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
Daddy’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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Where I Am
Carly Sitrin
2012-11-10
And there is a chance that everything we did was incorrect, but stasis itself is criminal for those with the means to move, and the means to weave communion between people. -Dave Eggers So here I am. From Hillsborough, New Jersey to California to Quito to Riobamba to Bayushig, Ecuador. After weeks of planning, packing, and anticipating I found...
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Dorothy, I Don’t Think We are in Phoenix Anymore.
Kalea Moore
2012-11-10
Hello everyone, I’m back after a short 2 months! Can you believe it? It seems like just yesterday I said my goodbyes and started on this 8 month journey. We spent our first 5 weeks studying our Spanish, volunteering and expanding our knowledge about Ecuador. My time here has been nothing less than exciting from meeting my...
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ALL UNDER THE SAME SUN
Sammy Gachagua
2012-11-08
Hola all! Just dropping in for a checkin! I am well down here in Ecuador. I am staying at a place called Salinas, in the province of Imbabura, Ecuador. This is one of the few places thats inhabited by Afro-Ecuadorians. This place is full of culture, which dates all the way back to the slaverly period....
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An Immediate Response, A Triumphant Community
Kimberly Nerea Tellez
2012-11-08
As I was calmly finishing up my 50 cent lunch at school the other day, which consisted of a small bowl of rice with potatoes, I glanced down to my cellphone to see what time it was. 10:39 They ring the school bell, signaling what I thought was the end of recess. Surprised at their...
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And I’m Still Moving
Aidan Holloway-Bidwell
2012-11-05
The days leading up to my departure from Northampton, Massachusetts, then the week in Palo Alto, California, finally the month in Quito, Ecuador, each was connected to the other by a lengthening string of preoccupations about my six month stay in rural Ecuador. What might it be like living with no running water? Without showers?...
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