Our program orientation included a trip to Cochasqui pyramids and interaction with a herd of llamas.

On our way to Tiputini Wayra works with Emily on Kichwa words/phrases

Paddling through the small lagoon of Tiputini

Our students and local counterparts practice their monkey call. The Wooly Monkeys are just meters aways

Members of the A'i (Cofan) community of Dureno work on their story as we prepare for a large mural project in the nearby city of Lago Agrio

Our 6 international students share their story, so that they too are included in the mural project

Local community members, international students, and friends from around the Ecuadorian Amazon and Quito come together to paint.

Standing in front of our final mural, in which we declare that the local indigenous communities "are here" and need to be heard.

Now in Mariscal, we share our stories with each other

Dennis always shows up. His dad, Roibe, working in the background

With Wilson Pico we explore the stories in our bodies.

We put our stories together as we search for the interconnected story

Celebrating our stories over food... always better with food.

Our professor Marleen Haboud and her host family have students over to harvest and eat a jackfruit

Martha Peñafiel, the communities incredible matriarch, shows us how to make the community's famous corn patties

Sarah joins her host dad, Don Angel Rivera, in making music together

Oh Dennis, always around. This time with Maya L (we had two Mayas)

On occassion we get some special visitors.

Maya Kassutto visits the animal rescue center, Zanja Arajuno, nearby the Mariscal

Susana and Maya L with Hidalgo, Lupe and Jordan

For our final weekend, children worked with us to paint the mural in the background and then some games

We celebrated with our friends from Mundo Circo and the whole community came out

Students, local counterparts join professor Will Waters for a final photo

To get to Tzawata you have to cross the Ansu River

In a game of determining height without sight, Emily feels it out

We use theatre to better understand Tzawata's identity and struggle for their ancestral lands

To get in touch with Tzawata's struggle, we must first understand our own. Kimberly shares her's with us.

Wilson Pico working with students on exploring their conflicts

Our classrooms are sometimes a covered space, and they are sometimes the river

International students and local community members create an incredible story on the bank of the River Ansu

Our instructor, Wilson Pico, says that this particular exploration/dance was better than a professional performance he saw shortly before. It was truly remarkable

Our Mariscal and Tzawata participants take a break from their course work to travel to the Highlands and learn about other communities and their stories

It's not everyday that you get to kayak in a gorgeous volcanic lake

Enjoying our free time in the community of Salinas de Bolivar

Our time in Tzawata is very special and we create intimate bonds with friends

Wayra and Emily find a new friend, take a picture and then send him back on his way

There was a small obsession with chocolate-covered bananas. Here Giselle and Shen partake

Fanny and Sarah win the famous traditional game

Emily didn't come close to winning, but she was a great sport

Locals versus internationals... winning-losing, not really important