Name: Johanna Katzmann
Country: Germany
Period in Ecuador: August 2011 /September - November 2012
Age: 19

Johanna visited Ecuador for the first time with her parents in 2011. They had a trip around Ecuador & Galapagos Islands. We could communicate and we had a dinner when they came to their only day in Guayaquil. It was such a great experience as I never thought that it could happen. I am so glad i met her with her parents! 🙂 They are such wonderful people!
So after a couple of months she told me that she would really come back and spend more time here, and sure it was but this time she came alone 🙂
Now you are able to enjoy this nice interview and her wonderful professional pictures of the places she has gone!

Q: What was your best experience? what did you like the most of Ecuador?
A: That’s really hard to say, because I’ve been to Ecuador for 3 months and had so many different but great experiences that you can’t really compare with each other. I really liked working in a kindergarten, because you could feel the love the children give back to you. I did also like that people, wherever you go, are helpful, open-minded and interested. And I learned to take things easy, Ecuadorian people always seem so relaxed about everything and this is something I really miss in my home country.

Johanna with her kids in the kindergarten 🙂

Host family

Barco Morgan with Maria Jose

Q: Did you like Ecuadorian food? And what was your favorite dish?
A: I loved Ecuadorian food! It’s so different from what I was used to. I loved all the fruits that I’ve never seen before, they were so tasty! And I really liked all the fresh juices. But my favorite dish was probably Ceviche.

Different Ecuadorian's fruits

Ceviche with shrimps

Q: What were the activities you were doing in this country?
A: I came to Ecuador to have a Spanish course first. After that, I was volunteering in a kindergarten in the South of Quito. Every weekend I travelled to another part of the country, for example a trip to the rainforest, I had a surfing lesson on the coast, I did bungee jumping in Baños. I had so much fun and saw so many different things!

Canopy with friends

with the Llamas

Q: Can you describe Ecuador in one word?
A: That’s not easy, because Ecuador is so diverse! But I would say: A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Cuyabeno

Quito at night

Malecon 2000 - Guayaquil

Q: What are your advices for the foreigners who want to come to Ecuador?
A: The best is to see all parts of the country, the “Costa”, the “Sierra” and the “Oriente” – nowhere else you have such a big variety just a few hours away from each other! You shouldn’t be afraid to try new things, like all the food and activities. Just be open-minded, try to talk with the people – they will really appreciate it!

Canoa Beach in Manabi (The Coast)

Cotopaxi volcano (The Highlands)

Cuyabeno - Sucumbíos (The Amazon)

Galapagos in 2011

Thank you so much Johanna for these wonderful pictures and for the great moments I could have with you<3 Love you so much and Im so glad for this friendship! A little memory of 2011.
Joselyn Espinoza.

Johanna and me 🙂