Ben Weibe writes about our visit to the training center created by the Yachana Foundation: On our fourth day at Yachana Lodge we were able to tour the occupational school that the Yachana Foundation is able to run with proceeds from the lodge. In addition to teaching students very practical skills such as culinary and … Keep reading »
Archives for May 2015
Vasanth
Vasanth Palanisamy writes about a snake he encountered outside his cabin at Yachana Lodge: One fine evening, I and two more students were walking back from the dining hall in one of the lodges we stayed at. The lodge was on the top of a mountainous area. There were a lot of trees and wildlife … Keep reading »
Hanna
Hanna Hochstetler shares her thoughts about preparing chicha in the village of San Juan de Rio Bueno: There are many things that make up the rich culture of Ecuador, but one defining characteristic is chicha. Chicha is a fermented drink that is made of usually yuca or chonta. Many places we have traveled have had … Keep reading »
Cecilia
Cecilia Lapp Stoltzfus was one of several students who wrote about the experience of making chicha from yuca (also known as manioc or cassava root). Here is her description: We stayed overnight with San Juan del Río Bueno, an indigenous Quichua community of about 70 people that is accessible by floating down river for … Keep reading »
Dylan
Here is Dylan Peachey’s description of our trip to the cacao plantation and processing facility: In Tena, Ecuador we visited a cacao farm. The farm we visited sells cacao to the Kallari Chocolate Company. At the farm our group helped to harvest the cacao. This experience gave me an understanding of the nature of the … Keep reading »
Peter
Peter Wise shares his perspective on our visit to Kallari: Tuesday, our sixth day in Ecuador. It is getting hard to remember which day of the week it is. The group is bonding ever closer and the stress of traditional school is not present. Days are no longer Wednesday, Thursday, Friday etc., but the … Keep reading »
Kara
Here is the first of several descriptions of our visit to an impressive organization — Kallari Cacao Cooperative. This one is writen by Kara Hostetter: We participated in a simulated Minga, a collective community harvest on a cacao farm. For about an hour we twisted yellow cacao fruit off, tossed the fruit down assembly lines, … Keep reading »
Rain, Rain, (seriously) Go Away
Thursday morning we all woke up bright and early to start the bus ride to our first field trip. There was much anticipation about getting out of the city for a day to experience a more calm, less populated area. We had a 3 hour bus ride in order to get to the Coventry Cathedral. We … Keep reading »
Final presentations and celebration
Today the day started with students giving oral presentations outlining the findings for their research. Their teams also turned in their final papers. We spent around 2 and half hours discussing our successes, the merits of the various project’s conclusions, challenges faced in research in the marine environment, and how our views have changed as … Keep reading »
Various Vast Venues
London boasts a number of state-sponsored arts venues. The Southbank Centre, National Theatre, and Barbican Centre are just a few. They show England’s commitment to supporting the arts and providing access to all people. The Southbank Centre is along the south bank of the Thames River and boasts such performance spaces as Royal Festival Hall, … Keep reading »