This past week has been a blast. We have fully submersed into academia with books, worksheets, writing assignments, pruebitas, project proposals, research, and studying. We have even had the opportunity to cook traditional Ecuadorian meals. Each of us were assigned two dishes to prepare for Thursday and on Wednesday we all took a field trip to the local fruit market and haggled in Spanish for the ingredients. Compré Queso Amasado y Papas para cocinar Leche de Tigre y Llapingachos.
We brought our food back home and worked with our mothers to cook each dish. Thursday, we brought in our dishes and after explaining the cooking process in Spanish, we all took a plate and sampled the delicious Ecuadorian food. I have a big appetite and even I could hardly stand up after that meal. We made everything one could imagine but the most unique by far was Cuy, or Guinea Pig. It tasted like a combination of Chicken and Pork, however it was hard to eat with all the tiny bones.
I notice my Spanish improving by the hour as I, once in a while, pick up on idioms and sarcasm. I even had a full comprehensible conversation with my cab driver last night. I can sort of pick up on other peoples conversations even when they use slang, sayings, and abbreviations…sort of.
My favorite piece of homework was with our Biology class that is half taught at our school in downtown Cuenca and half taught on the mountain-side zoo called Amaru. Amaru works not only as a gorgeous zoo with 40 species of animals ranging from African Lions and Pumas to Raptors and Lamas, but Amaru is also a conservation site and passionately cares about deforestation, animal trafficking, and pollution. And we are talking about an organization that has only been up and running for seven years. They have accomplished a lot in that short time and we, as a group, have the unique and invaluable opportunity to brainstorm, plan, develop and construct large-scale projects to inform and empassion visitors about deforestation, forest burning, illegal animal trafficking, and pollution. The seven of us have been split up into three teams to tackle these issues. I am working with Marisa to develop something that will alarm, inform, empassion, and embolden visitors about the tragedies of deforestation.
I have loved the moments we have shared this last week and I cant wait to continue this incredible academic, social, and life journey.