A Wee Bit Early

I have figured out my new years resolution. Just one. It was brought to my attention in an adult education session at my church at the beginning of Advent. The idea is simple: spend according to your values. This idea has been on my heart during a season especially associated with spending money. Throughout the course of my life, it's very fair to say that I have not always spent money responsibly. I purchase things I want, or that others want. I don't really think about the impact of my spending.

In this new year fast approaching, I enter into covenant with God to identify my core values (via conversation with close ones and a prayer retreat offered by the leadership of my church); commit them to memory through meditation, prayer, and practice; acknowledge them daily in places I frequent (a list written on a note card taped to a mirror, a "sticky note" on my desktop, a list in my calendar); and make financial decisions based on these values.

I understand that there are portions of my financial commitments that cannot be changed (rent, bills, church pledge), yet there are things that I can control.

For example:

I do not value gluttony and excess, so I will not eat out as often as I have thus far in my life.

I do not value commercialism and materialism, so I will not purchase goods simply because they are on sale or because I have a coupon.

I do value equity and justice, so when I feel compelled to give someone a gift for a birthday or other special occasion, I will make a fair trade purchase.

There is much to learn, much to prepare. Praise God for the season of Advent, that has taught me how to wait and get ready. Amen.

What I Learned

Disclaimer: I could not be more grateful for my life and my family, and the opportunities that have been given to me over the last 21 years. I hope very sincerely that this gratitude is not doubted or forgotten.

That being said: people ask me what I learned in Ecuador. I tell them about language, about service, about culture shock, etc. One thing I shared with my best friend is this: this is the part where I live my life for myself.

In 7th grade, when I was a glorious pre-teen, we moved from Corning to Rochester. I had a new life, for the time being. I knew that when I graduated high school, there was a very good chance that Rochester would no longer be my home. As it was, my family was split up before I left. My mom and I ended up moving to Elmhurst to join my dad about 6 months after he accepted his call here. Home became Niebuhr Hall 211, sort of. Because then, it went to 3 Elm Creek Drive Apt 314, or Apt 116. Then home was West Hall 226A. Then it was Prospect Apt 4, but only for 4 months because then I lived at la esquina de Baron de Carondelet y Pablo Herrera for 4 and a half months. And now, I live at 1012 1/2 North Blvd Apt 42. My idea of home has rarely been defined about the physical place I live, but about the people with whom I share my life.

To be quite honest, I am sick of this. I want church community. I want to be able to serve on a committee and pledge. I want to quit filing change of address paper work. I want to get involved in my community. I want to go to seminary. I am called to seminary. Since sophomore year, I have felt called to Chicago Theological Seminary. I want to be in care with a solid church community. I want to belong somewhere. I want stability, and solidness. I want to be still. I want to get to know a place, and live in it. I want to explore Boys Town and Andersonville and Pilsen and ride the L.

I have spent my life moving and shaking in some way or another, and I really would like to take this opportunity to be still. Know God. Know myself. This weekend, I will be attending a Ministry as Vocation conference at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. After this weekend, I wonder how I will feel about seminary. I am wondering if it might be time...

Spring Break 2011

It's Tuesday, April 19. Christina calls: "Do you want to go to Galapagos for $400?"

And so it began. Instead of paying upwards of $1200 for a 5 day trip to the Galapagos Islands 525 miles off the coast of Ecuador, I paid $325. For this, I am very grateful. On the morning of Thursday April 21, I boarded an airplane with 15 others. With a stop in the coastal city of Guayaquil, we arrive in the Galapagos Islands early in the afternoon. Within one hour of landing, we've already seen crabs, sea lions, fish, and many different kinds of birds. I want to say that these islands are more beautiful than you've ever imagined. The sunset from our boat (Yate Amigo) was probably the most beautiful I have seen in my entire life. Many of us went to bed early the first night, after a brief orientation from our guide Andres and an excellent dinner, with the excitement bubbling inside for our first snorkeling adventure that we would have the next day.

And was it ever an adventure! Over the course of 3 days of snorkeling, we saw sharks, penguins, sea lions, sting rays, an octopus, and dozens of species of fish. The coral was beautiful. The current was strong and the water was warm. Snorkeling was also an excellent way to tan the entire back side of our bodies. I had never gone snorkeling before, so it was a really cool opportunity for me.

We did some walking on some islands to see things like sea lions and land iguanas. We also walked on an island that was a really cool mix of older island that had become more fertile and (relatively) fresh lava that had cooled in really neat patterns. I actually learned a lot. It was cool to pair that knowledge with the experience of sitting on top of our boat to really experience the way the waves crashed against the rocks in the distance or how the sun looked like it was just taking a rest along the horizon.

We spent two nights on the island of Santa Cruz. It felt so much different than Quito. Everyone and everything was more tranquilo. It was safe for us to walk around at dusk without worrying that our things would be stolen from us and without cat-calls. The first night, there was a small music festival that was really cool. The second night, I went to bed earlier to get up for an early flight back to the mainland. It was an easy day to travel- but I managed to take nearly every kind of transport Ecuador offers! We rode in a taxi/truck to a harbor where we took a boat across the way, took a shuttle bus to the air port, flew back only to take a typical taxi home, then to hop on an overnight bus to a beach! It felt like quite an accomplishment.

I went with some other friends to a beach called Puerto Lopez which is really close to a beautiful beach called Los Frailes. It was awesome as well because the beach was pretty empty since it was the middle of the week. We were able to leave our things on the beach while we all swam together, which was fun. We hiked up to a mirador to be greeted with a beautiful view of the sun kissing the cliffs in the distance and waves chasing each other to a distant shore. We spent a couple of our days there, being transported by (as Christina called it) a tuk tuk.

We also spent a day hiking around a place called Isla de la Plata. On the mainland, it's know as the "poor-person's Galapagos" because some of the same animals can be found there. It was a really cool day with awesome lunch on the boat before we did some more snorkeling. I also jumped off the top of the boat! It was a challenge for me because I'm not the biggest fan of heights, but it was something I wanted to do.

We headed back on Friday evening the 29 and it was one of the worst bus rides I've taken in Ecuador (second to Cuenca, where I was sick every hour) I made it, though, to gear up for the last week of classes and catch up on things before I head back to the states on May 15. The week is going well so far and I'll be back sooner than y'all know it!

Things of Late

01. Two exams, four essays, one presentation left: spread over 3 days of class.

02. Christina and I are in McDonald's and a little Ecuadorian girl says "hi girls" as she passes the first time, "hi girls again" the second.

03. We meet Marco from Germany. We proceed to prepare him his first ever s'more. He proceeds to eat 3 of them.

04. Quito floods- people evacuated from the Trolebús via little raft. Photo here.

05. The power goes out on our block because of aforementioned flood. I am showering, with shampoo in my hair and half of one leg shaved.

06. A lady is parked (literally) on the street corner. To my friend Juliana I say, "seriously?" The lady is right there and says "I'm sorry!" I see her son in the car and say "qué lindo!" (how pretty). I subsequently become the most awkward person of her day.

07. I pay a 25¢ bus fare with fifteen pennies and two nickels.

08. I take an Ecuadorian school bus a third of the way to school. For free.

09. I get irrationally possessive of the host family who is also wearing on me.

10. I register for my last fall semester of undergraduate work.

11. I become increasingly convinced that I will be the owner of a Mac before the end of summer.

12. I spend more than I earn in a month on gifts and souvenirs.

Ok I'm sick of writing like that haha. I really just want this semester to be finished (academically) and I am getting anxious to return to the U.S. but I also know I will cry my face off saying goodbye to my host family. I go back 4 weeks from today. By this time, I will be having Chinese food with my parents. I will go home and sleep in my own bed. I will get up the next day, get a hair cut then have lunch with Julie&Des&Laura. Then I will visit work, and the Niebuhr Center, and the Chaplain's Office. Then I will look for my roommate. I will ride my bike home alone in the dark and not be worried or scared. I am anxious for this..

I am beginning to dislike my volunteer work. It is strenuous to get up and go to work three times a week. I dislike being told the flowers I picked out are ugly. I dislike cutting my fingers when I prepare the vegetables. I especially don't like how I'm not convinced I made a damn bit of difference in the lives of the people I fed for 3 months. I am upset with my program coordinator for not having us write journals and cause us to make something out of this experiences. I am frustrated at the organization where I volunteer for not being more organized and having other things for me to do. I am, in general, just tired of this. Is it because I am not working toward justice?

I am also wondering if it is a spiritual thing. Lent has pretty much been nonexistent in my life while here. I have really not engaged with God in the ways I had hoped I would while here. The first time I prayed in a long time was when I found out Tucker (my dog) was showing signs of getting older and I asked God to help him wait until I got home so I could see him one more time. Between the service work I am doing and simply being in a new place, I anticipated being in a much different spiritual place at this point in my life. I'm not saying it's Gods fault; and I'm not necessarily saying it's my fault, either. All I feel confident in is the spiritual activity I will have when I return to a church community upon my return to the U.S.

So, I guess I am feeling a lot all at once but I also feel kind of disengaged from it.. I have my days and..there they are. I am running out of energy. I don't exactly know where to find it, either. Based on my last paragraph, you'd think I'd know the answer to that problem. I'll chug through the next four weeks and see where I end up.

Vlog

and these could be the happiest days of my life

There are not a lot of Ecua days left. It is kind of getting me down lately. I don't know how I want to feel. I love Ecuador. I am in love with Ecuador. I love the people, even when they annoy or scare me. I love the food, even after the fifth day in a row of having rice. I love the buses, even though they pollute the environment more than ten million aerosol cans. I love doing my laundry and hanging it up on the roof, even if that means nervously getting down to my last pair of underpants. I love the weather, even when I have the annoyance of carrying around a rain coat I won't use. I love the language, even when I have to ask my host family to repeat their sentences two and three times. I love my classes, even though I usually only understand about 80% of what is going on.

I am learning so much here, about myself and about others. I love that I can travel with such ease. It would appear that I'm going to be working intensely on spring break plans; I'm learning how to do all these things on my own. I learn how to ask for help even when I am scared to do so. I am learning how to have bad days and know that they are still a valuable part of my experience. Last night, I left my phone at the bar and I didn't freak out when I couldn't find it. I knew that it would all be alright. While I learned the phrase keep calm and carry on in England, I am learning how to live it in Ecuador. Things happen, but you just have to roll with the punches and work with what you've got.

It's easy for me to be frustrated. There are times when I ask a taxi driver if they know where a certain intersection or place is, and he says yes, and then proceeds to not know exactly where he's going. Or when my shades will not open for the life of me. Or when I trip over the comforter that is about twice as big as my bed. It's easy for me to get annoyed (at myself and others) when I can't convey what I want to say, especially when I feel like I have explained myself very clearly and they still miss the point (cough cough culture professor).

I know this is all over the place, but I just have so many feelings! I think putting them away is just a bad idea. All I really know is that I will not be here much longer and that is terrifying and exciting at the same time.

So, one time, I went to the Amazon

You heard right, loved ones. I spent last weekend exploring and living in part of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The university I attend co-sponsors a biodiversity station in a little place called Tiputini along the Tiputini River. The station is responsible for a lot of really cool research (more about that later) as well as hosting student groups like ours for trips as short as ours (a weekend) to some much longer (weeks or months).

Our trip began very early last Friday morning with about a 25 minute plane ride to a small city called Coca. Ecuadorian airport security is so much different than that in the US- as in, I accidentally got my pocket knife through security. We landed in Coca, which is about the smallest airport I have ever seen in my life. One could easily fit at least 100 of them in the size of O’Hare. We boarded a speedy little boat and set off for a two hour trip on the Rio Napo. We were also given (delicious) bag lunches. The ride down the river was absolutely gorgeous, despite the mud-brown water in which we were cruising. Milijana later informed me that it is that color because of different minerals and wildlife; I believe her. After that ride, we arrived at an oil reserve (which felt aptly out of place in the middle of a beautiful rainforest). Here, we had to go through a security check point and were prohibited from taking photos. We boarded a chiva which is an open aired bus. It was a pretty daunting two hour ride with little room to stretch. This was also a beautiful patch of jungle with some small homes here and there. We arrived at a bridge and climbed down a little path to the Rio Tiputini and got ready for another two hour ride to the station. On our way, we saw many birds and tortugas (turtles) hanging out on logs.

We arrived at the station and had a brief orientation then a break before dinner. We also met up to get our rubber boots that we used to hike all weekend. at this time, loved ones, the moment I dreaded most presented itself. I saw a tarantula. Thankfully, it was in the corner of a dark classroom we were not using. I said to my friend next to me while pointing in its general vicinity, “is that a tarantula?” She responded with, “I think so!” I promptly removed myself from that vicinity and hung out in the boot room. Everyone loved it, and I didn’t see another tarantula for the rest of the weekend! Dinner that night was pretty delicious, and we had so many Oreos. I wish I could remember what we did that night, but the memory se fue (say-fway). That was a joke of the weekend. Our guide, for example, would take us 50 meters off the path on a monkey hunt and then we’d get to where he thought they were and he would say “se fue”, “it left”. Anyway, the electricity is on during limited hours at the station, so we were in bed promptly at 9:30 when the lights went out.

It was appropriate because the next day we got up at 6 to be at breakfast by 6:30. Breakfast was also delicious. Pretty much every meal was delicious. We were in 3 groups; in the morning, the group I was in hiked to el lago (the lake). On the way, we saw many monkeys and insects, really cool plants and mushrooms. There are also hormigas (ants) in the rainforest that taste like lemon when one eats them. Guess what I did? That’s right! I ate ants. Live ones. Right off the stick! It was really awesome. We kept hiking to the lake only to find our little canoe FULL of water. Our guide, Ramiro, promptly began to empty out all the water while we all watched. I ended up in the front of the canoe with a paddle. I was grateful for all the canoe lessons at summer camp. We went for a turn around the lake, and it began to rain. And it rained REALLY hard. As in- all of my clothes were sopping wet. We had a boat ride back to the station because we didn’t have time to hike back. We had a break before lunch in which I changed my clothes (thank goodness). We had a delicious lunch then a descansa (rest).

After lunch, the group I was in went to the torre (tower)which rose to the canopy level of the rainforest. We were able to see birds and monkeys, as well as miles and miles of beautiful, uninterrupted rainforest. I can’t even begin to describe how surreal that was. We spent a good couple hours up there. We climbed back down (160 steps), hiked back, and had a little break before a great dinner. Then that night, we had a presentation about one of the projects the station is working on. They have set up motion and head activated cameras to take photos of nocturnal or rare animals. We saw photos of jungle cats, pig-looking things, and other different creatures. It was pretty stellar.

The next morning, bright and early, we went for a swim in the Rio Tiputini. It was so awesome; the current dragged us along the river in our lifejackets. There were no snakes or water tarantulas or piranhas, thankfully! We jumped off the front of the boat and the water wasn’t even that cold! I will be honest: I peed in the river. Four times. I promptly climbed back in the boat when someone mentioned seeing a water tarantula on the side of the boat. This was the best part: it began to rain, so what do we do? Climb out of the boat into the muddy jungle to look for monkeys. They were gone. So we pretty much just played in the mud.

We went back and had lunch; most of us just stayed in our swim clothes. After lunch, the group I was in went to the puentes (bridges). We were able to climb up about as high as the tower from the day prior and walk on rope bridges (with harnesses) between trees. There was also one that was 10 meters higher than where we were with a little platform to sit and stare around. Absolutely. Stunning. I can’t even think of a way to describe the creation I witnessed. I was terrified to climb the rickety ladder down, but it was still so amazing.

We climbed down, had a nice break then dinner. That night, we took a night trek through the woods with our guides. We saw spiders, some little snakes, and a ton of other bugs. My favorite part was when we turned off our flashlights and just listened to the jungle for a while. It was surreal and I felt so connected to everything. Absolutely amazing. I slept so well that night, so peaceful.

The next day, we did our travel in reverse and got back to Quito really late, but it was worth every second of downpour, every ounce of bug spray, and every terrified glance over my shoulder for a tarantula.

Thanks to my program, IPSL, for paying for this trip and giving me a fantastic opportunity to see part of the world otherwise hidden to me.

Love to you all.

Ecua Thoughts

Well, here I am, shockingly soon.

I was thinking today. I have forgotten what life feels like in the United States. It’s actually quite weird. I forgot what I do on the weekends, how I spend my time. I forgot how to procrastinate the same ways I always have (not to say I don’t procrastinate anymore). I have forgotten what it is like to always understand what is going on around me. I don’t remember (or maybe I have unlearned?) how to manipulate situations to make myself look better. [I’m actually hoping that one will stick…]

I think what I am feeling is humbled. Here, I am not always in control. I have learned how to be a student in a class, not a person who feels above doing homework. I do need to study, do my homework, manage my time. Here, school is coming first. While my classes are not always super, I always do the homework and try to do it well. Not being a master of the language has changed a lot of the way I live my life. I actually need to know the content of my courses because I can’t fluff up essays or quizzes like I could in English. I actually listen in class because if I don’t, I could miss something crucial to the lesson. Essentially, I have been reminded that I am only a person who still has a lot of learning to do, about a lot of things.

I mentioned a little bit about language; I’m kind of nervous to go back to the United States in 74 days. I am realizing that I am in love with Spanish. I want to speak it all day every day. I want to listen to it and talk with people in it. I am so scared that once I get back to the States, I will lose my language. [Shameless plug: if anyone would like to solely speak in Spanish together, please let me know.] I know I will need to make a serious effort to keep up with Spanish and keep learning, especially since I will have completed my major after this semester. Listening to Spanish music or watching tv/movies in Spanish is totally different (for me) than speaking and engaging the language. This will be a challenge, but I want it.

I also am feeling a little … unsettled in my Ecua home. There is nothing wrong with my lifestyle here, just more for me to learn. My apartment literally looks like a Pier One catalog. No one has their stuff anywhere; everything has a place, and if your things aren’t hidden away, it looks shockingly off. This is quite different from what I am used to. If anyone saw my bedroom (ever), one would see posters and pictures and things that individualize me all over the place. That’s something about the Ecua culture that I’m learning more about- collectivism. Just another challenge, but sometimes it gets to me. This morning, for example, I hung my towel over the shower curtain rod to dry properly (normally it hangs on my closet door handle). When I got home today, it was hung back on my door handle. I just didn’t understand why it needed to be moved when no one showered in that bathroom after I left today, no one was home during the day to see it, and we keep the bathroom doors closed almost all the time anyway. I am a person who likes a little mess in her life. It’s been a challenge to learn to live in a very clean, organized way. I will be anxious to see how I balance this in my own place when I get back to the States.

Logistically, I have one more day of both class and volunteering this week. I’ll likely end up leaving volunteering a little early on Friday. This weekend is extended (Monday and Tuesday off from school) to celebrate Carnaval, which is similar to Mardi Gras celebrations. Some of us are heading to a beach for the weekend, pending availability of bus tickets! Carnaval is a huge weekend here, so many people already have tickets. Hopefully we’ll get something worked out. Next week, I have some tests, presentations, and essays happening. It’ll be busy, but I hope to tackle it with a good attitude.

Love to you all.

For Nelson

I've been meaning to blog for a while, but Nelson finally called me out on not writing! So here's an update.

Today, I am sick. I woke up and decided that being around older people with older immune systems (let alone preparing them breakfast and lunch) was not the greatest way I could serve them. I subsequently told my host-cousin I was going back to bed and have been in it ever since. I slept until 11:30 and am on my second movie of the day. I know it might sound like I'm wasting a day, but I'd rather take this time to get better.

Last weekend, I went to a place called Baños. It was ...an adventure. I left volunteering early to head all the way to the south of Quito. I figured out how to get to the second bus station with the help of two other exchange students. I waited around for a bit; there were some scheduling changes with the folks with whom I was traveling. We got our tickets and headed out around 4. That put us in Baños pretty late, but we went out and had a great night. No Ecuadorian's asked me to dance, but that is perfectly fine with me.

We got up the next day and this began my adventure. We had a delicious breakfast at our hostel, then we went horseback riding. I had a hard time deciding if it was an ethical thing for me to do; I didn't like how the horses were dragging their feet or how they didn't get a water break the whole time we were out. I also didn't like that the guide would give them a smack on the hind legs with a thin branch to get them moving. Apparently, my horse was in a bad mood that day, according to my guide. And according to the fact that he kicked a friend's horse in the chest. We got to go see a cool waterfall, then we headed back. Some of the group went puenting, which is essentially bungee jumping without the bungee. I could never do it; I'm so proud of my friends who did.

At this point, I become super melodramatic. The wind blew some dust into my eye that didn't come out until we went to a clinic 4 hours later. More on that in a second. We went canyoning, which is repelling down waterfalls. It could have been a lot of fun for me, but I was mostly just crying and keeping my eye(s) closed because it hurt so much. It was cool to be lowered down a waterfall, but I wish I could have appreciated it more. After that, it was an adventure to the clinic for me. I really appreciate the people who were with me. While sand in the eye sounds like a pretty lame thing to freak out about, I was freaking out like you wouldn't believe. The doctor put some solution in my eye (and didn't poke me in the eye with a needle like I thought he was going to!), got a q-tip and removed the foul grain, as well as an eyelash. He prescribed some anti-inflammatory pills as well as drops (gotas) because the sand had irritated the surface of my eye. I went back to the hostel and slept until the next morning. Other folks went out for dinner, drinks, and a chiva (open bus with music) up the mountain. I was just glad to close my eyes.

The next morning, some of us went to check out the basilica in town, which was gorgeous. After that, we ran pretty late, but four of us took another chiva to see some of the waterfalls; they were absolutely stunning. We got to climb down a mountain and see a beautiful waterfall up close. The hike back up was intense, though! Our other friends rode bikes and went to a different waterfall; because of this, they arrived super close-to-late for our bus home. One of the people in our group did an awesome job stalling the bus for 15 minutes while people made their way. The bus ride home, after that, was restful. It was nice to get back to Quito.

Last night, I went bowling with my family and another exchange student who lives across the hall from me. It was fun. I scored a 44. Roughly. I got a strike on my first ball, and then proceeded to not knock down any pins for about 4 more frames. Yessss.

So, on the whole, I am tired. Mentally, physically. I am close to half way complete with my adventure here, and that scares me. It means that I have to start thinking about my future and I really don't like that. I am in a weird lull/funk and I hope to get out of it soon. Next weekend is Carnaval and so we have two days off from school; I don't really know where I'm going. We'll see! Sorry this isn't much of an entry, but it's still something, right?

A Few Things I've Learned the Hard Way

01. Just because I'm white doesn't mean I have privilege anymore.

02. The rays of the sun actually do burn more severely along the equator.

03. Just because it's wireless doesn't mean it's free.

04. Men will cat call you regardless of what you look like.

05. But not always.

06. A semester is a really long time.

07. The day you accidentally have more than $15 on you is the day you will get robbed.

08. In a city of nearly 3 million people, there are people who will return your belongings, even though all the cash is gone.

09. Professors will not always care that your first language is not the same as theirs.

10. "Mandatory" does not always mean mandatory.

11. Spanish. (a thing I am learning the hard way...)

12. Life moves forward even when you feel like you're moving sideways.

13. You can't always be known.

14. Things won't always be fixable with an prettily worded e-mail.

15. Just because you're different doesn't mean you should expect everyone accommodate you.

16. But there is always an opportunity for conversation and learning.

17. Holding grudges doesn't really get you anywhere.

18. When the orientation leader says that that tarantulas are not more afraid of you than you are of them, he is not kidding.

19. It doesn't do any good to be afraid.

20. "Things change. And friends leave. And life doesn't stop for anybody." [Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky]

Estoy loca como el tigre

Hola a todos J

I have two and half things to update you about!

½. Night out in La Mariscal

Now, you may or may not know this, but I don’t really do the club scene. That’s what study abroad is for, isn’t it? Doing things one normally wouldn’t? I went out to La Mariscal, aka Gringo Land, to hang out with some friends and enjoy some Ecuadorian nightlife. We were at a cool Beatles-themed bar called Strawberry Fields Forever. I had a really nice chat with one of the people who was there, and I really came out of my shell. We left around 11:30 or so to head over to another place called Bungalow? I kind of forgot. (No, it wasn’t *that* kind of night!) The $5 cover was worth it, as we got a free drink as well as a whole night of what I considered decent music. They played a bunch of songs that are popular in the U.S. as well as some Ecuadorian tunes I am growing to love. We danced until about 2:30 when we left La Mariscal. I got asked to dance by a mildly awkward, potentially older person. I promptly was my awkward self and we sort of danced while I maintained a safe distance. After one song, he told me “ya venga” (I’ll come back) and didn’t approach me for the rest of the night. I really wouldn’t have had it any other way. I got home and in bed by around 3:00 a.m. …

01. Day-trip to Papallacta

… to get up around 6:45 a.m. to head out to Papallacta! There are only two words I can use to describe Papallacta, and it’s really a phrase so it’s kind of like one word: hot springs. We’re talking natural baths of hot water, sometimes warmer than a hot tub. We had to get there first: the group of us who went met up around 8:30 a.m. at the bus stop where we get off to go to school, so it was easy. For a city of just under 3 million, Quito sure is quiet on a Saturday morning. Our $2.50 bus ride to Papallacta was so worth it. When we arrived, we hopped in “el balde” (the back of a pick-up truck) for a 2.7 km ride to the springs. The view around us was absolutely Stunning (upper-case denotation was very necessary). We got there, changed into our suits, put on about 50 layers of sunscreen collectively (which did me a fat lot of good!) and hung out in the first pool. After a while, we got too warm so we sat out for a bit before heading to some of the other pools (which got progressively warmer). Thankfully, the frigid river was right next to the hottest pool. One of my friends slipped on some rock and cut up his foot, but the medics were able to fix him up nicely. After he was all fixed up, we went and got some lunch. I had churrascos (some beef, avocado, rice, lentils,etc) and jugo de mora (blackberry juice but so much better). We went back to hang out in the springs for a bit before changing and heading back to Quito. The bus showed a disgusting film and I had to stand for most of the 90 minute drive, which was fine. At this point, I was sunburned and super tired, so it would have been nice to sit. Ah well! All in all, a relaxing and beautiful day at the hot springs!

02. First day of Volunteering

Today was my first day at La Fundacion de Abuelitos y Abuelitas de la Calle, which is an organization for elderly people, mostly with lonely low-income lives. I managed to get there on time while using a new bus route and not knowing exactly where to go. (Those who remember my early fear of the buses should be proud!) It started slowly in the morning around 8 a.m. but I was able to sit and chat with some abuelitas, Maria and Josefina. They are beautiful people. I hope to see them again on Wednesday, as well as meet some more folks. I spent the whole day in the kitchen helping prepare breakfast and lunch for about 100 people. It was easier than one might imagine to fit in to a system that many people already understand. I met some volunteers from Germany as well as a person from Wisconsin. She’s here before her study abroad experience in Chile. It was fun to spend time with her, as well as help the volunteer from Germany communicate with some of the Ecuadorian volunteers. She doesn’t speak much Spanish yet. Today for lunch was soup of angel hair pasta, rice/lentils/veggies, salad (aka lettuce, cucumber, & lime juice), a piece of fruit, and juice. It’s amazing to see the system these people have in place to serve the people who need it. It’s also amazing to think that all the food we used today was going to go to waste otherwise because it couldn’t be sold in the supermarket. I stayed around and helped to clean up the kitchen afterward as well. I put in 7 hours today, out of 200! Maybe each post I’ll let you know where I’m at in my service. J I am already looking forward to going back on Wednesday. I think it was good that I was able to help in the essential functions of the organization today, in order to feel like I wasn’t just coming in to hang out. Before I headed home (which took two buses instead of one, which was an adventure!) I bought an empanada that was made by a person who works with us, and all sales go right back to the organization. I liked that.

On another note, I have a cold. I love my host parents for how they are helping. My dad said that he’ll make sure to get some tissues when he’s at the supermarket next, and gave me some vitamin c tablets. My mom made me some limeade-tea-with-honey and gave me (what I think/hope was) a decongestant, or cold medicine. My body is stressed right now with that, intense sunburn, and some other things, but I think I’ll be alright!

Thanks for reading this whole thing! Love to you all.

Aventura #1

Hello, friends!

This past weekend, I took my first vacation in Ecuador! Eleven of us went to Mindo, which is about 2.5 hours west of Quito. I took a different bus line to get there, so I arrived at the station late. Thankfully, there were enough tickets left for me to get one with the group. My friend Cynthia was the only person I knew, but by the end of the weekend I felt pretty comfortable with everyone who was there. The ride to Mindo was windy, but gorgeous. We arrived and it was raining... and it didn't really stop for most of the weekend. The person who owned the hostel came and picked us all up in his van so we didn't need to walk in the rain. Mindo doesn't have street names, you see, so it would have been tricky to get there on our own anyway. We got settled in and then went out to dinner, in the rain. There went my straight hair! I looked like a hot mess the whole weekend. I shared mushroom pizza with some folks and we all decided the plan for the next day. We went out to a couple bars that night, and I really only liked the second one because it was more open and a little quieter. We got in pretty late, but were still prepared for our adventure the next day.

We got up and had breakfast at 8 then proceeded on to zip lining! $13 for 13 zip lines! We also didn't sign any waivers or anything, which is TOTALLY different compared to the US. We got into our harnesses and helmets, heard safety instructions, and got started! If you're on facebook, check out photos from my album called ¨So, I Only Have a 20...¨ (I´ll explain more about that title later!) Like I said, there were 11 of us, and we had two guides as well. The first guide went across, then it was our turn! The first cable was slower and steadier than many of the rest, so it was a good one with which to start. I went toward the end of the group, and I was only a little nervous the first time. After that, I just wanted to keep going ALL day. The hikes between the lines were a little stressful to my out-of-shape self, but I made it. Eventually, we were given the opportunity to try 2 different positions: the mariposa (butterfuly) or the Superman. The mariposa has your body in the shape of a Y with your body hanging upside down and your legs forming the top part of the Y. You and the guide go simultaneously and the guide holds your body in place, which I found quite comforting. I didn´t try the mariposa but I did do the Superman, twice! For this, you wrap your legs around the torso of the guide and cross your legs behind the guide´s back and put your arms out like you´re flying, like Superman does. I can´t even describe the view; gorgeous is an understatement.

After ziplining (remember, it was raining the whole time!), we decided to go tubing down the river. For starters, we´re cold and wet. Then we get in the river in this huge tube raft. I am wearing my bathing suit and a t-shirt. There are 4 of us in the raft, 2 guides to steer, and 1 guide to sit in the middle to grab us if we start to fall out. For an illustration of how intense this river was: a trip that normally takes 30 minutes took us 12. The river was going SO fast and the waves were huge. We went down a couple 2-3 foot drops (!) and slid over some rocks. It was QUITE an adventure, and while it was probably the craziest thing we did all weekend, it was an awesome time. One person fell out of the raft behind us, but thankfully she is alright and the third raft scooped her up into their raft. We rode home standing up in the back of a pick up truck. Cold. Wet. Slap happy.

We hung around, went out to eat, came back, went to the bar. (At this point, I had essentially run out of money. And everyone else only had 20s, which are about as helpful in Ecuador as a winter jacket.) We met some people from Germany at our hostel, invited them out, and talked to them in Spanish. Oddly enough, it helped me feel more comfortable in my language. We came back and some folks got up the next day to go bird watching. I chose not to because later this semester, I´m taking a trip to a biodiversity station in Tiputini, so I figured I would just see animals then. (And I didn´t have $8!) The few of us that didn´t go walked around Mindo (aka turned left not right down the main road). It was pretty. The other folks came back and we were going to try and go to the waterfall but we ended up not having enough time. Instead, we walked down the road to find access to the river. We hung out there for a while; some of us collected beautiful stones to bring home. We took our bus back to Quito, and I went home to my Ecuadorian family.

What I can say about traveling outside of Quito is that for the first time, I felt like I was enjoying my life here. I liked getting away from the noise, the hustle and bustle. I liked letting my guard down a little. I think traveling away from Quito is going to be how I learn to love Quito. We shall see. Love to you all!

Let's Do Some Processing

Hello, friends!

Things I've told you so far in this blog:

01. I made it.

02. My address. (WINK.)

03. I survived my first day of school.

04. Advice to anyone thinking of studying abroad.

05. Details about my classes.

I've noticed that I haven't exactly dedicated an entry to how I feel, how I'm doing. So that is where this entry comes in. Apologies if it seems all over the place; welcome to my life as of the last 3 weeks.

Someone asked me today how things have been so far. I give it a 5/10. Don't be downtrodden, friends. It's a rising 5. There have been some frustrations, which I will share, but there have also been some great moments that will turn into the things I remember most.

So, there are frustrations with my program. It's to the point where I've started keeping a list of things I need to write on the evaluation form which I assume I will get at the end of my time here. There are 5 students who will complete this program in the Galapagos Islands, and 2 of us that will complete it in Quito. This is one of the smallest turn outs from this program about which I have heard. There are times when I feel like an after thought to the people whose job it is to handle my presence in Ecuador. While I am growing to understand the circular sense of time here, I still have trouble with it when my program coordinator calls my home at 9:00 am to tell me we have a meeting at noon that day. I feel like there will be continued problems, and I have been encouraged to (frankly) advocate for myself. At this point, though, I have gotten over whatever conflict there has been by the end of whatever day it happened.

Simultaneously, I am very excited because my interview for my service placement is tomorrow. When in the meeting and asked about my interests for the placement, I somehow threw up the words "adultos mas viejos". Old people; geriatrics. I have never worked in geriatrics in my entire life. Yet, somehow (God?), those words felt correct, felt good. I'll update again when I have more information about my service work.

.

I have been struggling socially. I am the only student at USFQ from Elmhurst College, and one of two students utilizing my program in Quito. For the first week or so that I was here, I felt like I was in survivor mode. I forgot that I had social skills and could make friends. There are large groups of students from Boston, Michigan, and other places. I've found it difficult (since the first time I saw students at the Quito gate in the airport) to simply approach anyone and say "hi, people tell me I'm cool. wanna be friends?" I have been okay on my own until about now. It's been nice to have some alone time to decompress, especially after (what felt like) a very demanding semester in the fall. The good news is, I am working on it. I won't say a lot here just in case Ecuador exchange students creep my blog, but I feel that there are many opportunities for potential, and I anticipate that I will be social soon enough.

I can say, with joy, that my host family has been nothing but kind and patient with me. Any frustrations I feel are with myself not being able to communicate the way I one day hope to. They make my meals, take me shopping, help me find the right words when I struggle to find them. My mom washed my sheets and made my bed today; my dad made some fresh, warm lemonade (which I think is actually limeade?) and brought it to me in my room while I wrote this. I really enjoy being in their lives, and I think I have already underestimated their impact on my time here.

People ask me if I miss Elmhurst. I'll tell you what I do miss: living on campus. Class starts for me at 8:30 am. I leave my house circa 7:15, so I get up around 6:30. That is much earlier than I would like! It also takes me a while to get home, and I must do so before dark. I have to leave campus around 4, 4:30 at the latest to do so comfortably. (side note: I took the wrong bus home yesterday and ended up just getting off and taking a taxi instead) So, yes, I miss the freedom I have of living safely in Elmhurst, but I think there is a lot for me to learn while being forced to manage my time differently here.

I'll be real. I am worried about money. Let me be clear: this is not me asking for donations to my Ecuador fund. I did that at Christmas. I am just saying that there are so many opportunities here, and I want to make sure I am taking advantage of them wisely. I am hoping my financial aid processes quickly, but I am almost certain that won't happen to the middle of the semester (aka after I want to plan a trip to Galapagos). I just need to budget a bit better; I've splurged some on the $1 ice cream on the way home, and the $3 bagel/lemonade combo a few times. It won't sound like a lot, but it adds up quite quickly. I can bring some lunch from home.. some bread and fruit. Maybe get ice cream every couple of weeks, not once a week. We will see.

I would comment on my spiritual life here, but it's not really happening. I've been to mass a couple times with my family, and there's something beautiful about scripture in Spanish. Simultaneously, I am recognizing how much I value my protestant (specifically, UCC) ties. Jesus on a cross in the front of the sanctuary reminds me of how much I can't do in life, or how much I can't be. The empty cross reminds me of how much I can do with new life, new hope. I wonder if I will find God in the Amazon, in nature, or in other people. I hope to. I think I need to quit hoping God will find me and start putting God in the important aspects of my life. A relationship is still made of parts, regardless of how much more amazing one part is over the other.

So, thank you to those who read this whole thing. I hope you can see now how I mean my experience is a rising 5/10, with so much potential to grow into an experience I will value for the rest of my life. I love you all, and appreciate your support.

One two three four

Hola a todos y todas :)

My last entry was not as in-touch with my life as some of you might have liked. That sounded super vain, but I know that many of you choose to read this to find out what the heck I'm doing in South America. For this reason, I will give you a school-related update. :)

I am taking four classes, just like I would at Elmhurst. I scheduled it so they would be only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. International students can't take classes that end after 6 because most of us have at least a 20 minute commute by bus (an hour in my case) with some walking as well and it isn't exactly the safest thing for us to be doing after dark.

Class #1: Introduction to Ecuadorian Culture

My earliest class at 8:30-9:55 is getting off to a slow start. We met the first day of classes with Cristina, but she has had some health issues preventing her from teaching our class consistently. Thus, class had been cancelled until today with our new professor. She had us chatting with each other and going over local Ecuadorian vocabulary. I really like that. It's neat, also, to see how much slang comes from Quechua. This class doesn't seem really challenging yet, so we'll see how the course evolves!

Class #2: Intermediate Conversation

I think I am going to really enjoy this course. It meets right after Culture, so I think it will be a nice pick-me-up. My professor is really dynamic and engaging. Today is the first day it met, so we're just getting started. Tuesdays are individual presentations. Guess who volunteered to go first? This kid. I figured I should get it out of the way now so I don't need to worry about it when I have volunteer hours to fill (see class #4). I have to choose an article, find 12-15 new vocabulary words, making a vocab sheet for the class with the definitions/synonyms, present the article to the class and use those vocab words, then create 3 open ended questions to spur class discussion. Thursdays are pair presentations following a very similar format. We also got a HUGE packet of what our professor described as vocab that English speakers almost always struggle with when learning Spanish. I look forward to mastering that list.

Class #3: History and Theory of Photography

Well, I had started in a drawing class. After a series of unfortunate events (teehee), I decided to drop that course. I am currently pleased with that decision. I signed up for this class because I believe it will still fulfill my Fine Arts general education requirement at Elmhurst. (It better!) I missed the first two classes but I am confident that I will still be successful. And it requires no artistic skill, thank goodness.

Class #4: Anthropology 316

This course has a really long title and I don't remember it. It's the course only IPSL students can take. There are 5 students who are doing their service placement in the Galapagos Islands and two of us in Quito. We meet sporadically to discuss readings about community development, volunteerism and such things. With this course, I'll be placed in a service agency in Quito where I will complete 200 hours of work with it. I'm nervous and excited. If I understand correctly, we'll be finding out our sites in a couple weeks after we do some visits. I'm pretty open to anything but I'd really like to not teach English to little children. *insert rant about education faults* :P

So those are my classes! Other things I have since done at school include:

-asked where the photo books are in the library

-found the photo books

-checked out a book from the library

-ate in the cafeteria (mushrooms, what?)

-gotten money from the ATM

-gotten my (free!) planner from the information desk

-used the computer labs

-napped near the lagoon

-gone to the bathroom (finding it was a challenge in itself!)

All in all, I'd say I am a pretty successful person. My next challenge will be using the copy center. That will happen on Monday or Tuesday.

Peace to you all.

Initial Reactions

For study abroad at Elmhurst, we have to write an entry to be posted here for future students to read. This is what I wrote.

Hola a todos y todas!

My name is Ally, and I am spending 132 days studying in Quito, Ecuador. As I write this, I have been here for 15 of them. I want to tell you about some things I like.

01. I like lists. Lists are crucial. I made a list of things I wanted to pack and people I needed to see before I left. Now that I’m here, I make lists of things to buy at the pharmacy and words to look up in my Spanish-English dictionary. Learn to love lists. When everything is unfamiliar in your new country, having something of which you’re in control is oddly stabilizing.

02. I like Skype. Download it. Learn how to use it. Tell anyone you love to get it. 5 minutes on a video chat with your partner or parent can change your day from awful to manageable. (iChat/AIM also suffices.)

03. I like knowing where I am. When you get to your country, find out what the closest *thing* is to you so when other students ask you where you live, you can tell them. For example, I live in the northern part of Quito off Av. America. Saying that is a lot more useful than saying, “uhh… I take a red bus, get off by the big satellite dish, then walk two more blocks.”

04. I like Harry Potter. While I’m not necessarily asking you to be a HP fan, make sure you bring your *thing* with you. Be it your favorite movie, book, photos, letter from your bestie: bring it with you. You will not regret leaving that one t-shirt at home in order to make room for it.

05. I like taking my time. That being said, if you are reading this and have not applied for your visa: do it! Seriously!

06. I like my iPod. Whatever your musical outlet: sync it, charge it, bring extra batteries. On a lonely night, having your jams will make all the difference. Also: invest in some black headphones. White scream “please steal me and the technology to which I am attached!”

07. I like classes. Seriously consider the courses you plan to take. Take some time looking at what is offered. Sign up for classes that fit for you while still stretching your horizons. For example, History and Theory of Photography is not a class I would choose to take at Elmhurst. Never limit yourself to how many new things you can choose to try abroad.

08. I like being safe. Listen to your program directors about safety precautions in your country. At the same time, take it with a tiny grain of salt. Imagine what they’d have to say about Chicago.

09. I like change. This is probably one of few times you’ll have the opportunity to live and learn in another country. I got on my flight to Quito not wanting to go. But here’s the thing: you go, and you adapt. Your new culture will have so much to teach you if only you let it.

10. The last thing I like is a phrase I learned on my first study abroad experience in England. It goes like this: “keep calm and carry on”. When you get nervous, scared, or feel like you can’t do it, take a breath. Really.

Remember this, as Christopher Robin said to Pooh, “you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” This is part of your Elmhurst experience, just as studying in Quito is part of mine. Even if I had this list when I was in your shoes, I would have been just as scared as I was to leave my comfort zone. For what it’s worth: if I can do this, anyone can!

Chao, y Buena suerte!

First Day of School! First Day of School!

Hola a todos y todas!

The first person to tell the class from where the title of today's blog entry comes will win a prize. Of a hug. When I get back to the states. :)

So, as the title suggests, today was my first day of class! I successfully navigated the bus, with some help from Nena. She is the person who lives in our apartment whose name I did not know right away! I subsequently got to my first class on time, unlike the professor! It's a Spanish for Foreigners class, so everyone (minus one Canadian) is from from the United States. I feel competent and confident in my ability to succeed in the class, which is Introduction to Ecuadorian Culture. There is a chap, Kevin, from Carbondale, and another person who goes to U of I. When Alexis heard me say Elmhurst College, she got really excited. I'll likely ask her about on Thursday. I talked a bit with the professor during the get-to-know-each-other activity because there are an odd number of us. I also contributed probably more than the rest of the class? For some reason, I feel more confident here than in the States. Maybe this is because I need to use Spanish more in my every day life? There's no way to check out of the language.

Normally, after this first class, I would go to an Intermediate Conversation course, but it won't start until next week. Subsequently, I had 4 1/2 free hours! I found a nice spot on some grass and read for two hours. I got up to stretch and see if anyone was in the IPSL office (fail) and Kevin from Carbondale ran into me and we went to get lunch. It was a bit awkward because I would ask questions and he would say "yes", "no", or other such responses. It was nice to get off campus with a potential buddy. I came back to campus, and met someone else named Emily near the international office as well. I read more on the grass. I am proud to say that I read all of Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian in one day! Thursday, I will likely end up finishing Voyage of the Dawn Treader. At 2:30, I went to my art class. That will be ...intense because I am not an artist. It was good to hear that we will not be graded on skill. I need a ton of art supplies and will likely purchase them tomorrow morning before my first Service-Learning class. I am one of two international students in a class of 5. The other persons name is Lauren.

After class, I came home. I can anticipate already that I will grow tired of the commute. It's about an hour long. I almost got on the wrong bus home, but I (obviously) made it! So, the bus challenge? I'd say that is conquered. See my facebook for the photos of the view I had out my bedroom window when I got home.

Con amor-

Snail Mail

Hola a todos y todas!

Some of you have been asking for my mailing address, and this is what was given to me in my orientation handbook!

Allyson Vertigan, IPSL Quito

c/o Programas Internacionales

Universidad San Francisco de Quito

Campus Cumbayá: Diego de Robles S/N y Pampite,

Urb. Jardines del Este

PO Box 17-12-841

Quito-Ecuador

I hope you all are well!

Con amor-

¡que chévere!

Hola amigos y amigas!

It is difficult to not continue this entry en Español because I am already learning so much here. If you haven't heard, I am spending the next 4 months in Quito, Ecuador. I arrived on January 4 in the late hours of the night and have since been challenged and stretched in ways I didn't know I could be. I know first that I will never complain again of an awkward silence! It's even more difficult when the people in the room are talking so quickly you think you'll never catch any of it!

My host family is really neat! I have a host mom, Karla, and her husband, Gabriel. I am pretty sure there is a third person who lives here, but I have actually forgotten her name! I live in a gorgeous apartment, probably about the same size as my parents' apartment at home. I have my own room, and it is blue! I have a bathroom that I use, but I don't know that it is my own, so I keep my shampoo and things in my room. Today, I unpacked all my clothes into my closet, which makes me feel more at home.

I met some of Karla's family: her mom, and sister. I also met Gabriel's mom; she walked with me from the bus today. I will admit: I am a bit nervous about one of the buses I have to take. Karla took me one way in the morning and I went a different way with Gabriel's mom, and I don't exactly know the neighborhood well, so I don't exactly know where to get off the bus. I guess I will just try and do the exact same thing I did today and hope that I can find it. I don't really have a choice, I guess! My second bus is easier because it goes directly to the university.

Today was orientation at the university. There are about 200 international students; there is one other person in my program. Two of the classes I chose to take are in the category of Spanish for Foreigners, so I imagine there will be international students in them.

Buh. I have a bit of a pit in my stomach when I think about the bus.. ah well! I will figure it out, somehow. Part of the adventure, right? Well, off to bed for me! I want to catch as much sleep as I can before I start classes on Tuesday.