“When I went to Ecuador” – Final Blog

When I went to Ecuador, I never unpacked my suitcase. We moved from place to place about every two days. I was a traveller. Some of the rooms I slept in were not luxurious, and I forgot that air conditioning existed, but when I was in Ecuador, I didn’t mind. I learned a lot, and…

Take Lots of Pictures! – Blog 7 (A Letter to My Past Self)

Dear Brooke, Here’s some things you should know about this life changing trip. These people are going to become your life-long best friends. Sure, pre-departure class is awkward, and I didn’t know half of their names the night before we left, but that changed really quickly. I wouldn’t do anything differently about how I warmed…

What if I lived here?! -Blog 6

On the very last day of my Plus3 Ecuador trip, we did one last company visit to Hacienda Victoria. Throughout the past two weeks, I could almost imagine myself living here and there in Ecuador. But, the minute we pulled into Hacienda Victoria, I knew this would be somewhere I would absolutely love to work….

It’s Called Flexibility – Blog 5

It is now over a week into my trip, with about a week to go. In my last entry, I spoke of expectations, and the limits they create. Learning to be flexible has to be one of the biggest challenges of my program. Sure, one will get by without flexibility, but I cannot imagine one…

Putting Expectations Behind – Blog 4

For the past few days, I shut off my phone, lived with no electricity or soap, and opened my heart to the amazing Waorani People. When preparing for Ecuador, the concept of being a flexible traveler was stressed above all else. With almost no itinerary, my expectations for the trip were formed off of my…

Trading a City View for the Río Napo – Blog 3

For the first leg of the trip, I am staying in a gorgeous hotel called Hotel San Francisco de Quito, in the heart of the old city. Though I do not recommend wondering the streets at night, it started to truly feel at home after the first couple of days. I shared my room with…

Beginning in Quito! – Blog 2

I am spending the first couple days of Plus3 Ecuador getting to know the nation’s capital- Quito. My days are full of food, culture, and adjustments as I get to know those who are traveling with me and the rhythm of the program. It’s really great to start in a city, because I know there…

Beginning my quest for the perfect rose!

Hi, welcome to my Pitt Honors blog! I am so excited to keep a ‘ To The World’ blog again- last summer, I was a student in the Haller Global Honors Fellowship. It was virtual, but I still had a blast. This year’s blog may be a little more exciting because I am finally going…