Wireless Internet at the hostel! We're currently in Tiki Limbo Backpacker's Hostel in Montanita. It's a beach/surfer town with plenty of nature loving hippies. It was a little rough getting here, but we made it. I've already been to Cuenca and Guayaquil along with Sigsig, Ingapirca, Parque Nacional Cajas... etc since I last posted. There are so many different places and people in Ecuador, even though it's such a small country.
Anyway, I'm using Eboni's computer to post right now so I'm going to keep it short. Most everything has gone smoothly. My favorite day was probably when we went to Parque Nacional Cajas (National Park of Cajas) near Cuenca. We were completely unprepared, but we hiked around the lake (it took us 2.5 hours). We all had our share of slips and falls, but it was incredibly rewarding. The views were also beautiful.
Also, I've talked to my host family on average every other day. Every time we've talked, Genesis gets on the phone and loudly tells me to remember to bring my umbrella, just in case it rains. It's very cute. Also Juan Carlos reminds me that they're still in Lumbisi, which seems like a given but I suppose it's comforting to know that my host family won't pick up and leave while I'm away.
Most awkward/funny moment: Walking in the park at Guayaquil, an elderly man said "Hola Chinita linda." Which translates to Hello, beautiful little Chinese girl. Soo creepy! When we started laughing out loud, he did too.
Until next time, amigos. Chao chao.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
26 Dias Hasta Los Estados Unidos
https://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150563051685413&id=774675412&aid=646826&l=b9d1360429 << New pictures!
I wanted to do a parallel post when I had 23 days left before going home, but I realized that in 2 days I will be traveling in Cuenca,Ecuador, with questionable internet access and time to complete a post. So I will do it now. Upon re-reading my first post, I never went back to change my host dad's name to Juan Carlos. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this, but Freddy is my host uncle, thus Juan Carlos' brother. There was an awkward encounter in which my assistant program director went to Freddy's house and talked to his wife, thinking that she was Rosa. The poor woman was very confused, and scared... she definitely didn't sign up to have an international student stay with her for 4 months.
Anyway, things are going well here. Signing up for my classes next semester has been my biggest problem. Also, it feels like it's rained everyday this month. I just gave a 10 minute presentation completely in Spanish on social classes in18th century Quito for my Art History class. It was well-received, and for that I am happy. Tomorrow is the last day of class before our Semana Santa break, which is like a Spring Break/East Break. It's much needed. I'm going to travel starting tomorrow night and then hope to return on the 30th or the 1st to prepare for my last week of class. It's not a very well-space break. But as a heads up, posting will be highly unlikely while I'm traveling. So when I get back I will have 2 weeks before I leave to go home! It's entirely exciting and sad at the same time. When I wrote the post marking 23 days before Ecuador, I could not imagine what it would be like to spend a semester here. Now, 26 days before going home, I cannot imagine not being in Ecuador... or I can imagine it, but it seems so unreal. Ecuador has become my reality. It's difficult to explain. Basically, time has flown so quickly. I know when I get home everything in Ecuador will feel so far away and removed. I'm already mentally preparing for some serious reverse culture shock.
Tomorrow I am going to help prepare and eat Fanesca, a typical dish eaten in Ecuador during Semana Santa. It is a soup with 12 grains or more and take hours to prepare. Rosa is nice enough to prepare the soup a day early for me to try it because I will be traveling. In Cuenca, the soup is supposed to be very common.. so I'm excited to try the different kinds. It's supposed to be super filling. The 12 grains represent the 12 apostles, and it's cooked without red meat.
A short story about Carlos' first cooking experience:
One morning, Carlos was home for breakfast when I was awake because he didn't have class that day. He cooked his own rice and meat (both turned out slightly burnt) but he was super super excited because it was his first time cooking. While I ate my food, I could hear him narrating (out loud, to himself) his conquest of cooking. "Today, a little boy... will cook his own meal!" He described it as if he was fighting an epic battle, with complete sound effects and all. I looked over at Rosa, and she just shrugged and said he likes to converse with himself. It was very cute, I took a picture of the plate that he made:
I wanted to do a parallel post when I had 23 days left before going home, but I realized that in 2 days I will be traveling in Cuenca,Ecuador, with questionable internet access and time to complete a post. So I will do it now. Upon re-reading my first post, I never went back to change my host dad's name to Juan Carlos. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this, but Freddy is my host uncle, thus Juan Carlos' brother. There was an awkward encounter in which my assistant program director went to Freddy's house and talked to his wife, thinking that she was Rosa. The poor woman was very confused, and scared... she definitely didn't sign up to have an international student stay with her for 4 months.
Anyway, things are going well here. Signing up for my classes next semester has been my biggest problem. Also, it feels like it's rained everyday this month. I just gave a 10 minute presentation completely in Spanish on social classes in18th century Quito for my Art History class. It was well-received, and for that I am happy. Tomorrow is the last day of class before our Semana Santa break, which is like a Spring Break/East Break. It's much needed. I'm going to travel starting tomorrow night and then hope to return on the 30th or the 1st to prepare for my last week of class. It's not a very well-space break. But as a heads up, posting will be highly unlikely while I'm traveling. So when I get back I will have 2 weeks before I leave to go home! It's entirely exciting and sad at the same time. When I wrote the post marking 23 days before Ecuador, I could not imagine what it would be like to spend a semester here. Now, 26 days before going home, I cannot imagine not being in Ecuador... or I can imagine it, but it seems so unreal. Ecuador has become my reality. It's difficult to explain. Basically, time has flown so quickly. I know when I get home everything in Ecuador will feel so far away and removed. I'm already mentally preparing for some serious reverse culture shock.
Tomorrow I am going to help prepare and eat Fanesca, a typical dish eaten in Ecuador during Semana Santa. It is a soup with 12 grains or more and take hours to prepare. Rosa is nice enough to prepare the soup a day early for me to try it because I will be traveling. In Cuenca, the soup is supposed to be very common.. so I'm excited to try the different kinds. It's supposed to be super filling. The 12 grains represent the 12 apostles, and it's cooked without red meat.
A short story about Carlos' first cooking experience:
One morning, Carlos was home for breakfast when I was awake because he didn't have class that day. He cooked his own rice and meat (both turned out slightly burnt) but he was super super excited because it was his first time cooking. While I ate my food, I could hear him narrating (out loud, to himself) his conquest of cooking. "Today, a little boy... will cook his own meal!" He described it as if he was fighting an epic battle, with complete sound effects and all. I looked over at Rosa, and she just shrugged and said he likes to converse with himself. It was very cute, I took a picture of the plate that he made:
Monday, April 11, 2011
Desayuno con Genesis
Me: Good morning Genesis!
Genesis: *growls and glares*
Rosa: GENESIS! SAY GOOD MORNING! (from the kitchen)
Genesis: Hola Joy.
Me: Hola Genesis.
(sits down across the table from Genesis to eat breakfast. Looks up to notice Genesis has a handful of her scrambled eggs and has started to squeeze it so that all the grease and water is coming out between her small fingers)
Me: Genesis, eat with you spoon.
Genesis: ya ya. I want a fork. (takes a fork continues to eat with her hand)
Me: Genesis, eat with your fork!
Genesis: okay. (scoops the food using her hand onto the fork before putting it in her mouth)
Me: Genesis! Use your fork!
Genesis: What? You want to give me a gift?
Me: No, I don't have a gift. (In English), Where in the world did you get that idea?
Genesis: What did you say then?
Me: (giving up) Nothing.
Genesis: WHAT DID YOU SAY!
Rosa: Genesis! Eat quickly, stop fighting with La Joy! (from her bedroom)
Genesis: I was just asking what Joy said!
Rosa: She didn't say anything! She was just singing! Joy likes to sing when she eats breakfast!
(I am laughing at this point)
Genesis: But she'll drop her food on the floor!
Rosa: No, Joy pays attention when she sings. Now hurry up, we're going to be late! (from the terrace)
(More laughter from me. Stops laughing and dodges Genesis as she tries to wipe her greasy hands on my arm.)
"Don't let Genesis clean herself with La Joy!" -Josue, from another meal. A sign that Genesis likes to use me to clean up after she eats.
Genesis turned 5 yesterday! It was also my Ecua-Grandpa's birthday so we had a 3 hour long lunch to celebrate. We ate cuy and a special chicken soup. Some of the lunch conversation involved cuy castration, which was strange but I guess practical? We also had delicious chocolate cake.
Genesis: *growls and glares*
Rosa: GENESIS! SAY GOOD MORNING! (from the kitchen)
Genesis: Hola Joy.
Me: Hola Genesis.
(sits down across the table from Genesis to eat breakfast. Looks up to notice Genesis has a handful of her scrambled eggs and has started to squeeze it so that all the grease and water is coming out between her small fingers)
Me: Genesis, eat with you spoon.
Genesis: ya ya. I want a fork. (takes a fork continues to eat with her hand)
Me: Genesis, eat with your fork!
Genesis: okay. (scoops the food using her hand onto the fork before putting it in her mouth)
Me: Genesis! Use your fork!
Genesis: What? You want to give me a gift?
Me: No, I don't have a gift. (In English), Where in the world did you get that idea?
Genesis: What did you say then?
Me: (giving up) Nothing.
Genesis: WHAT DID YOU SAY!
Rosa: Genesis! Eat quickly, stop fighting with La Joy! (from her bedroom)
Genesis: I was just asking what Joy said!
Rosa: She didn't say anything! She was just singing! Joy likes to sing when she eats breakfast!
(I am laughing at this point)
Genesis: But she'll drop her food on the floor!
Rosa: No, Joy pays attention when she sings. Now hurry up, we're going to be late! (from the terrace)
(More laughter from me. Stops laughing and dodges Genesis as she tries to wipe her greasy hands on my arm.)
"Don't let Genesis clean herself with La Joy!" -Josue, from another meal. A sign that Genesis likes to use me to clean up after she eats.
Genesis turned 5 yesterday! It was also my Ecua-Grandpa's birthday so we had a 3 hour long lunch to celebrate. We ate cuy and a special chicken soup. Some of the lunch conversation involved cuy castration, which was strange but I guess practical? We also had delicious chocolate cake.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Piscinas Calientes Papallacta
Last weekend my program took our last scheduled trip to Papallacta, natural hot springs located a little over an hour bus ride Northeast of Quito. The ride there was really beautiful, lots of mountains and valleys. It was kind of cold and drizzly but that didn't really affect the scenic views. Papallacta is at an elevation close to 4000 meters in what used to be a volcano. A guide told us that the volcano collapsed many years ago which is the source of the heat for the natural hot springs! Papallacta is in Quichwa (indigenous language here) for Land of the Potatoes (I hope I remembered that correctly). Also, had the weather been clear we would have been able to see a volcano (this seems to be trend for my program trips, 3 out of 4 the trips we've gone on we've missed out on seeing volcanoes due to the clouds).
Anyway we got changed and eased our way into the hot pools. At first it was too hot, but then it was just right. It started to rain a little bit, and that created a nice balance. There was a lot of steam coming from the water, and when there was a slight breeze the steam would float away creating a slightly foggy atmosphere. [So I only took one picture on this trip, and it wasn't even when we were at the hot springs... oops!] A group of people in my program just sat in the water and played a spelling game called "ghost." It was funny how animated and upset people would get when they lost. Afterward we ate a nice lunch. I ordered trout, probably freshly caught from the river nearby. It was delicious! The chocolate cake after the meal was wonderful, too. Then we just relaxed until it was time to leave. I took one picture on the bus ride back and many of us played another word game called "hanky-panky," it's a word game I promise.
It was a relaxing Saturday. When we got back to Cumbaya, a couple of us got some ice cream. At night we watched an inspiring documentary called "First Year," which followed a couple of first year teachers. Then we watched a documentary called "Please Vote for Me" which was about a third grade Chinese class having a democratic election for the class monitor/president. The second documentary reminded me of when I was in third grade in Taiwan. It was a good day.
The next day some of us went to a higher end coffee shop in Cumbaya, Juan Valdez, sort of like a Starbucks equivalent, and used their wireless internet. Great connection! We sat outside and eventually a lady started singing covers of debate-ably popular songs from the U.S. Overall a relaxing weekend.
Anyway we got changed and eased our way into the hot pools. At first it was too hot, but then it was just right. It started to rain a little bit, and that created a nice balance. There was a lot of steam coming from the water, and when there was a slight breeze the steam would float away creating a slightly foggy atmosphere. [So I only took one picture on this trip, and it wasn't even when we were at the hot springs... oops!] A group of people in my program just sat in the water and played a spelling game called "ghost." It was funny how animated and upset people would get when they lost. Afterward we ate a nice lunch. I ordered trout, probably freshly caught from the river nearby. It was delicious! The chocolate cake after the meal was wonderful, too. Then we just relaxed until it was time to leave. I took one picture on the bus ride back and many of us played another word game called "hanky-panky," it's a word game I promise.
It was a relaxing Saturday. When we got back to Cumbaya, a couple of us got some ice cream. At night we watched an inspiring documentary called "First Year," which followed a couple of first year teachers. Then we watched a documentary called "Please Vote for Me" which was about a third grade Chinese class having a democratic election for the class monitor/president. The second documentary reminded me of when I was in third grade in Taiwan. It was a good day.
The next day some of us went to a higher end coffee shop in Cumbaya, Juan Valdez, sort of like a Starbucks equivalent, and used their wireless internet. Great connection! We sat outside and eventually a lady started singing covers of debate-ably popular songs from the U.S. Overall a relaxing weekend.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
"Ojos Asiaticos": Soy de los Estados Unidos
"Where are you from?"
"The United States."
"But you're not...." or "Yeah yeah, but where are you really from?" or confused stare.
But I'm not white and I don't look like I from the United States. I understand why it's confusing. Some people at home are confused, too. It's especially confusing in Ecuador because I'm speaking Spanish with an English accent and because there's not a huge Asian let alone Asian American population here. I might as well say I'm from Ecuador, because people will believe me just as much as when I say I'm from the U.S.
Since a lot of United States' culture is diffused through media, it says a lot about the way media portrays the "American" population. Although 30 percent of the population are considered "minorities," mainstream American media is still almost all white. So what does this mean for me as a Taiwanese American in Ecuador? Well first everyone thinks I'm Chinese. With the earthquake in Japan, everyone started asking me if I was Japanese. When I'm introduce myself to someone new they always ask me where I'm from, and usually twice. Preemptively I have started to explain that my mom is from Taiwan. It's especially notable when I'm with other people in my program. We say we're all from the United States, and then the question follows, "Oh, all of you?" or "And where are YOU from?" -clearly pointed at me since I do not look like the rest of the folks in my group.
Even when I clarify that I'm Taiwanese American (but born in Pennsylvania, now living in Illinois) people often don't remember. It took my host family a while to remember that I wasn't born in Taiwan. Also, since Andrew just recently visited it added another factor. The first time I showed my Ecua-family a picture of Andrew, they said, "oh he's North American, North American." Kind of implying that I'm not quite there with my North-Americaness. Then on my taxi ride to pick up Andrew, my taxi driver (my friend's host dad who already knew my background) asked me, "So is your boyfriend Korean like you?" Let's just say there's more than one thing wrong with that question.
Flash back to when I was in preschool in Pennsylvania... (note, this is a story I've been told, because I don't remember that far back in my life)
I think our teacher was doing a class on diversity (at least an attempt) and she said something along the lines of, oh and this girl is Chinese, just like Joy! Apparently, I threw a huge fit for the rest of the day. Claiming, "I'm NOT Chinese." Over and over and over. The young Joy was annoying and persistent. I also asserted over and over that I'm AMERICAN. when my family friends picked me up from the school, my teacher apologized for offending me. [tangent, I'm going to have to write another post on the use of the word "American" later]
I really am not Chinese. It's an issue that I came to terms with in high school, I'm Taiwanese American. It's really confusing because I was always told that my family is considered Chinese in Taiwan because we're not indigenous Taiwanese (but in recent news I found out I'm 1/8 indigenous Taiwanese). And that I should consider myself an ABC American Born Chinese. There's a lot of tension between Chinese and Taiwanese that I won't go into detail here. Basically this identity issue is something I thought I'd worked out for a few years now. I started calling myself a Taiwanese American or an American Born Taiwanese.
Good for me that I worked that out, right? But whatever I call myself people still see me the way that they want to and the way they have learned to perceive Asians. I have "the eyes." Rosa once made a comment that she hoped my kids will have eyes like mine, Korean eyes. I wasn't sure what to say.. thank you? I hope so too? You know I'm not Korean?
But then the opposite I feel is just as bad. When people call me white or when my differences are not acknowledged. For example the study abroad office programs in preparation for study abroad and the way international student issues are discussed. I've been warned over and over about how blond hair blue eyed people get a lot attention. Oh, if you have red hair and freckles, watch out! Pale skin etc. People LOVE blond hair. I remember thinking okay, glad to know I won't be getting a lot of attention, but what should I expect as an Asian American? I was particularly offended when one blond hair blue eyed girl sitting next to me who studied abroad in Australia said in reference to American women, "WE blend in really well until we open our mouth." (I wouldn't blend in, I don't like this "we" business) Then when I got to Ecuador, I heard some of the same things... "your blond hair is really going to stand out, people will stare" My Ecuadorean Culture teacher warned us before Carnaval, that the pretty girls with blond hair will be especially targeted (blond equating to beautiful was rough on my self-esteem for a while). A lot of this reminded me of discussions on barbie dolls and how they set unattainable beauty standards for girls, especially minorities. Culture class is quite frustrating for me whenever we talk about US culture and my professor makes assumptions.
It's hard to articulate this frustration, because on the one hand I want people to accept the idea that I'm from the United States and not call me out because I look different. On the other hand, I don't want my differences to go unacknowledged by people from the U.S. and I don't want to and can't ignore my Taiwanese side. There are some Asian Americans who don't speak their parents language and have never lived outside of the U.S., but I'm not one of them. The best I can do is accept that there are multiple aspects that make up my identity. People will continue to try to categorize me wherever I go. Even at home on a campus with many Asian international students, people ask, "Where are you from?" Or say, "What are you?" But I just have to keep in mind and they should too, that my answer to questions like those only characterizes one aspect of my person. If people can't see beyond my Asian features, well, there's a lot more to Joy that they will miss.
"The United States."
"But you're not...." or "Yeah yeah, but where are you really from?" or confused stare.
But I'm not white and I don't look like I from the United States. I understand why it's confusing. Some people at home are confused, too. It's especially confusing in Ecuador because I'm speaking Spanish with an English accent and because there's not a huge Asian let alone Asian American population here. I might as well say I'm from Ecuador, because people will believe me just as much as when I say I'm from the U.S.
Since a lot of United States' culture is diffused through media, it says a lot about the way media portrays the "American" population. Although 30 percent of the population are considered "minorities," mainstream American media is still almost all white. So what does this mean for me as a Taiwanese American in Ecuador? Well first everyone thinks I'm Chinese. With the earthquake in Japan, everyone started asking me if I was Japanese. When I'm introduce myself to someone new they always ask me where I'm from, and usually twice. Preemptively I have started to explain that my mom is from Taiwan. It's especially notable when I'm with other people in my program. We say we're all from the United States, and then the question follows, "Oh, all of you?" or "And where are YOU from?" -clearly pointed at me since I do not look like the rest of the folks in my group.
Even when I clarify that I'm Taiwanese American (but born in Pennsylvania, now living in Illinois) people often don't remember. It took my host family a while to remember that I wasn't born in Taiwan. Also, since Andrew just recently visited it added another factor. The first time I showed my Ecua-family a picture of Andrew, they said, "oh he's North American, North American." Kind of implying that I'm not quite there with my North-Americaness. Then on my taxi ride to pick up Andrew, my taxi driver (my friend's host dad who already knew my background) asked me, "So is your boyfriend Korean like you?" Let's just say there's more than one thing wrong with that question.
Flash back to when I was in preschool in Pennsylvania... (note, this is a story I've been told, because I don't remember that far back in my life)
I think our teacher was doing a class on diversity (at least an attempt) and she said something along the lines of, oh and this girl is Chinese, just like Joy! Apparently, I threw a huge fit for the rest of the day. Claiming, "I'm NOT Chinese." Over and over and over. The young Joy was annoying and persistent. I also asserted over and over that I'm AMERICAN. when my family friends picked me up from the school, my teacher apologized for offending me. [tangent, I'm going to have to write another post on the use of the word "American" later]
I really am not Chinese. It's an issue that I came to terms with in high school, I'm Taiwanese American. It's really confusing because I was always told that my family is considered Chinese in Taiwan because we're not indigenous Taiwanese (but in recent news I found out I'm 1/8 indigenous Taiwanese). And that I should consider myself an ABC American Born Chinese. There's a lot of tension between Chinese and Taiwanese that I won't go into detail here. Basically this identity issue is something I thought I'd worked out for a few years now. I started calling myself a Taiwanese American or an American Born Taiwanese.
Good for me that I worked that out, right? But whatever I call myself people still see me the way that they want to and the way they have learned to perceive Asians. I have "the eyes." Rosa once made a comment that she hoped my kids will have eyes like mine, Korean eyes. I wasn't sure what to say.. thank you? I hope so too? You know I'm not Korean?
But then the opposite I feel is just as bad. When people call me white or when my differences are not acknowledged. For example the study abroad office programs in preparation for study abroad and the way international student issues are discussed. I've been warned over and over about how blond hair blue eyed people get a lot attention. Oh, if you have red hair and freckles, watch out! Pale skin etc. People LOVE blond hair. I remember thinking okay, glad to know I won't be getting a lot of attention, but what should I expect as an Asian American? I was particularly offended when one blond hair blue eyed girl sitting next to me who studied abroad in Australia said in reference to American women, "WE blend in really well until we open our mouth." (I wouldn't blend in, I don't like this "we" business) Then when I got to Ecuador, I heard some of the same things... "your blond hair is really going to stand out, people will stare" My Ecuadorean Culture teacher warned us before Carnaval, that the pretty girls with blond hair will be especially targeted (blond equating to beautiful was rough on my self-esteem for a while). A lot of this reminded me of discussions on barbie dolls and how they set unattainable beauty standards for girls, especially minorities. Culture class is quite frustrating for me whenever we talk about US culture and my professor makes assumptions.
It's hard to articulate this frustration, because on the one hand I want people to accept the idea that I'm from the United States and not call me out because I look different. On the other hand, I don't want my differences to go unacknowledged by people from the U.S. and I don't want to and can't ignore my Taiwanese side. There are some Asian Americans who don't speak their parents language and have never lived outside of the U.S., but I'm not one of them. The best I can do is accept that there are multiple aspects that make up my identity. People will continue to try to categorize me wherever I go. Even at home on a campus with many Asian international students, people ask, "Where are you from?" Or say, "What are you?" But I just have to keep in mind and they should too, that my answer to questions like those only characterizes one aspect of my person. If people can't see beyond my Asian features, well, there's a lot more to Joy that they will miss.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Senales
Ten Signs that I'm Adapting Well, Perhaps Ecua-fying
1. I take showers with normal pressure and temperature, I've found the perfect balance (almost everyday).
2. Large bugs in my room do not phase me. This does not mean that I don't try to kill them.
3. I eat more than 3 different types of starches at meals without thinking about it.
4. I put sugar in every warm drink
5. I think it's cold when its 60 out
6. I've come to terms that whenever I ask for directions I will receive vague answers "It's right over there." I've also started giving directions the same way.
7. $5 for lunch is too expensive. Similarly, I like paying with exact change and paying with pennies is acceptable.
8. Waiting 20 minutes for the Lumbisi bus is okay
9. It's been a while since I've had the urge to tear off the extra inches on the papers here to make them fit into my folders
10. I'm picking up on Ecua-phrases like "porfa" which is shortened for por favor and during conversations I comfortably say a-ha, and ya.
Seven Signs that I'm Becoming Part of my Ecua-Family
1. Occasionally, a member of my Ecua family will mix up my name with Genesis
2. Josue, Carlos and I share inside jokes
3. I can walk into the kitchen without the whole family running over to make sure I'm not ninja-ing in to wash the dishes
4. I'm allowed to help set the table for dinner!
5. Rosa asked me to help her pick beans in the family plot
6. My Ecua family members tell me how much they'll miss me when I leave. Josue said he will go have to go sleep outside with our puppies because he'll be so sad.
7. Although they have done it from day one, Juan Carlos and Rosa call me "mi hija" which translates to my daughter.
1. I take showers with normal pressure and temperature, I've found the perfect balance (almost everyday).
2. Large bugs in my room do not phase me. This does not mean that I don't try to kill them.
3. I eat more than 3 different types of starches at meals without thinking about it.
4. I put sugar in every warm drink
5. I think it's cold when its 60 out
6. I've come to terms that whenever I ask for directions I will receive vague answers "It's right over there." I've also started giving directions the same way.
7. $5 for lunch is too expensive. Similarly, I like paying with exact change and paying with pennies is acceptable.
8. Waiting 20 minutes for the Lumbisi bus is okay
9. It's been a while since I've had the urge to tear off the extra inches on the papers here to make them fit into my folders
10. I'm picking up on Ecua-phrases like "porfa" which is shortened for por favor and during conversations I comfortably say a-ha, and ya.
Seven Signs that I'm Becoming Part of my Ecua-Family
1. Occasionally, a member of my Ecua family will mix up my name with Genesis
2. Josue, Carlos and I share inside jokes
3. I can walk into the kitchen without the whole family running over to make sure I'm not ninja-ing in to wash the dishes
4. I'm allowed to help set the table for dinner!
5. Rosa asked me to help her pick beans in the family plot
6. My Ecua family members tell me how much they'll miss me when I leave. Josue said he will go have to go sleep outside with our puppies because he'll be so sad.
7. Although they have done it from day one, Juan Carlos and Rosa call me "mi hija" which translates to my daughter.
Friday, April 1, 2011
A Mi Modo de Ver
If you've read the recent posts, you will know that I had 2 lovely visitors. I asked them to write a post for their visit, and they happily did so :) Now it's my turn to do a little reflection on having visitors. Also, I've uploaded a new album on facebook, you can see it here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=636790&id=774675412&l=bd8f7b7a91
Mama Joy's Visit
The first day that I brought my mom to the University, I introduced her to a friend from my program. My friend immediately said, "I was wondering if you were going to bring Mama Joy to class." Thus, my mother became Mama Joy.
It was a great time, and my mom got to meet pretty much everyone. For me, the best day of her visit was when we went into Centro Historico in Quito to see the Plaza Grande and the Basilica. Also, the way my Ecua family took her in was great. My mom discovered that Carlos can understand a decent amount of English. Josue on the other hand pretended he understood then would quickly look at me for translation. My host family loved her visit. Juan Carlos and Josue were seriously tearing up the night before she left. Even now, a few weeks later, my host family still asks about how she's doing. Josue always asks if she misses him the most. Just yesterday Genesis said, "I love your mom. I miss your mom!"
El Novio
Andrew came in four days after my mom left. Before his arrival almost everyone in my program kept reminding me that he was coming. They were even counting down the hours. Definitely very exciting. His visit felt shorter, but we did a lot (as you can see from the previous post).
The highlight was just being able to spend time with Andrew. But the trip to Mindo was fun. I did not make it out without bug bites as I had hoped. They're not as bad as the last time (where I had 40 on one foot), but they did turn a sickly maroon color that made everyone, especially me, uncomfortable. It's strange, the bites cluster on my right ankle/foot. It's like the bugs especially like my right foot, I just don't understand. Also, during zip lining, I lost the contact in my right eye. I saw it fall out right before the end of one cable, and I thought... well that's never getting back in my eye.
My host family also gave a warm reception to Andrew. They're so genuine and warm heart-ed. Andrew also was pretty quick in picking up some Spanish. I would be about to translate something and he would already be nodding and responding.
Back to normal
So now both of my visitors have left and I'm not expecting anyone else. At times it feels like they were never here. It's a little bit of an emotional roller coaster, and having to say goodbyes again was difficult. I've never felt so much anxiety and excitement than when I was waiting for my mom and then Andrew to arrive at the airport. Perhaps it's because Quito has a tiny airport, but there were huge crowds of people both times when I picked up my people.
The first time I was clutching half wilted flowers that I bought last minute for my mom. I stood for almost 2 hours scanning all the people coming out of the doors. I saw so many families and friends reunite... At one point my taxi driver (who has never seen a picture of my mom) said that he thought she came out... the next thing I know I see an elderly Asian woman (not my mom) hobble out. Okay Ecua-uncle, just because she's Asian does not mean I'm related. When I finally spotted my mom I was surprised that the flowers were still alive. Andrew did not take as long to come out of customs, but it was the same feeling of anxiety. I've concluded that waiting for loved ones at the airport is kind of painful and exicting in a very humane way.
I already miss my mom and Andrew. I was spoiled by their back to back visits. Now it's time to go back to doing things that I normally do. It may sound boring and a little sad compared to having visitors, but it's actually really cool to think I have a daily routine here in Ecuador, and I'm going to enjoy it while I can.
Mama Joy's Visit
The first day that I brought my mom to the University, I introduced her to a friend from my program. My friend immediately said, "I was wondering if you were going to bring Mama Joy to class." Thus, my mother became Mama Joy.
It was a great time, and my mom got to meet pretty much everyone. For me, the best day of her visit was when we went into Centro Historico in Quito to see the Plaza Grande and the Basilica. Also, the way my Ecua family took her in was great. My mom discovered that Carlos can understand a decent amount of English. Josue on the other hand pretended he understood then would quickly look at me for translation. My host family loved her visit. Juan Carlos and Josue were seriously tearing up the night before she left. Even now, a few weeks later, my host family still asks about how she's doing. Josue always asks if she misses him the most. Just yesterday Genesis said, "I love your mom. I miss your mom!"
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| Picture taken in Lumbisi, on a hill. (My mom really isn't that short) |
Andrew came in four days after my mom left. Before his arrival almost everyone in my program kept reminding me that he was coming. They were even counting down the hours. Definitely very exciting. His visit felt shorter, but we did a lot (as you can see from the previous post).
The highlight was just being able to spend time with Andrew. But the trip to Mindo was fun. I did not make it out without bug bites as I had hoped. They're not as bad as the last time (where I had 40 on one foot), but they did turn a sickly maroon color that made everyone, especially me, uncomfortable. It's strange, the bites cluster on my right ankle/foot. It's like the bugs especially like my right foot, I just don't understand. Also, during zip lining, I lost the contact in my right eye. I saw it fall out right before the end of one cable, and I thought... well that's never getting back in my eye.
My host family also gave a warm reception to Andrew. They're so genuine and warm heart-ed. Andrew also was pretty quick in picking up some Spanish. I would be about to translate something and he would already be nodding and responding.
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| Overlooking Quito, after taking the TeleferiQo. Feeling the altitude. |
So now both of my visitors have left and I'm not expecting anyone else. At times it feels like they were never here. It's a little bit of an emotional roller coaster, and having to say goodbyes again was difficult. I've never felt so much anxiety and excitement than when I was waiting for my mom and then Andrew to arrive at the airport. Perhaps it's because Quito has a tiny airport, but there were huge crowds of people both times when I picked up my people.
The first time I was clutching half wilted flowers that I bought last minute for my mom. I stood for almost 2 hours scanning all the people coming out of the doors. I saw so many families and friends reunite... At one point my taxi driver (who has never seen a picture of my mom) said that he thought she came out... the next thing I know I see an elderly Asian woman (not my mom) hobble out. Okay Ecua-uncle, just because she's Asian does not mean I'm related. When I finally spotted my mom I was surprised that the flowers were still alive. Andrew did not take as long to come out of customs, but it was the same feeling of anxiety. I've concluded that waiting for loved ones at the airport is kind of painful and exicting in a very humane way.
I already miss my mom and Andrew. I was spoiled by their back to back visits. Now it's time to go back to doing things that I normally do. It may sound boring and a little sad compared to having visitors, but it's actually really cool to think I have a daily routine here in Ecuador, and I'm going to enjoy it while I can.
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