Work
The summer of 2025 turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. After months of job searching, I finally decided to take a leap of faith and apply for a scientific research internship in Ecuador. I knew nothing about the country or what to expect but I went for it anyways, and that's how I found myself working in the Agricultural Biotechnology Lab at Universidad San Francisco. My main project was on identifying fungi causing a disease in vanilla bean plants. I got to practice all kinds of techniques like fungal isolation & cultivation, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and DNA extraction. By the end, I had given a presentation and helped with the publishing of a paper. I’m forever grateful to Antonio León and Estefanía Zúñiga for accepting me into their lab. Whenever I had extra time, I helped out with other side projects too with bacteria. The workload could get pretty intense and repetitive at times, but I actually appreciated that it kept me busy and learning. At first, I definitely felt a bit lost because it was my first time working in an official lab outside of class. Some techniques were totally new to me, so I made plenty of mistakes. But my manager and lab team were super patient and supportive while I figured things out. Thanks to them, I picked up many skills I had never tried back home before. Looking back, I’d choose an internship like this again in a heartbeat. It really taught me how to adapt, ask questions, and work with people from different backgrounds to solve problems together. More than anything, it made me even more sure about becoming a science diplomat someday. I saw how the work we did could help people across countries and make a real difference.
Experience
My work schedule was usually full-time, Monday to Friday, from 9-5pm. The uni campus I worked at was beautiful with so many natural green plants and trees - it made coming to work easy. Since it was the top private uni in Ecuador, there were always security guards around, so I never felt unsafe. Before going, I was a bit scared for my safety and assumed the country might be less developed. I quickly learned the country is divided and the area I worked and lived in was a wealthier neighbourhood (Cumbaya). So the grocery store near campus was more pricey, but there were great lunch spots nearby under budget still! IAESTE placed me in a house only a 10 min drive away, so Uber rides were also cheap and easy. I will say though, Ecuador overall turned out to be more expensive than I expected since they use USD and I use CAD. Some evenings after work, I’d go out with friends, and other nights I’d just head home and relax. I did love the going-out culture there - good music, good energy, and everyone’s dancing. At night, I would have dinner with my host family and the food was pretty different from what I was used to, but still easy to eat. Staple dishes always had some plantain, potato, or corn. My favorite street snack was “Empanada de Viento” - an airy fried pastry filled with cheese and sprinkled with sugar. On weekends, I went on trips all across Ecuador (the Amazon rainforest, the beach, different cities). One of the things I’ll always remember is the kindness and generosity of the people. My host grandparents treated me like their own grandchild, inviting me to family dinners and trips. I also met so many locals who were proud to share their culture and show me their favorite places. The IAESTE team organized a few activities too - one of my favorites being an extreme sports trip. I rode an ATV for the first time and saw the famous Pailón del Diablo! When I think back to my first week, I remember feeling so overwhelmed and unsure. Now, I laugh about that because by the end, I was in tears saying goodbye to such a beautiful country and its people.
Discover
A few months ago, I had no idea what to do with my summer. I was in my final year before graduating and worried about my future, especially with how uncertain job security feels these days. Never did I imagine I’d end up in Ecuador. But that surprise turned out to completely change how I see the world and myself. This experience truly made me fall in love with solo travel. I used to be scared to go alone, especially as a girl, but now I recommend it to everyone. I didn’t know a word of Spanish when I arrived, but I came home knowing slang and a whole new love for Spanish music. It was eye-opening getting to meet Ecuadorians but also people from all over the world through IAESTE (from Turkey to Switzerland to Poland). My biggest takeaway is to not be afraid. Say yes to everything. It felt scary at first, but I think real growth happened for me because I stepped out of my comfort zone. I learned that I can adapt to unfamiliar environments better than I ever imagined. Coming to Ecuador reminded me that “the world is truly your oyster”. I’ve come home inspired to make the most of life and appreciate whatever it brings. Life doesn’t have to follow a straight path and sometimes, the best experiences are the ones you never planned for.
