La Entrada-- September 17

This weekend, we took a trip with Ukuay Pacha, a group that works with local givernment and schools to educate young poeple about environmental issues, to a little beach town called La Entrada. This weekend functioned as an introduction to the group and to the town so that we could start really volunteering soon. La Entrada only has about 400 families living there. It is a very tight-knit and welcoming community. A student who came late just asked around for a group of gringos and everyone knew exactly where to send him. Needless to say, it's not really a tourist destination.

The education program is very relaxed. They have bonfires and talk about environmental issues each week. They also have a grant from the local government to start a garden near the school. We toured the town, learned about the program, met the leaders, and got welcomed at a bonfire.

Many of the people have a pesimistic outlook on the town and the environment. They sort of claim their land by throwing trash on it because they can. They don't like change and will destroy things they don't like like new fences or freshly planted trees. The education program is amazing because there is a stark difference between the outlooks of the young people and the adults. In 15 years, when the students are grown up and running the town, it is going to be amazing.

Ukuay Pacha is not only trying to help the environment, but also help the town. They are encouraging residents to start making artisanal crafts and start a market in the main square. There is a workshop to teach jewlery-making and they are trying to encourage young girls to learn and support themselves. Unfortunately, not many people are taking advantage of these opportunities yet. Some other students and I are going to take a few jewlery-making lessons and try to encourage other girls to start the program.

On Sunday, we were planning on taking a 20 minute hike to see a waterfall, but two hours later we found the ocean instead. Don't trust the locals. They will get you lost in the jungle XD Even though we were lost, it was a really fun hike. We just kept following the river and played high-stakes limbo under barbed wire.

Oh, and some advice for anyone planning to study abroad or travel in Ecuador: take a light sleeping bag with you. The hostals don't give you blankets and near the water and up in the mountains, it can get pretty cold. Also, don't trust the hostals. I got eaten alive by bedbugs this weekend. But somehow, despite all of that, it was still an amazing weekend!