Perú: Lima to Cuzco

After months of planning the day had finally arrived. Friday afternoon (two weeks ago today) Jon, Nate, Kevin, Pat and I set out on our ten day Peruvian/ Bolivian journey. Our first step was Lima, Perú for one night. The plane right was wonderful... I just finished the Hunger Games series (highly recommended) and started reading "The Help", a great book which was accompanied by complimentary white wine. While the wine was delicious, it was the start of a perpetual 16 hour long head ache.

During our ten hour layover in Lima we took a cab 40 minutes away to find a typical Peruvian restaurant... instead at the taxi driver's discretion, we were brought to the nicest restaurant in Lima... a seafood restaurant on a pier overlooking the water. The view was absolutely gorgeous which made the entire experience even more surreal (picture below). When Kevin and Pat asked fro a table for five, the hostess gave them a stare down and it was not until the men in suits and women in dresses began to exit the restaurant that we understood why. Regardless, after about a half an hour or internal conflict, the hostess escorted us to our table. The food was incredible and there was even a desert called "Wet Chocolate Cake with lots of chocolate and so much more..." While we didn't order the chocolate cake, the question of what the "so much more" could possibly be will forever haunt us.

Within one hour after leaving the pier, we went from living like high society to sleeping on the airport floor. Yes, 5 BC Gringos cuddled around three trash cans next to about 25 other travelers. Although I am the lightest sleeper in the world, my hopes were high... however, these hopes were shot down when the hours passed and passed... hours that were filled with the obnoxious pre-recorded voice of a woman advising me to take precaution in the airport EVERY THREE MINUTES. After 4 1/2 hours of lying on the airport floor, we had to catch our second flight from Lima to Cuzco. I sat next to two girls around the age of 16 who screamed of excitement when the plane took off. It was their first flight.

Unfortunately, my headache was still raging at 9:30AM when we arrived in Cuzco so while the boys began exploring, I rented a hostel and slept for three hours... best decision of my life. When I was awoken by the boys I felt 1000x better. We began to explore Cuzco, the most important city of the Inca Empire, which was absolutely beautiful (picture below). As the good Boston College students that we are, we did a Jesuit Church Tour. Afterwards, on our way to get lunch, Nate bargained a painting down from 150 soles to 1 sol... only in South America. We ate at Paddy's which is the highest Irish pub in the world. Shepherd's Pie was scrumptious. After lunch, Nate and I began to wander around Cuzco and, to our surprise, the was a parade throughout the streets. I am not quite sure what the parade was for but it was really incredible to see Peruvians of all ages dressed up dancing through the alleyways.

At dinner I taught the group about Glums and Glows. When I was on my Broadreach Three Week Boat Trip throughout the Leeward Islands in 2007, every night at dinner each team member had to say their glums of the day and their glows (like highs and lows). The five of us shared our glums and glows every day of the trip which was a great way to end each jam-packed day. After dinner we took a buscama (a bus with leather recliner chairs for sleeping) for 9 hours to the Peruvian/Bolivian border. The next post will show you the sketchy place where we were dropped off and tell you all about the amazing time we had on Isla del Sol, Bolivia!

Mid-Trip Reflection

I could not begin to tell you how many times I have stared at World Maps while envisioning the adventures I would partake in. Indonesia, Burkina Faso, Brazil (to name a few) always sparked my excitement and wonder as I planned, in my head, the waters I would float in, streets I would roam, and people I would encounter. Whenever I came across the blog of a young traveler I couldn't help but feel inadequate and incomplete... like the stranger behind the words was steeling my fate... my dreams. I pondered the possibility of being the author of my own adventures... having young people read my blog and feel inspired to explore the world. However, while my heart was overseas, my mind was constantly inhibiting by euphoric desires with reality. You have to put your brain to good use and settle down in the real world. But the more I contemplated the more I realized that the fantasy land that most Americans live in is a complete rejection of the real world.

In the real world, people wonder not what but how they will eat for their next meal. In the real world it is necessary to lie about the price of my $56,000 a year education because such money is simply unheard of. In the real world, a plane ride is a luxury most will never experience while public buses find themselves overpacked with newborns, elders, and workers who travel hours every morning in order to make a living. While I understand that I have reflected upon this before, my appreciation for the advantages and luxuries that my life has provided continues to grow every day. In my high school graduation speech I quoted Randy Pausch who said, "It's not about the cards you're dealt just how you play the game". While this quote certainly applies to the upper class, white population that is Locust Valley, New York, quoting such an idealistic perspective on life would simply be ludicrous in most parts of the world... it would even be an insult. Unfortunately, for most human beings, the cards will never change regardless of their fight. Real life is an understanding that the brilliant boy, Erick (below), in my Pre-K class will probably work a minimum wage job because although he has the intelligence he doesn't hold the appropriate cultural or social capital to be a CEO or lawyer. His country doesn't hold the sufficient funds to distribute enough grants or scholarships and he will most likely fall victim to the vicious cycle that continues to stratify society.

Perhaps one of the most difficult challenges I have encountered while traveling around South America has been my failed attempts at solidarity with the natives. While I attempt to connect on a more personal and spiritual level with others, I realize we come from two completely different worlds. And, while we take the same public transportation, the woman next to me is headed home after a challenging week selling potatoes on the street... as for me, I am headed to Bolivia to relax on a beautiful island before returning to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. But anyone who thinks this social segregation will become more just is simply naive. Life is a survival of the fittest and the most I can do knowing that I started this monopoly game with an unfair capital advantage is simply appreciate human struggle and the education, love, and opportunity in my life.

Otavalo... Zoo?... LIGA... Pato's Parents Come to Town...

This post will be an accumulation of random thoughts and things that have happened in the past two weeks because I sometimes get lazy with blogging. I figure I will remember to write about only the things that truly are worth reading... I hope. 

Last Saturday we had a day trip to Otavalo Indigenous Market which is a HUGE outdoor market of everything you could ever imagine. On the way there Patrick Daly made us watch, Never Say Never, the Justin Beiber movie... and, while I gave him a lot of shit for it... I will admit it was a great movie. When we arrived at Otavalo I immediately went off on my own and shopped solo for the next three hours. It was quite relaxing and I got almost all of my Christmas gifts! I would love to write about everything that I bought but that would ruin Christmas morning for my family and friends. Let's just say that the best purchase of the day was an 18 dollar scarf that I bargained down to 8. Booyah. 

After the indigenous market we ate lunch at a traditional indigenous restaurant where we were shown the process of indigenous clothes making as well as given a tutorial on indigenous music. It is very common for indigenous people to make guitar heads out of armadillo shells which I thought was quite baller. After lunch everyone was in a food comma and was exhausted from shopping all day. The rain began to fall outside of the bus as we all drifted off until suddenly, the bus stops... and the journey continues. I will admit, I would have loved to stay on that bus but, in retrospect, the scenery was absolutely beautiful. We took a boat ride through these mountains (I wish I had pictures but it was raining) and it legit seemed like we were in Ireland or Scotland. The boat ride was absolutely freezing but it was all made worth it when I attempted to stand up at the end of the ride and after about 10 seconds of panic and confusion I realized that the boys had strapped my lifejacket to my seat. (You had to be there but it was hysterical). 

That night, Casey, Beth and I hung out with the Ecuaboys at Juan Jose's house. I mention this because we attempted to play never have I ever and Pato repeatedly started by saying, "In my life I have never"... followed by “felt fear” and “made a BJ (Diego)”. Apparently in Ecuador you make BJ’s… you don’t give them #ecuaboyproblems. That night also involved a giant shark costume... I couldn't tell you. The next day (Sunday) I was supposed to go to the zoo for a project with my class partner Jaime for Evolución Humana. I really do hate lying and I don't do it often but I REALLY didn't want to go to the zoo. If you have read my post about horse back riding you would know that I am not a huge fan of animals. Monkeys.. I love. Anything else, meh. So, I may or may not have lied to my parents... told them I was at the zoo... then lied to Jaime... told him I was in bed with a fever... and then proceeded to spend the day with Diego getting lunch, coffee, and then seeing a movie. Did I feel guilty when I had to tell my parents about the lovely time I had with the condors at the zoo? Yes. Or when Jaime asked me if I was feeling better? Yes. Do I regret it. Absolutely not. 

Pat's parents were in town this week, which was a lot fun. On Tuesday night Colleen, Tim, Kevin, Toryn, Pat, his parents, and I went out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant and then went swimming in the pool and hot tub. The hotel was absolutely gorgeous and it honestly felt a little strange and out of place. I felt like I was back in the states.. that feeling scares me. On Wednesday we took his parents to The Macarena, the school where we volunteer and then to our favorite lunch spot where you can eat a 2 course meal with a drink for $1.50. I can only imagine the horror on my mother’s face if I ever brought her there.

Wednesday night I went to my first soccer game! LIGA was playing in Quito and Diego took me to his box, which was absolutely incredible! The fans at these games are unlike anything I have ever seen. La Muerte Blanca is the cheering section for LIGA and I am pretty confident that their uniform chants and songs did not stop once during the entire game. The section was also lighting fires, firecrackers, and fireworks from the stands… this would NEVER fly in the U.S. Apparently it is not uncommon for fan fights to result in casualties so perhaps it was good that we were in a private box although I definitely want to experience La Muerte Blanca before I leave! After we met up with Beth and Jose Miguel at Fresa y Cereza for a few drinks. I attempted to sing the song “Smell Yo Dick” on the karaoke stage but the song stopped like 15 seconds in and the scene got real uncomfortable and awkward…  jajajaja.

Friday night Pat’s parents took everyone in the group out for dinner and I ate salmon for the first time in ages… it was unbelievable… worthy of blogging about for that matter. Besides that the rest of the weekend was very chill and relaxing. Unfortunately I have a lot of work to do this weekend and upcoming week because vacation starts on Thursday afternoon! As of right now I am heading to Parque Carolina with Colleen to shoot some photos for a project. A famous chef has prepared vats upon vats of colada morada for a fundraiser and a different chef has prepared one of the largest guaguas of pan known to mankind… thus, I will not be missing out… Oh, and I almost forgot… 5 DAYS UNTIL PERU!!!!

Rural Experience: Santa Barbara, Ecuador

In exactly two months from today (December 22nd) I will be spending my first day back in the States. My time in Ecuador is half way through and the thought of having to leave this place puts a heavy feeling in my heart. The past two months have flown by so quickly... it feels like yesterday that the BC Gringos were wrapped up in blankets on the back of a ship in the Galápagos Islands staring at the stars. I cannot begin to describe my love for Ecuador... the culture, the people, the food... it's all amazing. Ecuador was my "add-on" as I call it. I was always set on studying abroad in Spain in the spring of my junior year but Ecuador kind of crept up on me... and I am so glad I didn't back out. There have certainly been times when I have contemplated staying in Ecuador for the full year because four months just doesn't seem like enough time. However, knowing that my journey must continue I am determined to make the most of these last two months!

Yes, I understand that I have not blogged in a VERY long time and A LOT has happened since my last post. In this blog I will recount the Rural Experience. 2 weekends ago the BC Gringos paired up and lived with indigenous host families. We had absolutely no idea of what to expect as we drove through the rural countryside in the back of a pick up truck. Suddenly, Colleen and I were instructed to exit the vehicle with our belongings... we had arrived. A woman named Luz Maria greeted us and guided us towards the entrance of her home. Upon entering we were greeted by two of her daughters who we shared great conversation with while Luz Maria was preparing dinner. As we were about to sit down, Segundo, the father of the home returned from work. Segundo, works in Quito during the week (2.5 hours away) and returns home every weekend. Luz Maria and Segundo also have two other daughters who study in Quito and, like their father, escape the chaotic city life every weekend and return home to Santa Barbara, Ecuador.

Every member of the Alta-Alta family spoke both Spanish and Quichua (the two official Ecuadorian languages),  Quichua being the native language of many indigenous Ecuadorian families. Quichua is mainly considered an oral language due to the lack of written Quichua books, newspapers, etc. and approximately 15% of Ecuadorians speak Quichua as their first language. Interestingly enough the English words condor, llama, and jerky (beef jerky) all originate from the Quichua language. Lastly, the words in the language are SO long it's absurd... for example "Hi" is Rimaykullaki (wtf).

After dinner the first night Colleen and I were exhausted and knew we would have to wake up very early the next morning so we headed to bed and had one of our lovely 3 hour pillow talks. The next morning we woke up at 6:45, ate breakfast, and then headed to the minga. Santa Barbara is a town that is based off of what seems to be socialism. Every family of the town is required to send two family members to the minga (land of crops) every weekend. If they fail to do so, their electricity will be turned off. In the minga, Colleen and I (along with Toryn, Pat, and Kevin who were in the same town) used what I think was a hoe? to make dirt mounds around some corn. After noticing that town members were trailing me fixing all of my mounds I realized that I was not cut out for manual labor. In the middle of the work one man offered us chicha which is an extremely sweet, sugar-cane based, drink. We all took a few sips and realized that not only was it absolutely foul but also that the dogs had been drinking out of the same bucket of chicha. Let's just say I was very happy when the minga work was over.

Colleen and I then walked around the village for an hour taking pictures and playing with many a little puppy. The people of Santa Barbara grow all of their own vegetables, raise all of their own cows, pigs, chickens, etc. Thus, the food that they eat is incredibly fresh and healthy. Many times throughout the weekends if Luz Maria needed an ingredient Colleen and I would go into our garden and pick it! This made me realize that one day I too would love to have a little garden in my backyard. For lunch this afternoon we ate the infamous cuy. In Ecuador, it is a tradition to eat guinea pig. We had the opportunity of learning the entire process from the selection of the cuy, the de-hairing, the gutting, and the cooking. Below are a few pictures that may make you want to either vomit, cry, or punch me in the face for animal cruelty... But, it's all part of the experience. While the cuy did taste like chicken I could not stop thinking about my 4th grade pet guinea pig, Baxter.... safe to say that was the first and last time I will eat guinea pig.

After lunch the five of us walked into the closest town with one of my host sisters where we went to the indigenous market, ate some tostados (sorry Amanda) and learned more about the indigenous culture. For entertainment, teenagers in this town play a street game involving a rotating top and a string. However, I couldn't tell you what exactly this game entails. Tostado reference: I have failed to mention the abundance of street food in Ecuador. No matter which part of Ecuador you are in there will be at least 5 people trying to sell you street food which ranges from corn to chicken to empenadas. Amanda, our coordinator, warned us against eating this food because she believes it is unsanitary and will, in her words, "give us stomach amoebas that will eat away at our organs". She even had the audacity to force Pat and I to throw out a bowl of tostados (best food ever) three weeks ago because she legit thought death would ensue.

We then ate dinner with the entire family, and went to sleep... again, after a long long pillow talk. The next morning we woke up and prepared for a 30 person family lunch for that afternoon. We picked potatoes from the field, sorted corn, and peeled beans for hours. When the time came for us to finally eat Colleen and I were both starving and the food was incredible. Homemade cheese, meat from the pig they had killed the day before (picture below), fresh vegetables, etc. Unfortunately, after lunch we had to pack our bags and say goodbye to the Alta-Alta family (pictured below).

My feelings regarding the weekend: It was very difficult for me to not use my Nicaraguan rural experience as a comparison for this weekend. In Nicaragua I lived without running water, electricity, a toilet, shower, etc. Everything was cooked with fire, there was no refrigerator, and I slept under an insect net on a thin "mattress" if you could even call it that... It was, without a doubt, a truly rural experience. My experience in Santa Barbara, on the other hand, was only rural in comparison to a major city like Quito. We had electricity, televisions, computers, cell phones, hot running water, etc. The side house that we stayed in was substantially nicer than their house, however, there were times during the weekend when we were watching Glee and Harry Potter. You know it's not a truly rural experience when your host sister adds you on Facebook before you leave their home. Thus, while I did enjoy my time with Colleen and the Alta-Alta family, I do not believe it had as great of an impact on me as did my experience in Nicaragua where I showered with a bucket, went to the bathroom in a maggot-filled hole, and spit my toothpaste into dirt next to a pig. Our gorgeous room (below):

Before getting onto the bus with all of the other BC students who would be eager to hear about everyone's weekends, the five of us decided to play a practical joke on everyone. We would enter the bus melancholy as ever. We would tell everyone that we didn't wish to talk about our experience and that we needed time to cope that the devastation of that weekend's events. After a while we would "break" and tell them the made up story of our weekend that involved my host sister getting trampled to death by a bull in the field and us having to mourn her death all weekend while the boys dug the hole in which she would be buried. If you are a decent human you can understand how this prank went completely wrong and resulted in the most awkward apology ever. Here I am about to be in tears telling this story to everyone on the bus... not knowing when enough was enough... but the story kept going... and I kept lying... and the sadness that grew upon the faces of my eager listeners inhibited my ability to tell them that all of it was a lie. We had gotten ourselves in too deep and it was Kevin who had to face the group a while later and tell them that it was a complete fabrication... needless to say... the group was livid. Who does that? Who makes up a story about a six year old being trampled to death by a bull? What is wrong with us? Regardless, this story still makes me chuckle.... sue me.

Baños, Ecuador: White Water Rafting, Puenting, and Horseback Riding.

Before I fill this space with witty jokes and memories I feel it is appropriate to make a shout out to my man Steve Jobs. Since coming to Ecuador the only setback has been the fact that thoughts of the future are inhibiting my ability to fully enjoy this experience. I question whether or not I should take the safe route and apply to the typical 9-5 jobs after graduation or if I should do something I am more passionate about and see where life takes me. After reading the following quote I feel as though I have gained greater insight into what I really do wish to get out of life. 

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on." -Steve Jobs

So who knows? Maybe I will be sitting at a desk in Boston or New York two years from now... or maybe I will be in some far away country teaching English to impoverished children... What I do know is that I refuse to settle... I refuse to fall into a typical routine of filling my days with passionless endeavors. As John Lennon says, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans". I am a blank canvas, I am a map without a destination, I am free, and I feel alive. 


This past weekend the BC Gringos traveled to Baños, Ecuador. 11 gringos with 11 backpacks packed into a tiny van for a four hour drive filled with "contact" (game), made up languages, and many a snack thanks to Kevin. We arrived to our hostel, Le Petit Auberge at around 8PM and to our surprise the hostel had fireplaces in every room, gardens with hammocks, and an overall feeling of comfort and relaxation. The machos y hembras split up for dinner which was nice because sometimes eating with a group of 11-13 gets a tad frustrating. Afterwards, Pat, Kevin and I purchased our llama/alpaca sweaters in preparation for our trip to Machu Picchu in 3 weeks! When the five of us (Nate and Jon as well) reach the Piznit as we call it during sunrise we will all be wearing alpaca sweaters for photo gold. The next day would be jam-packed with activities so we decided to have dry night and stay away from the bars. While the BC Gringos stayed sober... we definitely were not dry. We had the brilliant idea of sitting in a circle with our mouths filled with water in hopes of not laughing. Needless to say, after Kevin and Seth frolicked around in their boxers and Kevin showed off his best pterodactyl impression, the room was covered with agua and saliva. A quick thank you to Toryn and Nate for vomming a little in your mouth and not on the innocent gringos. 


Saturday morning brought us perhaps one of the best Ecuastories thus far. Colleen and I decided to be obnoxious and wake everyone up by yelling loud and jumping on their beds. The room next to us (Jon, Tim, Seth, and Nate) was an easy target because they had left their door open. The challenge came when Room Seven (Toryn, Pat, and Kevin) had a locked door. Colleen and I took it upon ourselves to climb over the balconies onto the patio of Room Seven. The window was open... We had our in! Colleen first tried to get through the window and was half way through when we realized it would be easier for me to go through first, leap in the air onto their beds, and have her jump through after. So here I am, perched like an eager spider monkey on the ledge of the window awaiting my attack. The countdown began... 3....... 2...... I was a good two seconds away from pouncing on my friends when I spotted a Blackberry on the bedside table... "Colleen, who has a Blackberry here"... A split second later we were dying of laughter as I quickly fell from the window sill... A window sill that belonged to three strangers. Had the Blackberry not been spotted at that exact moment we would have found ourselves in perhaps one of the most awkward situations ever... with three backpackers from god knows what country angry because two young gringas woke them up at 8 in the morning. 


The first activity of the day was white water rafting! The river was much further than we had anticipated but it gave us the opportunity to see more of the surrounding area. When we arrived on site, some of the group members were given wetsuits that looked like hillbilly overalls while I sported a wetsuit that appeared to be the remains of a tiger attack. We were split up into 2 boats (everyone in one boat and Pat, Toryn, and Colleen in another). This rafting was definitely more challenging than our experience in Mindo... but I guess I wouldn't call 2 Ecuadorians in overalls dragging tubes down a river "white water rafting". Our guides were insane and provoked wars between our boats during which we found ourselves being thrown off the raft or, in Toryn's case, held captive on an enemy ship. All in all, rafting was a blast and we had the opportunity of seeing some amazing landscape! 

After arriving back at our hotel we had 20 minutes to change and start our trek towards the bridge that we would be puenting from. Puenting is essentially bungee jumping off a bridge but the mechanism is a little different. I can easily say, without a doubt, that I have NEVER been so afraid in my entire life. When you look over the edge of the rail and see a river hundreds of feet down you feel as though you are jumping to your death. While I do anticipate skydiving over the Swiss Alps this fall, I honestly believe that this jump took more courage because there is no one there to push you off (unless you're Kevin and the guide bumps you with his head). Gathering up the strength to throw myself off a bridge was an experience I will surely never forget. And yes, I screamed like a 12 year old girl the entire time. Below is a picture of the bridge!

After puenting Kasia, Seth, Tim, Nate, Jon, Pat and I went to the baños. From my understanding, Baños was given it's name because of their natural pools that are a huge tourist attraction. Thus, I imagined these baños to be private hot springs surrounded by caves... almost mystical in nature with steam rising through the frigid night air. Now take that image and think of the exact opposite and that's what these baños were. I wish I could lie and tell you that I didn't pay three dollars to stand in an overcrowded, dirty pool with about 150 other ecuadorians. But there is something so cultural about being surrounded by other people's filth while a teenage mother is breast feeding next to you... true story. I wish the picture below did this experience justice but if you ever find yourself in Baños, Ecuador... suck it up and get in the damn pool... it's an experience you will never forget. Later that night we ate dinner and planned on going to Leprechaun Bar which apparently is the jump off in Baños. The bar was gorgeous and had a fire pit and lounge in the back. Toryn sneaked us into the VIP secion (WTF?) where it took us a quick 10 minutes to realize that we all were so exhausted from the days activities so we headed back to the hostel. Second best decision of the day, besides jumping off the bridge, was eating chili cheese fries and a bacon cheese burger with Nate and Jon before I went to sleep. 

The next morning Kasia and I decided to go to a spa for a 75 minute massage. While I knew it would not compare to a massage at the Atlantis, Bahamas or the energy work from a Blind Costa Rican on Martha's Vineyard, I did not anticipate a girl who was probably younger than me rubbing me down without any formal knowledge of what she was doing. The experience could be characterized by car sirens outside, child labor, and the employees thinking Kasia and I were lesbians who wanted a couples massage. Right when the "massage" was over we literally sprinted to meet up with the group for horseback riding. There are very few things that I do not like in this world (1) asparagus and eggplant, (2) the singer Pink, (3) sushi, and (4) horseback riding. While I knew I would not enjoy this activity as much as the others I figured I would give it another go and be a good sport. As predicted, I despise horseback riding. First of all, I am pretty sure my horse was mentally incapacitated. Second, it kept running into the anus of Kasia's horse which had olive green diarrhea all over it (my shoes are still being cleansed of the fecal matter). So there I am on a retarded horse covered in poo galloping (yes galloping) down the Ecuadorian road in more pain than I have experienced in a very long time.  Needless to say, Jessie will not be horseback riding for at least another decade. 

After showering and eating lunch we caught our bus back to Quito where we were graced with the brilliant presentation of a movie called Undisputed 3: Redemption. It was one of those movies where you simply can't stop watching because the concept and acting are so bad that it makes you feel better about your position in society that you were not the target audience. The 11 of us were so invested in this flick that the ride flew by and we found ourselves getting off the bus at a station in Quito VERY far from where we all lived. Take 3 separate taxis or perhaps ride in the back of a truck for 45 minutes... we pulled the Ecuadorian move and chose the back of the trick covered with a tarp awning. There is no other way that I would have preferred to spend my last vacation moments than with the group, in the back of a pick up truck, playing guitar and jamming out to Celine Dion and Disney.

Lastly: Favorite Song in Ecuador... Tengo Tu Amor by Sie7e

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...