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Ecuador

The Timmy Foundation

University of Colorado

March 24th-April 1st, 2007

ITINERARY

Saturday, March 24

Delta Airlines Flight # 414 Denver to Atlanta 6:30 am - 11:19 am

Delta Airlines Flight #195 Atlanta to Quito 4:32 pm - 9:00 pm

Upon arrival, we will be met by Tierra Nueva staff and taken to the Spirituality House, a 30-minute drive from Mariscal Sucre International Airport.

Centro de Espiritualidad (literally, Spirituality Center, but we just call it the Centro) will host our group for the week.

Contact info: Avenida Rumichaca No. 100 y Av Moro (junto al estadio del Aucas) Telephone: 011 593 2 284 0059

Sunday, March 25

Welcome church service at Tierra Nueva and afternoon trip to Mitad del Mundo or Otavalo

After breakfast at the Centro, all are welcome to attend a mass said by Padre Carollo, founder of Tierra Nueva. After church we will have time for an open forum/Q&A session with local community members. This is a great opportunity to share and learn from our host culture.

Two possibilities for the afternoon:

After a quick lunch back at the Centro, we will drive approximately one hour to the monument marking the equator called 'Mitad del Mundo', or middle of the world. Here, you can snap a photo as you straddle the equator, visit a small ethnographic museum, and shop in the local tourist market. Dinner will be served back at the Centro.
After a quick lunch back at the Centro, we will spend the afternoon at the famous Otavalo market located approximately 3 hours north of Quito. As we drive, enjoy the spectacular scenery offered by this magical land of lakes, mountains, and terraced farmlands. Once in Otavalo, you will find a vast array of Ecuadorian handicraft items to purchase as the perfect souvenirs to commemorate your trip to Ecuador. The Otavalo market dates back to pre-Inca times and is famous for its textiles, ponchos, tapestries, sweaters, vests, hats, etc. It will be a bit warmer in Otavalo than in Quito.

Monday-Friday, March 26-30

Clinic Work in Quito Sur, organized by the Tierra Nueva Foundation www.fundaciontierranueva.org

• Following breakfast at 7am each morning, we will split up into our various teams and then drive to different work sites in South Quito. Tierra Nueva has a ‘clinica movil’ and our clinics will serve as an extension of this outreach to medically-underserved communities of South Quito.
• Be prepared to head out by 7:30am. Lunches will be served at the various work sites (a la brown bag), while dinner will be served back at the Centro.
• Translators will accompany each team. Further details of specific daily volunteer work to come as our departure date nears.
• The 'work' hours of the various teams will differ, but we will strive to offer several free hours each evening for resting, exploring the cultural riches of the colonial city, playing soccer with the neighborhood kids after school, etc. All teams will plan to return to the Centro by 5pm.
• During your week in Quito, we will have activities prepared by Tierra Nueva and Quito Eterno, which may include a visit to the Equator, an exchange with some local citizens, a trip to the Emmanuel Hospital site, a tour of historic, downtown Quito, dinner at an Ecuadorian restaurant, an Andean folk dance show, and Latin dance lessons. These are provided at no additional cost.

Depart Saturday March 31st

Departure for Denver

Delta Flight #195 Quito to Atlanta 9:55 pm - 7:00 am

Delta Flight #1424 Atlanta to Denver 8:38 am - 9:59 am (4/01/07)

WHAT TO EXPECT

The first requirements for any volunteer experience are a positive and flexible attitude, a sense of adventure, and a sense of humor. If you are on your first trip to a developing nation you must keep in mind that things do not always work as we are accustomed to, nor as we expect them to. Should inconveniences occur, understanding is always greatly appreciated. The Tierra Nueva and Timmy Foundation volunteers will do everything within their capability to remedy the situation as soon as possible.

LUGGAGE

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Foundation asks your cooperation in packing your personal clothing and travel items in one (1) of your checked pieces at 70# plus the carry-on piece at 40#. Your additional 70# bag allotment is needed for mission supplies and donations. Due to security regulations, it is imperative that you pack all of your allotted bags yourself. On the day before our trip we will meet again in order to organize/pack supplies. We will ask that each person bring an empty, large suitcase or duffle on this day.

RECOMMENDED DONATIONS

The Timmy Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity and donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

1. Prescription medicines (our professional will be collecting the prescription meds but any contacts will be appreciated!)

2. Over the Counter meds (pediatric and adult cough and cold meds, aspirin, ibuprofen, stomach meds, etc.) Pediatric chewable vitamins, Adult vitamins,

3. Hygiene supplies (soap, shampoo, combs, tooth brushes, toothpaste, lotion, etc.) and Wound Care (bandaids, gauze, dressings, antibiotic ointment, etc.),

4. School supplies (paper, scissors, glue, paints, coloring books, crayons, pens, pencils, markers, colored pencils, calculators, metric rulers, notebooks, etc.), Children's books,

5. Reading glasses (the drug store kind),

Start collecting now and plan on dropping off your collected donations at the Timmy Foundation warehouse in Indianapolis on Saturday, February 5, 2005.

STAYING HEALTHY

No vaccinations are currently required for entry to Ecuador. However, we strongly suggest that you consult your physician for advice on any recommended vaccines or special precautions whenever traveling outside the United States. It is always recommended to be up to date on your tetanus vaccine as well as to consider Hepatitis A & B vaccines when traveling to foreign lands where you will be in close contact with local citizens. This is especially true when working with a medical team. Travelers can also check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta http://www.cdc.gov/travel/tropsam.htm

ADJUSTING TO THE ALTITUDE

Some people will find that they need 2-3 days to adjust to the higher elevations found in Quito. Our advice to help you acclimate better includes:

Take it easy your first days. Walk slowly and use your free time to relax. Take a nap in the afternoon (it is normal to feel sleepy or tired at this elevation).
Drink as much water and non-alcoholic fluids as possible.
Eat lightly. Higher altitudes slow down your digestion so soups, salads, rice and similar items are recommended in the beginning.
Common symptoms indicating mild altitude illness include: headaches, dizziness, lack of appetite, general malaise and shortness of breath. In and of themselves, these signs are not cause for concern, but they should be noted.

ACCOMMODATIONS

While in Ecuador, we will be staying at the Spirituality House. This retreat facility run by Tierra Nueva can house up to 60 people. It is located in South Quito near the TN Instituto Medico. The sleeping quarters are situated in a group of buildings on the grounds. Each building has 4 bedrooms, each with three twin beds, an armoire and a nightstand. Bedding is provided (sheets, pillow cases and 1 heavy blanket). There are two bathrooms per building, with a shower in each. Bring your own towel. Hot water is unpredictable. On a previous trip, a warm shower was more likely when bathing in the evening rather than in the morning.

Meals are provided at the facility. They are prepared by the caretaker and his daughters. Expect the meals to be hearty. Almost always rice and soup will be served with the main meal. Meals are served in the dining room in the main building, which also contains a conference room and a chapel. We can accommodate most dietary restrictions if we are notified in advance. Please let your trip leaders know ASAP.

The grounds surrounding the Spirituality House are large. You may want to bring a soccer ball and/or volleyball for a game during our stay. Next door is a craft center run by another nonprofit. They have many items by local artist available at reasonable prices.

PHONING HOME

An AT&T calling card number is useful when calling from the Centro. Dial this access code from the Centro’s phone 1-999-119. You can purchase a pre-paid AT&T calling card in the United States and it will work in Ecuador. You will not get as many minutes as you would in the States but it will be the easiest way to call home. For example, a 100 minute phone card in the United States will get you about 9 minutes from Ecuador. Please be prepared to have minimal phone access. You will be able to call home to let your family know you arrived safely but prepare your family that you will not have many opportunities to call home.

WATER

Don’t drink the tap water in Ecuador! Bottled water is readily available and inexpensive. Avoid ice in all of your drinks (unless in a nicer restaurant) and use bottled water for brushing your teeth. Eat only well cooked foods that are served hot to the touch and vegetables or fruits that have been pre-cooked or that you can peel yourself. Also, make certain that your fruit juices are made with boiled or bottled water or that no water is added. At the Centro, the meals will be prepared especially for our ‘delicate’ stomachs and water is available in culligan-type coolers.

MEALS

CLOTHING

Although Quito is located at the Equator, due to the high altitude, days could range from quite warm to quite cool. By dressing in layers, you can be prepared for both. It is recommended that you bring a heavy sweater or light to medium weight jacket for cool evenings. The sun is very, very strong in Ecuador, so protective, lightweight, comfortable clothing is recommended for the daytime. Pants, skirts or scrubs (no shorts) are fine for daily clinic wear for ladies and men, and you nay wear short outside of the clinic though you will see no local adults wearing shorts. It is recommended that you bring a nicer outfit or two for a church service, an evening on the town and/or trip to the folkloric ballet. Bring/wear as little jewelry as possible. At the end of the week, you may donate your clothes to Tierra Nueva, which will wash them and distribute them to those in need. Please do not bring shorts or tank tops to work in.

SOME RECOMMENDED THINGS TO PACK:

MONEY & TIPPING

GENERAL INFORMATION

Reservations and Cancellations

If you must cancel after airline tickets have already been purchased, we will do our best to find a replacement and change the name on the ticket. If a substitute cannot be found you will be responsible for the ticket price.

Travel Documents

A valid passport is required of all persons traveling to Ecuador. Failure to carry proper proof of citizenship will lead to denial of entry to aircraft or a foreign country. Please make sure your passport does not expire within 90 days of your entry to Ecuador. Non-U.S. citizens should contact our office regarding any additional documents that may be required.

Medications

Personal prescription medication should be carried in your purse or carry-on luggage. Never pack in luggage that is to be checked through to your destination.

U.S. Customs Regulations

Each United States resident is eligible for $800.00 duty-free exemption if he has been out of the United States for at least 48 hours. This allowance may include one U.S. quart (32 oz.) of liquor per adult. In addition to the exemption, gifts may be mailed home to a friend or relative limited to $25.00 per day and not to include more than one ounce of perfume. Antiquities and products made from endangered animals such as alligator shoes, items made from whalebone, tortoise shell and some furs, cannot be brought into the United States.

Included in the Trip Price:

Items Not Included in Trip Price:

Health, accident and cancellation insurance (highly recommended) Contact your trip leaders for information on travel insurance
Passport fees
Quito airport departure tax of $25/person
Items of a personal nature
Two lunches

DESTINATION ECUADOR

Full country name: Republic of Ecuador
Area: 283,520 sq km
Population: 12 million
People: 40% mestizo, 40% Indian, 15% Spanish descent, 5% African descent
Language: Quechua, Spanish,
Religion: Over 90% Roman Catholic, small minority of other Christian denominations
Government: republic
Head of State: President Lucio Gutiérrez Borbua

GDP: US$41.7 billion
GDP per capita: US$3,100
Inflation: 8.2%
Major Industries: Oil, bananas, shrimp, fish, coffee, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Major Trading Partners: US, Latin America, EU, Asia, Caribbean

Visas: Citizens of most countries can stay a maximum of 90 days per annum without needing a visa.
Health risks: dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, typhoid, rabies, diphtheria, cholera (There is a minor risk of cholera)
Time Zone: GMT/UTC -5
Dialling Code: 593
Electricity: 120V ,60Hz
Weights & measures: Metric

Money & Costs

Currency: US Dollar

Costs in Ecuador are among the lowest in Latin America. From year to year, prices for travel basics like transportation, meals and lodging may vary up or down by as much as 50%, but they remain cheap by Western standards. On 14 March 2000, President Gustavo Noboa ratified a law making the US dollar legal tender in Ecuador. The dollar replaced the sucre at a rate of US$1 = 25,000 sucres. 'Dollarization' has helped reduce Ecuador's chronic inflation and decreased the national debt but the experiment still has a way to go before it can be declared a success.

Ecuador has a two-tier pricing system in effect, and foreigners pay a lot more for certain services (mainly transportation and top-end hotels) than locals do. It's colloquially known as the 'gringo tax' and is avoidable by staying in budget to mid-range hotels and by taking buses rather than trains or planes. Doing so, travelers on a budget should be able to get by on as little as US$15 per day, including the periodic indulgence. A less frugal approach to visiting Ecuador might set you back US$50 to US$80 per day, allowing more comfort in travel and sleeping arrangements and a more interesting diet. Living like visiting royalty is also an option, and you can play the part for a modest outlay of around US$150 per day.

Banks and casas de cambio (currency exchange houses) are your best bets for changing money, and their rates don't vary too much whether you're changing cash or travelers' checks. Major credit cards are widely accepted in tourist areas and big hotels, though merchants will often add a surcharge of 6% to 8%. Credit cards are also increasingly accepted at Ecuadorian ATMs and for cash advances at banks, though not all branches provide this service. Cheaper hotels, restaurants and stores typically don't accept credit cards.

Tipping is expected by tour guides, porters and other tourist industry workers, though not by taxi drivers. Quality restaurants add 10% tax and a 10% service charge to their bills; cheaper restaurants usually don't. If you want to tip your server, give the money to them directly - don't just leave it on the table. Bargaining is accepted and expected at craft markets. Elsewhere, if you're not sure, try asking for a descuento (discount) - these are often available in touristed places.

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