Thursday 31st October
By Team #WeTwo
The two weeks of our expedition have come and gone leaving the team on the final day with time to reflect on their experiences over their journey together. Team #WeTwo made history on this trip in particular through being the first people to camp at Wakehurst, celebrating two team birthdays (one on top of a volcano and being the first to volunteer at farms, reserves and conservation areas across three Galapagos islands. Here’s their thoughts on the experience.
“I came on this trip not knowing what to expect, being thrown in with nine others was a daunting task, but I couldn’t have done it with a better group of people. Knowing little more than what the itinerary had to offer gave me a sense of excitement but also made me slightly nervous. Reading through the itinerary my eyes were instantly drawn towards the volcano hike, the thought of reaching the summit of the volcano and looking ahead at the scenery was something I was excited for and it definitely did not disappoint. The views were exceptional and the feeling of accomplishment with the team was amazing. A first for me was snorkelling. I could not have had a better experience, seeing down into the water at the fish, turtles and sea lions is something I’ll never forget. I am so glad I was given this opportunity which allowed me to meet amazing people, make unforgettable memories and better myself as an individual.”
– Dawud, Buckinghamshire
“It’s hard to put these two weeks into words if I’m completely honest, I came into this not knowing what to expect, who I was going to meet and it’s fair to say these last two weeks have been nothing what I expected them to be! It’s truly been a once in a life time experience, that I will never be able to re-create. There’s has been too many highlights to be able to pin point one in particular but how many people do you know that can say they turned 18 in the Galapagos islands? I came into this trip saying my biggest thing I want to take away is to know I have learned something new and that aim was met on the first day and continued to be met every single day as no day was the same. From trying new food, activities, meeting new people and learning about the culture this trip has been a blast. I wanted to develop my self and character on this trip and I can definitely say I have done that! I will forever be grateful for this opportunity and I’m thankful for the fact I was nominated in the first place, but more importantly I have made friends for life and without them the experience wouldn’t have been the same. I will miss our constant singing and gossip sessions but more importantly we are all Team #WeTwo for life!
– Mia, West Midlands
“This whole experience has been a whirlwind from start to finish. There hasn’t been a day where we collectively haven’t had fun with one another. This experience has taught me a lot about trying new things, from new foods and cuisines to activities such as snorkelling, seeing giant tortoises and hiking a volcano. It’s given me the chance to try things I’d never ordinarily have the chance to do and I’ll forever be grateful for what this experience has done for me. Snorkelling was something I was particularly looking forward to and swimming with turtles and sea lions was a truly incredible experience. I can confidently say I’ve made friends for life and have come out of this experience with a further appreciation for nature and learnt more about how my actions can effect the environment. Thankyou to everyone who made this trip possible, it has forever changed my life.
– Iyla, Manchester
“We’ve had an amazing experience doing all sorts of things. To name a few: we’ve been snorkelling, replanting, dancing, singing, hiking and much more. If I had to take one thing away from the trip it would be to live more simply, the people on this island are all so chill and definitely makes you reconsider being so stressed all the time. Massive shout out to everyone who made this trip possible – can’t thank you enough.”
– Sam, Scotland
“Overall, this trip has changed my life for the better. I loved reaching out of my comfort zone, experiencing new things and meeting new people. My favourite activity was the volcano hike because it impacted me in a massive way due to the fact that I’ve never been in a place as quiet and peaceful as that. I also loved the bonfire on the first night and the scavenger hunt in Isabela as I felt that those places are where the team genuinely bonded. With today being the last day of the trip, as much as I wish I could stay here forever, I’m starting to miss my family and my friends so I’m somewhat relieved that we’re leaving, but as a summary this two week trip is something that I know I’m never going to forget and I look forward to working with #WeTwo in the future.”
– Amari, North London
“As the last day approaches it feels almost bittersweet, on one hand I’m happy to be headed home, on the other I’m sad to be leaving such a beautiful place. The activities throughout have ranged from hiking, snorkelling, dancing, planting and helping out local producers around the islands. All in all I am chuffed to have been given a chance to visit such a wonderful place. As well as make some mates along the way. I can’t thank #WeTwo enough for the opportunity given. And a very big hug and thank you to Dwayne and Phoebe for supporting me throughout this awesome journey around the world.”
– Alex, Powys, Wales
“When I look back on this trip I’ll have fond memories of the new things I have experienced and the people I’ve met. Without Dwayne and Phoebe I would have never been able to come to the Galapagos and have all these new experiences. I think my highlight of the trip was going snorkelling. This is because of all the incredible and breathtaking sights that I’ve seen on this trip. Not only what I have seen, but what we have done to help the local people has been a highlight for me, from milking cows to planting coffee seeds, everything we have done here has made a lasting impact on the islands. I’m forever in your debt Phoebe and Dwayne.”
– George, East Sussex
“I’ve had an amazing time. I would say this has been a life changing experience for me, from the new people I’ve met to the incredible activities, this trip has made an amazing change to my life. But we couldn’t have done it without Dwayne and Phoebe. Without them, this trip would have never been possible. Having been on this trip, it has made me see life from a different perspective and made me appreciate things more as many people may not even be able to travel to the Galápagos islands or do the things we have done. Overall, the highlight for me has definitely been the snorkelling as that was an incredible experience, the water may have felt like I was going to get hypothermia but it was worth it. Now, after two weeks it’s time to go home. But a massive thank you to everyone who made it possible.”
– Macy, Hertfordshire
“The past two weeks have been the most amazing experience and I’m so grateful to the #WeTwo Foundation for giving me the opportunity to be a part of it 🙂 I was initially reluctant to come on the trip, because I was worried I wouldn’t have the same experience as everyone else due to my visual impairment, but I was very wrong! Even though I saw the islands from a different perspective, my teammates supported me all the way through so that I could have the best experience I could. My personal highlights have to be exploring the town of Quito and visiting the equator, seeing the volcanic landscape on Isabela, meeting tortoises in the wild in Santa Cruz and swimming alongside sea lions and turtles in San Cristobal – memories that I will never forget. I have not only learnt so much about these amazing islands and the people that call it home, but I have also made lifelong friends along the way. Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible and I can’t wait to see the documentary soon!”
– Faye, Leeds
“The memories from this trip will stay with me for the rest of my life. Over the past two weeks, I’ve gained invaluable real-life experiences across the UK, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands. Some personal highlights include cleaning beaches on Santa Cruz, snorkeling with turtles in San Cristobal, and connecting with the local community. Exploring the unique culture of these incredible islands has allowed me to learn about the Galapagos’ history, including how it inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution and continues to drive conservation efforts, adding great depth to my experience. This journey has also reinforced my belief in the importance of protecting these fragile environments. I cannot express enough gratitude to the #WeTwo Foundation for making this once in a lifetime experience possible.”
– Ariana, South London
From the whole of Team #WeTwo we want to extend a thanks to everyone who made this trip possible, in particular Dwayne, Phoebe, Mike and Sherrill, our generous sponsors and our lovely guides. We cannot thank you enough for making this a trip of a lifetime for us all! Muchas gracias!