Day 12 of our trip started with me being very anxious about our presentation after breakfast, since we didn’t finish it the day before. We spent the rest of the day chilling until our presentation group got together. We were able to finish up the final details and start practicing for the presentation. Our presentation was about Ecuaroscanada and their ability to capture a wider market. When the presentation finally came at 5, I was nervous, and we learned we would be going second. In the first few seconds of my presentation, I was stumbling, but like everyone else, I could get into the groove. After every group had finished their presentations, we watched all the travel to Ecuador commercials, with Christian and I winning two votes that we were quite proud of. We initially thought that we would get no votes at all. After that, we spent some time together as a group, talking with each other until the very deep of the night. It was crazy to think that this would be our last full day at the lodge, and more specifically, of Plus3. It seemed like forever ago when my Mom dropped me off at the Towers to start this journey, and now it would be coming to an end.

Day 13 of our trip was very clear: travel to the airport while taking as much time as possible. This meant we were able to stop at the cloudforest, a hummingbird sanctuary, a gas station stop, and a forest made up of endangered trees. The cloud forest was a majestic site, deep in the rolling forests of Ecuador. The trail was lush with a ton of flora. We were able to see the clouds right there on those hills, which is why I guess they gave it the name of cloud forest. Next up was the hummingbird sanctuary, which is also where we had lunch. After we finished our lunches, we went to the main pavilion, where was saw a ton of hummingbirds around. I had never seen so many in one spot, and they kept on buzzing around. Some of us even got the opportunity to handle the nectar bottles so that the hummingbirds would land on their hands! The gas station was one where we had been before, but it was nice to restock on some snacks for the trip ahead. We eventually went to an empanada place where it was a dollar for a very good chicken empanada, quite a deal, I must say. Finally, the endangered forest that led us to the polylepis trees, which are unfortunately endangered. The place also had a restaurant, some small lakes, and an alpaca roaming about, so that was cool, although it was pretty cold outside. It also led to the opportunity for me to eat some of the snacks I had gotten at the gas station.

All of this led to us arriving at the Quito airport, where we are currently waiting to board our flight back to the United States. This trip has truly been a blessing, an amazing, unique experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. For my fellow students, Mr. Glenn and Moslen, and all the people a part of this trip that made it what it is, it has been an honor. Rohan