Last Week...

Wow, six months has already come and gone. Pretty amazing.

Yesterday I had my last experience with the Ecuadorian Bureaucracy. It amazes me how disorganized every thing seems to be here, I am just so used to cut and dry procedures. Or perhaps they are just as complicated in the US, but I am used to it because it is all I have ever known.

So basically at about 1 I went to the Migration office. Armed with three copies of about a billion things, three pages of my passport, a form from the school, a form from my landlord and copies of her ID, I don't even know what else. Just a huge stack of random stuff. You go to the office with it all in a manila envelope (this step is crucial, you will be sent away without it), and take a number and wait. After ample waiting I went up to the window. The guy told me to write down my name on the envelope. Waits a minute, tells me to write my address, wait, number, wait, name of first pet. Not really, but it felt like he was quizzing me. Then he told me to glue my picture on the envelope. I did not hear him, and asked him again. He got all huffy and was like do you not understand Spanish. Right. When I finally had my Ecuadorian ID, it is called a censo, I went and took another ticket to wait in line to obtain my permission to leave. In all the process took over three hours. But at least now I am allowed to leave the country, so I can't complain too much.

Besides that I have been busy enough. Two of my friends had to go home unexpectedly last week, so that was really sad. I felt like people were going to be saying goodbye to me, not that I would have to say goodbye to people first. On the more positive side I have a pretty packed week ahead of me. I am going to Pub Quiz tonight for the last time. Tomorrow I am going out to eat with a bunch of people. Friday my boss is having a going away BBQ for me, so we only have to work a half day. Then my roommates are having a going away party for me at our house. This weekend I also need to buy last minute souvenirs and pack. Phew. Monday is my last day at work, and then Tuesday and Wednesday I am sure I will be busy trying to get everything in order.

I leave her Wednesday night, a week away. I am really sad to leave, but really excited to see everyone. It has been a long time. Well lunch break is over. I hope that everyone is doing well!

Long time

I just realized that it has been over a month since I have updated this. Apologies, it just has slipped my mind. I think part of it is the fact that I have been here for so long that everything I do seems pretty commonplace. I do actually have a decent story with pictures I will post tomorrow, I loaded the pictures at work.

So last month. One weekend I went to the beach, which was good, but long. We for some reason went to a beach that was 12 hours away...not my idea. Plus it ended up not being very sunny, and we went with 7 girls, which is just way too many people to be traveling with. Ah well, I am glad I was able to get to the south coast before I leave.

The rest of my time has been pretty uneventful. I went out last weekend with Jorge and all of his friends, which was really fun. They looove to dance, and we stayed out until 3am dancing. I was absolutely exhausted. I was speaking with one, and he told me he thought my spanish had really improved since I arrived, so that was nice to hear. Sometimes it feels like it is going no where, but I know I am better than I was. I can even almost roll my r's now. Pretty exciting.

However, after that night I begun to get sick, and have been for about a week. It is cold or 'gripe' season in Ecuador. I have been told it is because of the change in climate, even though one would think less rain would make people less sick, but what do I know. I got some medicine on Monday, and spent most of the week suffering through work then going home and resting and going to bed early. Not a huge deal, but sort of bad timing since I leave so soon. I just want to expereince as much as possible in the next month.

I have two more trips planned before I leave. This weekend either Banos or Monpiche. Depends, since the road to Banos was washed out last week and it might not be possible to get there. Then the following weekend I am going to the Quilatoa loop with a bunch of people. This is a someone remote area of the central andes where there are a couple of nice Eco-Lodges and some very good hikes. I think it will be a very fun last trip here. I was hoping I could go to Colombia before I left, but it just doesn't look like it is going to happen. Some other trip I suppose. Actually I am hoping that someday I can move to South America again for a year or so, and Argentina and Colombia are my top choices.

Then comes my last weekend here. Where did six months go?? The people at my house are already planning a huge going away party, so that will be really fun. It will be hard to say goodbye to everyone though. It was hard enough saying goodbye to my friends in Minnesota, and I knew I would see them again. Many of the people here that I have grown close to and I may never cross paths again. I guess all I can do is enjoy the time I have with them now, and know that I will always have my memories.

Oh a happier note I am super excited to see everyone in Minnesota. I am also looking foward to how clean America is. How everyone understands me there. A few of my favorite American foods. And HOT weather, (even though after about a day I will surely be complaining about this). I know that my life in Minnesota will be different, but it will be good. I am definitely very glad that I have gotten this experience, I think that truly experiencing another country has allowed me to grow and learn how lucky I am to have the life that I have.

Galapagos

My dad and Mary were here for about ten days, which was a lot of fun. The highlight was a trip to The Galapagos Islands. We stayed on a very nice cruise ship, which was a treat. Although at times it was a bit tiring, (they got us up at 6:30 everyday!) it was very interesting. The islands are all beautiful in their own way. I was surprised, however, to see that many are very desert like. The animals were amazing, they are not at all scared, and you can get very close. It is like a zoo that is real. Well I should probably get back to work, but the following are some pictures I took.

It has been pointed out that I do not update this blog enough. Apologies. I assure you I have been busy and will eventually write about what is making me busy.

My dad and Mary are here now, which is great. We are going to the Galapagos tomorrow so I will take lots of pictures of turtles and such.

I only have two months in Ecuador, so I have been trying to do as much as possible. I want to see everything!

Oh and congrats to all of you that Graduated on Saturday, a job well done. I hope you find happiness with whatever you choose to do.

Long Time

It has been quite some time since I last posted. The last few weeks have flown by.

Two weeks ago my Mom and Aunt Cindy came to visit which was really nice. We went to some places around Quito the first weekend. Then on Thursday we went to Papallacta, which is a place about an hour and a half away where there is a resort with hot spring pools in the mountains. It was really beautiful and relaxing. That Friday we went to Otavalo and stayed at a really cute hotel outside of town. It was near an amazing waterfall. I will try to remember to post pictures next week.

My birthday went well. During the day I was with Mom and Cindy in Otavalo, then Quito. We went out for dinner and a couple of beers, then I said goodbye to them, as they were leaving really early the next day to return to the states. I came home, thinking that I would have nothing to do, since my phone had been stolen or lost, and I had no way of getting hold of anyone. Luckily some of my roommates were on their way out, so I tagged along with them and had a really good time.

What else is new. I got a second job teaching English with a company called Inlingua. I teach Monday and Tuesday nights from 5:45 to 8:15 at the Nestle headquarters here. My first day was last Monday, and it went pretty smoothly. I think it will be a really great experience, plus the little extra money is nice. The Nestle headquarters is in this super nice building that I can walk to from my other office. There is a Nescafe coffee machine in the lobby, which is a definite perk. Quito has made me so cheap, when I saw it all I could think is how those coffees cost 60 cents in the store, and I could get them here for free.

Today when I went to get my morning juice from Carlos' store there was a man just staring at me. Finally he said, quite casually, you have eyes like a gringa (Tienes ojos como una gringa). I kind of froze, trying to decide what to say, while Carlos was laughing. She is a gringa, he said. It was pretty humorous. I can't really figure out why he thought I was Ecuadorian though.

In two hours I am leaving to go to the beach Canoa with Kristi (a new intern at Viva) and a few people I know through our house. It should be a really good time, I have heard its the nicest beach in Ecuador. It is an overnight bus, 8 hours, hopefully I will be able to sleep. Right now I am just trying to figure out how to waste the next hour, I am ready to go.

Turning Ecuadorian

I fear I may have officially been in Ecuador for too long for a couple of reasons.

One. I'm cold. Not just a little chilly, but freezing. I used to laugh at the Ecuadorians in their heavy coats and scarfs, now I am wishing I would have brought a couple more sweaters. Part of the problem is the fact that it is the rainy season so it's wet, which makes the cold feel worse. But really it's not even that bad. Today I was complaining to a friend back home about the cold, he asked how cold it was, so I looked online. It was 59 degrees.

Two. So when I first got here one of the things that annoyed me the most was the fact that when you ask someone for directions, if they don't know what you are talking about they just make something up. So if you are lost you need to ask someone every block or so to ensure you are getting the right story. So on Friday on my walk to work a car pulls up, with two Ecuadorian business men, who I presume were from out of town. Excuse me, how do we get to Amazonas from here. Oh yeah Amazonas, just go straight for a couple of blocks and take a right. Blatent lie. I mean, it is sort of that way, but the streets are rather winding here and it is definitely not that easy. I was just so flattered someone asked me I did not want to admit I had no idea. I told my coworkers I did this, and they of course found it hilarious. At least I am not on Ecuadorian time yet, that will be the final straw. Ecuadorians are sloooow and late for everything, it drives me nuts.

Another random thing I noticed again today, and think is interesting. When you go to a mall, or big store, where there is a parking garage they give you a ticket. At first I thought it was to record the time you arrived for payment later. However, I then asked an Ecuadorian about it. Apparantly you are supposed to bring the ticket with you inside, and when you leave you need to give it to the attendant to prove that it is your car. Basically it is a measure to help stop car theives. I guess it is a good idea, but it is definitely a bit strange.

Besos

Yesterday a conversation I had with Luis during my spanish class reminded me of something that I had mean to write about, but had forgotten about: los besos, or kisses. I am not sure how we got on the topic, I believe we were gossiping about my friends back home. He loves to gossip, and frankly it's a good way for me to practice my spanish. I think we were talking about crushes, or something silly like that, and he was like at least if you have a crush you get to kiss them hello and goodbye right? I was like no, never in the United States. He did not believe me. It took me forever to convince him this was how it was in the United States, to which he replied, oh that is why my new students are sometimes a bit taken back when I lean in the kiss them hello.

You see, in Ecuador, and most of Latin America really, the proper way to greet someone is a kiss on each cheek. Really you just kind of touch cheeks and make a kissing sound. For me, it is a little strange, since I am not a paticularily touchy person, but once you get used to it, its actually kind of nice. It is a sign of respect and friendship. Not many people in my office obey the kiss rule, but Andres comes in every morning to greet us. Also Santiago sometimes comes and says goodbye, but no major kissing.

The best is when you go to a gathering that is all Ecuadorians. You are expected to go around the room and kiss everyone. Boys don't have to kiss other boys, but girls have to kiss everyone. You can sometimes get out of this if you are a gringo, but its looked down upon.

One time when Jorge drove me home and his friends were with him, probably 5 guys and me in the car. We got to my house and I was about to just jump out when the one next to me leaned in to say goodbye. Crap. So I had to manuver around the car to give each one of them a goodbye kiss. So annoying. Another time I was with Tania and her friend and we ran into his two cousins. They gave us kisses, talked to us for about 2 minutes, then gave a goodbye kiss. Ridiculous.

Talking with Luis about it was interesting though, because I think it is absurd sometimes, and for him the idea of not doing is completely foreign to him. I joked to him that when I go home I will greet some of my guy friends like that and send him the pictures of their shocked, whoa Erin get away from me, expressions.

Anyways just an interesting cultural difference.

Tonight I went to a concert at a bar, that ended up being sort of rock/heavy metal. The Ecuadorians were all headbanging, and jumping around, it was pretty hilarious. My favorite was this boy who looked maybe 15 who was with his mom, and they were both dancing during the entire concert. Well I should get to bed, another day of work tomorrow.