Welcome to Quito! We are so pleased and honored to welcome 21 new students to this beautiful country of Ecuador. And welcome to you, who may be following along and supporting our journey from afar.
After picking up students from the airport late Thursday night, we had a wonderful first weekend of orientation together here in Quito! We can already tell in these first few days this is a special group of 21 young adults, individually and together. We so look forward to sharing more with you over the next several months as our time in Ecuador unfolds together. Often this sharing will be in the form of photo blogs, (click the link into the gallery for captions) and we’ll also share some longer form writing entries directly from students. Thanks for walking this journey with us!
Bendiciones y abrazos,
Caleb and Nina
After several delays, students finally arrived! Waiting for the bus Thursday nightFriday morning breakfastOrientation weekend included many moments of good conversation and discussion preparing for the days ahead.Gretta, Kat and HannahHaley, Lydia and CadeRiding the bus! A bit daunting at first, but after these 3 months, students will be experts!Tanner, Ruby, Noelani, Mary and LydiaFriday we ate lunch in our Los Laureles neighborhood, a favorite cafe of Nina and mine, introducing students to a typical ecuadorian style lunch menu. You might here students refer to our house as “Casa Goshen”. We hope it can feel like a safe space and home base for them beyond their host families or the Fundación. We plan to have weekly group discussion and processing times here on Wednesday afternoons.During a moment of waiting, Tanner challenged Hannah to a race-walking race in front of Casa Goshen. Students were cheering and taking sides. I think the photo is evidence enough of who won, ha!Friday afternoon we took our first trial hiking in the metropolitan park, a forest preserve on the eastern side of the city, close to Casa Goshen. We are hovering around 9600ft in altitude here in Quito and I think we all felt it on the first day!More discussion and get to know you time over coffee Friday afternoon.Saturday morning we woke up to blue bird skies.Diego, Wes and Chino found a friend!Saturday evening dinner at Hermosa Vista in downtown Quito. We tried several typical ecuadorian dishes including locro de papa, mote y chicarón, and empanadas de verde.Students in downtown historic center Quito with the Panecillo in the background Saturday evening.Sunday morning students waiting to be picked up by their Quito host families and ready to participate in special Mother’s day activities.Cadence with her host family.Joel with his host mother.Ruby with her host parents.Haley with her host mother.Diego with his host mother.Saige with her host father.Lydia with her host mother and brother.Mary with her host siblings and father.Gretta with her host mother.Tanner with his host father. Grace with her host family.Wes with his host family.Anna with her host mother and sister.Ana with host mother and sister.Hannah with host family.Kat with her host familyAlena with her host family.Hannah with her host mother and brother.Chino with his host mother.Cade with host familyNoelani with her host familyMonday morning students found their way by public transportation to the foundation. Lots of fun energy and chatter among the group swapping stories about Mother’s day and their first night with families.
