First Week of Volunteering and Weekend Adventures

Studying abroad is about placing yourself out of your comfort zone, trying new things, meeting new people, and exploring new places. Wednesday marked one month since my arrival and all of the awkward language barriers, kissing on the cheeks, curfews, and dangerous Mariscal nights fail in comparison with the discomfort I felt when I took my first steps into La Macarena. La Macarena is a school for children whose mothers are in prison. In Ecuador it is legal for a woman to uphold custody of her child while she is in prison, even if the father is not in the picture. Thus, children grow up around the prison and are not given sufficient educational or social opportunities. La Macarena is a place where the children can play and learn and, hopefully, escape the cycle.
     As the youngest child of my family I have not spent an adequate amount of time with children. The way that people speak to children reminds me of how people speak to dogs and that makes me uncomfortable. I have this vision of how I am going to raise my children one day but, if we are being honest, I fear that the first time I look into my child's eyes I will be overwhelmed with uncertainty. I watch as my friends fall in love with their campers or children that they babysit and undoubtedly know that, although she will be scare the bejeebers out of her children, my sister will be the best mother in the entire world. I guess what I am alluding to is that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and my absurd knowledge of geography and history, my means to hit a high note, or ability to tackle a 170 pound heffer does not negate the fact that children frighten me. It is for this reason that I decided to volunteer 6 hours a week at La Macarena.
     It was one of those moments when you feel like you're living in a sitcom. Within the first 3 minutes through the gates I would approximate that 80% of the children were crying and to my left a 4 year old girl is projectile vomiting all over herself. It was at that moment, as the pearly maroon chunks of last nights dinner were spewing out of the infants mouth that I felt the most afraid. "I can't do this" was the first thing I said to Pat, who is volunteering at the same placement. But, amidst the chaos and the putrid smell, I felt tiny fingers grasp my hand as a little girl looked up to me and said, "Hola, tia". Pamela, as I would come to know her, has become one of my favorite students and will always be remembered for being the outlet for hope that first day.
     At La Macarena the children refer to the teachers and volunteers as "Tias y Tios" (Aunts and Uncles). I guess it's best to start at a low point because there is only room for improvement. Well, this theory proved true because my first week as a Tia was marvelous. I watched Shrek in Spanish, painted with the children, helped them with name recognition, and spent more time on a playground in two days than I have in maybe five years. I even got to see two 4 year olds making out (well, it looked more like they were eating each others faces)... it was horrifying. Because I am not a malicious person I cannot post a story on the web regarding perhaps the most awkward moment at La Macarena this week but for my own memory 30 years from now when I re-read these (DS gal hump air) should help me remember the story. Perhaps the most frustrating part of volunteering with these children is seeing their half rotten teeth eating nothing but bread and milk for breakfast, or pushing them on the swings for what seems like hours knowing that they still cannot read or add small numbers. I can only hope that my time there this semester will yield positive results for these children. Only time will tell.

     In other weekly news, Wednesday Patricio y yo were late to Cumbaya because of volunteering (the truth was that Pat was insistent upon stopping at a pastry shop for Tiramisu) and somehow managed to leave 10 minutes after the group and arrive at the museum right behind them, avoiding the wrath of Amanda who loathes tardiness. It was one of those "you had to be there moments" but definitely the most hysterical cab ride I have had in a while. I was able to bring my tush to the gym a lot this week which is a huge plus because the two dollar restaurant lunches, $1.50 carne empanadas, and pan con caramel is definitely not treating the figure well. Homework inhibited my ability to experience what seemed to be a sloppy Wednesday night outing with the group... probably a good thing.
   This weekend we stayed in Quito because a few of us had field trips/ copious amounts of homework; however, being on the latter end of that predicament it was definitely a much needed down time. Friday night we went to La Mariscal to a bar called Strawberry Fields. If you are reading this blog I assume you care about/know me well enough to have read this far. Thus, you must know of my disgustingly insane admiration/love/respect for the Beatles. Yes, I am that girl who lights candles, puts "Imagine" on repeat, and cries like a small child on the anniversary of John Lennon's death. I am that girl whose heart stopped functioning for a good five minutes when Paul McCartney first came on state at MSG in NY. I am that girl whose first daughter's middle name will be Lennon. Knowing that, you can perhaps have a more accurate comprehension of my reaction when I walked into a bar whose walls were covered with Beatles memorabilia and whose menus served drinks named after famous Beatles tunes. Let's just say I wet my pants a tiny bit. We played "signs" and "f' me", and had deep discussions regarding one-hit wonders and 90s tunes that have not been sung in probably 10 years.
    Saturday night we reserved a table at a nightclub called Colours to celebrate the 21st of Patricio. Everyone got dressed up... men in ties, girls in skirts and dresses and we partied... oh we partied... Let's just say after some members of the group had to leave early the seven of us that made it until about 2 were in for a lovely surprise when we asked for the bill which ended up being over 400 dollars. I did not  get home until about 3:15AM after about an hour of trying to figure out how we were going to find 400 dollars. Great night though... and cake at five today for Pat's birthday! Feliz cumpleaños, puta!

Ziplining, Rafting, and Waterfall Hiking in MINDO!

I was a little concerned when I heard we would be going to the Galápagos in September... how could anything else live up to it? What would I have to look forward to? Well, my concerns all disappeared this weekend. First, the 13 of us took a private Ecuadorian cooking class followed by dancing on Friday night! The chef at the cooking class, showed us how to make the fish dish (tilapia, shrimp, rice, and patacones) in a traditional coastal way (without any fancy appliances). It was Kasia's birthday so we ate another dinner at her house and all relaxed in anticipation for an early morning on Satuday. Tim, Pat, Kevin, and I had a slumber party at Kevin's house and legit pillow talked for a solid 2 hours or so. Just when I thought the sleepover couldn't get any better, we were served a huge breakfast before our departure to Mindo (below).

We took the earliest bus and arrived in the tiny village of Mindo at around 9AM. Mindo is the type of town where you can see people you know after only being there for a day and a half (true story). This weekend was the first time I have ever stayed in a hostel but I am not sure it would even be fair to call it that... the place was beautiful yet only 7 dollars for the night. There was a wrap around porch and hammocks that made watching the fireworks amazing! Also, our only form of transportation besides walking was riding in the back of a pickup truck... yes... all 13 of us... Anyways, on Satuday afternoon we went ziplining (first time!). The guides taught us some cool inverted tricks called superhombre and mariposa. The tarzan swing, however, was the icing on the cake. I wish I knew how tall the drop was but we were harnessed with a rope and just told to jump off of the ledge... it was at least a 5 second free-fall.

Later that day we went rafting down a river that was about 90% covered by rocks... we thought it was a joke at first and assumed our guide was talking about a different river but, of course not. The water was absolutely freezing but the ride was well worth it. After cleaning up a little, we all headed to a chocolate factory where we saw, first hand, the production of chocolate down from the fruit it comes from. Did you know that BBQ sauce and chocolate are produced by the same fruit? After the tour we received complementary brownies... and, for a girl who doesn't LOVE chocolate, I will admit it was delectable. When the sun began to set we went to this pond where the frogs are known to start singing at the same time. I am not gonna lie, I was less than interested in the frogs so I had a lengthy conversation with a couple from Israel. On our way to dinner there was a large congregation (most likely the entire town) gathered around what appeared to be a band and a religious mass. There was something so beautiful to me about this scene. It was a Saturday night and the entire town was gathered in the streets praying. That night we decided to all stay in and relax because we had to wake up really early again on Sunday. The live music and fireworks were really great... until we all wanted to go to sleep... then, not so much.

I was about to complain about being woken up by the roosters in the morning but it could be worse... I could have been woken up at 5AM in the Nicaraguan mountains by the sound of my host mother killing a chicken for breakfast... that happened. Anyways, if you are ever offered Bolones Verdes in South America please take my advice and get them.... put a little aji on top and it's orgasmic. Sunday morning after breakfast we went on a three hour hike around 5 waterfalls where we stopped in for some swimming! Before leaving Mindo we ate at an Italian restaurant which was AMAZING.

I believe there is something to be said about students who chose to come study abroad in Ecuador. I can only speak for my group, however, there is a greater respect for the culture and experience as opposed to the party/ drinking scene. It is as if every day I am living in the Appa Love or Kai High. I am glad I have the opportunity to experience the more outdoorsy/environmental study abroad experience as well as the typical European adventure. It's gonna be one hell of a year...

The Galápagos: The Islands That Changed the World

Everyone has that place they have wanted to visit for as long as they can remember... that place that without a doubt is number one on their must-see before they die list... Well, for me, that was the Galápagos. The Galápagos Islands, made famous by Charles Darwin's voyage of the beagle, is located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. One of the main reasons I had signed up for the Ecuador program was because I knew there was a trip to the Galápagos, if that puts into perspective how excited I was about visiting! Just a little history before I start (some things I learned while on island): The Galápagos was first discovered by accident by a ship traveling from Peru to Panama. When the first men landed on the Galápagos they described it as "hell on earth" as they could find no fresh drinking water. The men were terrified by the foreign creatures that looked nothing like any animal they had ever encountered before (this is because it is home to about 180 endemic species or species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world). Between this time and the 1800s the islands were known for their use by pirates and buccaneers. In the 1830s, after Ecuador gained it's independence, they decided to take ownership over the islands. However, because of the lack of knowledge in respect to these islands they had a very difficult time recruiting inhabitants. In fact, the first people to settle down on the islands were of German descent (on the island of Floreana). Why they came, who came after, and what occurred is a story that is quite interesting but way too long to blog about and bore you with. However, once Ecuadorians saw potential business opportunities and realized the beauty of the islands the population boomed! Ecuador had to pass a law stating that a person could only live on the Galápagos if they were born there or if they married a native. This law is still implemented today. It's interesting to think that Ecuadorians themselves are not even allowed to live on their own territory. However, the law is completely understandable because the quaint solitude apparent on each island is ineffable. 

The Boston College group flew from Quito to Guayaquil and then to San Cristobal Island in the Galápagos. While on the plane the flight attendants are required by law to spray everything down with some solution in order to protect the environment of the Galápagos from foreign invaders. We were greeted by representatives from the cruise we were taking at the airport that looked like an outdoor market. We were all surprised enough by the fact that we would be traveling on an all inclusive cruise but we were definitely not prepared for how luxurious and accommodating this cruise line actually was. When we stepped on the cruise for the first time we were greeted with strawberry daiquiris. Every day after each activity the boat had empanadas, guacamole, cheese, coffee, tea, etc. The first thing we did was eat a huge buffet style lunch. I won't go into detail each time we ate but what I will say is that overall, the food was amazing. Breakfast: different types of eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast, hash browns, fruit, cereal, oatmeal, pancakes, homemade fruit juices, etc. Lunch was also always buffet style (They served mashed potatoes one day!!!). Dinner was full service and usually consisted of four courses. 

The first day (Friday) we went to San Cristobal island to go swimming (my first time touching Pacific Ocean). The naturalists (ours was named Ben) did not tell us what we would find when we walked through the rock tunnel on the beach... and all of a sudden dozens of sea lions without a few feet of us. The natives here treat the animals so well that they were not phased in the slightest by us being there. In fact, they were swimming right next to us at one point. 

The next day we woke up at 6:00 for a hike on Isabela Island. The boat traveled while we were asleep so we would wake up on a different island every day. On Isabela Island there were incredible views, albatross birds, iguanas, and, most importantly, the blue footed boobies! While we were almost done with our hike we saw a patch of what looked like blood in the sand. It was actually placenta from a sea lion that had just given birth earlier that day. The baby sea lion was so large... that must have hurt. After lunch we went snorkeling around the island. The views were really great and I got to see some sharks, starfish, fishies, and string rays. Unfortunately, I was too stubborn to wear a wetsuit like the rest of hte group and I began the stages of hypothermia while in the water. Later that day we traveled to the island of Floreana which I think was my favorite of the islands. It was incredibly tranquil (not that the other islands weren't). We hiked to a beautiful beach as well! The day ended with some hot tubbing and karaoke with the Ecuadorians on board. Oh, and how can I forget... one of the best dinners I have ever had. While the food was amazing it was the company that really made it spectacular. First of all, we had a great Arrupe-like toast where everyone had to say something nice about everyone at the table before we could drink... then Tim thought he was being a baller by ordering us a bottle of champagne that he thought was only 14 dollars... little did he know it was actually 46. When one of the hostesses asked us what the special occasion was we lied and said it was Pat's birthday... 20 minutes later the lights go dim and Happy Birthday begins to play as they present him with a cake. The night only got better when Toryn smashed Pat's face in the cake. (The First Picture is Isabela Island and the Second is a Sunset on Floreana)

The next day we woke up and went whale watching and then hiking on the island of Fernandina. The ground was all hardened lava with cracks everywhere which was really awesome. We also got to jump off of the boat that afternoon which was much higher than I thought it would be! That afternoon I opted out of an additional snorkeling adventure due to my hypothermia the day before and decided to relax in the sun for about two hours without any sunscreen. Jessie needs to realize that she is Italian-American not African-American. Needless to say, I acquired a pretty sweet burn. Our last night on the boat was a night I will never forget. How many people can say that they sang in front of a cruise of people in the Galápagos Islands while the sun was setting. I will check that badboy off the bucket list. Colleen played the piano, the captain of the ship played the guitar, and I sang! After dinner our group lined up beach chairs on the deck of the boat, got cozy with some blankets, and chatted under the stars. It was the perfect ending to an absolutely perfect trip. In the morning we went to the Charles Darwin research center and saw Solitary/ Lonesome George, the famous last turtle of his species who is like 150 years old. All in all, the trip was absolutely incredible and I am so happy to say that I have checked The Galápagos off my list... next difficult one to conquer... Fiji.

Champagne in the Quad

I guess I can check eating an 8 course meal off of my things to do in life. Yes, 8 courses. So, Jessie tenía una cita con un hombre guapo at a very nice Argentinean restaurant on Tuesday. We had (1) some fancy pita bread with guac, (2) pancetta something or other, (3) Calamari, (4) Octopus, (5) Lamb, (6) Gnocchi, (7) Tuna, and (8) filet mignon (not to mention the apple cinnamon egg roll with ice cream postre). We also had two glasses of white wine, a glass of red wine, and champagne... It was an amazing meal and the service was impeccable. Drinking wine made me feel like I was aging... eww. The manager of the restaurant apparently favors Americans because we were treated like royalty. Mind you, we did spend a lot of money at this place; however, he bought us a complimentary taxi home! All in all, great success. 

Yesterday was the 23rd Birthday of USFQ, the university I attend. 2/4 classes of mine were canceled due to the loud music that the live band was playing (American music, of course). There was free cake and champagne... like A LOT of champagne. Drinking in the middle of the Quad at Boston College would NEVER fly so the Americans were having a lot of fun with this. Maybe a little too much fun... because after champagne glass number 4 some international students went for drinks across the street... and then I had Evolución Humana. Regardless of the champagne drunk I felt, I was determined to go because I actually read the whole chapter the night before. Let's just say that class seemed to go on forever and apparently I thought it would be an interesting idea to make a flow chart of my thoughts... here is an excerpt...

"Meow, Ladder, Garbage, FaceNick JR, Colombia, Rape, Underwear, Lace, Chocolate, Dog, Martha's Vineyard" and another.... "Giggly Puss, Pokemon, Ball, Scrotum, Pancakes, Syrup, Vermont"... this seemed like fun at the time..

Off to Galápagos!!!