Best month of my life!

As I knew little as to what the day to day activities included I was a little unsure of what to expect upon arriving in Ecuador, however within the first hour of arriving I knew I was in for a trip of a lifetime. I am confident to say that my time spent in Ecuador will be some of my most cherished memories, and I was definitely not ready to come home after my month there went by so quickly. I would recommend this program to absolutely every student I know!

I participated in the Bio-Medical program in May of 2015. I think one of the most compelling parts about this program that really sets it aside from other organizations is the diversity of things we did on this trip, all falling under the different categories; help, learn, and discover. For the help portion, I can't begin to explain how rewarding it was to work along side the community building houses. It was hard work and challenging at times, but being able to create a bond with the community was really an eye opening experience for me. The learn portion of the trip really exceeded my expectations.The med tutors were amazing, always ready to explain procedures and answer questions. One of my favorite parts of the trip was shadowing the doctors and watching numerous surgeries! Finally, the discover portion was unlike anything I could have imagined. Highlights included waterfall repelling, horse back riding, surfing, snorkeling with sharks and sea turtles, hiking through the jungle, and tubing down the amazon river.

All of these different components made for an unforgettable month, however what really made the trip extra special were the owners, Juan and Jose. They really go above and beyond to make sure that every student feels comfortable and safe while enjoying their trip. By the end of the trip, both the leaders and the fellow students felt more like family than friends!