Changing Perspectives: Traveling to Ecuador with my Students

Perspective and how you see things can change your understanding of a situation, event or experience. The ability to see things from different perceptions is key not only in education, but in life. At times, it can be a challenge, for students, and teachers.  

Fifteen months ago, I answered a call to adventure and embarked on what I thought would be a once in a lifetime adventure to Ecuador on an educator’s scouting trip with Me to We (which you can read about here), yet this March I had a chance to shift my perspective on Ecuador, the Amazon and travel as a whole, as I took my students back to the Minga Lodge in the Amazon jungle for a March Break service learning trip.

As soon as I got home from my educator’s trip in January 2016, I knew I wanted my students to experience the Amazon and the amazing communities surrounding the Minga Lodge. The challenge of a build project combined with the cultural experiences would make for a unique, hands on, experiential learning opportunity for my students and I set about making that a reality. After a long year of planning, organizing, meetings, phone calls, emails and lists (so many lists!) I packed my bags and set off to the airport with 15 high school students and a fellow teacher for a week in the Amazon

It was an odd feeling of nerves combined with stress and excited anticipation as we waited to board our first plane- I couldn’t wait for my students to see and do all the things I was able to experience on my first trip, but I was also anxious about taking students all the way to South America.

 It is, after all, a long way from home.

After an exhausting day of traveling, we met our lovely facilitators on the ground in Quito and started our bus journey into the city- the next morning as we hopped back onto the bus the students were saying how beautiful Quito was, and I remember thinking, ‘just wait…” As we left the city, the students were greeted with a full view of Quito and the surrounding mountains, they were suitably impressed by its beauty. I felt the excitement rise inside as I couldn’t wait to continue to show them the beauty of Ecuador as we journeyed through the mountains and into the Amazon basin.

The beautiful city of Quito

Reaching the Amazon, our adventure truly began. The students enjoyed the canoe ride along the River and got settled into their rooms. They were excited to see the spectacular view, explore the grounds, and I was pleased to see some familiar faces of jungle guides and staff at the Minga- it felt like coming home and the staff made us all feel welcome.  We even got a fly by from my good friend Yolanda the parrot!

Yolanda visiting us at breakfast one morning

 And that sunset! I will never tire of it!

I had many proud moments as a teacher on this trip, but on our first day I was particularly impressed by my students as they engaged with the activities and learned about life while visiting a local fruit farmer. They planted Yucca and picked coffee, despite the rain. They asked insightful questions as we talked to Mr. Miguel.

 Over and over again, I was able to sit back and listen to my students as they made connections between their experiences at home and what they were learning first hand in the jungle. It was one of those teacher moments you’re sometimes lucky enough to have in a classroom where the lesson goes according to plan, the “light bulbs go off” and the students find these amazing teachable moments of authentic and insightful learning. The only difference here was we were thousands of kilometers away from home and our classroom was the jungle. It was experiential learning at its best.

The next day, we had the privilege of breaking ground on a new school room in a local community and again I found myself impressed with the work ethic my students brought to the project.  Despite the heat, they worked hard to turn the plot of land into holes for the foundation of a school room. They encouraged each other, shared responsibilities and really worked as a team. It was incredible to see the progress they made in just a few short hours of work.

As the week went on, I noticed more and more of these amazing moments among my students. They got their hands dirty planting Cocao beans, they learned to weave bracelets with the women’s artisan group and they cheered each other on during weapons training. They began to bond as a team and make connections with each other that I had never seen before in the classroom or hallways. They formed friendships that crossed grades and ages.

They became a cohesive unit.

Again and again I watched them step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves with new experiences. I watched them conquer fears, let their guards down, try new things, and reach new heights.

Again and again I watched them succeed.

I believe in the transformative nature of travel, but sometimes it's hard to recognize its impact until after the fact.

This time, I saw it happen in my students.

They grew as leaders.

They grew as students.

They grew as people.

At the end of the week I saw them differently.

I’ve always had confidence in my students, and have always held them to a high standard both in and out of the classroom. Even still, this team of amazing young people exceeded my expectations and made me even prouder to be their teacher throughout the trip.

I left a piece of my heart in the Amazon when I went home the first time in 2015. This year, I left a bigger piece of my heart in the jungle.

This team of young people changed how I think of Ecuador. They made me fall in love with the country in a whole new way.

  They changed my perspective of how I see myself as a teacher.

 They made me believe in new possibilities.  

They helped me see the world through a new lens and it looks like opportunity.

To learn more about Me to We and their service learning trips, check them out online.

Thanks to Me to We, their staff and the in country team for making this experience unforgettable for me and my students and for keeping us safe!