Going to Quito, Ecuador, is probably going to hold the award for my most memorable spring break.

The small, beautiful country was welcoming to the more than 30 students and three adults from Eudora High School and Baldwin High School who spent March 12-20 there as part of Interact Travel, a student exchange program.

We stayed in Quito, the capital and oldest city in South America, with Ecuadorian families and dined on Ecuadorian food. My host family owned a restaurant, and we lived in rooms off the restaurant. My host family was Manuel Gomez and his wife, Marjorie, and their son, Alejandro, and daughter, Manoly. It’s common for the children to live with their parents until they marry.

Spanish is the most common language in Ecuador. My host family spoke very little English. I have only studied Spanish for three years, so there were many words I didn’t know. The people were very nice and tried to figure out what I was trying to say or describe.

We studied Spanish from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Simon Bolivar School.

Ecuadorians typically get their food from open markets. At the Santa Clara Market, we saw fruits of every shape and color, roses for $1 a dozen, and butchers fast at work with meat.

We didn’t have to exchange money in Ecuador because they used U.S. dollars, although I did bring back some coins with Ecuador faces on them.

Some highlights of the trip included climbing part of Cotopaxi, an active volcano, and stepping on the equator.

We also visited an orphanage and distributed school supplies for the children. The supplies were collected from students in Eudora High School’s International Club.

My favorite experience in Ecuador was learning how to salsa dance. Manuel practiced with us after we learned the basics at a class given through the Simon Bolivar School.

Food in the country was a lot different. Lunch was the biggest meal. We didn’t eat tacos or enchiladas or anything like that. Soup is a staple food in Ecuador, and we ate a lot of bread. I enjoyed eating all the fresh vegetables and fruits that were grown locally.

Eight days is not nearly long enough to see everything in Quito. It was a mere taste of the culture and a sip of its beauty.

Going to another country was eye-opening, and, for me, it really reinforced that I should be grateful for what I have here at home.