Moira Sweeder (ECU 2020)
Gently thrumming wings
Sipping nectar from above
Zipping through the air
This is about the humming birds. When they fly by your head the noise is especially noticeable and surprising.
Old giants walk slow
Keratin walls enclose them
Wrinkles crease their skin
One of the most amazing creatures we saw on our first day in the Galápagos was the land tortoise. These creates are very large in size and being able to walk next to them in a reserve was something I will never forget.
Gently thrumming wings
Sipping nectar from above
Zipping through the air
This is about the humming birds. When they fly by your head the noise is especially noticeable and surprising.
Old giants walk slow
Keratin walls enclose them
Wrinkles crease their skin
One of the most amazing creatures we saw on our first day in the Galápagos was the land tortoise. These creates are very large in size and being able to walk next to them in a reserve was something I will never forget.
Cassandra Shank (ECU 2020)
Climbing to new heights
Beautiful scenes around me
Cajas has my heart
El Cajas National Park was one of the destinations that we hiked around. The area that we hiked around was truly beautiful, and our tour guides were able to provide us with copious amounts of information about the native plants of the area and how they are used by the native people in that area.
The sun shining bright
Paddling through the water
Snorkeling in sight
This is a haiku about when we went kayaking to an open area where we would then snorkel.
Lauren Teach (ECU 2020)
Fourteen thousand feet,
Staring at the vast Andes,
More shortness of breath.
This poem is about the vast Andes mountains and makes you question whether the shortness of breath is from the beauty or not being able to breathe from the effects of high altitude.
Fourteen thousand feet,
Staring at the vast Andes,
More shortness of breath.
This poem is about the vast Andes mountains and makes you question whether the shortness of breath is from the beauty or not being able to breathe from the effects of high altitude.
Valentina Fiero (ECU 2020)
Hiking in nature,
Diego I follow far,
He brings boxed lunches.
This is an appreciation poem for Diego because he’s been such a great tour guide and I don’t think we could get anyone more genuine and awesome than him.
A cross-country trek,
Down the Andes, spiraling,
Jesus take the wheel.
(Tongue in cheek). The beautiful and awe-inspiring scenery that is the Andes mountains is something I surely will not forget. Although with that being said, I may have feared for my life on a number of occasions, most specifically descending the mountainside at Saraguro. Unforgettable and breathtaking !
Hiking in nature,
Diego I follow far,
He brings boxed lunches.
This is an appreciation poem for Diego because he’s been such a great tour guide and I don’t think we could get anyone more genuine and awesome than him.
A cross-country trek,
Down the Andes, spiraling,
Jesus take the wheel.
(Tongue in cheek). The beautiful and awe-inspiring scenery that is the Andes mountains is something I surely will not forget. Although with that being said, I may have feared for my life on a number of occasions, most specifically descending the mountainside at Saraguro. Unforgettable and breathtaking !
Julianne Tucker (ECU 2020)
Surrounded by green,
Beautiful Mother Nature,
How I love you so.
I wrote this about the beauty of the Amazon, Andes and nature. I find it so incredible that places like these exist and I am so grateful to have been able to have this experience.
Coming to an end,
You have my heart Ecuador,
I will miss you so.
As much as I can’t wait to return home to my family and friends, there’s still a part of me that doesn’t ever want to leave Ecuador. This has been one of the best experiences in my life and I am so happy that I had this opportunity. I’ve made so many friendships and memories and I will cherish them forever. I thought I was going to love the Galápagos Islands the most but with every new place, I love those even more. I have loved every part of Ecuador, from the people, the food, and the scenery. I will greatly miss it.
Surrounded by green,
Beautiful Mother Nature,
How I love you so.
I wrote this about the beauty of the Amazon, Andes and nature. I find it so incredible that places like these exist and I am so grateful to have been able to have this experience.
Coming to an end,
You have my heart Ecuador,
I will miss you so.
As much as I can’t wait to return home to my family and friends, there’s still a part of me that doesn’t ever want to leave Ecuador. This has been one of the best experiences in my life and I am so happy that I had this opportunity. I’ve made so many friendships and memories and I will cherish them forever. I thought I was going to love the Galápagos Islands the most but with every new place, I love those even more. I have loved every part of Ecuador, from the people, the food, and the scenery. I will greatly miss it.
Gregory Fischer (ECU 2020 TA)
Flightless birds swimming
Begging for succulent fish
Turn away upset
It was an amazing experience to see Galápagos penguins at such a short distance. However, this is representative of a large issue in the Galápagos and around the world. They swam up to our kayak from several hundred feet away because they expect tourists to feed them. Any time animals learn to associate human contact with food, bad things happen. It increases injuries (on both sides), and in certain cases can require the euthanasia of an animal that could be a threat to human safety (such as bears in the Yellowstone area). Respect your local wildlife and keep wildlife wild!
Flightless birds swimming
Begging for succulent fish
Turn away upset
It was an amazing experience to see Galápagos penguins at such a short distance. However, this is representative of a large issue in the Galápagos and around the world. They swam up to our kayak from several hundred feet away because they expect tourists to feed them. Any time animals learn to associate human contact with food, bad things happen. It increases injuries (on both sides), and in certain cases can require the euthanasia of an animal that could be a threat to human safety (such as bears in the Yellowstone area). Respect your local wildlife and keep wildlife wild!
Victoria Sanders (ECU 2018/2020)
Francisco at work
His small children laugh and play
Both workshop and home
Fibers of sheep’s wool
Water, fire, steam, among us:
Special handmade hats
These two haikus came to mind when we watched the demonstration of hat-making at an indigenous home in Saragora. His children were in the room which connects to his workshop and they waved and giggled as they watched us admire their father’s work. Placing a Captain America action figure among their many toy cars on the window sill, they smiled contagiously. It was so beautiful to see his home, not to mention the intricacy of his work; how patient, meticulous, and proud he must be to continue this cultural tradition.
High elevation
Hi, elevation! You suck!
We just want to breathe
Inspired by our first experience with dramatic altitude increase, where the air pressure increases and air density thins. We explored Cajas and found ourselves panting after just a few stairs and steps. It was astounding to experience just how different life must be for the wildlife and peoples who live here. Our peers’
presentation helped provide more insight and we all, ultimately, ended up with a much greater understanding of the physiological impacts of high altitude.
Wood Wide Web! Who knew?
Trees and fungi trading off
Helping each other
I was blown away by the RadioLab podcast we listened to on the bus ride from Zamora to Saragora. It detailed how fungi connect trees underground, allowing them (trees) to share nutrients, warn of pests, and essentially communicate in a way we only previously theorized. The relationship between the fungi and trees (exchanging tree carbon for fungi minerals, which they derive from rocks/pebbles underground) was practically unbelievable. Who is the intelligent life on this planet?
Francisco at work
His small children laugh and play
Both workshop and home
Fibers of sheep’s wool
Water, fire, steam, among us:
Special handmade hats
These two haikus came to mind when we watched the demonstration of hat-making at an indigenous home in Saragora. His children were in the room which connects to his workshop and they waved and giggled as they watched us admire their father’s work. Placing a Captain America action figure among their many toy cars on the window sill, they smiled contagiously. It was so beautiful to see his home, not to mention the intricacy of his work; how patient, meticulous, and proud he must be to continue this cultural tradition.
High elevation
Hi, elevation! You suck!
We just want to breathe
Inspired by our first experience with dramatic altitude increase, where the air pressure increases and air density thins. We explored Cajas and found ourselves panting after just a few stairs and steps. It was astounding to experience just how different life must be for the wildlife and peoples who live here. Our peers’
presentation helped provide more insight and we all, ultimately, ended up with a much greater understanding of the physiological impacts of high altitude.
Wood Wide Web! Who knew?
Trees and fungi trading off
Helping each other
I was blown away by the RadioLab podcast we listened to on the bus ride from Zamora to Saragora. It detailed how fungi connect trees underground, allowing them (trees) to share nutrients, warn of pests, and essentially communicate in a way we only previously theorized. The relationship between the fungi and trees (exchanging tree carbon for fungi minerals, which they derive from rocks/pebbles underground) was practically unbelievable. Who is the intelligent life on this planet?
Madison Roberts (ECU 2020)
Gliding through the air
Monkeys swing from tree to tree
Stealing bananas
It was so amazing to see a Capuchin monkey jump from tree to tree just to eat the bananas right in front of us. He was barely bothered by the fact that we were all there watching him. It was as if he knew we would not hurt him. Nature here in Ecuador and the Galápagos is so unfazed by our presence in front of them
Gliding through the air
Monkeys swing from tree to tree
Stealing bananas
It was so amazing to see a Capuchin monkey jump from tree to tree just to eat the bananas right in front of us. He was barely bothered by the fact that we were all there watching him. It was as if he knew we would not hurt him. Nature here in Ecuador and the Galápagos is so unfazed by our presence in front of them
Evan Yunker (ECU 2020)
Two wonderful weeks
Memories ever lasting
Middle of the earth
This is intended to capture the trip as whole and not one specific moment; Haiku's are more difficult than I thought
Two wonderful weeks
Memories ever lasting
Middle of the earth
This is intended to capture the trip as whole and not one specific moment; Haiku's are more difficult than I thought