In Ecuador, we work primarily in various communities of the Quichinche parish, Otavalo canton, in the Ecuadorian Sierra.  Just outside the market center of Otavalo, this area is only 2 hours by bus from Quito but offers a rural tranquility and connection to the land very different from life in the capital.  The father and mother volcanoes, Imbabura and Cotacachi, stand guard over the valleys and hills where indigenous Otaveleño and mestizo families grow their sustenance.  Diverse in their customs, these villagers are united by their need to work together to accomplish improvements for their communities.  They farm corn, potatoes, beans, and other crops, weave textiles and baskets, and commute to Otavalo for secondary education or formal-sector jobs.  The Otavaleño are one of Ecuador's indigenous groups most successful at preserving their cultural identity and traditions.  Speaking both Quichua and Spanish, they have learned to negotiate the power structures of their nation while retaining a sense of indigenousness.  The people of Quichinche work hard and also love to celebrate.  In general, they are very welcoming to visitors and enjoy sharing food, joking around, and discussing their culture with their guests.  The landscape that surrounds their home, meanwhile, offers high lakes, waterfalls, and volcanic peaks to inspire a sense of nature's grandeur.   The region's 9000-ft. elevation and proximity to the equator combine to give it consistently comfortable temperatures (50's to 80's) all year round.