About volunteer vacations:

"I knew that it would be an amazing experience, but I didn't expect to be so blown away by the beautiful people and culture of Ecuador. It was truly one of the best experiences of my life. I cannot overstate how much I appreciate the hospitality of the Ecuadorian people and how they shared their gorgeous country with us. It has caused me to rethink parts of my life--I'm now seriously considering going into medicine! Working with such wonderful doctors helping people feel better was life changing. I hope to do much more volunteer work abroad in the future, and I can't thank the Tandana Foundation enough for giving me such an astounding experience."

-- Emily, volunteer from Washington

"It is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do and you will have the chance to use all your skills in a creative way. . .  You will also make friends with some of the nicest, most gracious people you will ever meet and their gratitude will overwhelm you."
-- Judi, volunteer from Montana

"This trip will satisfy everything that traveling should.  The close interaction with community members through service is extremely rewarding and personal, and it is incredible how close I became with the other volunteers.  This program has inspired me both personally and academically to the field of women's health."

-- Molly, volunteer from Washington

"This is a wonderful program.  I have never been on a trip with such wonderful interaction with the community.  The effort you put in to provide health care for these people is a marvelous, much-needed service."

-- Sandra, volunteer from Arizona

"It was a fantastic experience, only too short.  Next time I plan to go for two weeks.  It was so refreshing and invigorating to simply practice medicine, and not to worry about the routine problems of working in the medical field in the US."

-- Julie, volunteer from Montana

 

"You need to go and discover this beautiful experience of giving to the community.  The peace and love that you feel cannot be put into words."
-- Gloria, volunteer from Ohio

"Come, don't hesitate.  Think of how you would like it to be and be assured that it will exceed that by far.  You will go home absolutely overwhelmed by what you saw, who you met, what you've learned, and how your heart has expanded.  You will be inspired to exceed your own expectations of yourself."

-- Jim, volunteer from Montana

"Thank you for the many multiple interactions and opportunities you provided to help us gain more insight into the culture and living conditions of the Otavalan people.  I greatly appreciated the many opportunities to glimpse so many different perspectives--male/female, shaman, student, nurse, wife, etc. . . .  I never felt like a tourist, but as a very humbled guest visiting a friend's family.  Thank you for the invitation--I am so glad I accepted."

-- Julie, volunteer from Minnesota

"This experience will be life-changing--I leave taking much more than I brought to Ecuador (and I'm not referring to the market!).  I wish everyone could experience the simplicity and beauty of a culture still untouched by the chaos we create."

-- Julie, volunteer from Montana

About group projects:
 
"The past three days have been awesome! I got yet another opportunity to join in a minga [community work party] and interact with the people of Otavalo. The people were very happy to have us and were filled with gratitude and appreciation.  After spending most of the morning shoveling, we then got the chance to bond with the children and adults while playing soccer.  We got to know some of the people really well. After the minga was fulfilled, we all walked to someone's house for a big banquet.  It was awesome.  We got served their culture's specialty: fried guinea pig. Yum . . .  It was an all around great experience and I was sad to leave.  From this event I learned that there are many ways to bond and communicate even if you don't speak the same language.  It was easier than I thought it would be to get involved in their cultural traditions like mingas, soccer, and banquets.  I also learned that Ecuadorians are not as intimidating as I once thought them to be.  I am no longer afraid of partaking in their culture and traditions. In fact, I know I enjoy it.  From the minga, I gained strength both physically and mentally and enjoyed every second of it."
-- Bria, student from New Hampshire

"Our service project in Agualongo was the most outstanding segment of our trip so far.  Before this trip, I have traveled frequently with my family.  Despite our efforts to blend in with the cultures we visit, there is always a sense of separateness; we never cease to be tourists.  Our stay in Agualongo was the first time that I felt completely connected to a culture that was not my own.  The language barrier that divided the Traveling School students and the people of Agualongo was intimidating at best.  Not only did we experience our routine trouble understanding Spanish; the people of Agualongo speak Quichua as a first language.  Therefore, whenever we communicated, everyone was using their second language. Impressively, both groups of people were able to overcome these differences as well as the staggering disparities apparent in social classes and appearances.  I believe this was possible because of the mutual understanding that everyone was working toward the common goal of supplying Agualongo with water and learning and enjoying ourselves in the process.  The connection between two groups of people who couldn't communicate verbally was intriguing and inspirational."
 --Jocelyne, student from Montana

"I think the most memorable part for me was the dedication/combined lunch . . . To actually be able to experience that in person, to taste the meat of a guinea pig, laugh with all the people, and stuff my belly until I felt like I should've rolled home is not something that happens every day, nor is it something I could ever forget. I really felt that they included us in the activities and opened their hearts and their homes to all of us.  I felt that I was really a part of the community and that we made a good impression and that we did a huge thing that really achieved improvement in their lives." 
--Erica, student from Washington

"We were total strangers to the Ecuadorian lifestyle, language, and country; and we shared their home for only a brief time. But the day I left Panecillo was the day I experienced humanity. Fernando [a cousin in my host family] asked me, 'Cuando regresa?', meaning 'When will you return?' ? Our eyes met, and I knew he was serious, but sadly, I had no answer for him. Next, when I hugged Nelly [a host sister], we could only look and smile at each other. Because of the English-Spanish language barrier, neither of us had understood half the things we said to each other, but I knew I would miss her more than most of the people that I would meet in my entire life. The last person I said goodbye to was the mother. This was the only time I did not see a smile on her face during the whole stay. Tears streamed down her face as she waved goodbye to us. Her tears drove out mine, and we cried together."
--Catherine, student from Ohio

"Panecillo is a small town near Otavalo and it is where Anna's family lives.  There, we were fortunate enough to teach English to little kids.  It was amazing and by far one of my favorite experiences so far.  I remember walking up this huge hill lined with broken-down houses having no clue what to expect at the top.  When we got there, it was a deserted piece of concrete.  I was confused and wondered where all the kids were while we waited for Anna to come back out of the school.  I got lost in my thoughts and fears until I was suddenly jolted back into reality by the excited screams of "Anita, Anita, Anita!"  Then I watched them one by one as they peeked and pushed around corners and statues, squealing and giggling.  We were so foreign to them, aliens.  I was unsure of what to do, but a beautiful second-grade girl reached for my hand and led me to her classroom, as if reading my thoughts.  Then we just stood there in front of those big, brown, eager eyes, trying to get started while keeping their attention.  I didn't think I'd be nervous, but, once I got up there, I was.  I now have a new appreciation for teachers; it is harder than they make it look!  However, once we got started, it was easy, and the kids loved it.  They just loved to learn, and it was amazing to watch.  Although teaching was fun and great, it is not what has stayed with me; surprisingly, it wasn't recess and playing with them either.  It was that first moment when we saw them and they saw us.  You could see the fear, uncertainty, and timidness in their eyes dissolve right into curiosity.  They went straight into learning mode.  It was like a light clicked on in their tiny brains and said, "I want to learn about you and be your friend!"  I have never had anyone feel that way about me just for being me, even when they don't know me.  It was a very strange and different feeling.  We were wanted and appreciated so much for not even doing anything yet, and that was such an eye-opening experience.  We went there to teach, but in reality we were just as much of students as they were."
--Courtney, student from Montana

A teacher describes her group's experience:

"Anna Taft, a Traveling School teacher from previous semesters in South America, coordinated an incredible group-stay and service project in the rural indigenous village of Agualongo, 30 minutes from Otavalo on a winding mountain road.  The girls are staying in a house with a teacher and another student for a total of eight days.  [One group is staying] in a small two-room house with a mother of three children ages 6, 8 and 13,  [another] in a house with a mother and two daughters ages 9 and 13, [the third] in a very busy household with two mothers and ten children of all ages!  [The fourth group is] staying in a household with one mother and four children and a grandchild. 

The group-stays have been absolutely incredible.  Our houses are all within a fifteen minute walk and we spend every afternoon together for our classes.  We also spend the afternoons teaching English to the local children and adults.  The girls are amazing teachers!  They spend over an hour each day planning and teaching interesting classes to an entire room full of smiling faces saying "good morning teachers" over and over again.  Our girls taught songs and games in English and the local children absolutely adore them all.  English class always ends with a game of soccer and Ultimate Frisbee. 

The houses are typical indigenous Quichua houses, very simple and practical.  There are fire pits in the corner of some kitchens for cooking, raised beds for sleeping, and giant stones with tap water outside for washing clothes, dishes and occasionally people!  The food has been incredible.  Most of the families survive off of the surrounding land full of herbs, maize and cows.  Every morning I wake up to my Mamita making me a pot of fresh chamomile tea over the fire.  We have all been helping with cooking and cleaning which has definitely impressed our Mamitas.  Last night each group cooked spaghetti dinners for their families and the next day the entire village was talking about it.  Very delicious!  We are all learning how to speak the indigenous language of Kichwa and we also get to practice our Spanish - we are all completely immersed in the life and language of the people here.  I have to say that this has been one of the most authentic and inspirational cultural experiences that I have ever had." 
--Genevieve, teacher from Montana

About Experiential Education Scholarships:

"I am so happy and grateful to all of those who made possible my dream.  I had many wonderful experiences, I learned to converse in English, and I also got to know the Hopi culture, in which they have conserved many of their ancestral traditions.  I learned to value my culture...  I know that this experience will serve me in my professional and personal life, because my dream is to become a professional tourism guide.  This experience was a great practical and observation trip and I learned much more than I have in the classroom."
--Cristina from Ecuador, participant in Deer Hill's Canyon Country Program 06

"This trip, this experience, was the most important in my life.  I never thought I would realize this dream.  Thanks to you I've learned about another culture, another country, and I've shared my culture with others.  They, likewise, have learned a lot, and this is something we will never forget."
--Claudia from Ecuador, participant in Deer Hill's Expedicion Ecuador Program 05

"I don't have the words to thank you for what you have done for me, and I just remain with the happiness of having met many new friends and realized my dreams."
--Nancy from Ecuador, participant in Deer Hill's Expedicion Ecuador Program 05

"I will remember the friendship, the places we visited, and the people who took care of us, especially the Hopi community because they told us to come back and I would really love to go back. I love them as if they were my family."

--Cristina from Ecuador, participant in Deer Hill's Canyon Country Program 06

"Everything was wonderful, being together like a family."

--Elsa from Ecuador, participant in Deer Hill's Canyon Country Program 06

"[I especially remember] interacting with them in their homes as they offered us food when they have so little, with such a big heart.  I am grateful to have experienced this trip with my group and [host] family, especially Claudia and Nancy."
--Jennifer from Massachusetts, participant in Deer Hill's Expedicion Ecuador Program 05

"I wrote like a book about the trip and this year I reread it, saying last year I was there and there.... this is something unforgettable that I have experienced and I will never experience it again.  Thank you so much again for everything."
--Claudia from Ecuador, participant in Deer Hill's Expedicion Ecuador Program 05, one year later

"La presente es con la finalidad de agradecer por el apoyo brindado, para mi viaje a los Estados Unidos especialmente al estado de Colorado en la Reservacion de los Hopis, donde he conocido a muchas personas y he tenido experiencias muy buenas y hemos intercambiado conocimientos con los amigos que estuvimos en la expedicion, de la misma manera con los indigenas de la Reservacion Hopi, los mismo que han tenido costumbres de nosotros los indigenas otavalenos.

La experiencia que he pasado es muy hermosa y fantastica, ademas de eso es la primera vez que viaje en avion; por eso y de mas cosas que he hecho durante la expedicion agradezco infinitamente (ninanta yupaychani) a usted que ha colaborado conmigo y mi prima. Para hacer realidad uno de mis suenos."
--Elsa from Ecuador, participant in Deer Hill's Canyon Country Program 06

"Quiero agredecerles con todo mi corazon por la ayuda que nos brindaron, que nos hizo vivir las experiencis vividas alla, por haber hecho posible, mas inolvidables experiencias de la gira.

Estoy tan feliz y agradecida a todos los que hicieron posible mi sueno, tube muchas experiencias muy lindas, aprendi a conversar en ingles, ademas conoci la cultura HOPI, en la cual ellos han conservado sus culturas tradiciones ancestrales y aprendi a valorar mi cultura, ellos eran muy amables y respetosos, fue maravilloso conocer el rio verde y la montana sal, eran inmensos como jamas habia visto en mi vida y lo disfrute mucho.

Se que esta experiencia me servira en verdad en mi vida profesional y humana, porque mi deseo es ser guia turistica profesional, eso para mi fue una practica o gira de observacion y he aprendido mucho mas que en las aulas.

Yo amo mi especialidad y voy a llegar a ser buen profesional y asi sacar adelante a mi familia.
Nuevamente quiero reiterar mis mas sinceros agradecimientos a todos los que hicieron posible mis suenos.
Muchas gracias Queridos amigos y que Dios los bendiga."
--Cristina from Ecuador, participant in Deer Hill's Canyon Country Program 06