After more than half a year of volunteering in Ecuador and living with my host family in Quito, my real family came to visit me.
My host grandparents from Ambato came to Quito to meet my mum and godmother, and we went to the airport together to pick them up.
When my mum suddenly stood in front of me, I couldn’t believe it. It was so surreal to have her standing in front of me, considering they usually live on the other side of the world and have completely different lives.
Although my host family really wanted my mum and godmother to stay with us in the flat, we decided to stay in an Airbnb.
However, my host family took a lot of time and were very interested in my family. They put together a full programme for the first two days and took my family to places like Quito’s centro historico, the Papallacta hot springs and Mitad del Mundo.
On the one hand, it was quite exhausting for me because I had to translate all the time. On the other hand, I felt that it brought my host family and me closer together because they got to know me better.
In addition to my host family, my life in Ecuador also includes my project: el laboratorio de reciclaje. My mother, my godmother and my host family all visited it. It was a great experience because my family could see what I do here in Ecuador and get to know my life better. It was also exciting for the project to have visitors from Germany. All in all, it was a great exchange.
Afterwards I took a lot of time and we travelled around Ecuador together: Galápagos, Baños and the rainforest.
Por supuesto, es una forma diferente de viajar y explorar que con otros voluntarios. Mi madre y mi madrina tenían necesidades e ideas diferentes a las de mis amigos de mi edad y dependían mucho de mí porque entiendo español y puedo evaluar mejor las situaciones. Sin embargo, lo pasamos genial y descubrimos muchísimo.
I was very pleased that my mum and godmother visited me in Ecuador and got involved in so many new things, even though the current political situation can be worrying, especially for foreigners.
Although my mother and godmother have returned to Germany now, fortunately my experience of exchange and voluntary service in this marvellous country has not yet come to an end ??