Fellow Stories
True gap year stories from Fellows abroad!
Check out the latest blogs from Global Citizen Year Fellows in Brazil, Ecuador, and India!
Category
Class Year
Country
The Small Things
Meliza Windmoeller
2012-11-14
Welcome to the Amazon. Where everything is a luscious green, drinking water is a luxury, the electricity is questionable, and spiders the size of your fist join you at bedtime. What…exactly have I gotten myself in to? I must have asked myself this question dozens of times since leaving the comforts of Quito. There I...
Read MoreRight Choice ≠ Easy Choice
Betty Gebre
2012-11-14
“Why am I doing this again?” I thought after my honeymoon phase in my host community had ended. I was scared, feeling lonely, and was experiencing culture shock. My smooth sailing had come to an end and reality started to hit. The fact that I would be spending six months in my community and the expectation of “change...
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The Foundation of a Community
Carrie Hamilton
2012-11-13
Upon coming to my community in Ecuador, I was expecting to be introduced to a world where women tended to the home all day whilst men set off to do manual labor. What I was not prepared for, however, was the reality of Alto Tena, where women are responsible for nearly everything. They are the...
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We Killed the Pig
Ella Wegman-Lawless
2012-11-13
When I walked back into my yard after delivering lunch to the workers in the field, BAM. There was a dead and bloody pig lying in the dirt. Golly I sure do love Ecuadorian surprises. My mom had told me earlier in the week that we were going to kill a pig although I had forgotten. “Just a...
Read MoreMountain Monents
Chinyere Aniagoh
2012-11-10
It’s been a roller coaster in my time here so far. Driving down the mountains on our way to Los Bancos has been the most rewarding experience for me thus far. I became filled with a wave of intense emotions. I finally truly understand why I’m here, why I made this decision; better understanding myself, and what I want to...
Read MoreDaddy’s Story
Chinyere Aniagoh
2012-11-10
It’s been a very full time since I’ve been here. My host family is actually amazing they have redefined every negative stereotype and proven every positive one I’ve heard about Ecuadorians. For example, it is absolutely necessary to wake up before 8 o’clock and there’s no suchthing as missing a meal you will eat whether you want to or not and...
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Inspirational Tidbits
Lydia Collins
2012-11-10
The first week in my homestay here in Ibarra, Ecuador I felt myself riding an emotional rollercoaster like never before. The days were filled with random spurts of intense waves of realization of my situation. I am here. In Ecuador. I will not see my family for eight months. I have no idea what is going on. What has happened...
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Playing Catch-Up
Hannah Bouline
2012-11-10
I have learned many things in my time thus far in Ecuador – the first being that I am terrible at keeping my blog up-to-date. My apologies on that one, and I’ll try my best to improve. In-country orientation has come and gone, and I’m now back in Imbabura for the long haul. But I’m...
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Peace of Mind
Anvy Tran
2012-11-10
As far back into my childhood as I can remember myself dealing with sadness, frustration or hopelessness, the solution of my choice has been to sleep.It is what has always come the most naturally to me. What better place to escape the wears-and-tears of everyday life than in a dream world. I love my dream world. I like to wander through...
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It Takes Time
Josh Thompson
2012-11-10
The last time I was here in Pijal I watched a puppy die, was chased by ferocious dogs and had the pleasure of eating intestine soup at 7 in the morning. I experienced extreme frustration, boredom and loneliness. The highlight of most of my days was getting to walk with my host mother to move the cows from one...
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Reacting to Reality
Ely Kadish
2012-11-10
The three way intersection at my bus-stop has no stop sign. It has no traffic light or Policeman directing the way. The first day, I stood on the corner horrified that no one would stop, that the car would crash with the gas truck clamoring down the other road or crush the child passing on...
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Just One Gesture of Kindness
Fikrte Abebe
2012-11-10
It’s amazing how a simple act of kindness and love can have such a significant effect on a person. This past week I spent with my community host family has been one of the hardest weeks of my entire time here in Ecuador. But the one thing I can point to and say “yes this...
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