Ecuador

On the 3rd August 2015 I set off an adventure to South America. I was travelling abroad for the first time on my own, my destination was an animal rescue centre in Puyo, Ecuador. 

I have to admit that when at London Heathrow airport I was struggling with my anxiety. I nearly turned back and didn't want to get on the plane. But thanks to my Mum and one of my friends, who gave me encouragement and reassurance and due to the fact that there was a rush to get to the next plane and I didn't have much chance to stop, I got on the plane to Miami. From Miami, I flew to Quito, Ecuador. 

I was staying in Puyo for five weeks of volunteering. I had booked through the company, Frontier for this trip. Although it was more expensive I really valued the support that they offered and them booking the accommodation during my short stay in the capital. However, if you are an experienced traveler I would recommend booking straight with the park/place that you are volunteering with as it will be cheaper, by quite a lot. Anyway, back to the travelling! 

White-Throated Toucan

The first week was a struggle, but I knew this would be the case and is one of the reasons I booked 5 weeks not four. My first full day in Ecuador, was actually my birthday. I woke up in the morning and opened a small present that my mum had given me to open. It was a lovely little book that was filled with messages from family and friends, as well as motivational quotes. It was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. I was getting picked up at 9 am from the hostel and then doing the 6 hour journey to the park. But I was having a bad reaction to the malaria tablets and it meant that on the tram to the bus station in the capital I threw up. It was embarrassing and humiliating, not exactly what I wanted on my birthday. Thankfully I had fresh clothes in my hand luggage which meant I could freshen up before getting on the 5 hour coach. The rest of the day was bearable and I managed to not throw up again. When I arrived at the park I got shown to my cabin where I was sharing with 5 other girls. I tried to socalise that evening but I was just to ill and went to sleep.

The next day I woke up and felt okay, I decided to take my malaria tablets in the evening so that I could sleep off any side effects. Everyone was friendly and supportive, although some people were leaving at the end of that week and didn't make much of an effort to make friends but I can totally understand why. The other volunteer who arrived the same day as me was staying in the same cabin as me, she didn't really like the hard work that was involved on some of the days. It wasn't nice having that negatively around me and made me doubt if I was doing the right thing, if I should stay the whole five weeks or just four. But by the end of the week I realized it was silly thinking and remembered how much I enjoyed volunteering and working with animals.

Wooly Monkey 

Morning Rounds!

From my second week I felt right at home and fell into a regular routine. The day started around 7.30 am when we would go to the kitchen and get breakfast. Usually you would be either on Rounds or Extra Work and it alternated each day. If you were on Rounds, at 8 am you would head to the chopping room to prepare food for the morning round and then get placed onto either; Monkey, Non-Monkey or Small Round. After the animals had been fed and their enclosures cleaned, volunteers would be given small jobs to do. Either cleaning another enclosure, raking paths or any other small jobs that needed doing. Then at noon we stopped for our lunch break, lunch would be served around 1 pm every day and if you were on lunch duty you had to clean up afterwards but other than that you were free until 2.30 pm when work would start again. From half two till four you would get allocated to some smaller rounds. These consisted of cleaning the toilets (not great but the quickest round) and enrichment/food rounds (eggs, leaves, crickets, etc.). Then at 4 pm afternoon rounds would start, these were smaller and you didn't have to clean the enclosures it never took longer than an hour. Extra work days involved taking part in larger jobs that needed doing around the park, like making/improving paths and enclosures, mending fences, cleaning, picking up resources for park (sawdust or sugar cane peelings). Because these days were more intensive you worked 8 am - noon and 2.30 pm - 4 pm.

Pygmy Marmoset enjoying some Baby Food (mix made by volunteers)

In the end, five weeks turned out not to be long enough, I could have happily stayed longer in that amazing place. I really enjoyed the peace out there and although to some people it may seem that you have a lot of time off, for me the free time allowed me to catch up on a lot of reading but also to think freely. This may sound odd but back at home I was always been told to think of a job, constantly being asked what am I going to do with my future but there I could think about when I wanted to. It meant that I had longer to process ideas and actually came away having a better idea of where I want my life to go, although it isn't exactly a laid out plan – anything seems better than nothing. I was also able to pin point what I had got so anxious about when leaving home, it was the travelling alone I had the most worries about. But a good thing about volunteering aboard is that you meet other people who are also wanting to travel and who sometimes have a better grasp on the language than you. In the end I made some great friends there as well as being able to see more of the country than I had originally thought I would be able to.

Ocelot

Tamarian

I would recommend volunteering aboard to anyone! It allows you to see a new part of the world, benefit that area, whether it be the wildlife or local community, meet new people and learn new skills and even things about yourself.

To those people who like me, struggle with anxiety before travelling try and learn some calming techniques, like mindfulness. This will really help during moments where you are feeling overwhelmed. Also go to your doctor for help and talk things through with them, they may be able to offer help either through the form of medication or by reccomending sites or groups that help you cope with the effects of anxiety. I know how tough it can be, but please know that nothing is impossible and although its difficult, believe in yourself!!

Click here for the Yana Cocha facebook page.

Click here for the Frontier website where you can find this and other projects.

Two Macaws 

Thanks for reading =)