By Raina Gardner, New Hampshire Ecuador Semester Program student 2008
Imagine standing at the summit of Mt. Cotopaxi, Ecuador’s tallest active volcano. The sun has risen on the horizon bathing the world below in a rosy glow, and casting shadows from the mountains of the Andes. The numbness of my fingers and toes falls away from my consciousness as I look back on the journey that brought me here. From the chilly New England autumn to the abundance of the Ecuadorian jungle, I have experienced the power and beauty of these differing environments, and I know that my view of the world will never be the same.
I am surrounded by the people that I have come to love and trust. We have all experienced this amazing journey together, and they are my source of strength and comfort when I struggle. Together, we have experienced physical, emotional and spiritual challenges, and have grown into a strong, cohesive, and devoted group.
Focusing on the study of environmental and cultural sustainability, art, and physical activity, the semester was a constant learning experience, and a chance for personal growth. With our feet as our main source of transportation, we traveled to small communities throughout Ecuador where we learned the crafts of the people. We embroidered, carved wooden bowls, made baskets and worked with leather. Some of my best time spent on the journey was staying in the jungle. From making jewelry out of the seeds that grow there, to making Chicha, a traditional drink made of chewed up yucca, a plant common in most of the meals, we learned from a culture that most do not have the opportunity to experience. These generous teachers shared their knowledge with us, teaching us valuable skills that are so often overlooked in our fast paced life. From nature we learned how to adapt, accept, and flow with the land, and the constant changing of the weather. We developed a unique sense of belonging on this complex Earth, a connection that will stay with us always, no matter where we go in life.
We make our way back down the beautiful mountain. My body is tired, but my soul is awakened by a true passion for life. The time has come to go back to New England, and although the semester is over, the journey is not. I return home to continue on my path, and to pass on the knowledge that I learned to others.
I first heard about The New Hampshire-Ecuador Semester Program when I was attending one of Kroka’s summer camps. I had been a devoted Kroka camper, returning every year for one of their summer expeditions. I thought that this trip sounded incredible, and from then on it always stayed in the back of my mind. Having been home schooled for the past three years, I decided I wanted to experience something new, and this semester seemed to be perfect for me. Having briefly studied South America and the Spanish language, I was really interested in a first hand experience there, and to really broaden my view of the world.
This reflection was written by one of the 12 semester students on the New Hampshire Ecuador semester 2008. The program is run by Kroka Expeditions, a small Earth Living Skills School based in Marlow, NH and taught by Ecuadorian teachers. Coming from Ecuador, where the teachers were born and raised, studied and now run their small family farm they have worked many summers at Kroka. They are experienced wilderness educators and devoted to sharing their love of this world with young people.
