Wednesday, August 24, 2011

fotos y noticias

I haven't posted in a while because not much has been going on. From Monday to Friday, I have Ecology from 9-12. Monday through Thursday, I have Spanish class from 2:30 to 4:30 in the afternoon--that gives me 2.5 hours for lunch. I'm still having trouble filling that time up...

I go to the same two classes everyday with the same people, so it's a lot like the block plan so far, but not as intense right now. Right now, it's a lot of lecture, but I really like the professor. He's a walking encyclopedia, and he's interested in everything. Soon, we will start traveling more (see the schedule tab for tentative class travel plans) and seeing ecology in action. I am starting to feel a bit cooped up here in Quito, so I am really looking forward to moving around and seeing more of the country.

Although I do like that this program runs similarly to CC's block plan, it's been isolating in terms of meeting other American and Ecuadorian students. I had forgotten how challenging it is to make a whole new set of friends.

I have photos and little tidbits to share...

On Friday, my host parents (Maria Elena and Orlando) went to a party. They got all dressed up, so I had to take a picture of them! Their son, Mario, is the joker.


On Saturday, students studying through Boston University took a little field trip to Cuicocha, Cotacachi and Otavalo.

The first stop was Cuicocha, a crater lake north of Quito. It was only slightly similar to Crater Lake in Oregon. It has two lava dome islands, and water chickens!

Some of the group on the boat tour.

You can see active gas emissions in the water here.


We also visited the Indian Market at Otavalo, a huge open-air market where you can find everything from alpaca sweaters to teddy bears made of llama wool. I got some serious bartering practice while I was there!
One of the many streets.

Llama teddy bears.

Small roller coasters at Otavalo. I wonder how safe they are?

We then made our way to a condor rehabilitation park: Parque Condor. To be honest, I was more into the views of the mountains than the birds themselves. I've been going a bit crazy here because I can see mountains all around me, but I have yet to go hiking or adventuring in them. So it was nice to be a little closer to them.

Imbabura.
Here I am in front of Imbabura volcano

Pretty sure this is Cotocachi--don't quote me on that.

Next weekend, the class travels to Papallacta and Cotopaxi!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

fútbol rivalries and first day of school

One week in!

I've recently met more of my host family in bits and pieces over the past few days. It's amazing to me how close all of the cousins are. There is an intense fútbol rivalry going on between Barcelona (from Guayaquil, yellow) and Liga (from Quito, white). Mario and Juancho are really into it, and they always ask me which I prefer, pointing out that I'm wearing a color that indicates my loyalty. I laugh and try to stay out of it and remain diplomatic. On Wednesday, there's a game between the two that I'm sure I'll watch on TV somehow. Maybe then I'll decide...

On Saturday, the group took a tour of Quito. I like the city, but it's pretty overwhelming and polluted.



It's been difficult to find a breath of fresh air anywhere. But I found some on Sunday when I went to Parque Metropolitano with Quique, Carmen, Juancho, and Mario. While Mario and I went running, the others took Azúcar to doggie training camp. Mario and I ran for about 7 km. The park is at about 9500 feet above sea level, and is forested. It seemed to be an active place; there were other runners and mountain bikers. I basically ran after Mario on a maze of trails. At the end, we went up a hill and my lungs couldn't keep up with my legs anymore.

Yesterday, we had the first day of classes. I have two classes right now: Ecology and Spanish. Spanish only lasts for 3 weeks, and when it's over, my ecology class will start traveling more. I like both of my professors so far. It's funny to be at a different school where I haven't seen any of the faces before. I keep seeing people around campus that resemble friends from the US. It's also interesting to see the varying styles (dress and mannerisms) among Ecuadorian students.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

los días primeros de cualquier aventura siempre son arumbadores

The first days of any adventure are always overwhelming.
I'll start with yesterday (Wednesday), my first day in Quito. Vivo en un barrio que se llama Los Laureles. My host parents, Maria Elena and Orlando, are beyond gracious. Their home is modest, but very friendly and open. Tenemos una perra que se llama Azúcar. She is very very cute (like I die every time I see those big eyes and ear), but she is crazy. She is 6 months old, and I'm pretty sure she is teething because she nibbles at my hand when I pet her. Usually she is on the opposite side of the fence from me (she lives outside), but whenever I am walking around in her outside area she bites at my ankles. She also grabs onto my leg with her front legs in a sort of hump-like fashion, which makes my question her sexuality... But she loves belly rubs, and immediately lays out when she senses one coming.
There are three rooms off the back terrace/yard area where Azúcar lives. One of the rooms holds a treadmill and elliptical machine. So yesterday I ran about 2 miles at 9350 ft!! I was only slightly out of breath. I am so happy to have these machines here because I would not feel safe running around Quito!
My host family is very close knit, and most of the children and grandchildren live close by. Mario, one of the older sons, came to the airport with Maria Elena and Orlando to pick me up, and he sometimes drives us places. He has a car. Mario is super-fit and runs marathons etc. and is doing a triathlon in the Galapagos in October. I also got to speak with their grandson Juancho (I think that's his name...) over the phone. I think that I'll meet him in person on Sunday when we take Azúcar to training school. He is ten years old and sounds really great on the phone.
Yesterday, the group had a meeting at our program coordinator's house. AYYYY, beginnings are always so awkward, but I think the group is showing early signs of a good dynamic.
But today was the day for meetings and presentations. We arrived at la Universidad San Francisco de Quito at 7:45 am. We met our student buddies, who showed us around the small campus. We were talked at for a long time about safety in the city, diarrhea, social customs, how to dress, Ecuadorian politics, etc. Although I don't care at all for politics, I found it very interesting that the political science professor who talked about the country's politics was very hesitant to say anything even slightly negative about the government. From the safety talks, I got the sense that Ecuador is no more dangerous than any other country in Latin America. I basically have to use my noggin, and everything should be just fine!
I'm really making a huge effort to speak Spanish and learn more. My classes are all in English (except for Spanish class), and my group does quite a bit of traveling to different areas of the country. I'm thinking this could be a bit isolating in terms of getting to know our fellow Ecuadorian students at the university. It's truly exhausting to meet so many new people all at once. It's like day one of high school and college all over again.
The meetings at the university were over at 4 pm, and Maria Elena met me and Alison (a student who is living with a family close by) to guide us home. Eventually, we will be on our on on the buses. When I got home, I played 7 games of dominoes with my host parents, skyped my biological parents, and ate dinner and talked with Maria Elena. Ecuadorians don't really eat dinner, because they eat such a large lunch.
This should keep you satisfied for now, and there will be more later!

bienvenidos!

Yesterday I arrived in Quito! The journey was pretty smooth-just a delay in Miami (thank you afternoon thunderstorms).

I am here for a Tropical Ecology Program through Boston University, and I am one of two non-Boston U students on the program. Hopefully the conversations will shift away from BU-speak soon. There are 4 boys in a group of 12 students...we will see how this dynamic plays out!

My host mother is very sweet, and so is her husband. Yesterday, we talked a lot about their family here, and there are a lot of children and grandchildren who live close by. We also have a 6 month-old dog named Azucar (Sugar) who is a beagle and positively adorable!! I can't wait to play with her!

I started speaking in Spanish from the moment i arrived. I'm really going to make the most of this opportunity! According to my host family, my Spanish is quite good!

There's some orientation today at the program organizer's house, but beyond that, I have no idea what's going on...