taken from an email to my gran:
Speaking of Thanksgiving, last year was quite spectacular. I had a great time. (Not) Surprisingly, Thanksgiving, or as my host mom says (fankgivins) is basically unheard of in Ecuador, but Kalamazoo foots the bill for a "pot luck" type of event to be hosted in quito each year. I will be making the pies, there is no decision in that matter. My Intergrative Research Cultural Project (ICRP) was at an investment banking firm where I felt like i was being babysat with nothing to do, could not understand what was going on in meetings, and was required to bring my laptop. One will get robbed, at gunpoint or less, for a laptop in Quito. I changed my ICRP to teaching 7th grade english and cheerleading at the public school by my house. Even thought the school does not quite apply to my future directly, I am speaking more spanish, spending nothing on transportation, and enjoying myself way more...This is my first weekend in Quito in the last month! I had class trips to Cotopaxi and Tunruahua (two highly active volcanoes), a 5 star retreat to the jungle with Kalamazoo, and to a coastal pueblo, Crucita to see different geological formations.... My body does not coroporate with food in ecuador. We have been having rolling blackouts from 4-5 hours a day that could last from next week til March. Welcome to 21st century socailism. 30% of the countries electricity is powered by a hydroplant, and the river waters are low, so no electricity. The popularity rating of the president went fomr 88% in June to about 44% now. Not to good Rafel Corerra.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Ecuadors rolling blackouts due to a lovely president on the Wall Street Journal
For a more complete analysis of the situation click here
Did i mention while my spanish is improving, my english is getting worse
For a more complete analysis of the situation click here
Did i mention while my spanish is improving, my english is getting worse
Monday, November 9, 2009
Day One
I woke up sick. I was very sad because I wanted to travel to the east for all my life. But, my Ecuadorian mother, Maria del Pilar, I speak with Tania and Nataly, and I found a way to go the next day.
Day Two
When I arrived at the hostel for the fall with my fellow passengers, I learned that I go in a van with 8 European Ecuadorian and a driver. I was wrong on a chair between the driver and a man from England. It was an experience. Speak Spanish with the driver because it was too weird. He has traveled to England Husquila before, but can not speak Spanish fluently anything. under way, police stopped cars to check on us, it took too long. I'm afraid of these police actions because it means that there will be more police control. I arrive in time for lunch and then went to a presentation of Quechua people. We greet you with traditional face painting. we learned about the music, dancing, a shaman, and drinks. The traditional dress clothes seems like the day of the mills of the United States, simple yet powerful. The dance had a lot of weight, but this in the "up beats" instead of the more traditional "down beats." Life there is simple in every way. However, I wonder about the local youths and how they live. After dinner we played "monopoly," my favorite. The landscape is liadÃsimo to Husquila.
Day Three
This was the better day. I saw my friends, animals of the jungle. We had a canoe trip up the Napo River towards downtown recastre animals. Along the trail you see nature and poverty of the area. Happy children, but poor play in the river / old canoes on the River. The center is fantastic. Our guide taught us about animals that were abused or had pets. Wild animals should not be pets, never works. His blood is not blood from a kitten, is more like a lion. I love the anaconda. After swimming in the river, there were plenty of mosquitoes. Two local children played with the group. They enjoyed the attention of grown-ups. our museum guide showed us a false trap. primitive traps seem to be effective. Also, the snakes in jars were great. However, during this time the arms and legs felt like they were burning stings. When he showed us houses typical Quechua I feel strange. It's like people are in a zoo and all the gringos went to her. Tena dinner was disappointing in comparison to more trips in Kalamazoo and a further comparison Hostaria
Day Four
The time Jumando Caverns was too short because the volcano Reventador, was active. I hope the weather outside longer. the caves are magical. dark, damp rooms within the earth that provide water for the community. then we went to a cave pool water. It was clean, fresh and fun. There was plenty of Ecuadorian people. But women were not hidden estadunise. I love the east, the trees, the sounds, the weather. This trip was my favorite.
I woke up sick. I was very sad because I wanted to travel to the east for all my life. But, my Ecuadorian mother, Maria del Pilar, I speak with Tania and Nataly, and I found a way to go the next day.
Day Two
When I arrived at the hostel for the fall with my fellow passengers, I learned that I go in a van with 8 European Ecuadorian and a driver. I was wrong on a chair between the driver and a man from England. It was an experience. Speak Spanish with the driver because it was too weird. He has traveled to England Husquila before, but can not speak Spanish fluently anything. under way, police stopped cars to check on us, it took too long. I'm afraid of these police actions because it means that there will be more police control. I arrive in time for lunch and then went to a presentation of Quechua people. We greet you with traditional face painting. we learned about the music, dancing, a shaman, and drinks. The traditional dress clothes seems like the day of the mills of the United States, simple yet powerful. The dance had a lot of weight, but this in the "up beats" instead of the more traditional "down beats." Life there is simple in every way. However, I wonder about the local youths and how they live. After dinner we played "monopoly," my favorite. The landscape is liadÃsimo to Husquila.
Day Three
This was the better day. I saw my friends, animals of the jungle. We had a canoe trip up the Napo River towards downtown recastre animals. Along the trail you see nature and poverty of the area. Happy children, but poor play in the river / old canoes on the River. The center is fantastic. Our guide taught us about animals that were abused or had pets. Wild animals should not be pets, never works. His blood is not blood from a kitten, is more like a lion. I love the anaconda. After swimming in the river, there were plenty of mosquitoes. Two local children played with the group. They enjoyed the attention of grown-ups. our museum guide showed us a false trap. primitive traps seem to be effective. Also, the snakes in jars were great. However, during this time the arms and legs felt like they were burning stings. When he showed us houses typical Quechua I feel strange. It's like people are in a zoo and all the gringos went to her. Tena dinner was disappointing in comparison to more trips in Kalamazoo and a further comparison Hostaria
Day Four
The time Jumando Caverns was too short because the volcano Reventador, was active. I hope the weather outside longer. the caves are magical. dark, damp rooms within the earth that provide water for the community. then we went to a cave pool water. It was clean, fresh and fun. There was plenty of Ecuadorian people. But women were not hidden estadunise. I love the east, the trees, the sounds, the weather. This trip was my favorite.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
taken from a note to sally
so i am offically lame. last night we went out wht my new gay bff. my madre told me that it is ok that he is not perfect but i should be aware of gays becasue they can get jelous and fight me.i went home early since i felt not good. and i didnt goto the jungle today. but fuck it i need to see some tigers, and i am lucky enough to find a ride out there for tomorrow.
ecudor is beautiful. the longer i am here the more i appreciate it.
and hanky is wonderful and sat with me on skype as im sick. kinda gross. i cant wait to see him in 45 days.
ecudor is beautiful. the longer i am here the more i appreciate it.
and hanky is wonderful and sat with me on skype as im sick. kinda gross. i cant wait to see him in 45 days.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
trip to the coast
Friday:
When the trip began, I felt sic, but after one or two bus stops, and Pepto, I feel better. I was so afraid that he had been sick during the trip, I was very afraid. But I was lucky, but many of the people I saw during the trip without access to health care, and this is not fair. Our guide, Andres, said that the situation of the people there are super different it is in Quito.
We had lunch with typical coastal fish, green soup, and rice. I like that most people in Ecuador local food rather than food that was imported from afar. The village where we ate is very different from Quito or Cumbaya. The town's social economic status was lower viably. for example, the condition of the road, shops, and cars are signs. Also, it appears that the farther we are from Quito, the population increases Afroecuatorianos.
When we arrived at the biology, my first thought was that this place looks like a movie. I've never seen a type of a rainforest and it was fantastic.
Then we went to the island for a demonstration Muisne Marimba and traditional dance. I liked the dance with all of its energy and life. also if the dancers were dancing Kalamazoo students. It was funny. Moreover, poverty is obvious Muisne.
Saturday:
Saturday, unfortunatly did not go to see the howler monkeys. We went by canoe to the mangroves. The trip on the river was super fun and interesting. I saw many types of different tropical birds, including pelicans. At the same time, our guides explained on one of the industries, production Charcol. But, the most important to me that all the land under sea level is public, so much people in Muisne, and the remaining area, house built in flood areas because it's free. A mangrove tour of the island had Congal: transitional ecosystems, upland forest, recovery areas, mangrove regeneration, organic gardens, pool aquaculture. We learn a lot about the island's fruit, including pineapple, papaya, mango, and coconut. we also learnedabout the importance of shrimp farming and how the shrimp bust effected the population. we got stuck int he mud in the mussel and clam fields in the mangroves. can not imagine a woman doing this work with their children nearby. after all were hot and tired at the end of the tour, the best thing that happened, refreshing coconut water.
We ate lunch on a beach in Muisne, was beautiful. It was almost nobody on the beach and sand forever. I enjoyed the time at the beach lot. by this time, I think Kalamazoo needed some time to relax.
We returned to the station to go to the bar. to watch the local football match Ecuador v. Uruguay. As I do not like football much but I like the atmosphere. I played the daughter of the other guide during the game. The owner of the bar gave us a fruit I've never seen before, guava. The guava is different than any kind of fruit I've seen in my whole life, but the flavor was so rich. Unfortunately, Ecuador lost the match and returned to the station for an incredible soup and popcorn
Sunday
before returning to Quito, we walked to the community of Bunche. A poor village, built by the land under the sea level. But this town is improving with a new mayor. The children played outside with us without thinking of a dangerous. The need to care for children reminded me of poor children on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Then we went to the beach resort of Atacames, a spectacular beaches, restaurants, artists and people. Atacames was similar and different Muisne beach. Atacama had more tourists, then more silver. But both are home to Afro-Ecuadorian people, a marginalized group in the country.
When the trip began, I felt sic, but after one or two bus stops, and Pepto, I feel better. I was so afraid that he had been sick during the trip, I was very afraid. But I was lucky, but many of the people I saw during the trip without access to health care, and this is not fair. Our guide, Andres, said that the situation of the people there are super different it is in Quito.
We had lunch with typical coastal fish, green soup, and rice. I like that most people in Ecuador local food rather than food that was imported from afar. The village where we ate is very different from Quito or Cumbaya. The town's social economic status was lower viably. for example, the condition of the road, shops, and cars are signs. Also, it appears that the farther we are from Quito, the population increases Afroecuatorianos.
When we arrived at the biology, my first thought was that this place looks like a movie. I've never seen a type of a rainforest and it was fantastic.
Then we went to the island for a demonstration Muisne Marimba and traditional dance. I liked the dance with all of its energy and life. also if the dancers were dancing Kalamazoo students. It was funny. Moreover, poverty is obvious Muisne.
Saturday:
Saturday, unfortunatly did not go to see the howler monkeys. We went by canoe to the mangroves. The trip on the river was super fun and interesting. I saw many types of different tropical birds, including pelicans. At the same time, our guides explained on one of the industries, production Charcol. But, the most important to me that all the land under sea level is public, so much people in Muisne, and the remaining area, house built in flood areas because it's free. A mangrove tour of the island had Congal: transitional ecosystems, upland forest, recovery areas, mangrove regeneration, organic gardens, pool aquaculture. We learn a lot about the island's fruit, including pineapple, papaya, mango, and coconut. we also learnedabout the importance of shrimp farming and how the shrimp bust effected the population. we got stuck int he mud in the mussel and clam fields in the mangroves. can not imagine a woman doing this work with their children nearby. after all were hot and tired at the end of the tour, the best thing that happened, refreshing coconut water.
We ate lunch on a beach in Muisne, was beautiful. It was almost nobody on the beach and sand forever. I enjoyed the time at the beach lot. by this time, I think Kalamazoo needed some time to relax.
We returned to the station to go to the bar. to watch the local football match Ecuador v. Uruguay. As I do not like football much but I like the atmosphere. I played the daughter of the other guide during the game. The owner of the bar gave us a fruit I've never seen before, guava. The guava is different than any kind of fruit I've seen in my whole life, but the flavor was so rich. Unfortunately, Ecuador lost the match and returned to the station for an incredible soup and popcorn
Sunday
before returning to Quito, we walked to the community of Bunche. A poor village, built by the land under the sea level. But this town is improving with a new mayor. The children played outside with us without thinking of a dangerous. The need to care for children reminded me of poor children on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Then we went to the beach resort of Atacames, a spectacular beaches, restaurants, artists and people. Atacames was similar and different Muisne beach. Atacama had more tourists, then more silver. But both are home to Afro-Ecuadorian people, a marginalized group in the country.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Ecuadorian Buses
Ok, so if you, as an Ecuadorian male, are going to hit on me on the crowded bus from Cumbaya to Quito, at least have the decency to offer me your seat. Machismo should work both ways.
Love, Laura
No but really, the bus system is quite incredible here. They are some municipally owned, and some cooperatively owned. It takes two, not one person to work each bus. One, of course is the driver, who is driving a manual bus, yes a huge bus is manually operated. the second is the money taker, guy who yells the stops of the bus, "Cumbaya Cumbaya Tumbaco suba suba."
The bus has a wide variety of riders, young old, indigenous women with huge baskets, crying babies, and the vendors. There is the "manderinas maderinas un dollar" lady, the "helados helados" lady, the "tameridos, diez for 25 centitivos" man, and my favorite.. the occasional man that sells dvds and music for a dollar.
But my favorite of all times is when a man lets me on the bus first, or gives me his seat. There are a lot of ladrones on buses
Love, Laura
No but really, the bus system is quite incredible here. They are some municipally owned, and some cooperatively owned. It takes two, not one person to work each bus. One, of course is the driver, who is driving a manual bus, yes a huge bus is manually operated. the second is the money taker, guy who yells the stops of the bus, "Cumbaya Cumbaya Tumbaco suba suba."
The bus has a wide variety of riders, young old, indigenous women with huge baskets, crying babies, and the vendors. There is the "manderinas maderinas un dollar" lady, the "helados helados" lady, the "tameridos, diez for 25 centitivos" man, and my favorite.. the occasional man that sells dvds and music for a dollar.
But my favorite of all times is when a man lets me on the bus first, or gives me his seat. There are a lot of ladrones on buses
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