Over winter break, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Ecuador for 9 days on a mission to explore the beautiful country as well as to volunteer at a wildlife rescue facility. I went on the trip with very few expectations and came home wishing I had months more to spend in that amazing country and possessing countless memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

The country of Ecuador is small but so full of life and beauty that it's nearly impossible to soak it all in in one trip. In my nine days abroad, I traveled on a small bus between cities, exploring areas of Baños, Puyo, and Quito, just three of the many diverse cities of the country. In my time there, I explored the Amazon rainforest, met some of the most grateful people to grace the planet, and witness things I had previously only ever dreamed of seeing.

I watched Blue Morpho butterflies soar past me and monkeys swing from branches. I climbed mountains and swam in waterfalls. I basked in massive rainstorms and soaked in the sunshine. I jumped on the equator and dove off a bridge. I experienced more in nine days than I have in most of my 20 years of life.

Coming from such a developed country such as the United States, we take so much in our lives for granted—simple things that you would never think twice about other people in the world not having, such as safe water to drink, hot water for showering, or basic medical care. We take our education system for granted, as many natives in Ecuador cannot even afford to keep their children in school for an entire grade school education. We so naturally consume water every day and take long hot showers when many of the people in Ecuador can't safely drink their tap water and don't have indoor plumbing. We flaunt our designer clothes and electronics while many can't even afford to put shoes on their children's feet.

Yet no matter what these people have or do not, they wake up every morning and work so hard with smiles on their faces and are the friendliest and most gracious people I have ever met. They greeted us with eager hellos and tight hugs, the children running alongside our bus as we pulled into their village. As we played games and did crafts with the children, their parents stood by our sides and thanked us profusely for the experience. Such little gestures by us meant the world to them. And besides the time spent with them and the donations we were able to make, there's so much more I wish I could've done.

If I could pack my bags up right now and move to Ecuador knowing that I could possibly make a difference in these people's lives, whether it be providing them with safe drinking water or proper education, I would do so in a heartbeat. The country and people of Ecuador gave back to me so much more than I could've ever asked for.

This one experience is something that I will look back on for the rest of my life and cherish with every ounce of me. I encourage every person to take the opportunity at least once in their lives to travel abroad, perhaps to a developing country or even just somewhere with beautiful scenery and a rich history. Explore the world, meet the diverse array of people that call their country home, and perhaps take the opportunity to give back to them in some way. The world is truly beautiful, and there's so much for us to explore.