Amy Schroeder-Riggio, B3′s executive director, and advisor Jason Corsi are currently in Ecuador in search of projects for B3′s 2011 program. As most of our volunteers can attest, keeping connected in the “campo” can be challenging, but we’ll post updates as often as we can. So, check back soon!

Ecuador is amazing!

We’re busy visiting many project sites and meeting amazing people in some pretty incredible locations. Most recently, we have been in the Andes and the views are spectacular!  We’ve seen snow-capped volcanoes, llamas, Alpacas, vicunas, green valleys and, most memorably, the warm smiles from the children everywhere we go.

Yesterday, Jason and I suddenly found ourselves welcomed by nearly every resident of a town we visited. We were walking along with a few community members, discussing a possible project, and when we looked around we found there were a dozen or so people that had joined us. Before too long, it seemed that we were accompanied by the entire village!

The people of the Andes are gentle and kind, and many speak only Quechua.  They’re quick to shake our hands and share a smile–it’s clear that wherever B3 works in Ecuador in 2011, we will be welcomed and become instant members of their families and communities.

The need is great here.  Most have little, but all seem happy.

In one community, we asked about how the residents would feel to have 40 gringos “move in” for a week. One gentleman was quick to say, with a sly grin, that he would love to have us in his village–they have seen their own faces for too long!  He then went on to say that the entire town is looking forward to teaching us about their Andean culture, a few words of Quechua, how to turn fleece from local sheep into wool and cloth, beat us at soccer and volleyball. He added that, most importantly, they’re eager to learn about us and our culture.

Ecuador 2011 is going to be an incredible journey for us all. We know you are going to love Ecuador as much as we do!