My big goal as a KF with my MFI was to help them check off a long list of requirements to become an active Kiva partner, raising their fundraising limit per month. I am happy to report that right at the end of my fellowship, we were approved for active! I sent out a message to every lender to my MFI discussing my experience and telling them the news. It also includes a video interview with D-MIRO’s Kiva Coordinator.
Click here to read it!
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Well my loyal readers, this is the end of an era. Ok maybe three months doesn’t count as an era but this is the closing of a very big part of my life. I have successfully completed my 12 weeks here in Ecuador and will be returning to LA tomorrow morning (I canceled my post-fellowship travel plans because it was looking like I would be traveling solo for 5 of the 6 weeks and I have been lucky enough to travel a bunch over the past 3 months).
All in all, I would definitely say I am so glad I did this and have no regrets, although it was harder than I thought it would be. In some cities, there are as many as 4 Kiva Fellows but I have been the only one here in all of Ecuador for all but my first week (when I went to Baños with Josh). I have done my best to find people to travel with on the weekends (thanks to Joey and my parents for visiting) but it has been hard being here practically all alone. Of course it makes the experience much more authentic, for which I am grateful, but also just makes it difficult at times. Thank God for wi-fi, Skype, and a selection of American TV for keeping me sane!
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Feliz Semana Santa a todos! I just got back from a week-long vacation with my parents. We went to the Galapagos Islands Sunday – Wednesday and then Quito from Wednesday – Easter Sunday. The Galapagos were AMAZING. For anyone who hasn’t been, add it to your bucket list!
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This past weekend I flew to Lima to meet up with 2 other Kiva Fellows, David and Karl. Karl lives is living in Lima right now and Davi is in Ica, about 4 hours south of Lima. I was very impressed with the city…great weather (about 80 and sunny), very clean, especially for a South American city, great night life, and overall a really pretty city. Lima is right up along the Pacific Ocean and while the nice beaches are a few hours away, it certainly isn’t too shabby having the option!
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Greetings everyone! Hope you all have been well. I am recovering from a weekend at a beach town called Montañita and finishing up my 6th week of work. As of this coming Friday, I will be halfway done with my fellowship.
Montañita is about 2.5 hours from Guayaquil by car and is an awesome beach town. It is basically Pacific Beach meets Venice Beach, South American style. What does that mean? Well, there are lots of lots of hippies and dreadlocks in a town with plenty of bars and restaurants that always seem to smell like marijuana. But what makes it South American style is that the rum and cokes are $2, the clubs are open till 6 am, and you can drink on the beach! Pretty much a recipe for an awesome time (no, Mom I did not smoke any of the aforementioned marijuana).
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Hello friends and family!
I hope everything is going well for you all. I am now in my 5th week here in Ecuador and just got back from a long weekend in Ecuador’s capital city, Quito, with Joey. It was a really amazing city…probably one of my favorites that I have ever visited. Here is a recap and some pictures from the weekend!
Leigh´s South American Adventures 