HIGHLAND

g
apagos
Spotlight on Experiential Learning
Two Highland Students Offer Their
Reflections on a Once-in-a-Lifetime
Opportunity to Visit the Gala´pagos
Part One By Ann Collins ‘15
Although our travel to the Galápagos Islands,
which are located in the Pacific Ocean off the west
of Ecuador, was one of the longest trips I’ve endured,
knowing that we had finally arrived filled me with joy.
Immediately, there was a very natural feeling. I do not
mean in the generic way we use it today, but in the
sense that we are much closer to the bare state of
things, to true human nature.
Totally Surrounded by Nature
For breakfast, for example, we ate eggs that had been
collected the day before and milk that was as fresh as
that morning. Walking along the western side of the
Andes mountains, I couldn’t help but catch my breath
to see the clouds creeping slowly over the mountains,
and the rivers racing them to the bottom.
From our first immersion into the natural beauty
of South America, we traveled by plane, bus, boat,
and taxi to reach our hotel on Isla Isabela. To many,
the amount of time spent traveling may seem like a
burden, but it is irrelevant when you have the views to
go alongside it.
Feeling Right at Home in the Natural World
Weaving in and out of the Galápagos Islands was
truly an indescribable experience. Looking out at
the horizon, I could easily see the remnants of the
volcanoes that had created the amazing islands we
would soon visit. Meanwhile, I could also look only a
few feet away to see schools of fish glimmering just
below the surface and dolphins showing off their
jumps and spins not far beyond them.
Fall 2014 Highland Magazine 41