I found myself in a country on the precipice of internal conflict. Right before I left for Ecuador, a presidential candidate was assassinated. There were cases of car bombs in downtown Quito during my stay. Thankfully no casualties, but a message was clearly sent. Right after I left, a news station in the country’s largest city, Guayaquil, was held hostage on live television. The Ecuadorian government has since declared a state of war against cartels. The time I spent in Ecuador, while fortunately spared from any major conflicts, was undoubtedly impacted by a nationwide undercurrent of fear and anxiety. In a small country like Ecuador, everything feels close to home. I’ve noticed how detached I am towards major events in parts of the United States that I am not personally connected to. Because Ecuador is so accessible through a phenomenal public bus system, everything is deeply intertwined in a way that is far more tangible.
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As much as I relished spending my weekends exploring every corner of the country, returning home from Ecuador imbued a new sense of appreciation for my community at UO. I distinctly recall my first week of school in Quito feeling like a freshman all over again exploring an unfamiliar campus. While liberating, I was hyper aware of the fact that I had no “home base,” no sense of where I could chill, camp out to do homework, or find friends. While all of these needs naturally came to fruition over my term at USFQ, I never felt quite as at home as I do in Eugene. Returning to UO’s campus was a reunion I had been anticipating for months; I was warmly welcomed and overjoyed to be somewhere that felt comfortable, familiar, and safe – like a true home. The renewed gratitude I have for the community in Eugene was the ideal way to kick off my final two terms of undergrad.
By Lena Wehn, Diverse Ducks Ambassador
Universidad San Francisco de Quito Exchange, Fall 2023