I’ve officially been here in Ecuador for a week now (It had been when I started writing this, anyways), and I left Colorado with the intention of keeping a blog, so here’s a step in that direction!
For now, run-down (of varying brevity) of the days of my first week:
Sunday, Jan 9th: I arrive in Quito, at around 4 AM. I’m complete except for my phone, which may still be charging in the Miami airport. After the loss of my phone (a sad story which I won’t get into), I keep expecting other bad things to happen on the journey. As I stand at the baggage claim, waiting for my luggage to be missing, I bravely tell myself that even with the mishaps that are bound to happen, I won’t let them be a bad omen for my semester. My luggage comes. I get a taxi for a better price than I was hoping, and though I still am expecting my driver to drop me off at a random dark street corner, he takes me to our hotel and within minutes my luggage is stored away and I’m in my room. All of which is to say, I worry a bit more than I tell myself I do. The rest of the day involves napping, showering, walking around a bit, finishing a scholarship application, and eating with Wendy and Sadie when they arrive.
Monday: The whole group has arrived, and we start off the day with a tour by bus of Quito. Two big, beautiful Churches, one large statue (the Apocalyptic Virgin), one presidente at the changing of guards, and countless beautiful views of the city–Quito is huge!
Quito from the statue of the Virgin
Tuesday: In the morning we set off for Oswaldo Guayasamín’s house/museo and the Chapel of Man. Super moving. It’s cool for me to see that Picasso was his first big influence after having just visited Picasso’s house/museum a couple months ago and seeing his work over time… It feels a bit like Guayasamin continued where Picasso left off, which is to say that the Picasso-ness that you can see in Guayasamin’s works was the result of Picasso’s whole evolution. Guayasamin’s obras that are especially impactful to me are ones that were reactions to events that I’ve learned about, such as Victor Jara’s murder… Seeing a physical manifestation of grief is very profound… After visiting the Chapel of Man, we get back on the bus and head to Mitad del Mundo! I wasn’t expecting it to be so cool, but I’m amazed by the demonstration of water going down a drain– clockwise in the south (I think), counterclockwise in the north, and straight down directly on the equator. Crazy!! The earth is so incredibly fascinating and wonder-full. Finally, we arrive in Mindo, see an abundance of hummingbirds, and act as butterfly perches.
Wednesday: I wake up early to see birds (I mainly saw them eating bananas). We go via cable-car on a hike to a couple waterfalls, with swimming near the end! Mindo, a cloud forest, is breathtaking. (By the end, the hike was too). In the afternoon we return to Quito and hear Mary Ellen talk about Ecuador’s political past and present, and current environmental politics (read: mining).
Mindo, el bosque nublado
Thursday: We fly to Cuenca, and meet our host families! I was so nervous on the whole trip there about meeting them. When I arrive at the casa, I’m met by the whole extended family, who eats lunch (the largest meal of the day) together every Thursday. They’re warm and caring, and there are 14 of them, I think, so it takes me a couple days to figure out who’s who.
Friday: My host father/Edgar shows me the way to school in the morning, via el bus. It costs 25 cents a ride. It’s the first day at Amauta: our placement exam, which is bastante long and difficult! Edgar meets me and we go home together for lunch. In the afternoon we return to Amauta for a city-tour of Cuenca, by foot. We visit the new cathedral, el Parque Calderón, a hat-making museum (for Panama hats, which as we all know quite well by now are actually made in Ecuador), the flower market, and a cloistered monastery.
Saturday: This is Martina’s (a host cousin, maybe?) first birthday party–it’s huge! And full of extended (extended) family. Un buen expereincia for sure! And Martina, the princess, is very, very linda.
Sunday: I visit the market with Nancy and Edgar, and then walk to el centro, where I sit and draw for a while. When I come back, I go with my host(ish) family to see the new house they’re constructing, and then they drive me around the city! I finally start to get a better sense of Cuenca. In the evening, I go to Mass with them, and there are points where the Priest is talking quickly, but I’m understanding him like I never have before– it feels like a small turning point in my Spanish!!