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Sunday, 2:30pm
HI All.... I hope you all made out well through the storm. I am lucky to have power, but no internet/cable so I have walked to a neighbor to send this out. If you need to get hold of me, CALL me or Text. Today I got a call from Jorge who will be our guide in Ecuador. **He wanted me to communicate the following:** 1. He suggested a towel. I said I heard that you could get towels at the hot springs, but he didn't seem reassuring about this. So you may want to bring a small light one. Do not bring a big plush one as it won't dry. Thin and inexpensive will likely be the best bet. 2. He said we can rent snorkel equipment, but you can bring yours if you want for the Galapagos. 3. It is rainy season. Be prepared. Have a rain coat and pants or a poncho. A reminder that you may want a poncho or large trash bag to cover your backpack 4. As Jen had written, and Jorge emphasized... bring an overnight bag for our trip into the Amazon. I am bringing a crushable/fold up duffel that I have placed in my bag. I have my first 4 days of clothes placed in a trash bag, so that when we arrive in Quito and have to pack for the next morning, I will simply unfold my duffel, pick up my trashbag of clothes, plop them into my duffel. Plus, in case my overnight bag gets wet in the canoe, my clothes will stay dry inside the trash bag. My clothes for our return to Quito and for the Galapagos will remain in my large suitcase to be placed under the bus. Be as prepared as possible as we will not arrive into Quito Wed. night until 11:30pm and will be leaving early the next morning for the Amazon. 5. Packing for Amazon: Jen hit many of these points which you can find on the EF page and Packing Tips pages. But Jorge stressed to have your swim suit; a flashlight or headlamp with plenty of batteries as lights go out at 10pm; and rain gear stressing that we will be in Ecuador during the rainy season. He stressed the Amazon will be hot and humid. 6.Leaving the Amazon....After our hot spring visit, we will likely need a sweater/sweatshirt as we head back to Otavalo for the evening. The elevation is around 9000' so it may be a bit cool feeling. 7. In Galapagos, he stresses hot and need for shorts and walking shoes. Also some kind of waterproof footwear. 8. Hopkinton does not have school tomorrow. Admin offices are open, but I will likely be home as I have live wires across my driveway; therefore no way to plow or get my car out. So if you need to get hold of me, CALL my cell. I'll do some stuff using my iPad and will do some email checking when 3G service is working okay.

I hope you are all really excited and that the extra time indoors has allowed you more time to prepare. Don't know when I can post again... wiki posting is tricky from the ipad for some reason. I may have to resort to emails.... just check all locations. Hope you are well.... See you at 5:50 Wed. morning. If you have limo services... confirm that they are still running as many gas stations are out of gas.

Thur. 2/7 early morning:
1**__. Important Packing tips!__** Go to the //Packing & Travel Tips// page. Jen from EF has put together a VERY detailed list of what you will need in Ecuador, especially in the Amazon. Pay particular attention as to bringing an overnight bag for our two days in the Amazon. Large suitcases will not fit in the canoes, so you will need to bring an overnight bag to pack for the Amazon leg of the trip.

Some of her gear tips would likely be too late to get, especially since deliveries will be delayed with the weather, but there is lots to assist you in her letter. I will also paste the letter onto the //EF Notices// page so that you can read it there as well.

2. Latest weather report from late Wed. night is a significant storm, which again may result in power outages. Get your equipment charged, last minute clothes washed/ironed, etc. !! Also... if you need an ATM, do it now. If we lose power, so too will banks and ATM machines. If the snow gets heavy and wet, we could be without power for a bit. Again, not alarmist, but let's not underestimate things either and then be stuck. Just be good adventurists and be prepared for the unexpected!!

3. Endicott folks.... be sure to check pre-tour responsibilities and send in your documents via email. Please make sure your last name is part of each document title. Ex. DeMello pre-tour KWLs Thanks!!

4. Folks are doing a great job on their blogs!!! Please check out some of the blogs of your fellow travelers if you have not already. Some wonderful info and pictures! I'm hearing so many good stories already about how you are all engaging students and staff and how they are all responding. Thank you for sharing this experience with so many people!!

2/6 11:15am
Hotel change and clarification. Please download the latest version dated 2/6/13 for the updated hotels in Quito. Go to the //Flight and Hotel//​ page of the wiki. Katie has said this info is the final confirmed info.

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1. __Weather Alert__: So, this is not an alarmist message, but rather a practical one. You should have heard by now that Friday into Saturday we could get 8 inches of snow, or a repeat of the Blizzard of '78. If the latter is to occur, power outages and flights would all impact us greatly. Please continue to monitor weather closely but plan for the worst. For us, this means, know that you if you have a lot of unfinished packing, you could be packing in the dark, have no iron, cannot charge you devices and batteries in prep for the trip, etc. My advice would be to do much of that tonight and tomorrow. Additionally, fill your car gas tanks. If we lose power for several days, gas station pumps will be down and when the airport is open, we want to make sure you can get there. That would be a pretty bad scenario, but I think if you asked the Hurricane Sandy folks if they wish they had prepared better you would get a resounding YES! Keep cell phones charged too. Just in case, text me your home phone numbers please. I'm hoping some of you have kept a direct plug in phone, rather than just hands free so that we can maybe communicate if cell phones die. =====

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2. Don't get sick!! I have increased my vitamin C intake and will likely do Airborne for the next few days. I can't give medical advice, but I'm telling you what I am doing to stay healthy. Get the rest you need. Use alcohol based hand sanitizer to keep those germ away! =====

3. IMPORTANT: If you are one of the people who can bring an extra suitcase, text me ASAP please. We need to be sure we can get all of our donations down with us. Thanks!!

4. Remember.... check wiki frequently and get those kids psyched about your adventure. In the end, it's all about them! Keep them engaged!

Tue. Feb 5, 2013
1. If you plan on bringing your phone, and you have not done so already, please contact your cell phone carrier for information. On the Travel Tips page I will post a summary of a sample AT&T international plan. Most carriers have some type of global plan. Be sure to ask about turning roaming off and decide if you want to be able to receive data over the cellular networks, or just via wi-fi. 2. Hopkinton folks, thanks for sending me your blog blurb. I hope to get a link up on our website today of my blog so folks can follow our trip from our website. "My blog" will actually be featuring You and your travel experiences. I'm just providing a single location for this to happen.

Sunday, Feb. 3, 10:30am
Good Morning All! I have been checking the weather around Ecuador locations to help firm up my packing decisions. Quito is showing highs of 68º, Otavalo highs of 72º and Tena is coming in at 75º and each shows drops into the 50º's or lower each day. So plan accordingly by again, planning to dress in layers, using light shirts or a light sweatshirt to maybe where over short sleeved shirts. Galapagos on the other hand is coming in consistently in the 85º range. Give a call/text if you have questions.

Saturday Feb. 2, 7:25am
In taking another look at blogs, I noticed some don't have much student activity in terms of comments. Please encourage or generate incentives that will help student to engage in your blog with comments. Pose questions, work it in an part of an assignment, etc.

Friday, Feb. 1, 9:45am
//__ Hopkinton Educators only!! __// Important email sent to you today regarding blogging. It is time sensitive and due MONDAY, so please check ASAP. Thanks... ~mad

Friday, Feb. 1, 9:00am
1. Updates on specifics of footwear from Jen. See //Packing and Travel Tips// page. 2. Updates on Donations on the //School Donations Information// page

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5. Don't under-estimate how excited your students will be to follow your experiences. You heard Tuesday night how Sarah inspired a student 3 years later to do community service in Guatemala! You have a strong influence with students.... use this wisely and respectfully to inspire them to learn more about other places and cultures! As your perspective evolves, take them along with you! =====

Mon. Jan 28th
1. Posted more info on School Supplies from Jen Watt on the School Donations Info page. 2. Tomorrow, I will be handing out colored copies of the following, so no need for you to print out: 3. Have basic medical info with you as you will be completing an Emergency Card. ~See you at 4:30 at the Middle School
 * Roommate list
 * Flight & Itinerary
 * Updated Tour Itinerary

1/26 1:50
A //Book Page// has been added with Book and Pamphlet Resources. These are placed here simply to de-clutter the //Resource Page// because the photos take up a lot of space.

1/26 1:30pm
Have added an //Itinerary Page// which contains the latest info from EF and a new printable Itinerary document. There is a lot more clarity that will help those of you creating Google Map Trips.

1/26 1:00pm
Two more pages have been added.
 * One page provides general School Donations Information based on the latest info from Jen Watt at EF.
 * The second page provides a place for you all to share what you are bringing or ideas for how you are engaging your students to create things to bring as gifts.

1/26 12:53

 * Information has been added to the Packing List page including the latest info from EF and a Final Packing Checklist you can download.
 * Note that your EF baggage tags will be given out Tuesday night.

1/26 12:30pm
Flight & Hotel page has been added. Many details. Read carefully and we will review Tuesday night.

Sat. Jan. 26th. 10:00am
I am working diligently this morning on posts. Please check back here soon as there will be a lot of info going up on the itinerary details, more packing tips (some possible footwear adjustments to my packing), flight and hotel info, and background resources. All posts today will be in this blue, but will be time stamped throughout the day so read carefully. Stay tuned!

**1.21.13 8pm** Heard from Jen Watt of EF. I should have a suggestion list of items for the school in the Amazon by the end of the week. ~mad

Jan. 21st, 10:00am
Please check out the Burning Questions page for some updates. Also, I have added a Roommates Page. Go here to download and print yourself a copy of our participant list with photos so you can learn each others' names.

Jan 14 8:00am:
==== Andrea had noted the following on the resource page: "I had forgotten about the African slave trade in South America. I was quite surprised to see faces that were not typical indigenous ones from Ecuador. I saw faces that could be African American, and I wondered about this, so I googled it. It was a reminder to me that African slaves were a commodity for the entire world - not just the good old USA" ==== ==== I think Andrea makes a great point and I hope that those of you who traveled to Ghana already made a connection and remembered the slave trade "distribution" from our visit to the Cape Coast. I recall on my visit there that I was surprised to learn that the US was not the # 1 recipient of slaves. I don't remember learning that in school when studying the slave trade, and as an adult, it had surprised and sickened me. ~mad ====

1. Check out the 3rd and Final Discussion Page for //The Queen of Water// book. Initial and secondary posts due Monday Jan. 21st.
=== 2. I just want to say how great it is that so much sharing and support is occurring on the //Burning Questions// and //Resources// pages. Thanks for helping one another!! Just don't spend all your money before you leave :) ~mad ===

January 1, 2012: I have added an //Assignment Samples// page. You can go here to check out some sample completed KWL charts and Pre-tour Presentations.
===Dec. 31, 2012 5:45pm: Due to all the discussion and suggestions on the //Resources// page and //Burning Questions// page, I have pulled off info on those pages related to health and placed this info on it's own page called //Health and Medicines//. Go there for the discussion and my follow-up responses if related to this topic. ===

===Dec. 31, 2012 5:15pm: A new //Packing and Travel Tips// page has been added. It is quite extensive, so read through it carefully. If this is your first time traveling on our study tours, you will see that I have tried to break it into sections, so I would scan it first to see the various categories. This "Tips" document has been adjusted for this particular tour, so even experienced travelers will want to review this information. === ENDICOTT STUDENTS: An //Endicott College Update// page has also been added. FINALLY.... Don't forget to check the //Burning Questions// pages for updates.

Dec. 27, 2012: __ Note the following information: __
1. I have added the second part of our Book Discussion as a separate page so that the discussion responses can be more easily read. 2. I have added the PowerPoint that Alex Luther gave at our last meeting to the EF Notices page. Click to download it. 3. I have added some notes from the Galapagos movie (which you partially viewed at our last meeting) to our Resources page. ~mad

===//__Dec. 10, 2012 2:30pm - Important Medical Information: __ Please note that the Travel Clinic at South Shore Hospital is scheduling for April, so if you are not in already, you will not get in there. There are also clinics at Mass General and at New England Medical Center in Boston. There is also a Travel Medicine Program on the ground floor of Framingham Union Hospital. There is one //// at Jordan Hospital in Plymouth too, but they do not take insurance !!!! //===

=// Welcome to the Ecuador & Galapagos Wiki //=

== I will use this home page to post notices of any changes to our wiki. If I add information to a page or add a whole new page, I will notify you here. Please check the home page on a regular basis. I will always post the most recent items at the TOP of this home page. ==

== Page links are off to the right. Simply click on the page you want to visit. Please know that you will not be given edit rights to all sections of this wiki, only to certain pages. Simply read the directions at the top of each page to know if you have editing rights. ==

== Be sure to use the //Burning Questions// page to post your questions. I will check this frequently and will post responses. You will likely find the questions of fellow study tour participants helpful to you as well. ==