It's time for my weekend in the AMAZON!

This weekend I will be traveling to the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the AMAZON! I leave from the Quito airport at 6am Friday! Yikes! And we will be traveling by plane for a very short 30 minutes, and from there taking a boat, a bus, another boat, and finally arriving to Tiputini around 3:00pm. I'm so excited to spend a few days in the rainforest with all the animals!

The Tiputini Biodiversity Station (TBS) is a biological field station established in Amazonian Ecuador in 1994 by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in collaboration with Boston University. They have about 1500 acres of primary lowland rainforest and it's about 200 miles east of Quito! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and post them on Monday night when I return!

And on another note, tomorrow there is possibly going to be a very large rally to commemorate the police uprising of September 30, 2010 in Quito that caused a lot of problems within the government and the military against the police force of Quito (they pelted the president with tear gas, whoops). These rallies may have over 100,000 people, schools are being released early so that students are not caught in the rallies, and Americans are encouraged to stay away from certain parts of the city (it's illegal for non-Ecuadorians to protest). I've been told that the rally tomorrow is supposed to be non-violent but please remember if something does happen, I'm leaving the city at 6am - so nothing to worry about!

Have a great weekend! 
Kelley  

Puerto Lopez

This weekend I was able to go to Puerto Lopez, a small town on the coast of Ecuador with my friends Becca and Sara. It was absolutely wonderful! We arrived Saturday morning, after a very long bus ride from Quito, to hop in a small buggy and eventually get signed up for a whale-watching tour! It was $20 for a couple hours spent watching the whales and then snorkeling after!

Not the greatest video, but an attempt to capture the Humpback whales in the Pacific Ocean! Our tour was following two males and one female whale for about 2 hours around a smaller island. We were able to go onto the sundeck of the boat and watch, which was a great experience, although I was a little close to falling off once! I not only had a great view of the whales, but I had an excellent view of the coast and the beautiful blue ocean!

After whale watching we decided to go grab a bite at a restaurant on the beach. A girl we met, Emily, joined us for a late lunch and she told us that she had been traveling for two months in South America by herself, and she was finally headed back to the States this week. Way to go Emily! How amazing that she did all of that traveling by herself? After eating Emily went on to the bus station and we went swimming! The water felt AMAZING and I loved every minute of being there. Later on in the evening we met up with our two friends from whale watching, Ky and Ben, to play some hacky sack on the beach. They had been in Ecuador about two weeks, and are taking the year off from college in California to surf and travel around South America. It's really quite inspiring to meet people like this. Whenever I doubt my ability to travel, I look back to all of the other people I've met along my way here and know that if they can do, I can too!

Overall, great weekend trip!

-Kelley

Oh and a word of advice -

If you go snorkeling and don't put sunscreen on your back, it will get burnt.

Mariposa Traicionera

Here is a very popular song in Quito! Enjoy!
Ven Conmigo


This weekend I am going to the beach in Puerto Lopez, one of the best places for whale watching in South America. Can't wait to feel my toes in the sand and hopefully see a Humpback whale!




Interesting facts from this week:
1.) I found out that my entire host family is left-handed!
2.) I started "Conversation Club" this week and really enjoyed it! The native student I am meeting with doesn't know much English, which works well for me. This provides me with a greater opportunity to speak Spanish and to see how I like teaching ESL!
3.) I got a personal pan pepperoni pizza and a chocolate milkshake for $3.00 at a restaurant across the street from school!
4.) I really enjoy my Spanish class. There are students from Sweden, Switzerland, Nigeria, China, Pakistan, and the US in one room trying to improve our Spanish and learn more about the country we're living in for the next three months. Our teacher is fantastic and we always leave class laughing about something! This week we listened to a lovely song called, "Mariposa Traicionera." That translates as "unfaithful butterfly." Classic.
5.) I brought a few different colors of nail polish with me, thinking it would give me something to do when I got bored. My host mom is always so surprised every week when I tell her I did them myself. I'm thinking I could open a "USA NAILS" here and it would be authentic!
6.) There are lots of traffic problems in Quito. They have attempted to solve this problem by only allowing certain cars into sections of the city during assigned days. Each car is given a bumper sticker with a number on it. You are only allowed to be in these heavily traveled areas of the city if you have the number on your car that corresponds to the allowed day and time of the week! And if you are in the city when you aren't supposed to be, you get an $80 ticket! Crazy, right? Too bad many families have more than one car, and can just take a different car with another number. For example, my host family has four cars and a motorcycle. If they needed to get to that part of the city by car, they could most likely do it.
7.) I really miss milk.
8.) Everyone here that you see, whether it be in your building, on the bus, or in the store, always says "Buenos dias/tardes/noches." They're so nice!
9.) I have orientation on Monday for my trip to the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon! And we leave for the trip on Friday morning!

Have a great weekend!
Kelley

Mitad del Mundo

This weekend I was able to go to "Mitad del Mundo" which means "Middle of the World" in Spanish - aka, I went to the Equator! We first went to the Mitad del Mundo monument and learned that in the mid-1700's a French expedition came to Ecuador to mark the exact location of the middle of the Earth.

Turns out they were about 300m off but for having zero technology, they were really close! Rebecca and I then went to the REAL equator, a short walk down the road! They also had a museum and lots of interesting activities. The guides showed us water going down a sink in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, as well as in the middle! Que chevere! (Middle, Northern, Southern)

Neat, right?

P.S.

1.) You weigh a kilogram less while standing on the equator.

2.) Even though I was at the Equator, I still couldn't manage to balance an egg on a nail.

3.) Getting anywhere by bus will always take you at least an hour longer.

4.) When traveling by bus, make sure you ALAWYS note what stop you start at; this makes getting off later much easier (:

5.)  It seems as though the "rainy season" is now in full force. We were introduced on Friday when I walked home in the rain for twenty minutes. When I finally got home Gina said, "Why didn't you take a jacket?" I hadn't thought of that!

6.) I find lots of humor in the things some guys say here. Friday I got, "Taxi, mi amor?" from a man who was not in a taxi at all. I think I'll pass, mi amor.

7.) This week starts "Conversation Club!" That's right, I'm joining a club! (Too bad they don't have something like BAC here!) Twice a week I'll be meeting with a native Spanish speaker at USFQ; Rigoberto will be practicing his English while I work on Spanish!

Love you all,

Kelley

Oh no... Ceviche

Every night at dinner we have a soup with our meal. I've had no problems so far with the types of soups, and I've actually started looking forward to them! Tonight was - Ceviche.

Ceviche is a seafood dish that is very popular in South America. We had ceviche made with shrimp (camarones), peppers, and lime. It is served cold.

I've really been trying to eat everything that my host family serves me, but tonight I definitely failed them. I ate about half of my soup before telling my host mother that I didn't like it. And besides... how many times do I have to tell her that I don't like shrimp?

Fingers crossed for a better tomorrow in the world of my Ecua-soups!

Este calle de "sketch"

This weekend I went to the market town of Otavalo, a two hour bus ride from Quito. Friday when I was waiting for my friend Jamie at the bus station I noticed an old woman walking along the sidewalk with what seemed like a fifty pound sack of oranges on her back. Not only did she have to carry such a heavy bag, but she was also walking in worn out men's golf shoes, spikes and all. They must have been four sizes too large and she was struggling to walk in them without tripping. At that moment I wanted to give her my own shoes and I would have if I weren't leaving town right then. I've decided that I'm going to be donating the majority of my clothes and shoes when it is time for me to leave Ecuador! And now I'll definitely have more room in my suitcases. I finally met up with Jamie and we were on our way! On the bus there we met a woman who lived in Otavalo, but had just returned from visiting her mother in Florida! She pointed us in the direction (which ended up being a little off) of our hostel and within thirty minutes we were safely checked-in! This was our first experience staying in a hostel and I think we chose a good one! Our beds were clean, the doors had locks, and the bathroom had toilet paper! What else can you ask for?

After we got settled in our room, we decided to hit the town! We walked around for awhile looking in all the shops and just enjoyed being out of Quito for a couple days. We decided to have dinner at the "Deli Restaurant." I couldn't figure out why no one was in the restaurant, it was dinner time my goodness! Then I realized that they don't eat big dinners in Ecuador! So I felt better about the restaurant after that and we ordered nachos, quesadillas, and milkshakes! For those of you that don't know, milkshakes are my favorite! I was so excited to have this little piece of home in Ecuador! Life is always about the little things, don't forget it! We received our nachos soon after the milkshakes and they were lacking something, oh yeah - the CHEESE! So that was definitely different, and needless to say, we didn't finish those. And then the quesadillas! Delish! Overall, great first meal in Otavalo! After dinner we walked through the streets again, and ended up seeing three people we knew from school! We walked and talked with them and it was great seeing people I knew so far from Quito! I really liked Otavalo at night. There were lots of people in the streets and it felt safer (except for one rather sketchy street) than Quito does at night - which was a relief. The "Festival del Yamor" was also going on during the time we were in the town and we got to see fireworks! Another one of my favorite things! It was a great night (:

The next day we got up early, packed, and went down to our free breakfast of bread and eggs, scrambled! We were able to leave our things in a storage room, how nice! We also talked to the owner of the hostel before we left. Found out he's from Cleveland! OHIO representing! He volunteered with the Peace Corps in Ecuador, met and married his wife, and the two lived in Ohio until 1998. His wife then decided she wanted to come back to Ecuador; they did just that, and opened a hostel! After sharing stories and getting directions Jamie and I went to the market! As soon as we turned the corner from the hostel we could see it! Street, after street, after street of so many little shops and so many people! It was like Ecuador's Mall of America! We walked around for hours looking at all of the handmade crafts, clothes, and jewelry. I was able to buy some really great things for myself (like this lovely orange duffel bag) and things for my family and friends back home! A great thing about the market is that you never pay full price for anything. The sellers first give you a price, $18 for example. This is where the bartering begins. Then you suggest a price, typically half. You go back and forth until you can settle on a price that seems fair to both of you. They are trying to get as much money as possible from you, and you're trying to save as much money as possible. What a fun game! The key is being able to walk away if they don't give you a good enough price. And half of the time, starting to walk away will get you the price you want! WIN!

Oh and another story from the market! While Jamie was bartering for a backpack, another woman was in the store had asked how much another bag was. The owner replied, "Quince" and went about helping others. The woman looked very confused and turned to walk away. I thought she hadn't heard the owner correctly and repeated, "Quince." She looked at me and said, "I don't understand; do you speak English?" At that moment I couldn't help but smile. She thought I didn't speak English! It was flattering to say the least and I quickly told her I was from the US and that "quince" meant $15. She proceeded to tell me that she was from Indiana and they were here receiving medical treatment for her daughter. She didn't know much Spanish and was having a very difficult time getting along here. I can only imagine how difficult being here was for her, and yet how brave she was for her daughter! I have met the most amazing people here and I just love hearing how so many different people arrive in the same places.

I got back to Quito Saturday night, safe and sound! I spent the rest of the weekend hanging out with my host family and doing homework. Sunday is "pancake day" at home; I'll never get tired of that! I also realized that I think they go out for lunch every Sunday too. This week was Chinese, yum!

I had a great weekend and I hope you enjoyed reading about it! Not sure what next weekend will bring, but I'm sure it will be exciting!

More Ecua-info!
1.) Friday in Andinismo I got to repel from the ceiling. It was about three stories high. They just hooked us up and we went down! Something I’d never be able to do in the US!
2.) I think I want to start writing a "Canterbury-like" tale using the stories of all the people I've met in Ecuador!
3.) The two-hour bus ride to Otavalo was only $2.00 and I bought a doughnut in Otavalo for $.15!
4.) Every day I've traveled in Ecuador I've been so thankful that I'm directionally-savvy. No one likes being lost!

Have a great week!
Kelley

ALPACA HUNT

This week in Ecuador:
1.) I wish I had a "double rice, no beans" option here.
2.) At school and throughout the city everyone copies books. One person buys the actual text and then you can get it completely copied for a significantly lower price! My English book was $11, with hundreds of works inside! And my Spanish book was only $10! I could get used to this but isn't it illegal? When in Ecuador...
3.) I found a lovely Shawarma place right by school! I think I'll be having lots of Empanadas and Shawarma for lunches this semester. Only about $3.00, including drink!
4.) The international office here is wonderful! I needed to have paperwork filled out and faxed back to Bellarmine and they did it for me in less than a day. How helpful!
5.) My Geology class started this week! My professor is from France and his English isn't the greatest. Thankfully I've already had a geology class; I know a majority of the terms he is trying to explain!
6.) Mercedes-Benz makes buses and they're on the streets of Quito.
7.) We eat hard boiled Quail eggs for breakfast once a week.

This weekend I am headed to the famous market of Otavalo, about 2 hours outside of Quito by bus! Check back Monday for pictures and keep your fingers crossed that I find the perfect Alpaca sweater!

 

Quilotoa

This weekend I went to Quilotoa with my Andinismo class. The trip is actually available to anyone in many different sections of the class, and you need to attend three trips during the semester. This weekend there were international and Ecuadorian students that went! Quilotoa is the most western volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes and since its last eruption about 800 years ago, an 820 ft deep crater lake has formed at the top! Being up there helped me remember why I wanted to study abroad. I definitely don't have sites like this at home! This country is filled with such magnificent natural beauty.


We arrived at the top of the volcano and made our way around about half of the crater before we descended into the outskirts of a small town, pueblito, to camp for the night! I was very glad to set up camp and enjoy my lovely dinner of bread, cookies, and Fruit Loops (well, Ecuador's version of Fruit Loops called "Fruit Rings," that are actually more fruity than the 'real' thing! Thank you MegaMaxi!) before we headed into town to explore. Earlier when I said small town, I meant it. Three street lights. I was impressed they even had those though, how do you manage to get electricity in the Andes, five hours away from Quito! We found a small building in the town, the school actually, and there were a group of people playing music inside! We watched from the window for a few minutes and then they invited us in! How wonderful! They were singing Andean folk music, accompanied by the traditional Charango (a small ten-stringed instrument that is similiar to a guitar.) I was able to record some of the singing too!



They sang songs in Spanish and Quichua that night in the school building. Quichua is the other official language of Ecuador, an Inca language widely spoken by the Indian population here. I can't believe we got to really experience the culture of the native Andean people that night!

We went back to camp and sat around the campfire for a couple hours before hitting the sack. It was a brisk, windy night in the Andes, but we all managed to get some sleep and depart from camp around 7:00am! We left the pueblito and hiked down into a canyon, only to have to cross a "bridge" made of four logs, and hike right back up the other side to get to another small village we were catching our bus in that would take us back to Quito. Let me tell you, climbing up a mountain at 13,000 ft definitely takes the breath out of you! It was a long, tiring morning but the sights made everything worth-while.

My weekend in the mountains of Ecuador was a strenuous one, but something I will never forget!

Here are some other fun things from this weekend:

1.) "Que chevere" is a VERY popular saying in Ecuador. It means "How cool/great/awesome."

2.) There was construction being done on the roads that went from Quito to Quilotoa. All construction is menacing but construction through the Andes is just frightening!

3.) Alpaca hats are very warm!

4.) The second small village we were in had empanadas for .25 cents!

5.) I've never seen the Milky Way look as vibrant as it did Saturday night in the mountains.

6.)  There isn't really a word for "sleeping bag" in Spanish. The workers at the camping store called it "un sleeping" and Katie, Becca, and I (below) found that so funny!