Friday, August 31, 2007
Trip number one
This weekend I am going on a trip to the other Ecuadorian city of Banos (with the ~). When I get back I will have better stories to tell. Also I will tell you more about week one of my actual classes but that will just have to wait. It's better to hold you all in suspense for a little while... :)
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Okay, I am going to try this picture adding thing agian, but this time in small groups. These pictures are all of the inside of my host family's house. My room is the one with the teal walls, and if you look at some of the other pictures below (like the one of Paula in her beautiful pick sunglasses, or the one of my roses) you can piece together more of the building.
We eat most of our meals on that small plastic table in the kitchen, but it is actually more common to eat dinner (which is a very small meal) on my host parents' bed. They have a giant TV and I guess that would be the equivalent of us eating in the living room at home. Also note, all pieces of artwork you see on the walls are original paintings. I love just staring at them when no one is around... :)
Quote
Ok, my quote of the day, direct from the mouth of a USFQ professor during one of our orientation speaches about Ecuadorian politics. I think it about sums itself up.
"Ecuador, the country where the pizza arrives before the police."
A little unnerving, but probably true. You pretty much look out for each other around here.
"Ecuador, the country where the pizza arrives before the police."
A little unnerving, but probably true. You pretty much look out for each other around here.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Yeah...
Ok, I am sorry that the picutres below didn't work out quite like I wanted, but at least you can see something and I will try to fix them later...
I would have no real complaints right now if only this country would agree with my health. I apparently already have my first “ameba” (god, I can’t spell anymore, is there an o in that word? Oh well.) Basically I ate some mysterious thing that introduced an evil bacteria into my system. It would have been fine if I only had stomach problems, but no, I just had to pass out in the middle of my Spanish class on Friday. That was fun. Somehow I ended up on the floor with my classmates looking down at me and Russell holding my feet in the air. Then I got to have my first visit with the University clinic where I got to go to the emergency part and attempt to explain my symptoms in Spanish. It was entertaining none the less. I am now on really strong antibiotics and “resting” for a few days. For example I was supposed to go to class today for the last day of my intensive Spanish class and take an exam for it, but my host mother called the resident director and I didn’t have to go. Hehe. But I feel very relieved that this clinic exists, it doesn’t cost us anything except for the labs and drugs and it has everything. Seriously, 3 gynecologists, plastic surgeons, and even an eye glass place. We decided that it had to serve more than just the university…
Anyhoo, besides that small mishap in my week I love this country. The mountains are spectacular and the people that I have met so far have been very friendly. The city is just about as I expected, very large and very dirty. It does make me a little sad that I see so many poor people (children even!) in the street trying to sell or do anything for a buck. I have decided that for the moment it is most important to focus on my own well being and after I get that all figured out I will pay more attention to those around me, but it is a huge change from Mt. Pleasant, this is for sure. It is, as many people had told me previously, a city of the wealthy and the really not wealthy. For example, my family does not live in a very big house (they rent it) but my parents own 2 cars (one of them a Mercedes) and about 15 pieces of original artwork. I have also discovered that there isn’t much in the way of political correctness in this country. A few days ago my father compared the indigenous people to goats because they live in the mountains. It took me a few minutes to catch on to what he was talking about, but once I did I just didn’t know how to react. Apparently that’s the norm around here. *shrug* My father also owns two gun shops in Quito. He gets really excited about them and likes to show me how many he has in the house. There are parts of guns under my dresser and we found one in the couch the other day. There is even a bottle of tequila in my house shaped like a hand gun. The rest of the K kids think its pretty funny, but it makes me a little uncomfortable, especially since I have a 3 year old little sister.
It is also a lot colder than I thought it would be. Our house has no heat because there is no winter but in the nights and evenings (and it gets dark by 6:30) the temperature drops to the 40s or so. I am very grateful for my wool blanket on my bed, but I should have brought more of my sweaters. I’m in withdrawal…
I am learning how to get around the city a little by myself which is good. I think that in order not to go crazy with my little sister around all the time I need to become a little more independent. All I need is a good map of the city and a couple of friends and I think we would be fine. I have to say that I do enjoy having so many other kids from K here with me. Our final count is 16 people. But I get along with everyone else pretty well and we look after each other which is important.
I haven’t gone out to the bar or any disco techs yet, I was going to go this weekend but that is out of the question with my current state of health. I am however very looking forward to it. I really want to learn how to dance better and apparently beer here is only about a dollar. Food in general is really cheap. I think that the US needs a price adjustment. Also really cheap: flowers!! You can only guess how excited I am with all of the plants and flowers around here. Elana brought me roses last night because I was sick and she said that it cost here $3 for a dozen! I actually think that’s expensive for these parts. My family has promised to take me to a rose farm and if that happens one of my main goals will be accomplished! :)
I would have no real complaints right now if only this country would agree with my health. I apparently already have my first “ameba” (god, I can’t spell anymore, is there an o in that word? Oh well.) Basically I ate some mysterious thing that introduced an evil bacteria into my system. It would have been fine if I only had stomach problems, but no, I just had to pass out in the middle of my Spanish class on Friday. That was fun. Somehow I ended up on the floor with my classmates looking down at me and Russell holding my feet in the air. Then I got to have my first visit with the University clinic where I got to go to the emergency part and attempt to explain my symptoms in Spanish. It was entertaining none the less. I am now on really strong antibiotics and “resting” for a few days. For example I was supposed to go to class today for the last day of my intensive Spanish class and take an exam for it, but my host mother called the resident director and I didn’t have to go. Hehe. But I feel very relieved that this clinic exists, it doesn’t cost us anything except for the labs and drugs and it has everything. Seriously, 3 gynecologists, plastic surgeons, and even an eye glass place. We decided that it had to serve more than just the university…
Anyhoo, besides that small mishap in my week I love this country. The mountains are spectacular and the people that I have met so far have been very friendly. The city is just about as I expected, very large and very dirty. It does make me a little sad that I see so many poor people (children even!) in the street trying to sell or do anything for a buck. I have decided that for the moment it is most important to focus on my own well being and after I get that all figured out I will pay more attention to those around me, but it is a huge change from Mt. Pleasant, this is for sure. It is, as many people had told me previously, a city of the wealthy and the really not wealthy. For example, my family does not live in a very big house (they rent it) but my parents own 2 cars (one of them a Mercedes) and about 15 pieces of original artwork. I have also discovered that there isn’t much in the way of political correctness in this country. A few days ago my father compared the indigenous people to goats because they live in the mountains. It took me a few minutes to catch on to what he was talking about, but once I did I just didn’t know how to react. Apparently that’s the norm around here. *shrug* My father also owns two gun shops in Quito. He gets really excited about them and likes to show me how many he has in the house. There are parts of guns under my dresser and we found one in the couch the other day. There is even a bottle of tequila in my house shaped like a hand gun. The rest of the K kids think its pretty funny, but it makes me a little uncomfortable, especially since I have a 3 year old little sister.
It is also a lot colder than I thought it would be. Our house has no heat because there is no winter but in the nights and evenings (and it gets dark by 6:30) the temperature drops to the 40s or so. I am very grateful for my wool blanket on my bed, but I should have brought more of my sweaters. I’m in withdrawal…
I am learning how to get around the city a little by myself which is good. I think that in order not to go crazy with my little sister around all the time I need to become a little more independent. All I need is a good map of the city and a couple of friends and I think we would be fine. I have to say that I do enjoy having so many other kids from K here with me. Our final count is 16 people. But I get along with everyone else pretty well and we look after each other which is important.
I haven’t gone out to the bar or any disco techs yet, I was going to go this weekend but that is out of the question with my current state of health. I am however very looking forward to it. I really want to learn how to dance better and apparently beer here is only about a dollar. Food in general is really cheap. I think that the US needs a price adjustment. Also really cheap: flowers!! You can only guess how excited I am with all of the plants and flowers around here. Elana brought me roses last night because I was sick and she said that it cost here $3 for a dozen! I actually think that’s expensive for these parts. My family has promised to take me to a rose farm and if that happens one of my main goals will be accomplished! :)
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Week 1
Alright everyone, I appoligize for the tardiness of this post as it is thursday and I have officially been in Ecuador since saturday night but now is the first time that I have been able to locate easily accessed wireless internet! Celebrate with me!!! I'm sorry that I can't write a lot of detail as my computer has little battery life left, but now I can get here easily I can keep up better.
Okay, week one. So far I am having a great time. My host family is wonderful. I have two parents and only one sister who is only 3 years old. Her name is Paula Andrea. Completely adorable but there are definately times when I need to escape to the land of the adults where everything is not pink and covered in barney or looney toons. I also have a very friendly extended family that we do a lot of things with. One of my fellow K students is living with my host mother's parents and therefore we spend a lot of time together. Actually right now she is sitting at this table across from me. :)
My univeristy is very pretty. All of the students that go there are wealthy and therefore the grounds and very well maintained. For example, we have a giant pond, a fountain, and a Japanese pagoda. What they do with it I don't know, but it is pretty sweet. Right now I am taking a weeks worth of "intensive spanish" classes. Somehow or other I made it into the advanced level with only 5 other people. I guess I knew more than I thought I did. (only the students from Kalamazoo are in this class) Next week is when we have the true international student orientation and the beginning of classes. I am excited for that to begin because then I will have a schedule that I can get used to.
It takes me almost an hour to get from my house in the middle of Quito to the university in the bordering city of Cumbaya. I have to take three different buses, each of which costs me only 25 cents. There are lots of buses here, but that is good as it is the only form of public transportation that I have found so far and I want to be able to get places by myself. I do, however, find being in the buses more comforting than just being out on the street. Walking is not so dangerous, it's crossing the lanes of traffic that becomes the adventure. So far I have yet to see any signs of real traffic laws. Things such as speed limits and even traffic lanes are simply ignored. I have decided that if you can learn to drive here, you can drive anywhere. My host father used to live in Miami and he told me that he got his drivers license taken away because he got too many tickets, I wonder why. At least I have not found any dents in either of our cars (one of which is a gold Mercedes!). I'm taking that as a good sign.
Ok, I have to go now and finish registering for my classes, I'll try to think of more stories later.
Chao.
Okay, week one. So far I am having a great time. My host family is wonderful. I have two parents and only one sister who is only 3 years old. Her name is Paula Andrea. Completely adorable but there are definately times when I need to escape to the land of the adults where everything is not pink and covered in barney or looney toons. I also have a very friendly extended family that we do a lot of things with. One of my fellow K students is living with my host mother's parents and therefore we spend a lot of time together. Actually right now she is sitting at this table across from me. :)
My univeristy is very pretty. All of the students that go there are wealthy and therefore the grounds and very well maintained. For example, we have a giant pond, a fountain, and a Japanese pagoda. What they do with it I don't know, but it is pretty sweet. Right now I am taking a weeks worth of "intensive spanish" classes. Somehow or other I made it into the advanced level with only 5 other people. I guess I knew more than I thought I did. (only the students from Kalamazoo are in this class) Next week is when we have the true international student orientation and the beginning of classes. I am excited for that to begin because then I will have a schedule that I can get used to.
It takes me almost an hour to get from my house in the middle of Quito to the university in the bordering city of Cumbaya. I have to take three different buses, each of which costs me only 25 cents. There are lots of buses here, but that is good as it is the only form of public transportation that I have found so far and I want to be able to get places by myself. I do, however, find being in the buses more comforting than just being out on the street. Walking is not so dangerous, it's crossing the lanes of traffic that becomes the adventure. So far I have yet to see any signs of real traffic laws. Things such as speed limits and even traffic lanes are simply ignored. I have decided that if you can learn to drive here, you can drive anywhere. My host father used to live in Miami and he told me that he got his drivers license taken away because he got too many tickets, I wonder why. At least I have not found any dents in either of our cars (one of which is a gold Mercedes!). I'm taking that as a good sign.
Ok, I have to go now and finish registering for my classes, I'll try to think of more stories later.
Chao.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Almost there!
Ok people, as I write this I am sitting on the bed of the Best Western at the Chicago O'Hare airport. Today was already a completely exhausting day and I only made it as far as Chicago. One plane flight down and two to go. But by this time tomorrow evening I will be in Ecuador!!
The packing is done (I hope that nothing important got overlooked in the chaos of the last 24hrs)!! The suitcases have been repacked in an attempt to balance the weight, and now all I can think of is falling backwards into bed and passing out until next year. Combine today's amount of travel stress to the abuse that I put on my body from last week's wedding and I have no wonder why my eyes are blood shot again and my brain is mush.
Goal: sleep all day tomorrow on the planes. Attempt to arrive and great new host family with a happy and not dead tired Katie.
I'll keep my fingers crossed.
The packing is done (I hope that nothing important got overlooked in the chaos of the last 24hrs)!! The suitcases have been repacked in an attempt to balance the weight, and now all I can think of is falling backwards into bed and passing out until next year. Combine today's amount of travel stress to the abuse that I put on my body from last week's wedding and I have no wonder why my eyes are blood shot again and my brain is mush.
Goal: sleep all day tomorrow on the planes. Attempt to arrive and great new host family with a happy and not dead tired Katie.
I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)