-Excerpt Contributed by Molly McGuire, Volunteer Ecuador Participant

My experiences in Ecuador were incredible. I made tons of friends, and had a host family that I could never forget. I had like, two downer experiences that wound up being for the better (and that's life). My host family was incredible because they were so different from my family in Texas. The mom was the head of the house, and we had lots of fun together. There were two daughters- one my age, the other 12- who were also incredible and very accommodating. They were on the poorer side, but I really liked that. Patricia did a great job with that placement. Most of the exchange students I met would have compromised wealth for personality if they could have been in my family.

As far as traveling goes, I didn't do a whole lot, but it was worth it for the fun I was having in my small town outside Ibarra. When I arrived, I spent the first weekend in Banos with some girls. That was awesome! I went to Otavalo, of course, and Quito when I had to. My host family took me up to Colombia for a day on a bus tour, which was beautiful! The last week, I spent in the Amazon. I did a jungle stay, which was probably my best idea, ever. I took a night bus there, then flew back in time for my flight back home. That was really something unique, and I loved every minute of it! I had been debating to go to Atacames or the jungle, and I feel like I made the best choice.

The hospital was also a really neat experience. I went in the mornings only, then took the afternoon to read, meet people, teach myself Spanish, write, hang out with my friends, go to the library, whatever. I wrote down everything I saw in a little notebook. There were some really neat cases, and I got to know some really neat people as I worked there. I decided to stay in the ER the whole time, and I don't regret it.

Here's a story for you:

It was a particularly busy morning in the ER, and they keep about 3 patients in one room at a time. I was working with a young doctor on a scrawny 30 year old man from the prison. His short, buff guard was there with him. As the doctor was listening to the prisoner's heart, the guard noticed that I didn't quite fit into the scene (tall, white . . .) and struck up a conversation with me. He was flirting, and told me bashfully that he was trying to learn English (that was a popular line). I lent him my dictionary from my pocket, which he read while the doctor and I were examining the patient. I got to know both patient and guard pretty well by the end. They were in there for about an hour waiting on lab work. When returned, the news was the prisoner had Tuberculosis (a highly contagious, sort of, chronic pneumonia that causes death unless it's treated). I was stunned. When the doctor explained it to the guard, the guard's smile turned into a frown, and his eyes flicked down. He mouthed to the prisoner to examine his financial status. It turns out the prisoner couldn't afford the long list of medications to treat the TB. I knew that that long list, here in Ecuador, could only cost up to 15 dollars. 15 dollars!! I asked my friend, the guard if I could see that list. Then I took off with it. It was about time for me to go, so I grabbed all my stuff and slipped the money into his hand, inside of the list when I returned it. I wanted to kind of keep it on the down-low. There is no reason he shouldn't be treated for this, I thought. Especially considering his living conditions, being surrounded by other soon-to-be victims. Then I left. However, before I could get to the street, the guard had chased me down. He had looked up "Let's get coffee" in my dictionary, and called my name from across the hospital wing to ask me out to coffee. At this point, I was sick of being asked out by strangers in Ecuador. I had been there a month and a half already, so I knew what they were up to. However, I told him that it wasn't so much the coffee I was interested in, as his job. I told him (boldly) to take me to the prison and give me a tour. He agreed, but with the funniest confused look on his face.

A week later, we met up at the prison. Lindsay, it was incredible. I wish I could have taken pictures. The prison is at double capacity. There are sleeping places on floors, as well as stacked 40 feet up. They are all in there together. Cell's don't exist. However, it was a surprisingly happy environment. There was a soccer game going on, everyone was cheering, laughing. I met a Nigerian who took over the guide because he spoke English. At the end he pleaded with me to get him out of there, that he didn't deserve his punishment. That was interesting. I also met the director of the prison and got to ask him some questions. The most important part for me, though, was when I went to the "clinic" of the prison. I use quotations because it wasn't really a clinic. There is a doctor there at all times during the day, but there is nothing else. No medication, no utensils, nothing. The law in Ecuador says that unless it's an emergency, the doctor isn't allowed to send them to the hospital. So, he's in a predicament. I spent about 5 hours in an Ecuadorian prison. That was one of the more interesting dates I've ever been on!

Again, thanks for everything. I hope that my input will contribute to your efforts. I've been telling everyone about your program. I don't mean to be sappy, but I cried really hard on the bus the day I left my host family and friends in San Antonio de Ibarra because they meant so much to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.