If you are looking to work with IVHQ in the nearest future or you want to do some type of volunteer work, or you just want to learn a bit about Ecuador, this blog is definitely for you! One of my best friends, Faven Araya, recently traveled to Ecuador to volunteer with IVHQ during her spring break. Today, shesglobal had the honor to speak with Faven about her personal experience with IVHQ and her stay in Ecuador.
Shesglobal is sharing Faven's experience not only to inspire people to take a step into traveling, but to also show the endless ways to do so.
Please be aware this interview was conducted between two long times best friends. We put the interview on here exactly the way questions where asked and answered.
1. What made you volunteer with IVHQ?
You brought it up saying a friend tried it because I was telling you how much I missed volunteering and how much I wanted to travel.
Oh yeah, you right I totally forgot about that. You are so welcome!
Thanks kind friend.
2. So what was the beginning process like with IVHQ? Also was this a paid volunteer program?
You know it wasn’t paid.
Yea but our reader's don't.
But the beginning was more like orientation and just showing us around the area and the part of town we're staying in and doing a meet and greet, so it would be less weird to work together for a week.
3. What made you go to Ecuador?
It’s a Spanish speaking country that doesn’t require a visa. Plus the program they offered was working with children and other countries programs were more like agriculture, medical or school teacher positions.
4. Was there any language barrier?
Yes, I should have done better with my Spanish. But I was able to pick up on conversations and even learned how to converse in Spanish. Since I’m so used to learning Spanish in school, it’s easier for me to read and write instead of verbally communicate on the spot.
5. What was the hardest adjustment you had to make?
The hardest adjustment was the language and being alone in a new country since this was my first trip out of the States or anywhere alone, to be honest.
6. Now, let's get to the good part! How was the food? Was there a certain food you were warned not to eat?
The food was very fresh but they had standard meals. Like fruit croissant and tea or coffee for breakfast and the typical lunch is soup chicken and rice with veggies. But we weren’t allowed to drink the water or eat fruits and veggies that have been washed in the sink because we would get sick. But there were plenty of different restaurants to try since it’s very westernized.
Don't drink the water sounds so familiar! But what was your favorite meal?
Locro soup! It's potato bases with cheese and avocado. I hate soup but it was really good for dinner and it’s traditional.
Did you learn how to make it?
I wanted too, but dinner was already served by the time we got home because we would be working all day long. There were cooking classes, but we couldn't go because we were to busy planning other things.
That sucks but what was the strangest thing you ate?
I refused to eat guinea pig which is normal there, but I did eat a traditional cornmeal soup that you eat with popcorn it was really good and when we were hiking, the guide gave us lemons. I’m not sure what for or why but it helped with my exhaustion.
Wait what?! He gave you guys lemons? As an actual lemon?
No just a slice.
Did you eat it raw or put it in your water bottle?
I didn't have a water bottle and we were hiking with just suits on, so I ate it.
I’m weak! How did it taste?
Uhm take a wild guess.
Bitter?
Very!
Is Ecuador's chocolate really worth the hype ?
I don't know. I didn't get a chance to go to the natural parts where they let you try the actual cocao bean. But they are a huge export for chocolate and I had their store stuff and it's pretty good, but it's different for me and hard to judge because of my palette.
7. What was one of the best moments of your trip?
The best moments had to be while volunteering the kids were very nice and one child told me in Spanglish that he hopes we stay because the volunteers usually don’t stay very long and for spring break we had a really big group.
Aww! How long do volunteers normally stay?
It depends. I would say that most stay about a week to 3 weeks.
I know me and you spoke about this before you joined the program, but to volunteer with IVHQ you actually have to pay them depending on your duration and location right?
It's like $299 registration fee that goes to IVHQ, another fee to the real program to hold your spot, you have to get insurance which depends on the length of your stay, a background check, and you have to book your own flight. If you don't cancel on time as in 14 days before the trip, you have to pay $150 to get it changed.
I guess I know why most people don't stay long.
Yeah I spent $1100 in total but they gave me a place to stay and food.
Do you think that's also why most people don't stay long ? Especially if you are in college?
I think time is what really stops people. My group, we were all on spring break that's why we did it for a week.
Would you ever do it for a long term? Like 6 months to a year? Obviously you will not make any money during those times.
Yeah no. If I didn't have a safety net of money,I obviously can't. But if I did, I would stay a few months.
8. What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I went canyoning in Los Baños which is 3 hours from Flora Villa where I stayed with my host family. We stayed in a really nice hostel near the top of the mountains and we had to hike up and rock climb down. The view was beyond beautiful nothing like I’ve ever seen because Ohio is flat plains and all of us don’t have colorful houses alongside a mountain.
9. You stayed in Quito which is the capital of Ecuador so my question is, what was your favorite thing about the city?
The colors and the beautiful scenery of bright colored buildings. They reminded me of New Orleans because in Ohio it’s all white and grey suburban houses. But Quito had a lot of apartment complexes and beautiful flowers everywhere even in the poverty areas.
Nice! So would you ever revisit? And I'm not sure if you had the chance to check out other cities but if you did, would you ever move to any of those cities?
Definitely Quito! I wish I went to other areas. If I had time I would've gone to the Amazon or Galapagos island, but I would move to the upper-class city part because that’s what I’m more familiar with and more people can speak English there.
10. What was the scariest moment?
The scariest moment had to be when everyone would worn you about catcalling and bag snatchers. I was there for only a week, so no one stole from me because it all comes down to common sense, to be honest. Like you should never walk around with your brand new iPhone in a poor area in your hand or move your bag to the front while riding a packed bus. Catcalling was more of men in cars honking or a chichichi noise. One time in old town Quito this one guy stepped in front of me and my friend and blocked our way, and he was speaking too fast, but he pointed at his lips and we had to shoulder him to get through.
Wow, this definitely goes without saying that catcalling is universal.
Yea definitely, but I already knew that from social media.
11. Did you find any sights or activities a bit off the beaten track? Beyond the tourist traps?
Nope! Everything we did was recommended because of safety reasons. We were there with an organization, not on vacation, so we couldn’t really do much that would lead to a lawsuit. But we did figure out the bus route and went to different areas, parks, the mall, and restaurants.
12. How were the locals you met?
Very nice and extremely helpful. I stayed in the city and a lot of people didn’t have the time or care to really interact unless they’re street vendors.
Was there anything strange or insightful thing a local said?
Nothing really.
13. Okay, now let's talk about the actual work you had to do. What kind of job did you do? What was your regular schedule like?
We meet at 8:30 a.m. at the office then ride the bus for 25 cents to a different part of town that's 30-50 mins out. Then we set up at the market, build the tent and gather the kids. Wash their hands then play together with blocks and toys and books, and if they're old enough, they play soccer. Then we take a lunch break. Full time people do it all over again, but part time ones leave for lunch back to the office. Normally, I would grab lunch with other part time people or go to the mall or do laundry or go to a souvenir market just whatever really.
14. How would you summarize your overall experience with IVHQ?
The experience was eye opening especially for a small town girl from Ohio but IVHQ is the umbrella company that connected us to UBECI in Ecuador and they work with children that don’t have to opportunity to go to school and end up working with the parents in the market and have trouble learning and having fun because most kids in that environment end up neglected or abused.
15. Would you ever work with IVHQ again?
Yes, if I ever have the money and time I would love to.
16. Would you volunteer abroad again?
To be honest, I would. But I would like to go somewhere else with the same program working with children because I did get a quick chance to see most of Quito and now I want to keep going further away from Ohio.
17. Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?
Yes! Go out there and travel. It's safer with an organization, and I personally like volunteering so this was perfect for me.
18. Any advice you can give to anyone that is considering volunteering abroad?
Check out shesglobal THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR FIRST TIME SOLO FEMALE TRAVELERS article because it was helpful. Don’t over pack clothes don’t mean anything. The place I stayed at had a laundromat around the corner, but just use common sense when stepping out alone.
I think that all.Uhmm Bring my chocolate on your way here. So, I guess I'll see you in Asia fam?
I gotchu & Ehyeee!
Thanks for partnering up with us to do this interview. We loved having you as a guest host and hopefully, we’ll have you back here with us soon!
For more information on IVHQ please visit their website here.