Okay, so I realized I hadn´t written in a while and I figured I should. It´s not as though nothing has happened in the last two weeks. I had a date with an Ecuadorian boy. Then I dumped said Ecuadorian boy. There is a lot more I could say about that....but I won´t. You´ll have to ask me when I get back.
I also went to Otavalo market and bought a whole bunch of cool handmade things. Otavalo is about 2.5 hours from Quito and is a mainly indigenous area. The market is enormous, everything is cheap, and everything is handmade. We´re going back in 9 days and I plan to buy even more stuff! That will be part of our 3 day stay with indigenous families which I am pretty excited about.
I gave my first workshop in a school all by myself and several more after that - on the subjects of sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, and love. That was fun. I am getting a quite a vocabulary to talk about sex, haha. The weather in Quito has been really nice and sunny lately but no change of season and a real dearth of flowers and green space. I can´t believe I´m missing spring! This weekend I might go to Mindo. My house is quieter now because my brother left to go to France for two weeks but I like it, especially in the mornings. I should probably take advantage and try to sleep in while I can. Once he comes back my mom will scream at him every weekday at 6:45 that he is going to miss the bus.
And....I WANT TO COME HOME. I know it is only a month till I go to Galapagos but that seems like a long time right now. I really don´t know if I´m gonna make it. Ugh. Last week I was so busy and happy but now I am bored again. Boredom = homesickness. I should probably try to find something to do, huh?
In other news, I am getting really sick of being sexually harassed everywhere I go. There is one guy in particular who I work with who I really think is a creepy sexual predator. Next time he says something inappropriate I´m afraid I might snap. I honestly am SUPER uncomfortable with him but it is a cultural difference so I think I´m expected to just deal with it. And it might be more awkward if I tried to tell him he makes me uncomfortable. Oh well, for now I will just deal with it.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Addy´s First Camping Trip
This past weekend I went camping for the first time ever. No one in my group could believe I had never been camping before (and I was actually pretty flattered because they were admiring how well I managed the hike - I was up in front the whole time :) Obviously I have been hiking and I like hiking. I´ve just never spent the night out in the wilderness in a tent. One of the main reasons for this is my fear of bugs. This trip was ideal because we were high up in the mountains and although that meant that it was cold, rainy, and hard to breathe, there were NO bugs!
The trek itself was actually really hard. We all had giant packs on our backs and mine wasn´t even one of the heaviest ones but I had a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, extra clothes, sandals, tennis shoes, four giant cans of tuna, a 2 liter bottle of water, and some other foods strapped to my back. My neck and shoulders hurt bad. We hiked about 5 miles each day but Saturday we were climbing up mountains a lot more so it was a little tougher. I don´t know how exactly to describe the terrain because it´s not like anything I have seen in the United States. We were in the mountains but they were not rocky mountains. Instead they were mushy and swampy and they had virtually no trees - just tall grass and scrubby brush. Even the most experienced backpackers on our trip said it was the muddiest hike they had ever been on. There were sink holes that sucked in your leg up to the knee! All of us were completely dirty and covered in mud by the end of the trip.
The camp site was near this beautiful lake that we could see for the first time from far above in the mountains. It was cool to climb down and watch it get bigger and bigger. Overall I really enjoyed the experience but I definitely wouldn´t call it relaxing. I was exhausted by the end, especially since I barely slept in the tent. I was super uncomfortable and freezing despite my extra layers and sleeping bag. I will definitely go camping or backpacking again but I´m not sure I´m ready for a week long trek and I definitely wouldn´t want to go camping every weekend. Also, I peed in the woods, but number 2 will have to wait till my next camping trip...
In other news, I got my first taste of the stress I will endure when I return to the US. Don´t make me come home! I don´t want to worry about plane tickets, registering for classes, Honors theses, or finding an apartment for this summer! I´ve gotten so used to not being stressed out: no anxiety or panic attacks or not being able to fall asleep at night. I´m not ready to go back to that!
I want to see my lovely family, but I don´t want to return to any of my responsibilities. What do you think? Can that be arranged?
The trek itself was actually really hard. We all had giant packs on our backs and mine wasn´t even one of the heaviest ones but I had a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, extra clothes, sandals, tennis shoes, four giant cans of tuna, a 2 liter bottle of water, and some other foods strapped to my back. My neck and shoulders hurt bad. We hiked about 5 miles each day but Saturday we were climbing up mountains a lot more so it was a little tougher. I don´t know how exactly to describe the terrain because it´s not like anything I have seen in the United States. We were in the mountains but they were not rocky mountains. Instead they were mushy and swampy and they had virtually no trees - just tall grass and scrubby brush. Even the most experienced backpackers on our trip said it was the muddiest hike they had ever been on. There were sink holes that sucked in your leg up to the knee! All of us were completely dirty and covered in mud by the end of the trip.
The camp site was near this beautiful lake that we could see for the first time from far above in the mountains. It was cool to climb down and watch it get bigger and bigger. Overall I really enjoyed the experience but I definitely wouldn´t call it relaxing. I was exhausted by the end, especially since I barely slept in the tent. I was super uncomfortable and freezing despite my extra layers and sleeping bag. I will definitely go camping or backpacking again but I´m not sure I´m ready for a week long trek and I definitely wouldn´t want to go camping every weekend. Also, I peed in the woods, but number 2 will have to wait till my next camping trip...
In other news, I got my first taste of the stress I will endure when I return to the US. Don´t make me come home! I don´t want to worry about plane tickets, registering for classes, Honors theses, or finding an apartment for this summer! I´ve gotten so used to not being stressed out: no anxiety or panic attacks or not being able to fall asleep at night. I´m not ready to go back to that!
I want to see my lovely family, but I don´t want to return to any of my responsibilities. What do you think? Can that be arranged?
Thursday, April 3, 2008
One thing the United States has got right!
Yesterday for class we had a very interesting lecture on a topic that I had requested; women´s sexuality and reproductive rights. I have some workshops coming up in the schools on contraceptives, STI´s, and pregnancy in adolscents and from what I gather attitudes here in Ecuador are pretty different, so I wanted to deepen my understanding of where things stand right now. First things first, abortion here is ILLEGAL. Women can serve up to 3-4 years in prison and doctors can get up to 6 years for performing an abortion. People rarely end up serving these sentences because there is a thriving black market that is kind of tacitly tolerated. An illegal abortion will cost you anywhere from 150$ to 1000$ with no guarentees of safety or sanitation and no recourse if you are mistreated. Obviously this is A LOT of money in Ecuador so needless to say the majority of women are forced to perform their own abortions using sharp objects and chemical cocktails. If they become infected from these homeade procedures they are afraid to seek medical attention because they are afraid the doctor will know what they were doing.
There are a few exceptions to the law. When a women´s life is threatened, when the fetus has a congenital deformity "incompatible with human life," or if a mentally retarded person is raped, an abortion may be permissable. Notice that these exceptions do not include minors or regular rape victims. So basically, a 12 year old who was raped by her uncle still has to have to the baby. WOW Ecuador, I am really impressed. In fact there is a case right now in which, after years of sexual abuse at the hands of her father, an indigenous teenager became pregnant. She tried to give herself an abortion various times but failed and ended up killing her baby when it was born. She is in jail right now. Her own father who incestuously raped her is not. WOW Ecuador, WOW.
Furthermore, women who are forced to have their children are often ostracized by society if they are unmarried or if the father of their child abandons them. Single moms are not popular. Also teenagers who try to get contraceptives are called "dirty sluts" by the pharmacists. Apparently rape within families and by partners (husbands and boyfriends) is extremely prevalent in Ecuador and thus difficult to prove. I was breifly impressed when I thought the morning after pill was available here in Ecuador, but then I found out it had been recalled and that certain daring pharmacies and clinics give out quadruple doses of other medications to create the same effect.
I also lost what little respect I had for the "leftist" president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, when I read his comments that he has never understood all this "my body, my choice" nonsense because obviously no one has the right to destroy an innocent life and he would be first in line to vote NO on legalizing abortion. This is not the first I´ve heard about Correa´s sexist anti-woman rhetoric. It´s not good enough to advocate good economic and labor policies if you don´t support the rights of half the population!
I´m glad to see that America is exporting the very best of our ideas: the evangelical movement is thriving on the coast of Ecuador and they are threatening to block the new consitution if it does not mention God and expressly prohibit gay marriage and abortion. Woohoo!
For once though, I am extremely proud to be an American woman. We have got at least one thing right - for the moment anyway, a woman has the right to choose.
There are a few exceptions to the law. When a women´s life is threatened, when the fetus has a congenital deformity "incompatible with human life," or if a mentally retarded person is raped, an abortion may be permissable. Notice that these exceptions do not include minors or regular rape victims. So basically, a 12 year old who was raped by her uncle still has to have to the baby. WOW Ecuador, I am really impressed. In fact there is a case right now in which, after years of sexual abuse at the hands of her father, an indigenous teenager became pregnant. She tried to give herself an abortion various times but failed and ended up killing her baby when it was born. She is in jail right now. Her own father who incestuously raped her is not. WOW Ecuador, WOW.
Furthermore, women who are forced to have their children are often ostracized by society if they are unmarried or if the father of their child abandons them. Single moms are not popular. Also teenagers who try to get contraceptives are called "dirty sluts" by the pharmacists. Apparently rape within families and by partners (husbands and boyfriends) is extremely prevalent in Ecuador and thus difficult to prove. I was breifly impressed when I thought the morning after pill was available here in Ecuador, but then I found out it had been recalled and that certain daring pharmacies and clinics give out quadruple doses of other medications to create the same effect.
I also lost what little respect I had for the "leftist" president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, when I read his comments that he has never understood all this "my body, my choice" nonsense because obviously no one has the right to destroy an innocent life and he would be first in line to vote NO on legalizing abortion. This is not the first I´ve heard about Correa´s sexist anti-woman rhetoric. It´s not good enough to advocate good economic and labor policies if you don´t support the rights of half the population!
I´m glad to see that America is exporting the very best of our ideas: the evangelical movement is thriving on the coast of Ecuador and they are threatening to block the new consitution if it does not mention God and expressly prohibit gay marriage and abortion. Woohoo!
For once though, I am extremely proud to be an American woman. We have got at least one thing right - for the moment anyway, a woman has the right to choose.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Warning: This post contains references to menstruation (!?!)
Yesterday I went to visit a women´s organization in an indigenous community which was very interesting. But before I get to that adventure I would like to share my lastest "Sandra anecdote." When I first arrived in Ecuador I was very concerned with being culturally sensitive. I was careful to ask Sandra how she would like me to dispose of my feminine products, knowing for example, that women here rarely wear tampons because they are considered to be slutty and take away one´s virginity. Sandra assured me that as long as I wrapped them well in toilet paper there would be no problems. Great. Cool. So today, I was called into the bathroom to look at the trash can. Apparently the wrapping in toilet paper applies not only to the actual sanitary waste but also to the wrapping. A sheet from a panty liner was ON TOP of the garbage can and clearly visible! I was told that I must do a better job of wrapping and burying all traces of my sanitary waste, including the packaging because otherwise (God forbid!) people will KNOW that I am having my period and in Sandra´s words, translated from Spanish, "That is so ugly." I wasn´t really sure if I should be offended or laugh. I kind of wanted to tell Sandra about how Wagner sometimes gets into my trash at home and drags my used tampons through the house. I guess that doesn´t leave much mystery as to whether or not I am menstruating. I know it´s not a big deal, but honestly, why is something that is so natural and healthy considered to be shameful and dirty!? It is just another sign of women´s opression. I won´t say that to Sandra, but I kind of just want to tell her to shove it. She´s seriously worried about the wrapper from my tampon!? Okay, that is enough. If James is reading this he has probably passed out at the computer by now. Sorry if I was too explicit.
The visit to the women´s organization was actually not very well planned or executed but I still learned quite a bit. Following in the theme of women´s liberation, I learned that domestic violence and sexual abuse are a huge problem in indigenous families. This particular organization which now exists in 24 communities, was formed by 15 women who decided enough was enough. When one woman was beaten brutally by her spouse, these 15 women banded together, dragged him down to the river and gave him a ritual cleansing with ortiga (which is kind of like stinging nettle only worse.) Apparently they had to do this various times before the message sunk in. Today women are much more respected in these communities. Domestic violence has declined dramatically, women are equally represented in the provincial indigenous organization and their opinions are valued. They no longer have to sit on the floor while the men take the chairs. Of course there is still a ways to go. Only one third of girls attend secondary school right now because the average age of marriage is still 15 or 16. I don´t want to be a cultural imperialist and say that early marriage is objectively bad but I do know that getting pregnant at that age does carry signifigant health risks - and that is an objective fact. Also, early marriage is one of the obvious obstacles to women continuing their education.
The women´s organization has a really neat cooperative now in which they raise alpacas and guinea pigs, grow vegetables, weave, grind their own flour, and cultivate fish. They are trying to preserve native species and all of their methods are completely organic. The women share all the goods they produce in order to combat malnutrition. They also sell the products and use the funds to maintain a lending system of credit. It was incredible to see how empowered these women are. Many of the men in the community have to migrate for work so these women really have taken things into their own hands. Aunt Donna, I was thinking about you a lot while I was there because I know how much you have worked on issues of domestic violence and women´s empowerment. I thought you would really like this field trip. Also, just so everyone knows, the organization is supported a lot by Oxfam, which I have heard elsewhere is a pretty great charity. In this case it seems like they are putting their funds to good use.
That´s all I´ve got for now. I definitely have been feeling a little more homesick of late so feel free to send an email. It would make me very happy :)
The visit to the women´s organization was actually not very well planned or executed but I still learned quite a bit. Following in the theme of women´s liberation, I learned that domestic violence and sexual abuse are a huge problem in indigenous families. This particular organization which now exists in 24 communities, was formed by 15 women who decided enough was enough. When one woman was beaten brutally by her spouse, these 15 women banded together, dragged him down to the river and gave him a ritual cleansing with ortiga (which is kind of like stinging nettle only worse.) Apparently they had to do this various times before the message sunk in. Today women are much more respected in these communities. Domestic violence has declined dramatically, women are equally represented in the provincial indigenous organization and their opinions are valued. They no longer have to sit on the floor while the men take the chairs. Of course there is still a ways to go. Only one third of girls attend secondary school right now because the average age of marriage is still 15 or 16. I don´t want to be a cultural imperialist and say that early marriage is objectively bad but I do know that getting pregnant at that age does carry signifigant health risks - and that is an objective fact. Also, early marriage is one of the obvious obstacles to women continuing their education.
The women´s organization has a really neat cooperative now in which they raise alpacas and guinea pigs, grow vegetables, weave, grind their own flour, and cultivate fish. They are trying to preserve native species and all of their methods are completely organic. The women share all the goods they produce in order to combat malnutrition. They also sell the products and use the funds to maintain a lending system of credit. It was incredible to see how empowered these women are. Many of the men in the community have to migrate for work so these women really have taken things into their own hands. Aunt Donna, I was thinking about you a lot while I was there because I know how much you have worked on issues of domestic violence and women´s empowerment. I thought you would really like this field trip. Also, just so everyone knows, the organization is supported a lot by Oxfam, which I have heard elsewhere is a pretty great charity. In this case it seems like they are putting their funds to good use.
That´s all I´ve got for now. I definitely have been feeling a little more homesick of late so feel free to send an email. It would make me very happy :)
Friday, March 21, 2008
Good Friday
Well, it´s Good Friday, or Viernes Santo as they say in Quito. And it´s a pretty big deal. I decided to go down to the historic Center by myself and check out the famous procession "Jesus del Gran Poder." In the first spot I picked I ended up being almost suffocated and trampled on by a crowd. I´m actually not kidding. I was crying out in pain and screaming for help and for about 30 seconds I thought I might die. Luckily I am tall by Ecuadorian standards and the crowd pushed me to edge where I was able to get out and find a different spot.
The parade itself was incredibly bizarre but really cool because it was so different than anything else I´ve ever seen. Almost everyone in the parade wore these giant robes with hoods and tall pointed caps. Sound familiar? They basically all looked like they were straight out of the Klu Klux Klan except that the robes they wore were purple, not white. Also many of them were carrying giant photographs or statues of Jesus and crosses. There were also a large number of people dressed as Jesus, complete with crown of thorns, fake blood and bare feet. They carried crosses some of which were HUGE. Many other people carried whips and a stinging nettle type of plant with which they beat themselves. One guy had a cactus strapped to his back and two others I saw were wearing barbed wire. I haven´t gotten a decent explanation of all of this yet, but the general idea is that these people are atoning for their sins and begging forgiveness from Jesus who died for all of our sins. It´s kind of a tribute to Jesus as well as a period of shame and atonement for all us sinners.
For once the weather here in Quito is gorgeous and I just can´t get enough. What I hate about sunshine here is that it is SO rare and fleeting that whenever there is sunshine I feel guilty if I´m not enjoying every waking second of it. I have no problem with clouds or rain, but I will admit that so far Quito has been oppressively chilly, cloudy, and rainy. Hopefully this nice weather will help ease my withdrawl from the beach where I have spent the last week.
For our first stop on spring break we went to Puerto Lopez which turned out to be kind of a dusty, quiet fishing port. In some ways I liked it better because it was less touristy and felt more lived in. It was also very quiet. Our second day there we went out on a boat ride with some Italians from our hostal. We fished (I caught one!) and then our captain made fresh ceviche for lunch from our catch. We took the boat to a nearby island and swam to shore. We also tried to snorkel a little but the water was too murky. The boat ride was probably my favorite thing we did the whole trip. I wish my family were water people because I just love boating and bodies of water!
After two days there we headed to Montanita where we ended up spending the rest of our time. Montanita was very different. It is famous for its surfing and was filled with foreigners - we made friends with some other Americans, Colombians, and Venezuelans while we were there. The dancing wasn´t great there, but there was definitely a night life in Montanita and lots of touristy restaurants with Happy Hours, etc. This was definitely the first time I feel líke I´ve spent spring break the way a college student is stereotypically supposed to - partying at the beach. The weather was wonderful and my first time in the Pacific was pretty great. It really wasn´t cold at all and the waves weren´t as big as I thought they would be. That said, Montanita is also known for its riptides. Two people drowned while I was there and I witnessed the second man being dragged to shore by a surfer. Not an image I am going to forget anytime soon. I decided to skip the surf lessons.
Other differences at the beach in Ecuador - more garbage, fewer lifeguards (as in virtually none) and lots of dogs. Some of the dogs were annoying strays but some were pets and it was soooo cute to watch them swim in the waves! I still hold a torch for the Jersey shore, lol, but I think that is more because of the great company I keep when I am there. I miss everyone, but most especially family. I am half way done with the program this coming Thursday or Friday. I can´t decide if it has gone by fast, or if I am going to die of homesickness before the end.
The parade itself was incredibly bizarre but really cool because it was so different than anything else I´ve ever seen. Almost everyone in the parade wore these giant robes with hoods and tall pointed caps. Sound familiar? They basically all looked like they were straight out of the Klu Klux Klan except that the robes they wore were purple, not white. Also many of them were carrying giant photographs or statues of Jesus and crosses. There were also a large number of people dressed as Jesus, complete with crown of thorns, fake blood and bare feet. They carried crosses some of which were HUGE. Many other people carried whips and a stinging nettle type of plant with which they beat themselves. One guy had a cactus strapped to his back and two others I saw were wearing barbed wire. I haven´t gotten a decent explanation of all of this yet, but the general idea is that these people are atoning for their sins and begging forgiveness from Jesus who died for all of our sins. It´s kind of a tribute to Jesus as well as a period of shame and atonement for all us sinners.
For once the weather here in Quito is gorgeous and I just can´t get enough. What I hate about sunshine here is that it is SO rare and fleeting that whenever there is sunshine I feel guilty if I´m not enjoying every waking second of it. I have no problem with clouds or rain, but I will admit that so far Quito has been oppressively chilly, cloudy, and rainy. Hopefully this nice weather will help ease my withdrawl from the beach where I have spent the last week.
For our first stop on spring break we went to Puerto Lopez which turned out to be kind of a dusty, quiet fishing port. In some ways I liked it better because it was less touristy and felt more lived in. It was also very quiet. Our second day there we went out on a boat ride with some Italians from our hostal. We fished (I caught one!) and then our captain made fresh ceviche for lunch from our catch. We took the boat to a nearby island and swam to shore. We also tried to snorkel a little but the water was too murky. The boat ride was probably my favorite thing we did the whole trip. I wish my family were water people because I just love boating and bodies of water!
After two days there we headed to Montanita where we ended up spending the rest of our time. Montanita was very different. It is famous for its surfing and was filled with foreigners - we made friends with some other Americans, Colombians, and Venezuelans while we were there. The dancing wasn´t great there, but there was definitely a night life in Montanita and lots of touristy restaurants with Happy Hours, etc. This was definitely the first time I feel líke I´ve spent spring break the way a college student is stereotypically supposed to - partying at the beach. The weather was wonderful and my first time in the Pacific was pretty great. It really wasn´t cold at all and the waves weren´t as big as I thought they would be. That said, Montanita is also known for its riptides. Two people drowned while I was there and I witnessed the second man being dragged to shore by a surfer. Not an image I am going to forget anytime soon. I decided to skip the surf lessons.
Other differences at the beach in Ecuador - more garbage, fewer lifeguards (as in virtually none) and lots of dogs. Some of the dogs were annoying strays but some were pets and it was soooo cute to watch them swim in the waves! I still hold a torch for the Jersey shore, lol, but I think that is more because of the great company I keep when I am there. I miss everyone, but most especially family. I am half way done with the program this coming Thursday or Friday. I can´t decide if it has gone by fast, or if I am going to die of homesickness before the end.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Beautiful Morning
I am in high spirits this morning because for the first time in a couple weeks it is really clear outside - no fog, clouds, or smog to speak of. That means that I can actually see all the gorgeous snow capped mountains surrounding Quito. They had been hiding for weeks now! Now that they are revealed again the whole city looks so amazing.
I am heading to the beach tomorrow on the night bus. I´m reminded of Harry Potter, haha. But this bus doesn´t actually have beds so I hope that I will be able to sleep and won´t be awake for 10 hours... I am really excited to see the beach but I don´t know what to expect since it is the Pacific ocean. I think it might be better water for surfers than for me.
Yesterday at my internship we had a 5 hour meeting that was awesome - full of jokes, chatting, and food. We planned our workshops for the next couple weeks. I am going to be helping out a lot more, as part of a pair of facilitaters and occasionally by myself! Can you imagine me in a room with 25 seventeen year olds talking about contraceptives and sexually transmitted infections IN SPANISH? Whoa. I am terrified but really excited. Luckily I don´t have to go solo for a couple weeks so I have some time to learn and practice the information and the vocabulary.
Tonight is the birthday of yet another of my compatriots. More fiesta. I really think I´m going to have to learn to live without sleep. But who knows? Maybe I´ll finally find myself a cute Ecuadorian guy...
I am heading to the beach tomorrow on the night bus. I´m reminded of Harry Potter, haha. But this bus doesn´t actually have beds so I hope that I will be able to sleep and won´t be awake for 10 hours... I am really excited to see the beach but I don´t know what to expect since it is the Pacific ocean. I think it might be better water for surfers than for me.
Yesterday at my internship we had a 5 hour meeting that was awesome - full of jokes, chatting, and food. We planned our workshops for the next couple weeks. I am going to be helping out a lot more, as part of a pair of facilitaters and occasionally by myself! Can you imagine me in a room with 25 seventeen year olds talking about contraceptives and sexually transmitted infections IN SPANISH? Whoa. I am terrified but really excited. Luckily I don´t have to go solo for a couple weeks so I have some time to learn and practice the information and the vocabulary.
Tonight is the birthday of yet another of my compatriots. More fiesta. I really think I´m going to have to learn to live without sleep. But who knows? Maybe I´ll finally find myself a cute Ecuadorian guy...
Monday, March 10, 2008
Weekend in Baños
First let me just say that my Macalester email account is driving me CRAZY. Apparently it is acceptable to have a server that functions 50% of the time. What the hell!? So if I don´t respond to your emails in a timely manner you´ll know why. Also, if I actually do lose my mind while I´m here, I´m blaming it on stupid OCS because I feel so cut off without email!
Also, (Uncle Carl, this one is for you) if any of you were thinking of visiting Ecuador I think you should know that it is BYOTP. That stands for Bring Your Own Toilet Paper. Not kidding. It´s not fun to have explosive diarrhea and realize that you can´t wipe. So take precautions. Never travel without a roll of your own.
Finally, this weekend: Amazing! It was so nice to get out of Quito, which I really have kind of a love/hate relationship with. Baños was a breif but passionate love affair. It is a cute little town with a nice church and town square and park. It is surrounded on all sides by HUGE, steep mountains, one of which is the active volcano Tungaragua. The town is famous for its natural hot springs which we tried out. They were really crowded but really neat. The water is murky and full of sulfur but it´s like a natural hot tub. Our greatest excursion was renting four-wheelers and going on a 4 hour tour of the surrounding waterfalls, including a hike to the famous Pailon del Diablo. I know that four-wheelers aren´t environmentally friendly and frankly I was scared to ride one on the same road with cars, winding around steep cliffs. As it turns out, I had the time of my life! I rode on the back of one with Katy, a girl from my program (we all doubled up, so at least we minimized the pollution???) Katy was a wild child! She was passing people and playing chicken with the other kids of my program - mom, you would have been horrified!
Our weekend also included two nights of clubbing because it was Claire´s 21rst birthday. I didn´t have that much fun the first night because it seems that only creepy people ever want to dance with me (aka, stalkers, gropers, drunks.) Some Ecuadorian friend of Emily´s brother was all over me and started kissing my neck. EWWW. I left. Then I had a brief period of self-loathing reflection and went to bed. The next night was way better. I was determined to have a good time and I actually danced with a nice boy for a while who was a great partner, didn´t make me feel uncomfortable and didn´t pursue me when I thanked him and said goodnight. YAY!
Also, worth mentioning: the bus ride to Baños was very pretty and on the way there I sat with an Ecuadorian woman and her 10 year old daughter and I think I made a friend for life :) Such a cutie! Unfortunately that was really the extent of my Spanish practice for the weekend...
I´m afraid next week will be even less educational. We´re on vacation and we´re going to the beach! Oh well, I guess this is all a learning experience for me since I don´t really party, haha.
Also, (Uncle Carl, this one is for you) if any of you were thinking of visiting Ecuador I think you should know that it is BYOTP. That stands for Bring Your Own Toilet Paper. Not kidding. It´s not fun to have explosive diarrhea and realize that you can´t wipe. So take precautions. Never travel without a roll of your own.
Finally, this weekend: Amazing! It was so nice to get out of Quito, which I really have kind of a love/hate relationship with. Baños was a breif but passionate love affair. It is a cute little town with a nice church and town square and park. It is surrounded on all sides by HUGE, steep mountains, one of which is the active volcano Tungaragua. The town is famous for its natural hot springs which we tried out. They were really crowded but really neat. The water is murky and full of sulfur but it´s like a natural hot tub. Our greatest excursion was renting four-wheelers and going on a 4 hour tour of the surrounding waterfalls, including a hike to the famous Pailon del Diablo. I know that four-wheelers aren´t environmentally friendly and frankly I was scared to ride one on the same road with cars, winding around steep cliffs. As it turns out, I had the time of my life! I rode on the back of one with Katy, a girl from my program (we all doubled up, so at least we minimized the pollution???) Katy was a wild child! She was passing people and playing chicken with the other kids of my program - mom, you would have been horrified!
Our weekend also included two nights of clubbing because it was Claire´s 21rst birthday. I didn´t have that much fun the first night because it seems that only creepy people ever want to dance with me (aka, stalkers, gropers, drunks.) Some Ecuadorian friend of Emily´s brother was all over me and started kissing my neck. EWWW. I left. Then I had a brief period of self-loathing reflection and went to bed. The next night was way better. I was determined to have a good time and I actually danced with a nice boy for a while who was a great partner, didn´t make me feel uncomfortable and didn´t pursue me when I thanked him and said goodnight. YAY!
Also, worth mentioning: the bus ride to Baños was very pretty and on the way there I sat with an Ecuadorian woman and her 10 year old daughter and I think I made a friend for life :) Such a cutie! Unfortunately that was really the extent of my Spanish practice for the weekend...
I´m afraid next week will be even less educational. We´re on vacation and we´re going to the beach! Oh well, I guess this is all a learning experience for me since I don´t really party, haha.
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