Study Abroad: Naturally, I'd Select to go to Galápagos!: Life in Ecuador: The Beginning

Hola de Ecuador!

I have been in Ecuador for 4 days now, and slowly but surely adapting to speaking in broken spanish, eating rice and beans for every meal, and eating dinner at 8 pm.

There are many international students here from all different programs. The program that I am on, IPSL, is a service learning program. There are actually only three of us with the program, and the rest of the students (GAIAS gringos) we are with are staying for 6 extra weeks to do a research project. The IPSL students take 2 extra courses in volunteerism and development, as well as complete 120 hours in a service placement. Most of the students are from UNC Chapel Hill, but there are also students from Juniata, OWU, Oregon, Notre Dame, Kansas, Australia, and more!

My host mom's name is Ana Lucia, and she doesn't speak any English. Luckily, I am staying with another girl, Cori, in her house, and Cori speaks Spanish almost fluently. I am learning a lot of spanish every day. My host dad, Carlos really wants me to learn! Every time I go somewhere with him, he makes me learn at least 15-20 new vocabulary words. And then quizzes me on them! Ana Lucia does not work, but Carlos does. He used to be a magistrate for Ecuador, but since he was over 60, they made him retire from the government. Now, he works independently as a lawyer. Ecuadorian culture is very different from the "don't-touch-me" New York culture. Every time we see our host parents, we are expected to say Hola! Buenos Dias! (or buenas tardes/buenas noches depending on the time of day) and give them a hug or kiss. It was a little weird at first, but I am getting used to it now.

Because I have been here for four days now, I am getting much better at Spanish! I am able to string together sentences now, and my host mom actually complimented me on putting together "una larga condena" today! (I told her that I had water in my water bottle). My host parents are so nice, and Cori and I are lucky to have a mom who brings us to get helado when she picks us up from school. I am actually able to have full conversations in spanish with the help of my spanish-english cheat sheet (thanks mom) and my super awesome charades skills. I definitely don't speak with proper grammar, but I can get my point across. At home, we have decided that I am not allowed to speak english anymore, which has really been forcing me to learn and use my spanish!

Cori and I took the bus for the first time today. The buses are crazy! They cost 25 cents to take, and if you want to get on, you have to either go to a bus stop or be really good at flagging one down and sometimes they will stop, or most likely slow down to about 5 or 10 mph. They slowed to a roll for us this morning (perks of being a bonita gringita), and we hopped on the bus à la Divergent. Excuse my french. It took us about 15 minutes to get to school. To get off, you have to say "GRACIAS!" really loudly, and the bus will stop. This time, since it was a crowded bus station, it stopped completely, and I didn't have to channel my inner Tris Prior.

We went on a city tour of Quito today, got to see some beautiful churches, and then got our passports back from the consulate. One of the churches we saw was Franciscan, and for a minute, I felt like I was back home when I saw a Friar in a brown robe with the three knots for no class, no ass, and no sass. Poverty, chastity, and obedience for those who Fr. Greg didn't speak to at orientation. For lunch, we ate on the top floor of this really nice restaurant! I have no idea how Mariuxi, our coordinator, pulled that one off. The weirdest/best part of lunch was dessert. All of the sudden, these bells started chiming ominously. Then, people in these giant purple KKK outfits came in with ice-cream from fog was emerging. Liquid nitrogen ftw. It is an Ecuadorian tradition that people wear those outfits during their Good Friday procession as they carry the cross and act out the crucifixion. The outfit is called cucurucho. After we got back, it was pouring and hailing, so we went for drinks and appetizers at the bar across the street from the university. It's so nice to be legal!

Tomorrow, we are going to Otavalo, a huge market that carries all sorts of indigenous apparel. It is about a two hour drive from Cumbaya, where the university is, so we are going to attempt to navigate the bus system!

Adios!