On my study abroad trip, I completely immersed myself in the Ecuadorian culture. I experienced what it is like to live in the communities we visited and truly connect with the locals, whether it be through food, sports, or simply conversation. I am a pretty picky eater, so I was worried about the types of food I would be eating, but I decided to put that aside and fully enjoy every meal that was prepared for me. A typical meal in Ecuador consists of soup, white rice, fruits or vegetables, beans, and some sort of protein. Along with each meal is typically some sort of juice or tea. I was also able to try a delicacy in Ecuador known as cuy, or guinea pig. It was a bit of a shock to see a roasted guinea pig on my plate, but it unsurprisingly tasted a lot like chicken. Ecuadorian food and especially their meat tends to be cooked with a lot of herbs and spices, giving it layers of flavor. Aside from the food, I was able to connect with the locals in other ways. Soccer, or fútbol, is a pretty popular sport in Ecuador, so I made sure to play a few games with kids in the communities. Each game felt very special because they were allowing me to partake in one of their favorite activities as if I were a member of their community. There is another popular Ecuadorian game known as ecua-volley, which is basically volleyball with a soccer ball. It was very fun to be walking around and then all of a sudden be joining a pick-up game with some of the local children. The most impactful way of connecting with the locals was through living with a host family, which allowed me to understand things through their eyes and experience exactly how they go about their daily lives. It was incredible to see how loving and inviting everyone was. We stayed in a community called “El Placer,” where people left their doors unlocked and welcomed everyone into their homes. I also learned about how this community responded to the introduction of COVID. For six months, they fully isolated themselves within their community and came together in order to completely support themselves and each other without any outside help. They didn’t rely on any other communities or towns, and they all helped each other out in any way possible in order to become fully sustainable. I felt very honored to be welcomed into these communities and given a glimpse into the everyday life of a local. It was truly an incredible and one-of-a-kind experience full of amazing memories!