News

Beaches, history, heat, farewell, and new beginnings

Jun 19 2023

As you may have noticed if you have been following along with this blog or if you have had the opportunity to experience SST firsthand yourself, you know that it is simultaneously exhilarating and exhausting, fulfilling and draining, beautiful and challenging, daily sunrise and sunset on a rollercoaster of emotion.  As I gathered the photos together for this week it became clear to me why I as a leader am feeling too drained to give you the full recap of our week.  As SST’ers will tell you, words cannot capture what one experiences in person here in Ecuador.

Instead of a narrative summary, here is a rapid-fire word barrage of our week:

Loading the bus, winding down and down out of the Andes, from the fresh mountain air into the equatorial low altitude heat, through banana and cacao fields into the setting sun, ending at the Pacific Ocean – walking through the sweltering humidity, the scent of the fish market heavy in the air, on to a museum of indigenous coastal history – back into the bus down the Pacific Coast, stopping in a coastal forest to see local artisans and wild howler monkeys in the trees, arriving again to the setting sun on the horizon of the Pacific – load the bus to head into Machalilla National Park and the beautiful Los Frailes beach, discovering sea creatures, soothed by the sound of the waves  – back on the bus to head up the coast to Ciudad Alfaro, monuments to justice, witness to constitutional change – back on the bus to head up the coast, past stick houses on stilts and mototaxis, modern day cowboys across inland bays and unusual landscapes until the sun set again into the pacific horizon at Canoa – early morning walk on the beach, back on the bus to head inland and the slow climb back into the Andes – stop at the indigenous community of the Tsachilas for a  meal and introduction to some traditional practices – back on the bus to climb through high mountain passes into Quito and the final day of the study portion of SST – Despdida (Farewell) program for Quito host families, words of gratitude, tears and hugs – loading buses all across Quito to head out to provincial towns to begin the service portion of SST – loving welcome by new families across Ecuador and a new beginning – stunning mountain views across the country as the sun sets on this exhilarating and exhausting week.

  • young man in a purple shirt and black cap stands in the aisle of a tour bus while other travelers sit in the seats around him.

     

  • Three students smile together in the reclined seats of a tour bus.

     

  • An Andean mountain range with a snow-capped peak rising above a green valley.

     

  • A distant snowy mountain peak seen beyond rolling hills and power lines.

     

  • A green mountain landscape with a cloud-topped peak in the distance.

     

  • Forested mountains stretching under a blue sky dotted with clouds.

     

  • A pointed mountain peak rising beyond a grassy highway.

     

  • A rugged brown-and-green mountain peak overlooking patchwork farmland.

     

  • A forested green mountain along a highway guardrail.

     

  • A wooden building beside a rural road surrounded by green vegetation.

     

  • A roadside wooden structure along a curving country road.

     

  • A small wooden stilt house perched on a grassy hilltop.

     

  • A roadside fruit and produce stand seen from a passing vehicle.

     

  • A yellow taxi and a motorcyclist traveling along a town street.

     

  • A street busy with blue auto-rickshaws and other traffic.

     

  • Two people walking along the edge of a rural road.

     

  • A cargo truck driving ahead on a country highway.

     

  • A tree-lined rural road curving through green countryside.

     

  • A road lined with tall bamboo forming a leafy canopy overhead.

     

  • A road passing beneath an arching tunnel of bamboo.

     

  • A bamboo-canopied road with a car driving ahead.

     

  • A bamboo tunnel road viewed from a bus, with a small truck ahead.

     

  • A road curving through a dense green tunnel of trees.

     

  • An open rural highway with a large tree beside it.

     

  • Several people riding on the open back of a truck along a highway.

     

  • A "CHONE" town welcome sign set in a grassy median.

     

  • A large spreading tree beside a road, seen from a vehicle.

     

  • A large bare-branched tree on a hillside under a blue sky.

     

  • Two leafless trees standing in a misty field with hills behind.

     

  • Leafy green trees seen through the window of a bus.

     

  • A tall statue of the Virgin Mary on a pedestal in a town plaza.

     

  • A giant corn-cob monument seen through a bus windshield.

     

  • A town roundabout with a central statue and landscaped garden.

     

  • A forested green hillside rising above a paved plaza.

     

  • A coastal view of grassland and the sea from a bus window.

     

  • The ocean horizon viewed from a grassy hillside.

     

  • A sandy beach with high-rise buildings in the distance.

     

  • A beach with people wading in the surf and a coastal town skyline behind.

     

  • A group of students standing together on the wet sand of a beach.

     

  • A woman in a sun hat and dress standing at the water's edge.

     

  • A person standing alone on the sand facing the ocean.

     

  • People walking along a wide beach under a cloudy sky.

     

  • A seascape with a bird in flight and boats on the horizon.

     

  • A close-up of a bowl of seafood soup with a spoon.

     

  • Fresh fish laid out on a tiled counter at a market stall.

     

  • An indoor fish market with vendors and stalls beneath a roof.

     

  • Vendors preparing fish at a market counter marked with the number 28.

     

  • Two students standing beside a colorful mural in a museum.

     

  • Two students looking at illustrated exhibit panels on a wall.

     

  • A group of students viewing framed exhibits in a gallery.

     

  • Students gathered around a display case in a museum room.

     

  • Visitors examining an artifact inside a glass display case.

     

  • A group photo of students in front of a painted landscape mural.

     

  • A woman posing seated in front of a mural depicting indigenous life.

     

  • A forested green hillside beside a road marked with a curve sign.

     

  • A dry, cactus-dotted hillside along a winding road.

     

  • A horse walking along the edge of a rural highway.

     

  • A yellow auto-rickshaw on a street in a coastal town.

     

  • A coastal road curving toward the sea with headlands in the distance.

     

  • Waves breaking on a shoreline beside a coastal road.

     

  • An empty highway running along a cliffside coastline.

     

  • An ocean view with a small rocky islet offshore.

     

  • Sunlit sea beyond coastal brush and grasses.

     

  • A hillside overlook of a coastal town and bay.

     

  • A wide sandy beach at dusk with a town and hills in the distance.

     

  • Fishing boats anchored offshore at a beach at sunset.

     

  • People wading in the ocean under a grey sky.

     

  • Swimmers in the sea with a rocky islet at sunset.

     

  • A group of people swimming in the ocean at dusk.

     

  • An overcast sky with a single bird in flight.

     

  • Silhouettes of people on the beach at sunset with reflections on the wet sand.

     

  • People and a dog on the wet sand at sunset near a rocky islet.

     

  • A group of people watching the sunset on a beach beside an islet.

     

  • A lone silhouetted person on the beach at sunset near an offshore islet.

     

  • A woman photographing the sea as the sun sets behind an islet.

     

  • A couple posing together on the beach at sunset.

     

  • Sunset over the ocean with light reflecting toward a rocky islet.

     

  • A colorful sunset sky over the sea beside an islet.

     

  • A dramatic cloudy sunset reflected on the wet beach.

     

  • A dramatic cloudy sunset reflected on the wet beach.

     

  • The silhouette of a palm tree against a dusky coastal sky.

     

  • A hand holding a sand dollar on the beach.

     

  • A smiling woman in a sun hat taking a selfie by the sea.

     

  • A group of students sharing a meal around a table at a restaurant.

     

  • Students posing together at a dinner table in a rustic restaurant.

     

  • A group standing behind large "LOS FRAILES" letters at night.

     

  • A rocky headland and cliffs at the end of a beach under grey skies.

     

  • A person walking along a beach beneath tall coastal cliffs.

     

  • A rocky tide-pool shoreline with a headland in the background.

     

  • A layered rock cliff face meeting a boulder-strewn beach.

     

  • A person standing in a shallow stream beneath a tall cliff.

     

  • People exploring a rocky tide-pool area at the beach.

     

  • A close-up cluster of sea anemones on a rock.

     

  • A blue jellyfish washed up on the wet sand.

     

  • People wading and walking on a beach beside a cove.

     

  • A person standing on rocks looking out at the sea.

     

  • Waves crashing over boulders below a coastal cliff.

     

  • Beachgoers near large rocks with misty green hills behind.

     

  • A small cove with waves and a cliff headland under grey skies

     

  • A close-up of green leaves and a tree's tangled roots.

     

  • A fan-shaped palm frond among tropical greenery.

     

  • Three people smiling at a poolside breakfast table.

     

  • Three students smiling at an outdoor breakfast table.

     

  • Three students posing at a table with slices of watermelon.

     

  • People seated around a green-clothed table on a patio.

     

  • A group of students dining together at a round table.

     

  • A wooden welcome sign for an eco-lodge among the trees.

     

  • A group of students gathered outdoors in a lush garden.

     

  • Students browsing a table of handmade crafts in the forest.

     

  • A group of students posing together on a forest trail.

     

  • Students looking at a craft vendor's table beneath the trees.

     

  • Students gathered listening to a guide in the forest.

     

  • Students laughing and chatting together on a jungle path.

     

  • A display of stones and natural materials on a cloth mat.

     

  • A man working at a grinding wheel among the trees.

     

  • Three young women standing together on a forest trail.

     

  • A group of students at a craft table with painted figurines.

     

  • A guide showing crafts to a group beside a display table in the forest.

     

  • Students watching a craft demonstration among the trees.

     

  • A smiling woman holding up a small woven item outdoors.

     

  • A man demonstrating how to strip toquilla palm fronds.

     

  • A woman splitting palm fibers during a weaving demonstration.

     

  • A group watching a seated man prepare palm fronds on the ground.

     

  • A man seated stripping palm leaves beside a smoking fire.

     

  • A man demonstrating fiber weaving to students on a forest path.

     

  • A person holding out processed straw fibers to the group.

     

  • Students examining raw straw fibers held by a demonstrator.

     

  • A metal pot boiling over a wood fire pit.

     

  • A person stirring a steaming vat during the straw-processing demonstration.

     

  • A guide placing a woven straw hat on a student's head.

     

  • A person holding a bundle of processed straw fibers.

     

  • An unfinished straw hat with long fringe on a wooden mold.

     

  • A demonstrator showing a finished Panama hat to students.

     

  • A close-up of the crown of a woven straw Panama hat.

     

  • A group watching a hat-shaping demonstration on a wooden stump.

     

  • A guide shaping a hat on a wooden stand as students watch.

     

  • A demonstrator holding up a partly finished straw hat.

     

  • A smiling woman wearing a straw hat among the group.

     

  • A guide fitting a straw hat onto a student's head.

     

  • A group of students trying on hats along a forest trail.

     

  • A vendor displaying a table of finished Panama hats to buyers.

     

  • A woman trying on a purple hat with a vendor's help.

     

  • A woman wearing a purple fedora on a jungle path.

     

  • A line of students hiking single file along a forest trail.

     

  • Students looking up at the forest canopy on a trail.

     

  • A view up into green tree branches and foliage.

     

  • A tall spiny palm trunk rising into the jungle canopy.

     

  • Students crouching to look at something on the forest floor.

     

  • A person standing before an ornate golden sculptural monument.

     

  • An elaborate gilded altar with sculpted faces surrounding a central figure.

     

  • A group of students listening to a guide inside a dim gallery.

     

  • Students viewing a large bronze relief sculpture in a museum.

     

  • A tall bronze statue on a pedestal in an exhibition hall.

     

  • Students seated listening in a museum room with golden reliefs.

     

  • A group of students sitting along a wall as a guide speaks.

     

  • Students seated near an ornate gilded wall in a gallery.

     

  • Students posing in a hall filled with elaborate golden sculptures.

     

  • A whole-group photo in front of a large bronze relief mural.

     

  • Students seated at a table in a rustic bamboo restaurant at night.

     

  • Three people at an orange-clothed table in a wooden restaurant.

     

  • Students smiling around a dinner table in a rustic restaurant.

     

  • A black-and-white cat peeking over a restaurant table.

     

  • A plate of fried food served inside a hollowed pineapple.

     

  • A group gathered on the ground beside a lit pool at night.

     

  • Students relaxing in a pink-lit swimming pool at night.

     

  • A view from a deck overlooking a poolside cabana and dunes.

     

  • A beachfront view of dunes and ocean from a wooden deck.

     

  • Two people standing far out on a mirror-calm tidal flat.

     

  • A broad beach with driftwood and a headland in the distance.

     

  • A wide flat beach scattered with driftwood under a grey sky.

     

  • An overcast sky reflected on a wet, empty beach.

     

  • A panoramic view of a wide beach and calm sea under grey clouds.

     

  • Still tidal flats meeting the sea beneath an overcast sky.

     

  • An expansive beach with a headland in the misty distance.

     

  • A coastline with distant hills under a cloudy grey sky.

     

  • Gentle waves washing onto a broad beach at dusk.

     

  • A costumed warrior figure displayed at a roadside stand.

     

  • A group of students standing in a circle on a grassy lawn.

     

  • Students watching an indigenous cultural demonstration in a thatched hut.

     

  • A woman in traditional dress presenting to students under a thatched roof.

     

  • A woman in traditional dress interacting with students in a thatched hut.

     

  • A group of students standing together under a thatched shelter.

     

  • A woman in traditional attire painting a student's face.

     

  • A woman in traditional dress standing on a grassy field with spears.

     

  • A student throwing a spear during a demonstration on the lawn.

     

  • A man demonstrating a spear throw as others watch on the grass.

     

  • A traditional thatched hut dwelling with people standing outside.

     

  • A woman in traditional dress beside a coiled snake figure on the ground.

     

  • A group gathered around a guide inside a thatched-roof hut.

     

  • Students standing around a colorful ground mandala in a thatched hall.

     

  • A woman in traditional dress performing beside a smoking central altar.

     

  • A circular decorated altar of fruits and stones with rising smoke.

     

  • Performers around a ceremonial mandala with smoke rising in a hut.

     

  • A cultural ceremony around a decorated altar with incense smoke.

     

  • Participants observing a smoking ceremonial display in the hut.

     

  • A woman holding leaves during a ritual beside the smoking altar.

     

  • A woman performing a ceremony with a plant near the central altar.

     

  • A performer engaging with students beside the ceremonial space.

     

  • A group photo with performers around a decorated ceremonial mandala.

     

  • A truck loaded with produce driving on a green mountain highway.

     

  • A tall waterfall beside a mountain road with cars driving past.

     

  • Misty green mountains rising above a winding highway.

     

  • Students taking a group selfie at a mall food court.

     

  • A group of students posing together in a bright indoor room.

     

  • People seated at round tables during a community gathering.

     

  • A man speaking to attendees seated at a community event.

     

  • A woman addressing a seated audience at an indoor meeting.

     

  • People mingling at tables during an indoor social gathering.

     

  • Attendees seated and chatting at a community event.

     

  • Three women posing together, one holding flowers.

     

  • Two women smiling as one holds a bouquet of flowers.

     

  • Two women seated at a table smiling at an event.

     

  • Attendees seated at round tables listening at a gathering.

     

  • Students looking at printed materials on a table with a woman.

     

  • A room full of people seated at round tables for an event.

     

  • A man speaking to a seated audience in a banquet hall.

     

  • A woman speaking to guests seated at a table in a hall.

     

  • Attendees seated around a table at an indoor event.

     

  • A woman presenting with a microphone to a seated audience.

     

  • A student speaking to attendees seated at banquet tables.

     

  • Guests seated at tables during a presentation in a hall.

     

  • Attendees gathered at tables listening at an event.

     

  • People seated and standing at a community gathering.

     

  • A woman speaking on a small stage before an audience.

     

  • A woman presenting on stage beside a projected image.

     

  • Two students standing on stage beside a printed backdrop.

     

  • Students performing a skit, one wearing a poncho.

     

  • Students acting out a scene on stage in costume.

     

  • Students performing a skit on stage with a poncho-clad actor.

     

  • Students dramatizing a scene together on stage.

     

  • Two students conversing during a skit on stage.

     

  • A student in a poncho performing beside others on stage.

     

  • Students acting out a presentation on stage.

     

  • A group of students performing a skit together on stage.

     

  • A group of students standing together on stage performing.

     

  • Students lined up on stage during a group presentation.

     

  • Students standing in a row at the front of the hall on stage.

     

  • Students performing or singing together on stage.

     

  • A group of students standing on stage during a presentation.

     

  • A line of students standing together on stage.

     

  • Three young women posing together in a doorway.

     

  • Two men posing together at an outdoor bus station.

     

  • A woman and companions posing beside a bus before departure.

     

  • Students posing with host family members near a bus.

     

  • A student standing with a host family among trees.

     

  • A student giving a thumbs-up beside a bus on a street.

     

  • A student posing with a host family in front of a green bus.

     

  • A selfie of a student with host family members and a child.

     

  • A student taking a selfie with a host family at a station.

     

  • A woman and a man posing beside a bus at a terminal.

     

  • A student seated with a host family member in a home.

     

  • A selfie of a student with a host family sharing a meal.

     

  • A plate of a traditional meat, potato, and corn dish.

     

  • A student sharing a home-cooked meal with a host family member.

     

  • A student seated with a host family member in a living room.

     

  • A student greeting a host family member at a doorway gate.

     

  • A student posing with host children at a home's front door.

     

  • A student and host family conversing in a living room.

     

  • A student posing with a host family outside a blue house decorated with balloons.

     

  • A selfie of a student with a host family member indoors.

     

  • A student with a backpack shaking hands with a host family member outside.

     

  • A student taking a selfie with host family members outdoors.

     

  • A student posing for a selfie with a host family.

     

  • A student standing beside a smiling host family member indoors.

     

  • A student and a host family member smiling in a selfie.

     

  • A student posing with a host family in a living room.

     

  • A student sharing a meal with a host family at a dining table.

     

  • A student taking a group selfie with a host family.

     

  • A student smiling in a selfie with a host family member.

     

  • A student posing with a host family outdoors.

     

  • A student sharing a meal with a host family at an outdoor table.

     

  • A student standing in a bedroom with a colorful woven blanket.

     

  • A selfie of students and a host family inside a car.

     

  • A student and a host child posing beside a welcome sign.

     

  • A student standing beside a handmade welcome poster.

     

  • A student sharing a meal with host family members at a restaurant.

     

  • A selfie of a student with a host family in a mountain setting.

     

  • A student holding a "Bienvenida" welcome banner with a host family.

     

  • A rugged green mountain ridge under a cloudy sky.

     

  • A sweeping view of Andean mountains and green valleys.

     

  • A high grassland ridge with mountains under a cloudy sky.

     

  • A panoramic view of a city spreading across a mountain valley.

     

  • A rugged volcanic peak rising above highland terrain.

     

  • A jagged mountain summit seen from a hiking trail.

     

  • A city stretching below distant mountains, viewed from a hilltop.

     

  • A view of hillside houses and mountains through a window.

     

  • A cityscape with a snow-capped mountain in the background.

     

  • A sunset over a town with a mountain silhouette in the distance.

     

  • A town street with a mural-covered building beneath a sunlit mountain.

     

  • A dusk view of a town square with a mountain silhouette behind.

     

  • A highway with a yellow taxi and a snow-capped volcano ahead.

     

  • A view of the road and mountains through a car windshield.

     

  • A green mountainside seen from a moving car on a highway.

     

  • A forested mountain ridge viewed from a car window.

     

  • A parking lot at the foot of steep green mountains under clouds.

     

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