(Turkey and Pumpkin)
I am waking up in a little over five hours to go to the airport, and I haven't packed, but I have to update you on Thanksgiving before I go away for the weekend!
It was really, really nice. Five friends and I had dinner at our friend Rachel's (BEAUTIFUL) house. Ali made mac n cheese and mashed potatoes, I brought extensive salad-making ingredients (lettuce, spinach, tomato, onion, cucumber, bleu and gouda cheese, corn, olives, etc), Stephen made cookies and pumpkin pie, Santi and Kalysta did the turkey, and Rachel provided random things and, well, a house and kitchen. We cooked everything there and ate with her host mom and sister after going around and saying what we were thankful for. I also had a $4 bottle of wine.... nice. Then her host brother, THE CUTEST 8-YEAR-OLD, came and I asked him if he wanted to try the pumpkin pie and at first he said no then he ate it up and loved it. He kept trying to eat the whipped cream and we would take it away from him and chase him around the kitchen. It was so much fun.
This week has not been so eventful, class and such as usual. Tomorrow 11 people from the university here are going to the rainforest until Monday evening, which will be amazing. We take a plane, a boat, a bus, and a boat... it is very deep in the jungle, nothing is there except animals and plants and nature. I am so excited. really need to go pack now, I am so afraid I will forget something. I can't believe I'm leaving so soon... I have so much to look forward to, both during December and next semester, but I am just starting to really feel comfortable here- in Ecuador, with Spanish, with my friends, and I am leaving in fewer days than I'd like to acknowledge. (But I miss you mom and dad!) My cell phone just ran out of minutes when I called them :(
But some good news- I was elected Vice-President of Theta next semester, which I am so excited about! I miss the organization and people so much, it will be amazing to go back.
I love you all!
*Another note- I am sorry I haven't been uploading pictures- my internet is sporadic en casa, but when I try to something is wrong with the Java so it just shuts down... it is so lame!! I am trying to work on it! I even brought my camera to the internet lab the other day but it wouldn't copy the pictures for some reason.... any ideas?
I am spending the Fall 2008 semester in Quito, Ecuador, as an exchange student at USFQ (Universidad San Francisco de Quito). I am looking forward to living with a family and improving my Spanish, along with seeing as much of Ecuador (and Peru and Colombia) as possible. Please keep up with my travels! Many adventures to come...
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
A Spoon Should be a Sign - A Note on Family Times
The other night my host mom called me down to dinner. Usually I eat with my host dad, Fernando, and she will nibble on something small- she used to eat dinner with us, then she was on a diet, sometimes she doesn't feel well... so usually just the two of us eat. Fernando wasn't there (sometimes he has work meetings until late), and she had put my dinner all laid out in front of me: bowl of soup, plate, salad bowl. Yummy. I eat the soup first, and look at the salad. It looks like an awfully big bowl, but, well, I like vegetables, and the other place wasn't even set- the bowl was directly in front of me on my place mat, so I dug in. After putting one spoonful (key) of salad in my mouth, ella me dice, "Compartes la ensalada con Fernando-" you're sharing the salad with Fernando! Aaaahh! I was so embarrassed. OBVIOUSLY I would be sharing a massive salad with a spoon in it! I didn't realize because he wasn't there, and it is incredibly rare that there is any type of family platter on the table, everything is always set out in front of me, pre-portioned. I kept apologizing, but she didn't care at all.
Things have been much better with my host family. Part of it is me learning to deal with my host mom's neurotic-ness (last week she told me I had to ask her to have a glass of milk... I was really upset at first, but made myself breathe, said '5 weeks,' it's her house, and if she is a control freak she is a control freak...) I can say please, thank you, be served, and never do dishes. Every night I say, "es mi turno?" o "voy a llevar los guantes," but rarely does she let me wear the gloves and do the dishes- even my own. It's strange. I don't like being waited on like that, it is uncomfortable, I guess because I am not used to it.
But I have grown used to the solitude of the house, the fact that I only really talk to them at dinner, the fact that I have no relationship with my host sisters. It's not what I envisioned (or wanted), but has pushed my comfort level in important ways. I hate to think that these things will make it easier to leave, but it is undeniably true.
I really do have a good and improving relationship with my host mom. Soon I will go back to being responsible for my meals (and I miss that a lot- tonight I ate alone because I came home late after Model UN, and it was strangely comforting to just put food in the microwave and wash my dishes) God, I miss cooking! Last night I was having a bit of a homesick night and was reading news and epicurious.com, noting recipes I wanted to make when I come home. Mom, I want to bake a pie (from scratch). Also string bean casserole.
But I have one more month of Ecuador- one month exactly; thirty days of my now-normal walk to the bus to school, of putting money in my bra, of greeting the security guards in my neighborhood in Spanish; one month of Coqueros fruit ice creams, one month of Spanish literature and wonderful travels, one month of legal drinking, one month of the view of Quito from my rooftop. One month with the people I've met here who I will dearly miss, and I know it will go by all too fast, even if sometimes I already wish I were home.
It is weird to be the same person and live in another country, in another culture. I don't think I have changed that much. I've learned to sit on a bus for 13 hours through the night without losing my mind (still not sure how), I've learned to deal with hunger and potato soup every day... not to mention fear and harassment. I've learned to not have freedom in the house I call my own. I have not learned to be accepting of other views (note two weeks ago, when I stormed out of a conservative friend's house shaking and almost crying after a political argument). I have learned to speak in Spanish comfortably, although I am sin dudo not fluent.
And, maybe most importantly, I have almost learned to walk down the street and put my key in the door without looking around and checking for my safety.
Although I do the same thing in Manhattan, so that might be a lesson for another day- or another decade.
Things have been much better with my host family. Part of it is me learning to deal with my host mom's neurotic-ness (last week she told me I had to ask her to have a glass of milk... I was really upset at first, but made myself breathe, said '5 weeks,' it's her house, and if she is a control freak she is a control freak...) I can say please, thank you, be served, and never do dishes. Every night I say, "es mi turno?" o "voy a llevar los guantes," but rarely does she let me wear the gloves and do the dishes- even my own. It's strange. I don't like being waited on like that, it is uncomfortable, I guess because I am not used to it.
But I have grown used to the solitude of the house, the fact that I only really talk to them at dinner, the fact that I have no relationship with my host sisters. It's not what I envisioned (or wanted), but has pushed my comfort level in important ways. I hate to think that these things will make it easier to leave, but it is undeniably true.
I really do have a good and improving relationship with my host mom. Soon I will go back to being responsible for my meals (and I miss that a lot- tonight I ate alone because I came home late after Model UN, and it was strangely comforting to just put food in the microwave and wash my dishes) God, I miss cooking! Last night I was having a bit of a homesick night and was reading news and epicurious.com, noting recipes I wanted to make when I come home. Mom, I want to bake a pie (from scratch). Also string bean casserole.
But I have one more month of Ecuador- one month exactly; thirty days of my now-normal walk to the bus to school, of putting money in my bra, of greeting the security guards in my neighborhood in Spanish; one month of Coqueros fruit ice creams, one month of Spanish literature and wonderful travels, one month of legal drinking, one month of the view of Quito from my rooftop. One month with the people I've met here who I will dearly miss, and I know it will go by all too fast, even if sometimes I already wish I were home.
It is weird to be the same person and live in another country, in another culture. I don't think I have changed that much. I've learned to sit on a bus for 13 hours through the night without losing my mind (still not sure how), I've learned to deal with hunger and potato soup every day... not to mention fear and harassment. I've learned to not have freedom in the house I call my own. I have not learned to be accepting of other views (note two weeks ago, when I stormed out of a conservative friend's house shaking and almost crying after a political argument). I have learned to speak in Spanish comfortably, although I am sin dudo not fluent.
And, maybe most importantly, I have almost learned to walk down the street and put my key in the door without looking around and checking for my safety.
Although I do the same thing in Manhattan, so that might be a lesson for another day- or another decade.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Rafting in the Jungle!
I had a fantastic weekend... I headed off to Tena, a small city (16,000) in the Oriente (aka jungle!) with four friends: Ali, Kalysta, Liz and Rachel, for a weekend of fun. We planned to meet at Ali's (on my block) at 6:45, but people were late, we were slow calling a cab, I forgot a copy of my passport, Ali forgot her iPod, so we didn't actually leave our street until almost 7:30 and were well prepared to miss out bus, driving through normal (terrible) Quito traffic. But we had the most amazing cab driver, who called the bus company, asked them to pick us up on the entrance to the autopista, waited with us there, then called again and drove us somewhere else... with all the time he spent he could have easily made a few more fares, but instead he helped us out. It made me have a little bit of faith in Quito again.
The bus ride was good but VERY bumpy- the roads are not so well-paved in the Jungle! We got to our hostel a little after 1, went to travel company to book our rafting trip, ate, went to the market and hung out the rest of the day.
Rafting Saturday was AMAZING. I had never been rafting before, and was more than a little scared of the Class-IV rapids I was about to encounter, but the entire thing was fantastic (well, maybe not the almost-hour walk to the river, at times through mud up to my knees- I didn't care about getting dirty, but I had to take off my sandals, and my feet hurt from all the rocks). Our guide was really nice and we did lots of fun things on the raft- after going down a jump, we would paddle back into it and get sprayed; we all sat in the back and he used his rope to pull the raft to a 90 degree angle, all five rafts docked at this huge rock we all jumped off of... we floated down the river... we would ride on the FRONT of the raft into the rapids... Basically I never wanted it to end, but of course it had to, and the next day we were all quite sore and bug-bitten (crazy huge bug bites that hurt just to touch), and we had to head back to Quito. That rafting was definitely one of the highlights of my semester. If you are ever here: TENA, RIVER PEOPLE, CLASS IV FULL DAY RAPIDS.
Too bad this week is going to blow. It's midnight- I'm sure I have lit reading for tomorrow, I have my final political science paper due Wednesday at 1PM (just some corrections, but I need to do them), a political science 2-page paper due Wednesday at 8PM which I started (this is not too bad), a huge Anthro test Thursday at 1PM which I need to continue studying for, and a lot of Anthro homeworks to do... Blah. And Friday starts our Model UN simulation, which I will go into supremely stressed out. Lovely. Plus my sorority elections are Sunday, which I know I will be thinking about.
I am going back to the Jungle in 11 days, much deeper, on Beloit's dime... 11 days... think rivers a and rafting and clean air...
The bus ride was good but VERY bumpy- the roads are not so well-paved in the Jungle! We got to our hostel a little after 1, went to travel company to book our rafting trip, ate, went to the market and hung out the rest of the day.
Rafting Saturday was AMAZING. I had never been rafting before, and was more than a little scared of the Class-IV rapids I was about to encounter, but the entire thing was fantastic (well, maybe not the almost-hour walk to the river, at times through mud up to my knees- I didn't care about getting dirty, but I had to take off my sandals, and my feet hurt from all the rocks). Our guide was really nice and we did lots of fun things on the raft- after going down a jump, we would paddle back into it and get sprayed; we all sat in the back and he used his rope to pull the raft to a 90 degree angle, all five rafts docked at this huge rock we all jumped off of... we floated down the river... we would ride on the FRONT of the raft into the rapids... Basically I never wanted it to end, but of course it had to, and the next day we were all quite sore and bug-bitten (crazy huge bug bites that hurt just to touch), and we had to head back to Quito. That rafting was definitely one of the highlights of my semester. If you are ever here: TENA, RIVER PEOPLE, CLASS IV FULL DAY RAPIDS.
Too bad this week is going to blow. It's midnight- I'm sure I have lit reading for tomorrow, I have my final political science paper due Wednesday at 1PM (just some corrections, but I need to do them), a political science 2-page paper due Wednesday at 8PM which I started (this is not too bad), a huge Anthro test Thursday at 1PM which I need to continue studying for, and a lot of Anthro homeworks to do... Blah. And Friday starts our Model UN simulation, which I will go into supremely stressed out. Lovely. Plus my sorority elections are Sunday, which I know I will be thinking about.
I am going back to the Jungle in 11 days, much deeper, on Beloit's dime... 11 days... think rivers a and rafting and clean air...
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Two tablespoons of morality and a dash of disdain
Last Thursday my Spanish literature class took its second test of the semester. I had studied a lot and was feeling pretty good about it. Twice during the test the professor went out for a few minutes. The first time nothing happened; the second, as soon as the door closed, the entire class- and this is the only appropriate way to describe it- erupted in cheating. At least the Ecuadorian students did. There are only about 8 international students in this class, and we were all looking around at each other like, "what the hell is going on?" These weren't secluded whispers but MINUTES of full-out, sentences, talking, conversations, outrageous cheating. I was incredibly pissed off, and an extranjera I was sitting next to asked me if I wanted to go get the professor, and I said no, because I wasn't going to be the tattletale who got up and ratted people out- at least in the middle of class.
Everyone immediately stopped when we were able to hear the door creaking open, and the professor was none the wiser. I was furious, and for the rest of the test it was all I could think about. Not only the ridiculous nature of the cheating, but the fact that these kids can sit down and read these stories in 10 or 20 minutes, and I sit down with a dictionary and struggle for a few hours for each class period- and usually still am not entirely sure. How can they be so disrespectful to their class, their university, their own education? I knew I was going to say something to him after class, because even if he didn't do anything then, he needed to know that he can't leave the room (and close the door) in this university, because that is what happens. (I've heard many other instances of blatant cheating from my friends.)
So when I finished, when about half the class had already left, I asked to speak with him outside and basically told him all of that; and the student who'd asked me if I wanted to talk to him was waiting as well. He said "oh okay, oh, okay, I should have known, thanks, I usually trust that I can leave the room and the gringos will behave..." (He is a gringo as well.)
Come class Tuesday, he walks in and gives a very harsh lecture to the class which hopefully hit them hard- asking why Ecuador was a troubled country. Was it because people didn't want to work? No. Was it a lack of resources? No, the problem is corruption, and "you all are continuing that corruption." It was intense. Then he said he wished he had a list of the people who cheated so he could go to the Dean's Office, report them and kick them out of the class, but he didn't, so he was going to throw our tests in the trash- which he did, in front of us- and gave us a new exam to take.
I think he did the right thing, and I think he did the only thing he could do. I'm sure he couldn't have used those grades knowing that there was so much cheating on the test, but one of my friends was really mad that she had to retake it because she didn't cheat and it wasn't fair. Yeah, I didn't cheat either- obviously- and of course it wasn't fair, but it wasn't fair to him that all his students disrespected him and that classroom. There was no other alternative. It would have been discriminatory for him to believe that the international students didn't cheat, and besides, anyone could have said that. While completely unfair to those of us who studied and took the test honestly- and probably did worse on the second test because it was unannounced- it was the only option he had.
That incident made me so disillusioned with this school. Students are disrespectful. In that same class, students are constantly holding conversations, audible to me 10 feet away, when the professor is clearly talking... students keep their cell phones on their desk during class, texting or obviously looking at the time... students regularly walk in 10 minutes late... and this is said to be the best university in Ecuador. I am not diggin' it. This would not fly at Beloit, but more than that, your classmates would resent you for your bad attitude.
Is this a judgement? Definitely. Unfair? I think not. They have to know cheating is wrong. On the second test, the professor included a 15-point question which was: What is the honor code of USFQ? Why is it important to have? What does the word "ethics" imply? How has Ecuador suffered from corruption? Maybe if they grow up and see corruption and cheating as a way of life, it claws its way into what they believe to be normal... it was astounding, and depressing. I hope these students learn to value their education and opportunities more than that, because there is no point in going to college if that is how you are going to act. I am not ashamed that I told, in fact, if I heard any of them complaining about it, I would say I informed the professor, and you need to grow up.
Everyone immediately stopped when we were able to hear the door creaking open, and the professor was none the wiser. I was furious, and for the rest of the test it was all I could think about. Not only the ridiculous nature of the cheating, but the fact that these kids can sit down and read these stories in 10 or 20 minutes, and I sit down with a dictionary and struggle for a few hours for each class period- and usually still am not entirely sure. How can they be so disrespectful to their class, their university, their own education? I knew I was going to say something to him after class, because even if he didn't do anything then, he needed to know that he can't leave the room (and close the door) in this university, because that is what happens. (I've heard many other instances of blatant cheating from my friends.)
So when I finished, when about half the class had already left, I asked to speak with him outside and basically told him all of that; and the student who'd asked me if I wanted to talk to him was waiting as well. He said "oh okay, oh, okay, I should have known, thanks, I usually trust that I can leave the room and the gringos will behave..." (He is a gringo as well.)
Come class Tuesday, he walks in and gives a very harsh lecture to the class which hopefully hit them hard- asking why Ecuador was a troubled country. Was it because people didn't want to work? No. Was it a lack of resources? No, the problem is corruption, and "you all are continuing that corruption." It was intense. Then he said he wished he had a list of the people who cheated so he could go to the Dean's Office, report them and kick them out of the class, but he didn't, so he was going to throw our tests in the trash- which he did, in front of us- and gave us a new exam to take.
I think he did the right thing, and I think he did the only thing he could do. I'm sure he couldn't have used those grades knowing that there was so much cheating on the test, but one of my friends was really mad that she had to retake it because she didn't cheat and it wasn't fair. Yeah, I didn't cheat either- obviously- and of course it wasn't fair, but it wasn't fair to him that all his students disrespected him and that classroom. There was no other alternative. It would have been discriminatory for him to believe that the international students didn't cheat, and besides, anyone could have said that. While completely unfair to those of us who studied and took the test honestly- and probably did worse on the second test because it was unannounced- it was the only option he had.
That incident made me so disillusioned with this school. Students are disrespectful. In that same class, students are constantly holding conversations, audible to me 10 feet away, when the professor is clearly talking... students keep their cell phones on their desk during class, texting or obviously looking at the time... students regularly walk in 10 minutes late... and this is said to be the best university in Ecuador. I am not diggin' it. This would not fly at Beloit, but more than that, your classmates would resent you for your bad attitude.
Is this a judgement? Definitely. Unfair? I think not. They have to know cheating is wrong. On the second test, the professor included a 15-point question which was: What is the honor code of USFQ? Why is it important to have? What does the word "ethics" imply? How has Ecuador suffered from corruption? Maybe if they grow up and see corruption and cheating as a way of life, it claws its way into what they believe to be normal... it was astounding, and depressing. I hope these students learn to value their education and opportunities more than that, because there is no point in going to college if that is how you are going to act. I am not ashamed that I told, in fact, if I heard any of them complaining about it, I would say I informed the professor, and you need to grow up.
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Middle of the World, Trolls & Puppy Chow
I had a pleasing and relaxing weekend in Quito. On Friday I went to the equator with an Australian that I met at a bar on election night. There is a touristy site- well, actually two- that you can go to. The first is a huge monument that was the original site, which was measured incorrectly but still impressive and fun, called Mitad del Mundo; the second is a museum (Museo Inti Ñan, if you are ever here), which is quite cool. It has various archaeological exhibits and some of the stereotypical equator experiments, like a sink which demonstrates how water goes straight down instead of funneling (really cool!) and the ability to balance an egg on a nail due to magnetic forces... or something like that.
Then Saturday I went out to a Korean restaurant for lunch with three friends (delicious... who would've thought, in Quito!) and to a museum in the historic district. We wanted to go to another one, but it is closed for three weeks of renovations. On the step to the closed museum were hundreds of nails sticking up, waiting for the sorry foot of anyone who attempted to enter... not me. We also went to a delicious lunch/snack shop, Fruteria Monserrate, and shared banana splits... EVEN MORE DELICIOUS. The museum we visited was Museo de la Ciudad, which was pretty cool, although I have to say the highlight was getting yelled at (in English) by a guide leading a Spanish tour after taking a picture of Ali posing next to a knight, yes, in shining armor. (Tal vez nos debe DECIR si no quiere que tomemos fotos... dios mio.) Ay.
We found our way back north and had the amazing idea of making Puppy Chow. Yes, PUPPY CHOW. For those of you who are deprived enough to not be familiar with this beautiful creation, envision: Many grams of melted chocolate, mixed with peanut butter, thrown in a huge paper bag with a box of Chex, shake it like a polaroid picsha, and then adding powdered sugar. Clearly, a synonym would be HEAVEN. We actually used Special K cereal because there is no Chex, and it is so much better. You don't have the dry spaces in between the Chex. Try it. We also made sandwiches for dinner. (Editor's note- as I am the editor- I don't usually eat that much here!! I've lost a fair amount of weight. This was just a pig-out day, probably the most I've eaten in a day during my time here! Also, I split my lunch entree, so there.) We also watched Chocolat, great movie, and Mulan- CLEARLY great movie- that night before going home. No wild times this weekend, sorry!
Sunday was nice because I spent the day tanning on my roof (LOVE IT) and catching up on homework and cleaning my room, which looks wohhnndaful now. Wondaful I say. I found the part of my camera charger that was missing, and then today, my friend returned my Model UN reader I'd lost in the bubble tea shop! The workers there saw me leave it, remembered I was with him, and saved it for 5 days and gave it to him today! I guess there are some good people here. I'm sure my parents are shaking their heads right now, unsurprised at my disorganization. Maybe I can make some money. Write a book about it or something.
Speaking of that, I had a bad dream a few weeks ago. If you know me at all you know I am messy, especially in my bedroom. Once I lost a waffle for a period longer than I am willing to admit. Don't ask. No, it didn't have syrup, thank god. Anyway, I had a dream that my mom told me my room was so messy she found two dead trolls in it.
Pause for laughter. Two dead trolls? Are you kidding me? Like garden trolls. Ohhh boy.
Anyway, moving along. I also made a delicious soup on Sunday for lunch. I've made it before, it's lentils from the Mennonite farmer's market at Beloit, and you add water, tomatoes, carrots, celery and cabbage. I didn't have the last two, but it was still very tasty.
I spent this morning notarizing a bank form from home (due to my disorganization...) and trying to plan a trip for this weekend which is stressing me out way too much. We are trying to go to Tena, a town in the Oriente (eastern jungle- well, there is only one jungle, it is in the east), as it's their festivals weekend and should be really fun. We made reservations at a hostel two weeks ago, and after calling today they said they had no such reservations- bastards. Luckily another place still had room, but I am going to reconfirm tomorrow (and every day) because I don't want to arrive and have to go sleep in a tree with a monkey or something.
Now I have to finish writing a story for my literature class, it's due tomorrow morning but it is coming along (only 500 words). I chose to write it in Spanish- he said we could in English if we preferred, but why on earth would I do that? Granted, I've looked up about 15 words out of the first 200 or so, but that's what I'm here for. I will post it in an upcoming entry... so Jenny can read it, I guess. Maybe I'll translate it to English. Probably not.
This was a long entry, I hope it was good. I am leaving in 41 days... not that I have a "countdown," I just remember, but sometimes I am anxious to be home, it is difficult here at times. But I know I won't be back for a long time and I need to appreciate everything I can do now, and what is available here which is not in the US... Latin men.
Just kidding, mom.
Then Saturday I went out to a Korean restaurant for lunch with three friends (delicious... who would've thought, in Quito!) and to a museum in the historic district. We wanted to go to another one, but it is closed for three weeks of renovations. On the step to the closed museum were hundreds of nails sticking up, waiting for the sorry foot of anyone who attempted to enter... not me. We also went to a delicious lunch/snack shop, Fruteria Monserrate, and shared banana splits... EVEN MORE DELICIOUS. The museum we visited was Museo de la Ciudad, which was pretty cool, although I have to say the highlight was getting yelled at (in English) by a guide leading a Spanish tour after taking a picture of Ali posing next to a knight, yes, in shining armor. (Tal vez nos debe DECIR si no quiere que tomemos fotos... dios mio.) Ay.
We found our way back north and had the amazing idea of making Puppy Chow. Yes, PUPPY CHOW. For those of you who are deprived enough to not be familiar with this beautiful creation, envision: Many grams of melted chocolate, mixed with peanut butter, thrown in a huge paper bag with a box of Chex, shake it like a polaroid picsha, and then adding powdered sugar. Clearly, a synonym would be HEAVEN. We actually used Special K cereal because there is no Chex, and it is so much better. You don't have the dry spaces in between the Chex. Try it. We also made sandwiches for dinner. (Editor's note- as I am the editor- I don't usually eat that much here!! I've lost a fair amount of weight. This was just a pig-out day, probably the most I've eaten in a day during my time here! Also, I split my lunch entree, so there.) We also watched Chocolat, great movie, and Mulan- CLEARLY great movie- that night before going home. No wild times this weekend, sorry!
Sunday was nice because I spent the day tanning on my roof (LOVE IT) and catching up on homework and cleaning my room, which looks wohhnndaful now. Wondaful I say. I found the part of my camera charger that was missing, and then today, my friend returned my Model UN reader I'd lost in the bubble tea shop! The workers there saw me leave it, remembered I was with him, and saved it for 5 days and gave it to him today! I guess there are some good people here. I'm sure my parents are shaking their heads right now, unsurprised at my disorganization. Maybe I can make some money. Write a book about it or something.
Speaking of that, I had a bad dream a few weeks ago. If you know me at all you know I am messy, especially in my bedroom. Once I lost a waffle for a period longer than I am willing to admit. Don't ask. No, it didn't have syrup, thank god. Anyway, I had a dream that my mom told me my room was so messy she found two dead trolls in it.
Pause for laughter. Two dead trolls? Are you kidding me? Like garden trolls. Ohhh boy.
Anyway, moving along. I also made a delicious soup on Sunday for lunch. I've made it before, it's lentils from the Mennonite farmer's market at Beloit, and you add water, tomatoes, carrots, celery and cabbage. I didn't have the last two, but it was still very tasty.
I spent this morning notarizing a bank form from home (due to my disorganization...) and trying to plan a trip for this weekend which is stressing me out way too much. We are trying to go to Tena, a town in the Oriente (eastern jungle- well, there is only one jungle, it is in the east), as it's their festivals weekend and should be really fun. We made reservations at a hostel two weeks ago, and after calling today they said they had no such reservations- bastards. Luckily another place still had room, but I am going to reconfirm tomorrow (and every day) because I don't want to arrive and have to go sleep in a tree with a monkey or something.
Now I have to finish writing a story for my literature class, it's due tomorrow morning but it is coming along (only 500 words). I chose to write it in Spanish- he said we could in English if we preferred, but why on earth would I do that? Granted, I've looked up about 15 words out of the first 200 or so, but that's what I'm here for. I will post it in an upcoming entry... so Jenny can read it, I guess. Maybe I'll translate it to English. Probably not.
This was a long entry, I hope it was good. I am leaving in 41 days... not that I have a "countdown," I just remember, but sometimes I am anxious to be home, it is difficult here at times. But I know I won't be back for a long time and I need to appreciate everything I can do now, and what is available here which is not in the US... Latin men.
Just kidding, mom.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
So this one time, the best campaign in history lead to President-Elect...
OBAMA!!!!
Okay, so I'm a little late. But Tuesday night was amazing.
I can't say I was excited- the excitement had been looming all along, the main sentiment I felt was relief; a huge sense of relief poured over me when he got Pennsylvania and Florida. Sometime soon after that I realized he had won because Washington, Oregon and California would undoubtedly be blue, but when NBC flashed PROJECTION: SENATOR OBAMA WINS ELECTION, the entire bar I was at in Quito erupted in shouts and screams and delight. I had been so worried. I've read an incredible amount about this election, and knew he had been quite favored in the polls, but didn't trust it until I saw it. There could be the race or experience factor, his supporters not actually going out to the polls, some crazy America-style corruption... who knows. But everything is fine and I hopefully will not have to hear or see Sarah Palin for a long time. McCain Reitrement '09.
I went to a bar with 4 friends (1 fellow Obama fan, 3 McCain supporters) and drifted over to another group of foreigners I didn't know after awhile and ended up staying with them the whole night, partially because I wanted to get to know them and partially because I really wanted to be around some liberals. As horrible as it may be to say, I don't think I can respect anyone who voted for McCain in this election. And that is a fault I have, because I am clearly too thick to be able to understand that view, but I just can't. At all. When I asked one of the girls today why she supported him, she said she just agreed with more of his policies. When I asked which ones, she couldn't give me any answers. How can you not be able to say one thing to support the candidate of your choice? [If any of my conservative friends are reading this, please don't be offended. I know I am a judgmental Democrat, and I've admitted it to you. So there!]
I am quite excited to be staying in Quito this weekend, because I've traveled the past 4 weekends and I need a break. It is exciting to be able to sit in my room and write this and not have to worry about packing and getting on a night bus in a few hours. I only have 6 and a half weeks left here, which is crazy. My bar of soap is running out, but I refuse to buy a new one because I travel so much. That's how cheap I've gotten.
I'm still not sure about classes for next semester but I will post when I know. There are some awesome choices, I have eleven I want to take!
Okay, so I'm a little late. But Tuesday night was amazing.
I can't say I was excited- the excitement had been looming all along, the main sentiment I felt was relief; a huge sense of relief poured over me when he got Pennsylvania and Florida. Sometime soon after that I realized he had won because Washington, Oregon and California would undoubtedly be blue, but when NBC flashed PROJECTION: SENATOR OBAMA WINS ELECTION, the entire bar I was at in Quito erupted in shouts and screams and delight. I had been so worried. I've read an incredible amount about this election, and knew he had been quite favored in the polls, but didn't trust it until I saw it. There could be the race or experience factor, his supporters not actually going out to the polls, some crazy America-style corruption... who knows. But everything is fine and I hopefully will not have to hear or see Sarah Palin for a long time. McCain Reitrement '09.
I went to a bar with 4 friends (1 fellow Obama fan, 3 McCain supporters) and drifted over to another group of foreigners I didn't know after awhile and ended up staying with them the whole night, partially because I wanted to get to know them and partially because I really wanted to be around some liberals. As horrible as it may be to say, I don't think I can respect anyone who voted for McCain in this election. And that is a fault I have, because I am clearly too thick to be able to understand that view, but I just can't. At all. When I asked one of the girls today why she supported him, she said she just agreed with more of his policies. When I asked which ones, she couldn't give me any answers. How can you not be able to say one thing to support the candidate of your choice? [If any of my conservative friends are reading this, please don't be offended. I know I am a judgmental Democrat, and I've admitted it to you. So there!]
I am quite excited to be staying in Quito this weekend, because I've traveled the past 4 weekends and I need a break. It is exciting to be able to sit in my room and write this and not have to worry about packing and getting on a night bus in a few hours. I only have 6 and a half weeks left here, which is crazy. My bar of soap is running out, but I refuse to buy a new one because I travel so much. That's how cheap I've gotten.
I'm still not sure about classes for next semester but I will post when I know. There are some awesome choices, I have eleven I want to take!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Canoa, what tomorrow brings...
I got back from a trip to the beach this morning... God, I'm a broken record, aren't I? Canoa, a beach just barely on the Northern coast, was my third and final beach stop in Ecuador. It is a small beach which is quite a trek: a 7 hour bus ride, boat ride across a river, and another local bus, but it was worth it to go to a small, non-tourist-infested town. A group of sixteen of us went, mostly exchange students and a few Ecuadorians, and stayed in a hostel with views of the beach (and the sound of the waves) right from our rooms! It was amazing. There was also free breakfast and happy hour included in the price... what more can you ask for? I want to be back lying in a hammock and sipping a Caipirinha. I also did a fair amount of homework on the beach... in bed... in my hammock... trying to be responsible!
We had today off from school for Dia de los Muertos, which I actually didn't celebrate... oh well. I am more concerned with the events of tomorrow, namely the US election. It seems impossible for McCain to win (right?) I spend hours every day (well, every day I am in Quito) reading news, everything from the probability of electoral college votes to John McCain's military and scandalous past; Palin's $150,000 wardrobe and why Arizona is surprisingly not a safe 10 votes for McCain. I will be inconsolable if Obama does not win tomorrow. (Hi Uncle Jimmy... no offense, but McCain is a mess.)
There has been more school work here than many students expected, with the common thought that studying abroad is an easy ride. Maybe it is just the classes I picked, or the fact that I am constantly traveling (after the 16th I will have 6 straight weekends of being gone from Quito, often leaving Thursday night and coming back Sunday night or Monday morning, after a draining night bus). I don't regret it though, because there are so many places I want to see here, and sadly I don't like Quito. Me parece dirty and dangerous, and I know that is mostly because I have been blessed with growing up in a beautiful (well, to us locals!) and safe city, but the adjustment has been hard, and I really like getting out to the country and seeing other parts. Although I do have a long list of things I still need to see and do in Quito before I leave (in less than 50 days! Strange...)
Beloit also put out its class schedule last Thursday, so I have been trying to figure that out. As of now I think I am taking Nicaragua in Transition, Economic Development, Women's Health, Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean and Claude Levi-Strauss at 100 (YES GUYS I KNOW IT'S 5 but the last one is only .5 credit, and it's with Rob LaFleur, who is amazing, and will therefore be more of a treat than a chore). Although I'm not sure because there are a TON of appealing classes, and I am trying how to balance them between my IR and Health majors. And the Duffy Partnership is looking for Spanish-speaking students for internships, so I am looking into that as well, but then I KNOW I would have to drop a class...
Also, hi Mom. I saw the typo I made with "it's" in my last entry, but decided not to change it because my wireless is a pain, but thanks for pointing it out! I am an editor after all.
Cross your fingers for tomorrow, guys... don't plan your black wardrobe yet.
LIVE YOUR VALUES. LOVE YOUR COUNTRY. MAKE HISTORY - VOTE OBAMA.
We had today off from school for Dia de los Muertos, which I actually didn't celebrate... oh well. I am more concerned with the events of tomorrow, namely the US election. It seems impossible for McCain to win (right?) I spend hours every day (well, every day I am in Quito) reading news, everything from the probability of electoral college votes to John McCain's military and scandalous past; Palin's $150,000 wardrobe and why Arizona is surprisingly not a safe 10 votes for McCain. I will be inconsolable if Obama does not win tomorrow. (Hi Uncle Jimmy... no offense, but McCain is a mess.)
There has been more school work here than many students expected, with the common thought that studying abroad is an easy ride. Maybe it is just the classes I picked, or the fact that I am constantly traveling (after the 16th I will have 6 straight weekends of being gone from Quito, often leaving Thursday night and coming back Sunday night or Monday morning, after a draining night bus). I don't regret it though, because there are so many places I want to see here, and sadly I don't like Quito. Me parece dirty and dangerous, and I know that is mostly because I have been blessed with growing up in a beautiful (well, to us locals!) and safe city, but the adjustment has been hard, and I really like getting out to the country and seeing other parts. Although I do have a long list of things I still need to see and do in Quito before I leave (in less than 50 days! Strange...)
Beloit also put out its class schedule last Thursday, so I have been trying to figure that out. As of now I think I am taking Nicaragua in Transition, Economic Development, Women's Health, Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean and Claude Levi-Strauss at 100 (YES GUYS I KNOW IT'S 5 but the last one is only .5 credit, and it's with Rob LaFleur, who is amazing, and will therefore be more of a treat than a chore). Although I'm not sure because there are a TON of appealing classes, and I am trying how to balance them between my IR and Health majors. And the Duffy Partnership is looking for Spanish-speaking students for internships, so I am looking into that as well, but then I KNOW I would have to drop a class...
Also, hi Mom. I saw the typo I made with "it's" in my last entry, but decided not to change it because my wireless is a pain, but thanks for pointing it out! I am an editor after all.
Cross your fingers for tomorrow, guys... don't plan your black wardrobe yet.
LIVE YOUR VALUES. LOVE YOUR COUNTRY. MAKE HISTORY - VOTE OBAMA.