Día Cuatro en Ecuador

Hola! Another day in the books, and it was nothing short of amazing. We started our day with Dr. M treating us to a traditional Ecuadorian breakfast at Salsa Bolón. After enjoying breakfast outside, we headed to our last survival Spanish class with Señora Giss. We have all loved improving our Spanish skills and getting to know Señora Giss- we're all going to miss her. After that, we went to the veterinarian hospital to learn more about Tueri and their work in promoting conservation and rehabilitation for wildlife animals. The most memorable part of the visit was watching a documentary about D'yaira the jaguar and the treatment she received from the organization. Our next stop was Sime Clinic, where we got a one-on-one tour with an administrator, Jamie, to see a private healthcare practice located near USFQ. Our next adventure was going to Museo De Zoología, where we were educated by one of the researchers, Diego, on wildlife conservation, current research efforts, and about the gray areas balancing human and wildlife interests. After lunch we had a talk with Dr. Guillemot and Dr. M to continue our conversation about critical thinking and ethical principles for healthcare and research. The four main ethical principles are autonomy, justice, beneficence, and non-maleficence. We then had some free time which we spent getting boba tea, walking around the town, and then meeting up with the rest of the group to get dinner and dessert. From tours of local facilities, to understanding the importance of ethical research, to the laughs at the dinner table, today was truly unforgettable.  

 

Love,  

Leah & Jernai