How would you describe/rate your experience working with the ABV staff in the USA? The ABV staff in the USA provides excellent customer service by responding to all of my emails quickly, and providing helpful information.
Would you consider volunteering again with the our organization? Yes, I enjoyed my experience and would definitely consider volunteering again with ABV.
Did you get on well with the local ABV Staff and feel supported during your stay? Yes! The Laura and her staff were very supportive and friendly.
What was your favorite memory of this trip? My favorite memory of my trip to Ecuador happened my first day volunteering with the children, when the children were mesmerized by my blue eyes, since blues eyes in Ecuador are extremely rare.
What was the most difficult thing you experienced? The most difficult part of volunteering in the Ecuador Spanish Immersion volunteering program was extremely busy schedule, which consisted of contain work/study from 615 in the morning, until 615 at night.
Any tips for future volunteers… (Clothing, travel, personal items, donations, sightseeing etc) If you are going to Quito, I would recommend bringing mostly jeans, as I did not wear any of my shorts outside of the house. Also I would recommend to bring sufficient amount of cash in small denominations, as most stores will not have change for anything higher than $10.
Personal Paragraph (ABV Program Testimonial): My experience in Ecuador was excellent! Laura, my host mother and ABV coordinator, was great! Her family was extremely friendly and made my feel like apart of the family. Although my spanish was not great, I felt completely comfortable in their house. Throughout the course of my trip my spanish improved greatly, even allowing me to experience two dreams in Spanish! I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who wants to volunteer and improve their Spanish at the same time.
Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers? Yes