It has been so long, I don't even know where to begin.
Well last Saturday I got up at 4:30am to go to the beach. We wanted to leave really early as to miss traffic. So me, John, Andres and Ferr stuffed into Jeorge's car (about the size of a vw golf) for our trip to the beach. It was cramped, but it was nicer than taking a bus, since it took less time and we could stop when we wanted. At about 1 we got to the beach we were staying at, Playa Escondida. I was a bit nervous for the beach because EVERYONE goes during Carneval and I did not really want to have to deal with that many people. Luckily the beach we camped at was a ecological lodge, and was not crowded at all. It was very peaceful. We spent our days swimming and lounging. I was really careful and was able to not burn at all. Pretty amazing. Twice we went to Atacames, a beach nearby, which was absolutely chaotic. It was packed with people, it would be hard to even find a spot to put your tent on the beach there. I was really glad we had not stayed somewhere like that, I don't like being around that many people all of the time. Plus I think I am basically the only blond 'gringa' in town, so I got more attention then I could have handled for four days. So yes, the two shorter trips to the main town were perfect, because I got to see what Carneval was all about, but did not have to be part of it constantly. I can't really think of any other important details right now, I really should have written about it as soon as I got back.
We got back on Tuesday night, and I immediately started to feel sick. I'm not sure what it was, but something I ate must have not agreed with me. By Wednesday night I felt worse, and fell asleep at about 9pm. I tried to go to work on Thursday, but felt horrible and decided to come home and sleep. Saturday I was supposed to go on a hike, but was still feeling sick. I am actually just feeling better right now. I ate two meals today, which is a record for this week. So feeling sick has definitely put a damper on the week. I'm just glad that I am finally feeling better.
Not too much else to say right now. As ussual I hope everyone is doigng well, and enjoying the snow I hear has hit the midwest.
domingo, 25 de febrero de 2007
jueves, 22 de febrero de 2007
Sorry I have not updated, there is a lot to write about, but I did not get home from the beach until Tuesday night, and have come down with a stomach bug and have basically been sleeping, or wishing I were sleeping, for the last couple of days. Today I came home from work because I felt really faint, and slept for most of the day. I finally just ate something, but still not feeling so hot. At least the weekend is coming up.
I promise to update this weekend about my trip, but now I think it is bed time.
Adios!
I promise to update this weekend about my trip, but now I think it is bed time.
Adios!
miércoles, 14 de febrero de 2007
The weeks seem to be going faster and faster here, I can't beleve it is already Wednesday!
On Sunday I went with a few people to a photography exhibit one of the boys that lives here had in the old town. He is from France and had spent the year traveling taking pictures of Indigenous people. It was a really neat exhibit, not only had he taken pictures but had also recorded people telling stories and songs. He is part of a program that wants to promote awareness about the lives of the people of Latin America. That is one of the things I love most about being here, it is so amazing to feel more aware of the world. It is so easy to get stuck in my safe little Minnesota bubble and forget that there is a whole world out there, full of people that are so different than me and yet the same.
After the exhibit we went to get some food then sat around talking at a coffee shop for awhile. Most of this group goes to school in Beloit Wisconsin. They are all really cool and fun to be around, each one of them reminds me of one of my friends from home in a certain way. I like that I am starting to develop groups of friends here, even though it makes me a little sad knowing that after May I probably won't see some of them again.
Monday was pretty low key. I worked all day, then came home ate supper and Lindsey and I watched a movie. Oh I guess I got a cell phone, that was pretty exciting. I now have a lovely blue Nokia phone, nothing fancy, but I like it. It was only 35 bucks, and I can get phone cards for it anywhere. I mostly got it to be able to text people, and for a little sense of security.
I almost typed that last sentence in Spanish. I am finding myself thinking in Spanish more and talking Spanglish a lot. I am slowly becoming more confident with my Spanish, and am able to understand more. I can even watch TV is spanish and get most of it.
Last night was nice, a few of the people from Beloit came over and we bought some beers and sat around with some other people from the hostal. Beers are ridiculously cheap here. Pat and I went to the store and bought 4 big ones (I think they are 2.5 normal beers or so) and the total was a little over 4 dollars. Plus when you take the bottles back you get a refund, I think it may be a quarter a bottle. They have a very limited selection of beer types here though, Pilsner is the main beer, you can be Brahma, which is Brazilian, sometimes, and every once in awhile you see Heinekin, but that is pretty expensive.
That is the strange things about here, some things are so cheap, like food and beer, but others are incredibly expensive. I was at MegaMaxi today looking for sunscreen and it was 12 bucks a bottle. Then I glanced at the makeup and it was 10 bucks for a bottle of cover girl foundation, crazy.
My Valentines Day has been good. I got a card yesterday from my Dad, which was really nice. Then tonight some of the girls here and I went and bought some icecream, always good. I was not sure if Valentines day would be a big holiday here, but everywhere I looked there were flowers and balloons and teddy bears. Yesterday when I went to the bakery to get some bread the woman was trying to convince me to buy a cake for my novio (boyfriend), I tried to tell her I did not have one, which was not a good enough answer for her. I think she said something along the lines of maybe by tommorrow you will have one. Right. Oh another nice thing about today was when I went to the tienda by my house to get some water and a pop the owners little kids waited on me and were trying to practice their english. They were so proud of the words they knew, one of them told me my total in English with a huge smile on his face. It was the cutest thing ever.
Tommorrow after work Paula, Tania and I are going to Katie's house (she is the woman from Minnesota) for supper. Then Friday I am probably just going to prepare for leaving on Saturday. Me, three of the boys from work, John, George and Andres, and George's friend Fernanda are going to the beach for Carnival. It is not quite as huge as a celebration here as in Brazil, but I guess everyone leave Quito and goes to the beach. We are going to Playa Escondida, which I am told is a less crowded beach. Luis, my spanish teacher, tried to convince me it is a nudist beach, but I think he was just messing with me since he didn't tell John the same thing. I hope that it will be a good time and I don't get too sunburt or bitten by too many bugs. It will be nice to be out of Quito for a few days. Also we get Monday and Tuesday off of work, which I am excited for. I love my job, but a break is never a bad thing.
Well i have written a lot. I should do my spanish homework, but I might watch a movie instead.
Happy Valentines Day everyone!
On Sunday I went with a few people to a photography exhibit one of the boys that lives here had in the old town. He is from France and had spent the year traveling taking pictures of Indigenous people. It was a really neat exhibit, not only had he taken pictures but had also recorded people telling stories and songs. He is part of a program that wants to promote awareness about the lives of the people of Latin America. That is one of the things I love most about being here, it is so amazing to feel more aware of the world. It is so easy to get stuck in my safe little Minnesota bubble and forget that there is a whole world out there, full of people that are so different than me and yet the same.
After the exhibit we went to get some food then sat around talking at a coffee shop for awhile. Most of this group goes to school in Beloit Wisconsin. They are all really cool and fun to be around, each one of them reminds me of one of my friends from home in a certain way. I like that I am starting to develop groups of friends here, even though it makes me a little sad knowing that after May I probably won't see some of them again.
Monday was pretty low key. I worked all day, then came home ate supper and Lindsey and I watched a movie. Oh I guess I got a cell phone, that was pretty exciting. I now have a lovely blue Nokia phone, nothing fancy, but I like it. It was only 35 bucks, and I can get phone cards for it anywhere. I mostly got it to be able to text people, and for a little sense of security.
I almost typed that last sentence in Spanish. I am finding myself thinking in Spanish more and talking Spanglish a lot. I am slowly becoming more confident with my Spanish, and am able to understand more. I can even watch TV is spanish and get most of it.
Last night was nice, a few of the people from Beloit came over and we bought some beers and sat around with some other people from the hostal. Beers are ridiculously cheap here. Pat and I went to the store and bought 4 big ones (I think they are 2.5 normal beers or so) and the total was a little over 4 dollars. Plus when you take the bottles back you get a refund, I think it may be a quarter a bottle. They have a very limited selection of beer types here though, Pilsner is the main beer, you can be Brahma, which is Brazilian, sometimes, and every once in awhile you see Heinekin, but that is pretty expensive.
That is the strange things about here, some things are so cheap, like food and beer, but others are incredibly expensive. I was at MegaMaxi today looking for sunscreen and it was 12 bucks a bottle. Then I glanced at the makeup and it was 10 bucks for a bottle of cover girl foundation, crazy.
My Valentines Day has been good. I got a card yesterday from my Dad, which was really nice. Then tonight some of the girls here and I went and bought some icecream, always good. I was not sure if Valentines day would be a big holiday here, but everywhere I looked there were flowers and balloons and teddy bears. Yesterday when I went to the bakery to get some bread the woman was trying to convince me to buy a cake for my novio (boyfriend), I tried to tell her I did not have one, which was not a good enough answer for her. I think she said something along the lines of maybe by tommorrow you will have one. Right. Oh another nice thing about today was when I went to the tienda by my house to get some water and a pop the owners little kids waited on me and were trying to practice their english. They were so proud of the words they knew, one of them told me my total in English with a huge smile on his face. It was the cutest thing ever.
Tommorrow after work Paula, Tania and I are going to Katie's house (she is the woman from Minnesota) for supper. Then Friday I am probably just going to prepare for leaving on Saturday. Me, three of the boys from work, John, George and Andres, and George's friend Fernanda are going to the beach for Carnival. It is not quite as huge as a celebration here as in Brazil, but I guess everyone leave Quito and goes to the beach. We are going to Playa Escondida, which I am told is a less crowded beach. Luis, my spanish teacher, tried to convince me it is a nudist beach, but I think he was just messing with me since he didn't tell John the same thing. I hope that it will be a good time and I don't get too sunburt or bitten by too many bugs. It will be nice to be out of Quito for a few days. Also we get Monday and Tuesday off of work, which I am excited for. I love my job, but a break is never a bad thing.
Well i have written a lot. I should do my spanish homework, but I might watch a movie instead.
Happy Valentines Day everyone!
domingo, 11 de febrero de 2007
Three Weeks
Sorry I have not updated in quite some time, I really need to be better about that. It has been a good week. I could go over every little detail, but why bore you all with that. Instead I will just cover some highlights.
I am really likeing my work. I get to take part in a lot of different projects, which keeps things interesting. This week I designed a brochure, sticker and business card for us to send with someone traveling to Peru to give to businesses to create interest in our company and hopefully get some more advertisors. I also am now going to be helping with the Metamorf, which is basically Viva Travel Guides's parent company. They develop and design Web sites for businesses. I am really excited to learn more about that sort of thing, but it is a bit challenging since they all speak spanish. I attended a meeting last week and really thought I was keeping up with what was going on. All of the sudden they all stopped talking and looked it me. You can get that done by Wednesday right Erin. Right. Luckily George speaks really good English and filled me in later. I feel my spanish getting better by the day, which makes things easier.
Things in my house are also going well. At times, it is a bit trying to live with two other people in a room, but the social aspects of it are nice. I get along really well with Andrew and Lindsey, so it works. I have met a lot of their friends, and most of them are really cool as well. The majority go to school in Beloit Wisconsin, random. I find it odd so many of them are here. On Wednesday some people came over and we made dinner, which was fun. Then the two French guys that live here, Nicolas and Vincent came home and we hung out with them as well. I really like meeting people from all over the world. You realize you have both a lot, and nothing in common with them. It is interesting. Strange at times. I accidentally burped and Vincent went on this five minute speech about French woman would never do that. Lindsey and I were both like well american girls do that, deal with it.
I finally figured out who from Minnesota is coming to our office. His name is Paul, he is a web developer and is coming March 1. However, his girlfriend, Katie, is already here. On Friday she came to our office after work and we went to a pub. She lived in St. Paul in Highland park, so it was fun to talk with someone from where I am from.
Yesterday I went White Water Rafting with a group. My boss, Paula, had organized it through the South American Explorers club. It was my first time out of Quito, which was refreshing. It was a three hour drive to the rafting location, along a narrow curvy road through the mountains. We stopped at some tiny restaurant in the middle of nowhere and I got an empenada and some soup with like half a chicken in it. Sort of gross looking, but good. Once we got to the rafting location, we put on our wet suites and got the safety speech. By this time both Paula and I were a little nervous. Paula more so than me. I had only been rafting once and it was on a really tame river in Colorado. This was a pretty rapidy river. On our raft was me, Paula, three guys from American, a guy from Canada and a guy from Germany (I am horrible with names!). Our guide was this really crazy Ecuadorian guy. It was really fun, even though we were in a couple of sort of scary situations. One time we were stuck on a rock and the raft was flooding and our guide was screaming. The other particularily scary part was when we went over a huge wave and it swept over our raft throwing me into the guy in front of me and off the raft. I was actually pretty calm, I remember thinking ok I am in the water, better swim to the raft. But everyone was screaming, since we were coming up to some more rapids. Me and the other boy got back on the raft without a problem, and everything was fine. Paula was like I am so glad that did not happen to me. The best part of the trip was the scenery. The river was beautiful, with huge rocks everywhere. We were surrounded by mountains covered in green trees. One guy said they looked like the sort of trees you would expect a monkey to be hanging from, I agreed. All in all it was a really great day. T
Today I am a little sore from rafting, and have been taking it easy. I went to the grocery store and got some food for the week. I think I may go to the Mitlad del Mundo with Andrew and some of his friends. It is where there is a a monument and museum on the Equator, should be good.
Well, as ussual I hope everyone is well. I miss you guys a lot, and hope you are doing well. Thanks to some of you for emailing me, I love hearing about your lives. It makes me feel less far away.
I am really likeing my work. I get to take part in a lot of different projects, which keeps things interesting. This week I designed a brochure, sticker and business card for us to send with someone traveling to Peru to give to businesses to create interest in our company and hopefully get some more advertisors. I also am now going to be helping with the Metamorf, which is basically Viva Travel Guides's parent company. They develop and design Web sites for businesses. I am really excited to learn more about that sort of thing, but it is a bit challenging since they all speak spanish. I attended a meeting last week and really thought I was keeping up with what was going on. All of the sudden they all stopped talking and looked it me. You can get that done by Wednesday right Erin. Right. Luckily George speaks really good English and filled me in later. I feel my spanish getting better by the day, which makes things easier.
Things in my house are also going well. At times, it is a bit trying to live with two other people in a room, but the social aspects of it are nice. I get along really well with Andrew and Lindsey, so it works. I have met a lot of their friends, and most of them are really cool as well. The majority go to school in Beloit Wisconsin, random. I find it odd so many of them are here. On Wednesday some people came over and we made dinner, which was fun. Then the two French guys that live here, Nicolas and Vincent came home and we hung out with them as well. I really like meeting people from all over the world. You realize you have both a lot, and nothing in common with them. It is interesting. Strange at times. I accidentally burped and Vincent went on this five minute speech about French woman would never do that. Lindsey and I were both like well american girls do that, deal with it.
I finally figured out who from Minnesota is coming to our office. His name is Paul, he is a web developer and is coming March 1. However, his girlfriend, Katie, is already here. On Friday she came to our office after work and we went to a pub. She lived in St. Paul in Highland park, so it was fun to talk with someone from where I am from.
Yesterday I went White Water Rafting with a group. My boss, Paula, had organized it through the South American Explorers club. It was my first time out of Quito, which was refreshing. It was a three hour drive to the rafting location, along a narrow curvy road through the mountains. We stopped at some tiny restaurant in the middle of nowhere and I got an empenada and some soup with like half a chicken in it. Sort of gross looking, but good. Once we got to the rafting location, we put on our wet suites and got the safety speech. By this time both Paula and I were a little nervous. Paula more so than me. I had only been rafting once and it was on a really tame river in Colorado. This was a pretty rapidy river. On our raft was me, Paula, three guys from American, a guy from Canada and a guy from Germany (I am horrible with names!). Our guide was this really crazy Ecuadorian guy. It was really fun, even though we were in a couple of sort of scary situations. One time we were stuck on a rock and the raft was flooding and our guide was screaming. The other particularily scary part was when we went over a huge wave and it swept over our raft throwing me into the guy in front of me and off the raft. I was actually pretty calm, I remember thinking ok I am in the water, better swim to the raft. But everyone was screaming, since we were coming up to some more rapids. Me and the other boy got back on the raft without a problem, and everything was fine. Paula was like I am so glad that did not happen to me. The best part of the trip was the scenery. The river was beautiful, with huge rocks everywhere. We were surrounded by mountains covered in green trees. One guy said they looked like the sort of trees you would expect a monkey to be hanging from, I agreed. All in all it was a really great day. T
Today I am a little sore from rafting, and have been taking it easy. I went to the grocery store and got some food for the week. I think I may go to the Mitlad del Mundo with Andrew and some of his friends. It is where there is a a monument and museum on the Equator, should be good.
Well, as ussual I hope everyone is well. I miss you guys a lot, and hope you are doing well. Thanks to some of you for emailing me, I love hearing about your lives. It makes me feel less far away.
domingo, 4 de febrero de 2007
Friday at work we went and reviewed some new restaurants and hotels in person, which was interesting. Definitely good for practicing your spanish. I am slowly getting better, but I find myself getting frustrated by not being able to say what I want to and just going back to english. Afterward we went to an English pub for a few pints. Then John, the other intern and I met up with some girls from his hostel. One was from Germany and the other two were from Holland. They were all really nice, so it ended up being a fun. I didn't get hit on by any creepy Ecuadorian men either, which is always a perk.
Yesterday, was both a good day and a bad day. Lindsey, a girl that lives with me, invited me to go to some hot springs an hour away with a couple of her friends. But, we missed the bus and did not get to go. So we decided to go to the mall which was nearby, and get something to eat. The restraunt was practically empty, since it was only 4pm. I had my bag under the table in between my feet, and suddenly I noticed it was gone. I guess a man and two kids had come in to eat, but then left really quickly and Lindsey remembered seeing the kids walk by. Sucky. Not the end of the world, I did not have much cash in there, and I am not hurt or anything, but it still stinks. It reminded me that you can never be careful enough while traveling. Afterward Lindsey was supposed to meet her friend Pat to go to a swim meet of Mundo, an Ecuadorian they go to school with. I decided to go, rather then go home and mope. It was really interesting. It was at this super swanky country club outside of the city. Mundo is really nice, and a great swimmer, so it was cool to watch that. Sort of random, but ah well.
I am often struck by the extremes here in Ecuador. It is so strange to see immense wealth and immense poverty within blocks of each other. To get your purse stolen by someone who is clearly desparate, then go to a place where everyone is wearing American clothes because they shop in Miami (this is apparantly the really cool place to go shopping here). This experience is definitely making me look at my life and the world in a different way.
Today I did my laundry and watched the Divincci Code, which wasn't bad. Dryers are not very common in Ecuador, so I had to hang my clothes on the roof to dry. It is really sunny, so they dried fast, but it still is sort of funny. I feel like I am in the olden days. Now I think I am going to go get some food with Beth, another girl that lives here.
I hope you are all staying warm wherever you are, I hear it is very cold in the midwest.
Yesterday, was both a good day and a bad day. Lindsey, a girl that lives with me, invited me to go to some hot springs an hour away with a couple of her friends. But, we missed the bus and did not get to go. So we decided to go to the mall which was nearby, and get something to eat. The restraunt was practically empty, since it was only 4pm. I had my bag under the table in between my feet, and suddenly I noticed it was gone. I guess a man and two kids had come in to eat, but then left really quickly and Lindsey remembered seeing the kids walk by. Sucky. Not the end of the world, I did not have much cash in there, and I am not hurt or anything, but it still stinks. It reminded me that you can never be careful enough while traveling. Afterward Lindsey was supposed to meet her friend Pat to go to a swim meet of Mundo, an Ecuadorian they go to school with. I decided to go, rather then go home and mope. It was really interesting. It was at this super swanky country club outside of the city. Mundo is really nice, and a great swimmer, so it was cool to watch that. Sort of random, but ah well.
I am often struck by the extremes here in Ecuador. It is so strange to see immense wealth and immense poverty within blocks of each other. To get your purse stolen by someone who is clearly desparate, then go to a place where everyone is wearing American clothes because they shop in Miami (this is apparantly the really cool place to go shopping here). This experience is definitely making me look at my life and the world in a different way.
Today I did my laundry and watched the Divincci Code, which wasn't bad. Dryers are not very common in Ecuador, so I had to hang my clothes on the roof to dry. It is really sunny, so they dried fast, but it still is sort of funny. I feel like I am in the olden days. Now I think I am going to go get some food with Beth, another girl that lives here.
I hope you are all staying warm wherever you are, I hear it is very cold in the midwest.
jueves, 1 de febrero de 2007
This week has gone by really fast. I am becoming more and more used to living here, which is nice. Work has been going really well, they gave me a couple of projects this week I really enjoyed. For one I had to convert a bunch of the book into PDFs and put them online, not too hard. It took me about a day and a half. However, when I was done Paula was shocked. I guess it took them nearly a month to do it last time. So it's nice to feel useful. Today I got to design a sticker that we will give to businesses we recommend to put in their shop. I am not sure if I am done with it, because I am picky, but I hope that my bosses like it. I made it look sort of like a passport stamp. It was definitely fun to be able to do some graphic design.
What else is new. Oh I started Spanish classes. My teacher, Luis, is really nice and easy to work with. They are one on one classes which is sort of strange, but nice. I hope to be able to get a lot out of these classes.
Last night I went to what they call Pub Quiz, which is held at a English Pub in town. Paula had made the questions, and most of the people at work went. It was really simular to the quiz I used to go to in Minnesota at Champs. I was on a team with the other intern, Paula's husband Dennis and a couple of other random people. We did not win, but it was still fun.
I was going to write some things about the buses here, but I am exhausted. My allergies hae really been working up so I have not been sleeping that great and definitely need some sleep.
Hasta Manana.
What else is new. Oh I started Spanish classes. My teacher, Luis, is really nice and easy to work with. They are one on one classes which is sort of strange, but nice. I hope to be able to get a lot out of these classes.
Last night I went to what they call Pub Quiz, which is held at a English Pub in town. Paula had made the questions, and most of the people at work went. It was really simular to the quiz I used to go to in Minnesota at Champs. I was on a team with the other intern, Paula's husband Dennis and a couple of other random people. We did not win, but it was still fun.
I was going to write some things about the buses here, but I am exhausted. My allergies hae really been working up so I have not been sleeping that great and definitely need some sleep.
Hasta Manana.
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