Acostumbrandome

After about a week in Quito I’m just beginning get accustomed. Sometimes it feels like relearning basic skills over again; how to say hello, how to ride the bus, and even how to use the shower. After taking a very cold shower one morning I learned that I have to go outside and set the gas on fire to heat it up... (guess it's time to get over my fear of matches).

On Saturday we visited Capilla del Hombre, an art museum that features Guayasamín's art. It was incredibly moving and beautiful. His paintings and sculptures focus on suffering - political oppression, racism, poverty, lack of rights. My hermanita (host sister) came with the group and told me all sorts of indigenous legends about Pacha Mama. 

"I cried because I didn't have shoes until I saw a child who didn't have feet"

Sunday we went on a very tiring bike ride around the historical center of the city. On Sundays the city closes down some streets just for pedestrians and bikes. It was a beautiful day to go for a bike ride, but was difficult because of the altitude. (Groton is at about 1,700 feet, while Quito is about 9,300 feet above sea level). 

Today I had my interview for my internship at FENOCIN, an organization that works with indigenous peoples, afro-ecuadorians and campesinos. And, very importantly of course, they have an adorable, but very travieso kitten who hangs out in the office and really enjoyed trying to rip apart my bag and jump on my lap.  

And then there's Nina, my host family's dog. Every family here has dogs, used to "guard" the house, but really they just bark constantly behind the walls and gates and scare pedestrians. When I first moved in I was terrified of Nina because she barked and growled at me so much. After just a couple days she now sleeps on my bed with me while I take naps.  

I brought my host sister bananagrams in Spanish as a gift and we tried to play it today. Unfortunately the internet lied to me and the game only has English letters. It made it really difficult to play in Spanish, given the lack of vowels and my pretty limited vocab. 

Other fun things: I had my first go at canguil, a popcorn soup. I was skeptical when my host momma brought a simple green soap to the table and a huge bowl of popcorn, and everyone began throwing the popcorn in the soup, but it was delicious.

In other news, I know my Spanish is getting better because today I had to make about five calls to family back in Pillaro to give them my new cell number and I was actually able to communicate effectively over the phone (so hard in Spanish) without too much "um...repeat please? and again? and again?" I'm making progress!

A Week in San Juan

I’m back in Quito, all moved in and cozy with my host family and (YAY) with internet. HECUA starts this afternoon because the students who arrived last night got in really late, since most flights from the US to Quito arrive and leave in the middle of the night.

The past week in Pillaro was a bit of a whirlwind, with momma and I trying to see as many friends as possible while we were there. I got in a whole lot of Spanish practice beefing up on my sierra region lingo. People add diminutives to everything, like making luego, meaning later, into luegito. I also learned a bit of Quechua. My favorite word is gua gua (pronounced wa wa), which means baby or child. My second favorite, and the most used, is achachay (try saying it – it’s fun), meaning BRRRRRR or “good god it’s really, really cold”. I must have said it a million times a day – San Juan was frigid. So cold that you crawl into bed right after dinner, around 7pm, under at least 6 heavy blankets and preferably with someone else and then try to stay warm. Apparently August is the coldest month of the year. I’ll be glad to be back in January when it’s warmer.

As usual, I loved seeing our compadres and I’ll definitely be going back to visit when I get the chance this semester. Growing up in farmland, it’ll be nice to escape the city to the fresh air, cows and friends.

On a side note, unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, I did not manage to escape unaffected by Montezuma's Revenge (or more appropriately here, Rumiñahui's Revenge). Sadly, no amount of water boiling, vegetable peeling and avoiding street food is foil-proof. Oh well. 

On our way up to the Paramo, where everyone keeps their cows. About 7km up the mountain. Before everyone used to walk it, twice a day, carrying the milk down on their backs. Now, with roads and camionetas (trucks) people can catch rides. No wonder so much of the news in El Comercio is about carreteras (roads) because they make a huge difference in efficiency and quality of life. 

“YUM look what’s for dinner!” Just kidding, I’m vegetarian. But really, guinea pigs, called cuy, are a REALLY special dish here.

Me and Mr. Llamingo.

Here people use their walls and their houses to write messages. The most common I’ve seen? “For sale, call…”, political messages about Correa and voting campaigns.

Me and my comadrita, resting after going over a very scary waterfall in Baños. 

Me Voy!

Sitting in Atlanta on an ungodly layover, I'm getting the butterflies - in about ten hours I will finally be in Quito!

First I'll be traveling a few hours outside of Quito, to a town near Pillaro, with my Momma to visit our compadres. I can't wait for some Locro de Papa (potato soup with melted cheese), bread straight from the bakery, and a chance to practice my cuarenta skills. (Cuarenta is Ecuador's national card game and by far my favorite.) 

I'll be moving in with my host family before my program, HECUA, begins on September 6th. I'm thrilled that my family includes two teenagers - kids can be the very best teachers because they're not so afraid to offend. If I do something stupid, like using the wrong word (apparently coger el autobus, which means to catch the bus, has a very different and inappropriate meaning in some countries), kids will have no reservations laughing at me and letting me know I'm made a mini faux pas.

Ciao for now! 

Packed and ready to go!