Carly V.- Blog #10

My favorite part of Bella Vista was getting to see all of the scenery of the cloud forest. Everywhere you looked there was something new to see. I loved getting to learn about all of the various plants that were a part of the forest. It is so interesting to be to get to be in a completely different type of forest than I am used to and get to see all of these new and amazing things. The types of trees that grow in this forest are so diverse and like nothing I have ever seen before. Just the difference in the size of so many of the leaves was amazing. There were also so many flowering trees that were so beautiful. I also loved getting to walk through the river and see the various waterfalls that were shooting out from the scenery. It is amazing the things you can miss if you are not open to explore a little.

The greatest challenge that I encountered in the cloud forest was climbing the first waterfall. For me heights are something that have always been challenging. Having to climb a ladder and use a rope to pull myself up the side of a waterfall was nothing I had ever imagined doing. I was able to overcome this challenge through watching others, who were skeptical as well, succeed. I also gained a lot of confidence from my peers cheering me on. Having a support system is all you really need in order to overcome fears and succeed in something new.

My thinking about culture and communication has changed greatly over this past week. As far as culture I was truly expecting to have a much different experience than what I am having. I was expecting that this culture would be so different for me that it would be really hard to actually become a part of it. What was really holding me back from thinking I could become a part of it was the difference in language. Not being able to speak Spanish was a major concern of mine and I really thought this would hold me back from being able to do a lot of things. What I learned is that language is not the only form of communication and this should never hold you back from really connecting with and becoming a part of another culture.

This leads to direct communication as well. I have learned so many alternative ways to communicate that I do not feel like I am unable to do things within this culture because I do not speak the same language. Although I have learned some Spanish from taking classes this week, I have also learned that language is not always necessary when communicating. I have found that common gestures have been extremely helpful when trying to convey a message. Although a few words do help to further understand, if I knew none at all I still feel as though I would be okay.


Overall, this past week has taught me that overcoming challenges is really something that mainly lies within your own mental capacity. I came into this experience with preconceived notions, but I insisted on remaining open to changes until I had actually experienced them. What I have learned is that I am fully capable of being on my own in a completely different culture that does not share a common language. I have learned that things I thought would hold be back can actually push me forward. This next week I only hope to continue to learn more about this culture as well as myself. I did not come here with any expectations, but I hope to leave with many accomplishments and new knowledge about so many things that will only continue to help me in my future.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Meng - Blog 16

1. In Paige's Blog(#14), she mentioned that she used some nonverbal communication to communicate with teachers when they were cooking. It is an effective way of intercultural communication. I totally agree that sometimes, if you don't know how to express yourself, body language helps a lot, and it even works better than language. 2. In Blog12, Tyessa said that she feel not close with her host family, and usually, they don't communicate with each other too much, which makes she felt upset because she wants to get closer to them. In my points of view, it can be seen as an ineffective communication. I think in the process of communicating with people, sometimes you should learn to be proactive. Break the silence first, and take the initiative to communicate with others. If you are especially enthusiastic about other people, they will feel it. 3. An example of effective communication came from  Linsey. She talked about how the communication way changed ...
Read more
      I will admit that the thing I am looking forward to the most when I get back home is some good, processed, junk food. It seems strange, because I like the food in Ecuador, and am almost always willing to be adventurous and try new foods. But that sense of adventure is exactly the problem. I rarely feel as though I can just gulp down anything placed in front of me, secure in the knowledge of exactly what it is and what it will taste like. The classic foods from home will allow me to eat with that security intact, and that security is what I really miss.      I think the thing I will miss the most about Ecuador is the sense of adventure that I could feel every time I left the house, whether it was just to class at the academia or to some other attraction. I loved the feeling that I was going to see new sights, experience new things, and accomplish something impressive every day. The quote that struck me today, as we were le...
Read more

Blog post #15

1) what are you most excited about returning to in the US? What I am most looking forward to about heading home is the opportunity to share my experiences with others. I want to share the funny stories of my host family with my friends and family here in the U.S. so that they too can be exposed to some Ecuadorian culture. I am very much looking forward to returning home because I will use my experience of Ecuador to further think about what it is I want to do with my life. Not having a clear path for my profession is a challenge for me, but through using my travel experience to discover what my passions and interest are, I am always one step closer to knowing what it is I want to do with my life.   2) what will you miss the most about Ecuador? What I think I am going to miss most is the walk to school Carolina and I shared in the mornings and afternoons. In the two mile hike to school I saw mothers sending their kids off to the bus, adults off to work and busses ...
Read more