People

This morning was full of discussions about our products and intensely analyzing campaigns and marketing with our asesores. What a fruitful and satisfying morning expressing frustrations, concerns and just processing the craziness of the past 3 weeks. One of our fundamental questions was whether solutiones communitarias and the asesores involved should be focused on making money or providing resources to those who don’t have access to them. Some of our campaigns were truly going the last mile and in tiny communities that could only be reached by riding in the back of a pick-up truck for 4 hours while others were in the middle of a medium sized town on market day. These definitely have different feels, attract different customers, and require different marketing strategies. However, at the end of the day we decided that the primary goal of solutiones communitarias is to provide resources but a close second is having the asesores make money and selling a lot of products. That fundamental question is certainly one I will continue to roll around in my head.

It has been empowering to have our feedback be so valued. We have been challenged to turn our criticisms and frustrations into recommendations for improvement. I really believe and trust they are taking these recommendations to heart and it is pretty incredible to feel equipped enough to be able to provide an educated evaluation of this operation.

For lunch I went with a crew to an amazing Columbian restaurant that was recommended by both SEC and my favorite book (thanks to Hannah Carmen), Lonely Planet. When we arrived the owner greeted us by introducing himself, shaking our hands, and showing us to a table. After looking over the menu I ordered a traditional almuerzo, which has become what I crave when I am hungry and it is definitely the best bang for your buck. Columbian’s serve a banana with their soup which was a fun supplement to the first course. At the end of the meal, the owner thanked us for our business and made sure we all enjoyed our food. I was so impressed by how personal he was and the quality of customer service. I cannot help but analyze businesses now after giving multiple presentations on customer service, sale strategies, marketing, and organizational structure. I adored sharing this meal with my dear friend Steph who is originally from Columbia and has spent the majority of her life there. What a girl. She is my go to for information about culture, exotic foods, and just random fun facts in general. Her even temperament, unshakable nature, and fluent Spanish make her a joy to be around and an incredible asset to our team.

After lunch we had an unexpectedly fun afternoon when all the Spanish classes decided to go to the reptile zoo. I saw huge snakes, chicken-eating frogs, a crocodile, and one scary tarantula. For the last hour of class we painted a tree and described ourselves and our experiences here in Spanish. Oh how I miss 1^st grade.

Elizabeth Smith and I made our way to my favorite coffee shop called Café Austria in a torrential downpour. I was lucky enough to skype with my parents for over an hour and then skype with Laura and Scott Edwards, two Carolina friends who are both in Dallas. What a treat it was to see the faces of so many people I care about so much and hear a little bit about what is going on in their lives. But man, it was hard too. I really miss my family and friends. I have come to appreciate the people in my life more and more. There is a comfort in being known by others and there is a pain in the disconnect that time apart causes. My love for these individuals does not change, in fact it certainly grows. Skyping or spending time on facebook and email is honestly hard for me. It takes me away from where I am physically and also emotionally. But I just cannot help but want to know about the happenings in the lives of those I care about. At the end of the day, I am more excited than ever to have time at home with my family and then 9 more months at Carolina. I want to take advantage of every last moment at this school in the unbelievable community of people I have been blessed with. What a year it will be.

The end of the night was filled with exploring the city which was celebrating the end of Corpus Christi with tons of sweets, street food, thousands of people, laterns aloft in the sky, music, and fireworks. Surrounding by Ecuadorians, noises and smells it was sensory overload. The night was topped off by hanging out with some friends and returning home. Another full day in Ecuador!