By Ashley Streit ’14, Contributor

I had my Tevas, my sunscreen, and loads of snacks stuffed into my hiking backpack, all ready to go, but I still felt antsy about my upcoming backpacking trip though Ecuador and the Galapagos. I was initially apprehensive about traveling through South America with twelve strangers, but after I began the trip, I quickly discovered that those twelve strangers would become some of my closest friends.

During the first two weeks, we traveled all throughout Ecuador. We climbed from the bottom of the volcano, Cotopaxi, to the base camp near the top. It was difficult adjusting to the altitude during the hike, but I’d never felt more accomplished when I finally reached the top.

One of the most memorable experiences from Ecuador was when we spent a day visiting a local school. Interacting with the local children (who did not speak a word of English) taught me that you do not have to speak the same language in order to understand a person and have an amazing time.

Although I loved Ecuador, my favorite part of the trip had to be spending time in the Galapagos. As we traveled from island to island, I got to experience the different wildlife that inhabited each area. I loved the underwater wildlife I discovered while snorkeling. When I jumped off the boat into the vast ocean, I expected to see a colorful coral reef, but I saw more wildlife than coral. Different schools of fish swam around the coral, sea turtles glided beneath the surface, and, much to my discomfort, a hammerhead shark lurked in the depths of the ocean.

Seeing different parts of world and experiencing a new culture first hand was a humbling experience. I could not have asked for a better time and I hope to return to South America soon.