My three-week study abroad experience in Ecuador was one of the most memorable experiences I have had in college. Our group visited Quito, various eco lodges, Artisana National Park, and the Amazon rainforest. Passionate about ecology, we had hands-on lab experiences, short lectures, and even a small research project. Though Ecuador is a relatively small country, it was exceptionally diverse in culture, ecosystems, and animal life.
One of the most meaningful parts of the trip was spending time with Native people who served as our field guides. They had an incredible amount of knowledge about the environment and a strong passion for protecting it. Learning from them helped me understand the importance of Indigenous knowledge and the relationship that people can have with the land. The Amazon is threatened by oil and mining projects, but the Native people there continue to care for the land they have.
I was especially surprised by how much biodiversity we experienced in such a small country. Over the three weeks, we traveled through very different ecosystems. We spent one week at Santa Lucia Eco Lodge, another week travelling east with stops at Artisana National Park, a hot spring resort, and another eco lodge, and a week in the Amazon rainforest. One of my favorite memories was spending time in the Amazon, including a weekend at a research station. Experiencing the Amazon first hand is something you can’t even really prepare for. The noises at night, the bugs, and the humidity all made it a little extra magical.
As an environmental science student, I became even more interested in conservation and working with communities to protect the environment. Environmental work is heavily reliant on understanding and respecting the people who depend on it. I got to study leaf cutter ants in the Amazon—a project with results worth sharing with faculty at UO. I hope to learn more about Indigenous roots with the environment when I go back to school in the fall.
I’ll admit that adjusting back to life in America when I returned in early July was difficult. Sleeping without the noise of the jungle was weird, and I really missed the people I had gotten so close to during the three weeks away. When you’re kind of in the middle of nowhere for a while, it’s weird suddenly being around a lot of people again.
My advice for students looking to study abroad is to be open to new experiences and step outside of your comfort zone. Nearly everyone who went on this trip came in not knowing anyone. Because of this, we were all able to become super close friends and maintain contact even after the trip! Connect with local people and fellow students, ask questions, and take advantage of an opportunity that most people won’t get. The bug bites were a small price to pay for the trip of a lifetime.
-Emily Terry
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