Even after a rocky travel experience the previous year, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and board a flight to South America to spend July living in various places in Ecuador with a teen travel group.

Last summer, I traveled to Fiji, which was undeniably life-changing but also took a toll on my health. Living in such a rural area for a month left me with health complications that lingered in my system and caused substantial problems for my wellness. Even so, my love of independent travel outweighed all my doubts and fears, and I decided to travel again this summer.

I signed up for a nearly month-long trip to Ecuador. I had never been to South America before, and I wasn’t at all familiar with Ecuadorian culture or customs.

The week before the trip, I began to have doubts about my

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