, such as trusting my instincts more, knowing the difference between bees that fly in your hair and the ones that bite, and the importance of connecting on a deeper level with the people who work and live here.
Highlights of My Journey:
There have been so many highlights along my travels. One of the greatest aspects of Ceiba is the location. We are a 15-minute bus ride from the prettiest beach with delicious seafood. We’re also about a 3-hour bus ride in the opposite direction to one of the cutest towns I have ever seen in Latin America. It’s located inside a cloud forest and is a beautiful town called Mindo with an amazing culture (especially during the carnival season). Mindo has a unique tourist attraction with tasty restaurants, funky jewelry, and awesome outdoor opportunities. One of them is able to fly straight over the jungle into a fairyland of waterfalls. Another highlight from my semester so far is our weekly Uno competitions. These competitions take place on the kitchen table after dinner with our lovely cook, Mary, and fun park ranger, José, with candlelights circling around us to help not confuse the colors green and blue. I personally love this tradition we have started, not only because it’s where my true competitiveness comes out but because I feel like I bond with Mary and José more. Oh and if you might ask… yes, so far I am winning the winning streak (fingers crossed)
Surprises in Ecuadorian Generosity:
Coming into this semester I tried not to place expectations into my head, but something that has surprised me the most about Ecuador is how generous everyone is. This includes people who have helped guide my friend and me back to the reserve, a lovely woman who works at the local yogurt/sweet store nearby who gave my friend and me a free dessert, and Narcisa. When I go to Narcisa’s house she always makes sure I leave feeling stuffed with the most wonderful treats. While I pull weeds or paint her house she hands me food and coffee to keep me energized, allowing me to experience the culture in a delicious way. She introduces me to new types of ways to eat plantains and all the steps to make the most perfect cup of coffee. This generosity spreads through the coast of Ecuador within the community itself. This may be kids helping other kids learn English, fellow neighbors moving a fallen tree off the road, or something as simple as giving a hand to someone while they walk on and off the bus.
Inspired by Kora’s gap year? Learn more about the Latitudes Year and carve out your own journey!
