End of week one: The leaders' perspective

Well that's the end of week one, and what a week it has been. We have seen so much and done so much in just a week it is hard to believe. The girls have all been fantastic and we are all so very proud of them. They have risen to every challenge thrown their way and have kept smiling when sleep deprived and dirty. They are a team and find many things to laugh at everyday to help get through.

There has been the inevitable sickness and as a result we are very familiar with everyone's bowel movements and the associated code words for the various stages of being ill, which has been hilarious. Those affected have been so strong and determined to get well quickly so as not miss a moment of the adventure. Antibacterial gel and hand wipes are now second nature and will be a habit hard to kick once home. Hand hygiene really is the key to staying well on a trip like this.

We have seen poverty in the rural areas as well as the cities and can see the benefits of the investment that the new president has been encouraging. Roads have improved significantly since the last time Kathy and Sharon visited 10 years ago; Steph and Katie still found them very bumpy though. Oh the benefits of a good sports bra!

As a leader, our day consists of foreseeing challenges and the ways to overcome them; on a trip like this, food is normally a big one. We have our fair share of dietary requirements in the group which was the source of much conversation before the trip. Yet, so far this week everyone has not just found a way to eat, but have actually embraced the local cuisine, including Guinea pig, and often ended up choosing it over and above more familiar western options, excluding Guinea pig. I don't think anyone can say they have gone hungry, in fact we have had days where we have opted out of lunch or dinner as we are still full from breakfast!

We have been spending a lot of time travelling, via coach, boat, planes and public buses, and we are yet to hear one moan of tiredness or complaint. Everyone is just absorbing every element of the journey and often finding moments to treasure, especially the frequent stops at the Baños across Ecuador. We have had to explain to our two guides Carlos and Franklin why the girls keep asking if the toilet is just a hole in the ground. I think we may have been over zealous in preparing the girls for a slightly less developed Ecuador than expected! But still the ski sits have done wonders for our gluts which is coming handy in other ways.

The last week feels as though it has been far longer than 7 days, mainly because of the amount of different activities and new experiences. The girls have all supported each other throughout this and everyone has pushed their personal limits, whether it was; climbing up the basilica tower in Quito, when they were afraid of heights; walking up incredibly steep hills at a high altitude, when they were already yawning to try and get more oxygen; not running from tarantulas (as some leaders may have done); or trying the famous Guinea pig, that still looked far to much like a Guinea pig! As this is being written we are currently on our flight to The Galapagos, even though we had a 4am wake up, 6 hours ago, and the air hostesses are bringing round a brunch roll and have just informed us they don't 'do' dietary requirements, the whole group is still laughing, smiling, looking out for each other and sharing snacks tucked away in their bags for such occasions. The excitement level has risen, not that it seemed possible, and everyone (us included) is desperate for their first glimpse of the islands. As leaders we are confident that we have the right group of girls with us and are eagerly looking forward to making a fantastic impact on the local community, both in the school and the conservation project and creating a positive change for anyone we can, because, "girls really can do anything"!

Sharon, Kathy, Steph and Katie