So I´ve been in South America for almost three weeks now.. and it certainly has gone by fast!! The classes are long and rigorous, and it seems like there is always some new adventure to go on, or a new place to see! Last weekend we went to Esmeraldas, one of the beaches off the coast of Ecuador. This weekend some of the students organized a trip to Cotopaxi, one of the well-known mountains just South of the Pinchincha, the provence Quito is located in. We will be backpacking and riding horses around the mountain. ¡Que Chevere!
But like I said there are many things that I have seen here that are definitely different than in the states.
1) There are stray dogs EVERYWHERE, but most of them are so tame and friendly. They always look hungry, and sad. I want to take all of them back with me to the US.
2) There are children everywhere in the streets, some of them homeless, but as my mother and I discussed yesterday, are rented from the country side by their parents. Yep, that´s right. Some business man goes around the poor communities in the country and buys the children for about $50 a month, to work in the streets of Quito selling all sorts of Candy. These business men buy hundreds at a time, and don´t really take care of them or feed them well. It is terrible. I just want to take those children home with me. I have a big enough room here, and could pay for their food. Grr.. It´s terrible.
3) The south of Quito, and throughout the country side is very poor. It honestly looks like those pictures you´ve seen in the news.. shacks made of bamboo and tin roofs with dirt floors.. children running around dirty and barefoot. People just standing around outside probably because there is no work.. it was incredible. I saw most of this on the 7 hour bus ride to Esmeraldas this past weekend.
4) The children that do go to school all wear uniforms, which is cool. But one day when I was on the bus (I take it everywhere) I saw a little boy collapse and foaming at the mouth. I was shocked and in terror. however, everyone on the bus was just laughing or shaking their head in disapproval. It turns out this little boy was borracho.. or drunk. People like to drink here.
5) Ecuatorians also LOVE futbol.. I mean, soccer. The games are incredibly crazy.... they through toilet paper, confetti, set off rockets, the whole nine yards. I will be going to a game sometime soon. Oh, and EVERYONE watches.
6) Movies here at $1. Any Computer program: $5 or less. Hmm.. I wonder why. Can anyone say, pirating? (but hey, if you need anything, let me know!!) ; )
7) Globalization certainly has affected Ecuador. After shopping at the local Payless here, I of course went and got some KFC for dinner, then went out to a Cinemark to watch The Incredible Hulk in English. Then we came back and drank some coca'cola and Frosted Flakes.. or Zucaratas!
8) People stay at home a lot longer here. It is definitely common for any son or daughter who is not married to live with their parents until they are about 30yrs old. Hence, I have a brother who is 26 and one who is 28 living with me here.
9) I would say the average height here is about 5'4.. so I feel very at home standing at 5´2. :) Hahaha.. take that.. I am no longer ´Bite Size´Nick!
10) It gets dark here around 6pm. 12 hours daylight, 12 hours darkness.
11) We have a ´maid´ or empleada. This is very common here for even low, middle class families. It´s really diffrerent though, and I don´t know if I particularly like it, even though it is nice to have my meals cooked for me and my laundry always done!
12) There are ´private gaurds´every where that line the streets. I guess they are just making sure no one breaks into anything.
13) Houses are certainly on the lock down. My house is fenced in on all sides, all the windows have bars, all the doors have bars, I have locks on my doors.. I am feeling pretty good no one is going to mess with me.
14) What Traffic laws? I don´t think anyone really follows them. Red lights mean, keep going. You can pass anyone you want on the road... even if it is on a windy mountain top, and no one wears seat belts.. EVER. also, all the cars here are stick shift.
15) INternet cafes are everywhere and not too expensive, which is really convenient.
16) When the sun shines, its so hot I feel like the sun is 2 inches above my head.. but when it is gone.. it gets FREEZING. and its is always sunny in the morning, and usually rains a little bit each afternoon.
17) I have the CRAZIEST, most vivid dreams here. I don´t know if it is the altitud or the food.
Anyhow, that´s all for now. I need to study for my exam tomorrow. Yikes! Much love, and I send you all hugs and kisses.
As I said Earlier, I´m so sorry for not being able to write sooner! But Anyway, here goes!
I live with an Ecuadorian family, and they are super nice. I have two older Ecuadorian Brothers, one is Jose (26) and the other is Rodulf (28). I live on top of a hill (or actually, in the mountains) right above the Estadio Olympico, or the Olympic Stadium for Soccer games (which is HUGE here). Anyhow, I really like my house.. I have my own room and bathroom which is really convenient, and they serve you three course meals here, which is awesome!
My school is in the upstairs of a Cafe, called Mango Tree. Everyday I have class from 930 until 130, which is in GringoLandia, or so they call it because of all of the white people there. It is really nice as well, and I´ll be sure to post pictures soon. It takes me about 30 minutes to get there.. 10 on foot and 20 on the bus.
The bus is quite an experience. I have to wear my backpack in the front, holding it to make sure no one will steal anything. It is usually very crammed, and we are squeezed in like sardines. There is one other student who lives close enough to me, with whom sometimes we ride the bus together. But for the most part I go alone. The first time was scary, but now I feel pretty confident, and know my way around the city.
Although it certainly is hard to breathe here.. being so high up in the mountains, and the pollution is pretty bad too. Walking down the main road, it is very difficult to breathe.
I got a cell phone here for emergencies, but mostly it is cheaper to call from the Telefonica Cabinas.. or phone booths. So if you get an out of area call, it might be from me from a random phone booth!
Already my brothers have said that my Spanish has improved TREMENDOUSLY.. which I am really thankful for! I can tell there has been a big difference.
I promise to write more later, but now I really should go. I have my second exam already (yikes!) tomorrow. This weekend we will be going to Esmeraldas, one of the beaches on the Coast. Anyhow, take care!!
Alyssa
Hi Everyone!
I apologize for not writing sooner, but just starting out its been difficult to find time to run to the computer. I´ve made it to Ecuador safely and have survived my first whole week in South America! We landed at the Quito, International airport late Saturday night (6-14).Getting off the plane, I felt a little woosy and out of place, but followed the crowds through customs and found my bags easily. I´ve never been through customs before, so I was imaging this grand production, but really it was very relaxed. There was one girl scanning the bags, but not even looking at the screen. Piece of cake!
After grabbing my two blue bags off the conveyor, I looked up to see what only can be described as a sea of Ecuadorian faces, crammed like sardines into a roped off area, holding signs with American names. They were waving their signs, cheering, asking all of us if we were the indicated person on the sign. At this point, I really felt loved. Maybe that´s awkward to say, but I did. Someone out there was looking for me, to take me home and nestle me into their family. Sure enough, my ¨Ecuamom, Anna Estrella and my ¨¨EcuaBrother´¨, Jose, found me. We then went out into the little parking lot, loaded my bags in the car, and headed for my new home for three months, in Quito.
I got it all worked out.. I just had to call about 10 thousand times. Thank you to everyone for your support!
The OSU Financial Aid office decided to 'Audit' my FAFSA and other financial information that we submitted. So naturally, my mother and I filled the 10 extra forms, and submitted it by the indicated deadline to maxmimize scholarships/ financial aid awards for the summer and autumn quarters.
I have been checking my award status online everyday for the past two weeks, waiting anxiously to see what I have been awarded. Sure enough, as of yesterday, it still read that I had not submitted all the 10 audit forms.
So my mother and I called to confirm they received the forms. After all, we sent them in 3 weeks ago from Cleveland! Sure enough, they said yes, they have received the forms.
::phew!:: I thought.
Not quite. "Well you see, we have your papers sitting here in a pile.. and we won't be getting to that pile for AT LEAST another month."
Seriously?!
"Yes, I'm sorry. There's nothing we can do about that"
But I'm leaving THE COUNTRY in two weeks! What am I going to do for loans, or other aid that I legitimately deserve?
"Well, sometime, end of July or August, we will let you know, and refund anything that you've paid"
That would be perfect, except for, how do you think I can pay for this? I rely on my scholarships I've worked so hard to maintain and student loans! Where am I supposed to come up with the money in the first place?
"I don't know. I'm sorry. Can I help you with anything else today?"
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This is just so upsetting to me.. the first time in college I really truly need loans more than ANYTHING, I can't even take anything out. I can't get my scholarships, nothing. I just feel like hey, if OSU wants to verify that my financial information is correct, more power to them. But, if they do deem that necessary, they should be required to complete that before the planned quarter of enrollment begins!
I am just really upset, because now I have no clue where $4,000 is coming from.. and I need it all in 2 weeks.
Hey Everyone, and thanks for visiting my site!
I will be making regular updates on this website to try and keep you all informed of my Study Abroad Experience to Ecuador!
Right now I am just making the finishing touches on the website, and hopefully you all will enjoy it!
Please feel free to leave your COMMENTS on the trip, or any words of support! : )
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