EcuaExperience: Pre-Medical and Volunteer Programs

My EcuaExperience in the August Pre-Med program was so incredible and indescribable that I don´t even know where to start. I truly feel that Juan, Jose and the leaders went above and beyond to surpass our expectations for this trip. I guess to break it down:

HELP - It was amazing to work WITH the community in building the homes. It was so great interacting with the families, especially the children! The best part was seeing the fruits of our labour at Inauguration Day, where we gave the houses to the community and celebrated the entire day. This was by far the best part.

LEARN - The medical rotations were really fun and really interesting! You can really tell that all the tutors and Juan, who was with us most of the time, are incredibly knowledgeable in their field. We got to see so many amazing surgeries, patients and technology that would be rare to see anywhere else. The case studies were also amazing learning experiences for us as students. Even though the rotations were long (some days going from 7AM to 12AM), every hour was worth it. Definitely got a peek into what the real medical world is like.

DISCOVER - Even more amazing experiences! I feel that we were all taken to the best places in Ecuador. We got to see waterfalls, jungles, go tubing, surfing, paragliding, waterfall repelling and so many more activities than I anticipated. Discovering Ecuador makes me want to come back again!

I think that above all, I appreciate the effort that Juan and Jose put into making this the best possible experience for everyone. They were with us throughout the experience, assuring that we had everything we needed. The leaders are all amazing as well! What I cherish most is that Juan, Jose and the leaders really worked on building relationships with all the students. We all became so close, establishing lifelong friendships with amazing people.

I COULD SAY MORE but I don´t think anyone can understand unless they go on this trip!

Ecuaexperience was amazing. The volunteering, exploration, medical rotations, and leaders were awesome.

Volunteering at Pujili to build new houses for the locals was a blast. The feeling of making a difference and bringing joy to others is priceless. Meeting and playing with local children was touching. It was a eye opening experience and made me more appreciative for what I have.

From Pujili to Mindo to Canoa, I had an amazing time exploring all of Ecuador. Walking under waterfalls, sightseeing Quito, and horseback riding in high altitude were all amazing experiences that I have never done before. Hiking in the jungle, playing soccer with locals, and chilling at Canoa beach resort kept me entertained.

Medical rotations were amazing. The tutors were really patient and took time to explain what was going on. From the operating room to dermatology, I had an amazing time doing medical rotations and taking notes to expand my knowledge of medicine.

The program leaders Juan and Jose were thoughtful, kind, and entertaining. They are really great dancers and love to crack jokes. They are always there for you if you need something. They listen and value what you have to say. They are just fun to be around and are great leaders and friends.

What I feel makes this program fantastic is all the friendship and bonds I made. Being able to meet new people who have similar aspirations and getting to know them over the course of the month is what I loved the most out of this program. I have definitely made some long-lasting relationships during this trip. Being able to explore Ecuador and do activities with these people has been a blast.

Ecuaexperience has been a crazy ride. I can´t believe it´s already over. I´ll miss all of the people who I have been able to share this amazing experience with. Goodbye for now Ecuador.

There is no other way to explain the Ecuaexperience Bio-Med Program than as amazing. The whole month is jam packed full of hiking, med rotations, games, surfing, snorkeling and so much more. The program allows for insight into the Ecuadorian lifestyle and culture (learning about the jungle, the Quitchuan people, coffee, chocolate and so much more) and to work side-by-side with the community you are building houses for. The Bio-Med program also highlights various areas of healthcare and gives a first-hand insight into what it might be like to pursue a career in medicine, physiotherapy, or surgery. Additionally, the extra week in the Galapagos was understandably an amazing experience as the islands are world reknown. Overall, this program touches on every aspect that travel should: helping others, learning more about the world we live in, and discovering who you want to be as a person in that world.

The Ecuaexperience program through Help, Learn, Discover is an amazing 4 weeks packed with activities and unforgettable memories. During the help portion of the trip, students were guided through building houses in rural Ecuador, no building experience required! Students enrolled in the pre-medical programs also have the opportunity to shadow doctors at hospitals in Quito. Some of my favorite days were during medical rotations when the doctors in the OR explained the surgeries as they were happening and let us watch up close! Through the course of the program you travel all around Ecuador from the Andes to the coast and even the Galapagos Islands. Some of the activities included: snorkeling, rappelling down waterfalls and many scenic hikes. All that being said, we still had time to spend evenings with new friends. Juan and Jose, the founders of the program, are with you the entire trip and willing to help you make the most of your time in Ecuador. This trip was my second time volunteering in Ecuador and I would come back with Help, Learn, Discover. I would highly recommend this program.

Ecuaexperience truly is a magnificent journey, and not only a physical journey, but an internal spiritual one. You discover much about yourself and other people as you're volunteering with others on the trip, shadowing doctors in the hospital or just touring the country. This experience is eye opening because you get to discover so much. You get to learn about a third world country and how their life is different from yours in ways I couldn't imagine. You get to discover if you have a passion for a career in health care and you get to have a glimpse into the life of those in that profession. You get an undescribable feeling when you witness the joy of those you help in the remote villages of Ecuador. During my volunteer portion, my group and I lived in worse conditions than we were conditioned to, which gave me a slight understanding of how life is for the people we voluteer for.

I would hands down recommend this trip to anyone, whether you're looking for a volunteer opportunity, wanting to experience a profession in the hopsital or just looking to have fun because whatever you're reason might be, I am sure you will have an unforgettable trip!

I absolutely loved this trip. Not only did I meet friends for life, but I had so many great adventures! Highlights would include the volunteer portion and the various trips around the country. Canoa was amazing, Horseback riding in Cotopaxi, unforgettable, repelling down a waterfall ,crazy and adrenaline pumping! Then there was tubing down the Napa river and staying in the beautiful jungle cabins at the end of the ride. Honestly this whole month was a highlight. I can´t really pick a few without going on about every part of this trip! I loved it and I would recommend it to anyone with a heart for travel, getting to know new people and helping others. I can´t describe the emotion felt after fundraising for months then coming down here and physically getting my hands dirty and helping the community. It was amazing.

I have only good things to say about my experience here in Ecuador with HLD. From the moment we arrived the leaders and other staff were friendly and so supportive! The people you meet here become close very quickly and many of us have developed life long friendships. Medical rotations are executed with extreme professionalism and helped me get a sample of all the different specialized positions which ultimately helped me decide on what I wanted to pursue. As for the volunteering, the entire project spendings where determined by the students which was something that I valued greatly. The days spent volunteering felt so worth it as the communities chosen by the company are very greatful and help with the building project all the way through. Lastly, the activities (including an extra week in the Galapagos which was increadible) were memories and experiences I will never forget.

The past month has been one of the best months of my entire life. Every single day has been an adventure and an experience I wouldn't change for the world. The company is like no other and it starts with the owners. The owners are there every single day as friends, not supervisors, and that's what sets HLD apart from the rest. As well, the leaders are fantastic and supportive through everything we experience. From helping to build homes first hand, to learning the culture, and discovering every corner of Ecuador, I've had the most amazing experience and would love to come back as a leader one day! #hldtillidie