I am just in love with the little community of Guargualla! We are volunteering here for a month. It is nestled high in the Andes, at about 3200 m above sea level, 3 hours from the major town of Riobamba. It's very cold up there but no snow. There were no schools up there about 10 years ago so this whole education thing is still quite fresh. We tried playing a simple card game with some of the older men, about 36-40 year olds, but they just didn't get it and continuously asked us the rules even after an hour of playing! These are foreign objects and concepts that have yet to infiltrate the village. Most people live and breathe agriculture here, animals, plants and weather patterns. We have lots to learn from them, too.

When we return Tuesday we will be teaching about taking care of the environment (in Spanish!) to the older kids and playing games and painting with the younger ones. Actually, the first day we got there they wanted us to teach the environment within that hour, but we were very under prepared. Now we have some good materials and ideas, but it should be quite the adventure to teach them in Spanish. Luckily, for us they all speak Spanish as a first language and then they also learn Kechewa, the indigenous language, in school and at home. I am really enjoying playing with the little tiny ones, ages 1-4! They are so adorable and well behaved. I think they are calmer and more obedient than the older kids, more from fear of how strange and foreign we seem.

I am going back to the village today, Tuesday the 25th, and won´t be returning until April 5th. No internet access until then...but when I come back I will post some great photos and stories. I hope everyone had a nice, relaxing Easter holiday and that wherever you are it is warming up, Spring is on its way!
Peace and love, ciao! xo

Couchsurfing the World Wide Web

Forget hotels and hostels- travelers across the world are using the internet to find a couch to crash on, gratis! I first heard about this amazing community called couchsurfing, one year ago, from a friend I met in Mexico. I logged on to www.couchsurfing.com and was amazed to read profiles and stories from people who had traveled the world, saving tons of money and meeting cool people, as a “couchsurfer”. I was even more intrigued by the people who rarely traveled, but loved hosting other travelers in their homes.
The site's instructions are simple- sign up, create a profile, plan a trip and send an email to potential hosts, or offer to host some surfers yourself.
The most common question: is it safe? Couchsurfing has safety features, based on each member leaving references about experiences with other surfers and a system to verify names and addresses. Whether looking for a place to sleep or a brief chat over coffee, this no-strings-attached online network is a constructive and fun way to connect with travelers and learn about places off the beaten path.
There are currently half a million couchsurfers living in over 200 countries! The top ten couchsurfing cities include our very own Toronto and Montreal and there are even nine members in Sault Ste Marie. I have couchsurfed with over thirty people from Mexico down to Ecuador and couchsurfing has certainly changed the way I travel. I no longer travel to visit places, but to meet people!
In the last week alone, I have been welcomed into three separate homes with hosts from three completely different walks of life. In Bogota, Columbia I stayed with Mauricio, a humble 37 year-old bachelor, who gave me an amazing tour of the city, shared meals with my boyfriend and I and took us on a fabulous day-trip to surrounding colonial towns.
Four days later, I found myself in rural Ecuador staying on a beautiful farm with the Stevez family. They opened their home and hearts to us, cooked us some typical Ecuadorian meals and introduced us to their hospitable relatives. We visited some beautiful lakes, trails and farms and even went for a jog in a nearby village, with their teenage son.
Presently, I am couchsurfing in the capital city of Ecuador with 57 year-old Jaime Nunez and his family. Jaime is an engineer in Quito, but in his spare time he loves to travel and share the beauty of his country with fellow couchsurfers.
Over the Christmas holidays I was home in the Soo and my wonderful parents Jacquie and Rick Wood, who have always raised me to share and embrace life, allowed me to host my first couchsurfer. Dave Smaller, a Canadian Ambassador for the site, came to stay with us before driving across Canada to promote his fair-trade organization.
Couchsurfing has provided me with a community of like-minded individuals who want to promote genuine friendship and an open door policy. I know there are many communities out there like CS, groups that open their hearts and minds and enjoy providing a safe space to learn, love and grow.
Couchsurfers believe that the surfing of couches is a means to making the world a better place. It’s not just about the furniture or free accommodation, but participating in a cultural exchange that helps to build trust and meaningful human connections. If this has intrigued you, please log on to the site and you too can make connections from around the world!