Monday, August 22, 2011

Change of flight

          Well, after a crazy couple of days due a missed flight I am finally here in Quito! Allow me to explain a series of unfortunate events that ended up to be a somewhat comical adventure for me. My original flight plans were to fly to chicago and then to miami with Irene, and then we would part our separate ways to different cities in Ecuador. I would fly into quito at about ten o´clock where my host parents would pick me up. however, once we got to chicago at 8:45 it started to storm. I thought I was in the clear because my flight to miami was not untill twelve. but I was mistaken. My flight ended up not leaving untill 3.05 which ment that I had missed my connection and only other flight to Quito for the night. So here are Irene and I, stuck in the miami airport at about seven with nowhere to go or stay. Thankfully, Irene was considered a minor, so she would be given a free room at the airport hotel. I on the other hand am 18, so I was told that I would have to go out and get a hotel room by myself because the airlines were not respnsible for me. After waiting about 2 and a half hours we managed to convince them that I had to stay with irene (I also said that I was only 17). So after waiting another 2 hours in a small room where they put minors we were finally given some food and a room to sleep in. The next day we had to go back to the room fot minors where I waited almost 4 hours untill my flight. In the room I met a girl who was from Quito and she told me all about the city. at last I boarded my flight and landed in Quito where I met my host parents.
          Right away they took me to an outside mall to get some freshly squeezed orange juice. Here, the fruit is always fresh and let me tell you, that was the best orange juice I have ever had. I thought to myself, I could get used to this. Quito is an amazing city. It is completely surrounded by mountains and countless numbers of buildings go up and down with them. Every house is fenced in with tall brick walls, becuase there is a lot of theft. There is also graffiti everywhere, even on the nicer buildings. they say things like ¨libertad and, yo quiro vivir¨, which means liberty and I want to live. I have also seen a lot of bob marley posters though I am not sure why. The driving in Quito is CRAZY. People ignore the lane lines and swerve every which way. They go from 0 to 60 mph in like 4 seconds even though the street is packed. There are people crossing the street everywhere and vendors walk down the middle of the streets through the lines of cars knocking on windows and selling things like magazines and gum. My host mom Maria took me to a goods market where they sold things like jewelry, bags, hats, and shirts. In that market, everything is hand made, its incredible to see what these people can make with just their hands. Seeing as I am american and blonde, I got a lot of stares but it was actually kinda fun. I saw my school and was told that it was taught in spanish. my host parents also told me that after this week, they would only speak to me in spanish.... yikes!
          My house is very nice. it has a ladder up to the roof where you can see all of Quito and the mountains, its beautifull. My room is very cozy and I have already unpacked. The woman who helps around the house hold laughed at me and told me in spanish (she does not speak english) that here they hang there jeans up instead of folding them up in a drawer. they ahve a dog Rania who is so cute! but we are not allowed in the same room together because she tries to attack me. Hopefully I will have plenty more stories to tell. unitll then, adios!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Tik Tok

          3 days. that is all i have left to kiss my american life goodbye along with my friends and family and head off to Ecuador! It seems like just yesterday I was learning about the possibility of even going to Ecuador. To me, through the countless hours of waiting and preparing myself this whole trip seemed like a far away dream. Something I planned to do, but never thought about it actually happening (I know it doesn't make much sense to me either). I always was able to reassure myself that I had plenty of time before i had to start packing and say goodbye. But as I can now count the days left with just one hand, it is becoming more of a reality.
          These past few days have been fairly busy. I'm trying to squeeze in more time with my friends, and to my mom's dissaproval, less time for packing. There are so many people I have to say goodbye to that there isnt enough time in the day for everybody. But I try to look at this not so much as a goodbye but a "see you in ten months!" sort of deal. I've been told countless times that even though it seems like a long time, not a whole lot changes. I also know that as I leave my friends and family here behind I will be greated with new ones in ecuador.
           As far as placement goes, I consider myself lucky already. My year will be spent in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. From what I have heard it is a city full of life with millions of things to do, which should be interesting because I have always thought of myself as a small town kinda gal. My host family, the Agusto's, appear to be extremely heart warming and excited for me to come. My host father Jose, is the most interesting to me. He is the head of the United Nations in Ecuador. I can tell that I will be able to learn a lot from him and his job. My host mother Maria Antonietta is the one I have had most contact with and seems like a very nice woman. I have 2 host siblings; my brother andres who is in Oslo Norway for the year with Rotary so I will not me able to meet him, and my sister Andrea Carolina who is nineteen years old and lives at home.
          At the end of the day I am left with mixed emotions. Although I am sad to leave all the ones I love I am so excited to FINALLY get out of here and start my adventure! I know this is going to be a life changing experience. Well thats it for now, hopefully I can post about my first few days and my flight. untill then, adios!

         -Rachel