EcuaExperience: Pre-Medical and Volunteer Programs

The experiences that I gained from this trip are honestly something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. From the moment I landed in Ecuador and through the duration of the trip, there was not a single moment that I felt unsafe or was worried about anything. I was quite surprised to see how involved and supportive the HLD staff were, they always made sure our needs were taken care of and that we were having a great time. The leaders were also amazing and defiantly made my trip that much better.

The "Help" portion of the trip was amazing. We got to see first hand where and on what our fundraised money was being spent which was very satisfying. It's hard to describe how, but having to physically dig trenches and mix concrete with shovels undoubtedly added to the satisfaction to the work we were doing and the impact it had on me. It puts into perspective the things we take for granted back home. But it is an incredible feeling knowing that we are able to impact a families life for the better and give them hope for there children's future.

The "Learn" portion was just as amazing. We were given the opportunity to see and experience so much that would not be possible in Canada. To this day I cannot believe I was able to stand next to a surgeon and watch them operate on a patient, the experiences from med rotations were unreal for me!
The tutors were also very helpful and taught us so much.They were very helpful in answering our questions and providing us with a realistic overview of medical school. The experiences I gained from the med rotations has defiantly given me the motivation to pursue my goals of becoming a doctor.

Finally the "Discover" portion of the trip was the most surprising for me. I was defiantly challenged to step out of my comfort zone but its totally worth it. Each day was always different whether it was hiking through the rainforest, tubing through the amazon river, repelling down a waterfall, surfing etc. All the travelling and long bus rides are totally worth it. Throughout the entire trip I had no sense of time which was nice and added to the experience, its not often that we live for the moment without worrying what comes next.

Its crazy how many different people you meet that share the same interests and goals as you, it was truly an amazing experience meeting these people and forming new friendships!
Ecuaexperience has truly created a once in a lifetime adventure.I would recommend this trip to anyone in a heartbeat.

Ecuaexperience is a once in a lifetime oppertunity for all students. Being a student it is difficult to fit in time to travel in our busy schedules. HLD offers the perfect chance for students to fit travelling, volunteer experience, medical experience, and extraordinary activities into 28 days! For me this was perfect as taking more than one month of school is not practical. This program embodies so much. The first time I went was in August of 2012 and I did the Bio-Med program, which I would say is the best for its value. I had the most amazing time, especially as this program includes a trip to the Galápagos Islands which by itself is a once in a lifetime oppertunity. The week you spend in these islands is beyond amazing as you get the chance to travel from island to island experiencing t he uniqueness each has to offer, volcanoes, giant tortoises, spectacular marine life... What is good about going to such a place with HLD is that you are taken to locations which would be difficult and not to mention much more expensive if one were to plan a trip on their own. Also, a lot of the locations are not very touristy therefore you may not come across them while looking online. The learn part of this trip includes medical rotations which are again a very rare and beyond amazing oppertunity especially if you are interested or considering a career in medicine. You are able to explore the private and public sectors of health care and step into the role of doctor by shadowing some of Ecuador's top doctors and surgeons. This experience solidified my love for becoming a health care professional and increased my motivation to do so. Watching surgeons operate during rotations in the O.R was especially unreal as I witnessed an open knee surgery and a facial reconstruction while standing right next to plastic surgeons, trauma surgeons and neurosurgeons. The help part of this program became the most close to my heart especially the second time I went on this trip as I did the volunteer program this time. We volunteered for almost 2 weeks and the amount of time we spent interacting with the families and young children of the village made it very hard to say goodbye. I learned so much from the amazing people of Camarones and miss them alot. One thing I really appreciate about this program is that all the money you fundraise you take down to Ecuador and you buy the materials so you know where 100% of your donations are going. And personally knowing the families who are working alongside with you makes it that much more heartfelt and real. It makes you see that you really are making a huge difference. The last part of this trip which I would like to discuss is the travel and activities part. There is a lot of travelling and every minute is worth it for all the things you get to see, Ecuador is filled with unreal sights; mountains, volcanoes, the coast line, the middle of the world, and much more. You get to experience all of Ecuador's diversity! I would highly recommend travelling with this organization it is most definitely an amazing opportunity. You make lifelong connections with amazing people, the staff is aweosme, and you witness things which you would never even imagine.

July 2013 concluded my second summer with HLD. I can't seem to stop myself from going back because there are so many aspects of this trip that keep drawing me in.

I love how HLD provides opportunities to travel and to volunteer in a small remote community at the same time. They take you 4000m above sea level to Papallacta where the natural hot springs are and then bring you back to the coast to surf and enjoy the company of surfers and paragliders in Canoa. As a traveller, you must be prepared to do things that are out of your comfort zone. It's hard for most people but when you've accomplished what you've done it's an amazing experience. HLD makes this trip an experience you never want to forget.

My favourite part of this trip is the volunteer site. Being part of the smaller volunteer group both summers I was able to interact (mostly through sign and body language) with the actual villagers who were receiving these homes. Even with a language barrier they were very welcoming and quickly shared their kids and fruits with us! As rewarding as it was, being there was also very eye-opening. Monthly rent in Camarones is around $20USD. To imagine how easily I can spend $20 for a meal back home just puts everything into perspective. I've made life long connections in Pallatanga and Camarones and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

I find that aside from the itinerary and the programs planned the people you travel with are also an important part of the trip. Since HLD offers volunteer and pre-med programs, I find that the students who come are all very enthusiastic, hardworking and passionate. My travel buddies have become my best of friends because our goals and passions align.I am so thankful to have gone on this trip twice and I definitely recommend this to everyone interested in travelling and volunteering abroad!

Overall HLD provides a great experience, in a positive environment, where volunteers are able to make a difference. There are many well planned, and fun activities, that really help to enhance group bonding. However, transportation can be very lengthy on a few occasions, more than what most people can handle for a day. Better planning would allow to reduce transportation times and cost, while also allowing for more time to enjoy all of the destinations in Ecuador.
It may also be necessary to have more guides, at times they could seem over-tired and lacking enthusiasm.

The month that I spent in Ecuador with HLD was undoubtedly one of, if not the best, months that I will spend in my lifetime. The three aspects of my (BioMed) trip were all equally amazing in their own aspect but so different from each other that it is impossible to choose a favourite.

The majority of the month, spent touring Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, was exciting, challenging, entertaining and extremely interesting. From waterfalls, to rainforests, snorkelling, and stunning beaches, there truly must be something for everyone on this trip. The Discover aspect of this trip is truly a unique way to see and explore a beautiful South American country in a way that would be impossible by yourself.

The Help portion of the trip, spent building houses in the rural village of Camarones was almost inexplicably amazing. From the satisfaction of knowing you are making a huge difference in peoples lives, to playing soccer against the local community and joking around with the local kids, it is impossible to not leave this portion of the trip with a huge grin on your face.

The Learn aspect of the trip, spent in Quito hospitals experiencing and learning about the medical profession may have just changed my life. I went into the trip not sure if I wanted to be a doctor, but the things I was able to see and the medical tutors I was able to learn from and talk to, have really got me thinking about my future in the field of medicine.

All in all, I would go back to HLD in a second and do it all over without any regrets. This trip really has the ability change your life on an emotional, educational and personal level if you give it a chance. I am grateful for all of the leaders and fellow students who made the trip what it was for me.

This trip was a great way to see beautiful Ecuador without having to worry about your own accommodation, transportation, food etc. as everything is taken care of by the wonderful bilingual guides. This means that you can really focus on just having fun and enjoying the all the cool places they bring you!

The locations you go are nice and diverse, all exciting and interesting in their own ways. It's crazy how much the scenery can change just in a short drive (i.e. from dry and cold at 3300m in the Andes to hot and humid in the Amazon jungle in a 3-4 hour drive!). Each location is jam-packed with fun activities, and you really make the most of your time there.

Breakfast and lunch are provided at all locations, and all the meals surpassed my expectations greatly - I never left the table hungry, and I'm a guy who eats a ton! Usually the group goes together to a restaurant for dinners which are always really good too, and this way you can choose how much you want to spend depending on how hungry you are. The juices everywhere were unreal!!

The leaders were all super fun and friendly which made the trip all the better. The group was changing every week or so due to the different programs (bio-med, pre-med, volunteer) coming/going, meaning that you always had tons of people to talk to. You meet tons of like-minded people, so it's super easy to make friends.

Help, Learn and Discover has made a huge impact in my life. It has showed me how helping others can be so much fun and you get to learn so much about another country and about yourself.

First off, the volunteer site was the best part of the trip. I cannot explain in words what I felt while I was helping in the community but I'll try. You get to help build homes for a community of poor people who have been struggling in paying rent every month. You get to give shelter for their children and make them feel more comfortable. You also get to connect with the community while building homes since you will be building their houses with them. Even if there is a language barrier between both parties, you will still feel that connection with them and you will for sure make the effort to learn their basic language so you can communicate with them. Body language is key in communicating with them as well. The children in the community are so awesome since they are so playful too. After the whole trip, I want to go back to Camarones (the community we helped) after a few years just to see how the community is doing.

Travelling around Ecuador and seeing the main attractions around the country is amazing. You get to learn about the culture and the way people live in Ecuador. Learning about the history and background stories of the place where you are helping is awesome because you get to feel the wholeness of why you are helping that country. Yes, we do lots of fun things like tubing at the amazon, night jungle hikes and jungle hike, repelling down a waterfall, surfing, hotsprings and lots of other adventurous things but that is just the secondary fun of the whole trip. There were times where I wished I stayed in the community longer because one week is not enough. However, Ecuador is a big country and there are just so many things to explore and learn as well.

In this trip, you have to be ready to go out of your box and explore what there is out there for you. This trip has definitely pushed me to do things I wouldn't think I could have done before. It feels amazing. You get to discover your limits and what you can do. You have to dare yourself to do the things the people in Ecuador think is normal (eg. eating guinea pigs and lemon ants). After accomplishing some of these things, I surely felt amazing about myself that I went through these experiences and have learnt that I can do anything in the world. Also, there are more things in life than what we see everyday here in north america.

In the 5 weeks I was in Ecuador, I have learned so much, discovered things about Ecuador and myself and helped families to have shelter the rest of their lives. In that short time, I have accomplished all these and I can say that it feels amazing. I wish everyone can experience this because it not only open your eyes to a new world but also helps you grow as a person and see things in a different perspective. Given a chance again to go back and help another community, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

The experience that HLD provides on your trip to Ecuador is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You truly get to see and experience things that you can never imagine seeing in Canada. For example in the medical rotations having the chance to see the everyday rotations of doctors in different specializations is tremendously valuable for anyone who is interested in one day pursuing a career in the medical field. The time you spend on the volunteer site also helps put into perspective just how great we have it back home. Lastly, possibly the best part about this trip is the relationships you form with the amazing people you meet on the trip. Both me and my sister have now gone on this trip and I know we would both not hesitate to recommend it to someone else.