"The best experience of my life," that is really all I would need to say about Ecuador. But an article cannot only be a sentence. From December 28, 2016 to January 23, 2017, I studied abroad in Ecuador. The trip was through the Center for Inter-American Studies Foundation (CEDEI). I joined 18 other Salisbury University students who were either taking a Spanish course or Communications course, like me! I have never been anywhere outside of the United States, besides Canada, and that was only one night. So Ecuador was my first real worldly experience. This was also the first time I have ever really gone on my own, with no family or close friends — a good start to my New Year's resolution. I am so thrilled that this was my first worldly experience, and it has been one of the things that I could not be more thankful for!

Everyone in the program was assigned a host family, and since my communications group knew so little Spanish we were paired with the Spanish group! This was helpful since at least I knew I was not going to a strangers home completely alone. Though my roommate did end up getting sick for part of the trip, having her there when we went to the New Year celebration on a farm two hours away I felt more at ease knowing that I could at least speak English to her. The family we were assigned could not have been more perfect for me! For starters, our host mother is the sweetest thing. . . and really good with nail polish! Our host dad spoke a little English which allowed us to better communicate, and our host sister is now my little sister and I will miss her so much! Since we arrived to our family's home on December 30th there were still Christmas decorations up which made me also feel more at home since they were similar to the decorations I have at home. Also a couple days later when she was taking them down and putting up her normal decorations they were sunflowers and chickens, I do not know how CEDEI knew but that is what my mother decorates my home with! I feel so comfortable that there were so many similarities it made the transition a little easier. Finally my host brother is similar to my actual brother both are more reserved and quite as well as obsessed with music. My brother at home being a DJ and always playing music, it was not surprising if my host brother started to play his guitar.

When we first arrived we were in Quito the capital city of Ecuador. On the plane from Miami I met a lady from Ecuador and she was asking what we were doing and it was just really nice to already speak to someone from the place I was so excited to travel! We arrived at night so I am really unsure of where I really was or what I was passing. Quito is an amazing city filled with so many beautiful buildings and of course churches! The tiny streets of Quito seem like that there is no way a bus would fit down them but amazingly many buses do fit down these one way seemingly 10 meters wide streets. Also at the top of a hill there is a statue of the single virgin that has wings. Although it looks quite like the Christ the Redeemer of Rio de Janeiro it is not but still just as gorgeous and the view of Quito is amazing! Once the day of touring Quito was over we were on our way to Otavalo, a city not too far out of Quito that has an amazing market. I have never seen such beautiful craftsmanship than at this market in Otavalo. I got these amazing earrings as well as a necklace charm, I did have to negotiate a little with the saleswoman but me just standing waiting to decide if I need jewelry made her take the price down.

Next was to drive all the way back to Quito to fly to Cuenca. Cuenca is the third largest city within Ecuador, it is up in the Andes mountains of southern Ecuador. There is graffiti everywhere but most of it is in the way of murals that are so amazing! The night we arrived I met my host parents who are the kindest people I have met, although there is a huge language barrier they took us in like their own. That weekend was New Years and we were on our way to their family farm that is located an hour away from Peru. Driving to this farm was beautiful the mountains on either side were unlike anything I have ever seen! The farm was tropical compared to the more temperate Cuenca, that is usually spring like. The farm had coconut trees, banana trees, and orange trees. I was able to swim in a pool looking at the Andes an experience I will never forget! New Years in Ecuador is full of extreme traditions. These traditions include eating 12 grapes and wishing on each one at midnight while running around the house with a suitcase, and money in your pocket. Then after running around the house setting off fireworks as well as jumping over a hand-made doll that is on fire to take out the bad and bring in the good for the new year!

The rest of the week days were mostly spent in class in the morning but more adventures in the beginning. We took a tour of Cuenca, including the Museo de Pumapungo which has a few ruins which were beautiful and at the museum you can learn about all the different types of people who are native to Ecuador! Also the Panama Hat Factory museum which actually is owned my by host brother's father! There is a lovely cafe at the back that has another beautiful view of Cuenca! My actual host father owns an art gallery that is called "Opium" is tiny but one of the many tiny cute galleries! My favorite places in Cuenca include Fruttissimo, amazing juice/smoothies, and Tutto Freddo, amazing crepes and ice cream!

Weekend trips were my favorite we went to El Cajas, Ingapirca, and Saraguro. El Cajas is a national park that has parts of the Inca trail that you hike yourself! This was a decent hike not too hard but the scenery was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! There are multiple lakes amongst the mountains. Ingapirca is the largest Inca ruins within Ecuador! It is the sun temple of the Incas from many years ago! This place was also a sacred place for the Cañari people who lived in a large portion of Ecuador before the Incas. The last weekend excursion was Saraguro which means corn seed. When you are driving into Saraguro there is a huge statue of corn. This is also a town of long descendants of indigenous people that are thought to have been taken from Bolivia by the Inca's and used as slaves. These people now still wear mostly black to mourn their ancestors. We ate their traditional food and danced with them! I tried guinea pig.... it did not taste like much to me, but not bad!

Ecuador is an amazing beautiful country! Even though I have not finished my trip and have not gotten to Guayaquil yet I believe I will be returning! I recommend coming to any part of Ecuador at any time at any place and you will still experience the amazingness that is Ecuador!