This weekend a group of us visited Baños, a town I had heard was the “adventure capital” of Ecuador even before arriving in the country. Between everyone, we covered a range of activites – biking, hiking, ATV-ing, ziplining, white water rafting…
But what I will remember most is puenting, or bridge jumping. Three of us harnessed up, and with a leap of faith jumped into a 100m (~325 ft) ravine. The experience was exhilerating, and I never thought that jumping off a bridge would so closely parallel the emotions I’ve felt during my study abroad experience thus far.
![](https://www.iesabroad.org/files/blog/images/paladin.quito_.allready.jpg#overlay-context=study-abroad/blogs/kpaladinbatesedu/leap-faith)
Anticipation
As I put my harness on, I excitedly watched others jump off the bridge. I was a little nervous, but I knew I’d deeply regret backing out. At home, I heard stories from all my friends who had studied abroad and eagerly awaited the day that I would land in Ecuador. I suppressed the butterflies in my stomach.
![](https://www.iesabroad.org/files/blog/images/paladin.quito_.thefal.jpg#overlay-context=study-abroad/blogs/kpaladinbatesedu/leap-faith)
The Fall
Others leaped off the bridge and spread their arms like a bird’s wings. My jump was anything but graceful. I flailed my limbs in every attempt to save myself from what I was convinced was my premature death. While less dramatic, my first week in Quito was difficult. Spanish was hard, and I was utterly overwhelmed by the large city, traffic and laid back lifestyle (since when is it normal for a professor to show up to class 30 minutes late?).
![](https://www.iesabroad.org/files/blog/images/paladin.quito_.swinging.jpg#overlay-context=study-abroad/blogs/kpaladinbatesedu/leap-faith)
Swinging
After the initial fall, the jumper swings back and forth in the ravine and is slowly lowered to the land below. Once I got past the initial shock, my life in Quito also slowed significantly. With some free time, I began strolling through La Parque Carolina and stopping on the way home from school for some fresh mango or a cheese empanada.
Hiking Back Up
When I unclipped from the rope, I was sent climbing back up the steep ravine. Now that I’ve gotten past my honeymoon period in Quito, things have gotten harder. I’ve realized that I actually have to work in my classes, encountered some cultural clashes at my home stay, and explored everything I know about in walking distance from my house. I love hiking, even up steep mountains; likewise study abroad is still really fun, I just have to work a little harder to reap all the benefits.
![](https://www.iesabroad.org/files/blog/images/paladin.quito_.volcano.jpg#overlay-context=study-abroad/blogs/kpaladinbatesedu/leap-faith)
While in Baños, we also saw Tungurahua Volcano errupt!
Kate Paladin
<p><span style="color: rgb(29, 29, 29); font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; background-color: rgb(237, 237, 237);">My name is Kate Paladin and I'm an Environmental Studies major, Math minor at Bates College. I am a research assistant studying lake ecosystems, volunteer in an elementary school classroom and perform Bollywood dance. Most people study Spanish and then decide to visit South America, but I did the reverse - after choosing Quito for study abroad, I took my first Spanish class! Although I have just 2 years of Spanish under my belt, I couldn't be more excited to study in Ecuador.</span></p>