"Hola, ¿cómo está? Imanalla? This is how we greet one another and ask, "How are you?" in Spanish and Kichwa, an indigenous language of the Kichwa people of Ecuador. My name is Ashley, and for the next few months I'll be living in Ecuador, a beautiful country that sits right on the Equator. Before I came to Ecuador, I spent most of my time in the capital of the U.S., Washington, DC, studying at American University. I study a special kind of science called environmental science, which teaches me how to help protect the nature around us. I also study art and love photography, videography, painting, and playing the guitar and banjo. However, my passion is teaching others how to love and care for the earth through gardening.
Here in Ecuador, I'm doing a little bit of all of these things and more while I live in two rural communities. One of my communities lives in the tall Andes mountains, while my other community lives in the Amazon jungle. I take classes that use theater, storytelling, creative projects, history, music, community work, and art to deepen my understanding of the world and the environmental, economic, political, and social issues we face in both the United States and Ecuador. Would you like to join me on my learning adventure here in Ecuador? Let's go!
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by clicking here!
