It has come down to my last week here. I am so excited to see my friends and family at home. However, that doesn't mean that I'm ready to leave the friends and family I've made here in Ecuador.
This past week was my last week of school. My professors were kind enough to allow me to take my exams early so that I could have my last week here off of school. I'm repeating some of the things I loved and doing things I haven't done yet.
I went back to the teleferiQo with other students from the US. I went during the day this time so the view was different. Yesterday my roommate and I took a trip to the zoo. It was really cool, but we had to laugh at some of the exhibits because they were animals like deer or raccoons that are very common in Michigan. Today we went back to the Basilica to climb up it and get a good view of Quito one last time.
The rest of my week will be filled with new adventures and tough good-byes. I'll be back in the states a week from today!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Today some friends asked if my roommate and I would like to go rock climbing. I used to rock climb when I was younger so I was very excited about going. Although the plan was to go to the wall at the gimnasio, there was a competition going on so we could not use the wall. So our friends asked us if we like nature. Although our rock climbing experience wasn't what we were expecting, it was more of an adventure than I could have asked for. Here are a few pictures.
I've done so much in the past few weeks!
I went on a trip with both of my roommates our friend from Washington D.C. to the coast. We went to Pacific coast in a town called Canoa. It was a great place to go to the beach because it wasn't very big and it was very pretty. We were not only able to see the town and meet some of the people there, but we also walked the beach, swam in the ocean, tried some surfing, and hiked through some rocks to see a cave! On our way back we took a small detour on the bus to see Puerto Viejo. It was a perfect place to stop by for the day. There was a very large and modern church that we were able to see. We spent a lot of time in the park just outside of it. Through out the day we ate some delicious pastries from a pastelería and had some menestra at a local restaurant.
I spent a day sight-seeing in the Centro Histórico. We were able to see the president's house, and many churches. The churches in the Centro are very elaborate and decorative. My favorite was the Church of the Society of Jesus. The ornate artwork is almost all made out of gold! It was a breath-taking experience. We also wandered into a used bookstore and were able to pick up some books in Spanish.
Another host sister from last summer came back to visit! She is studying writing at Yale and lived with my host family last summer to do research. This summer she is in Lima, Peru and spent a week visiting Quito again. I enjoyed spending time with her and revisiting some of the key tourist spots such as the artisan market.
We went to the TelefériQo in Quito. This is a chair lift that goes up the volcano Pichincha to see a great view of the city and of Ecuador. It is one of the highest airlifts in the world that goes up to 12,943 feet. When we got to the top we hiked up a little bit more. We went at about sunset so we got to watch the sunset through the mountains! When we went back down there was a small amusement park. So to top the night off, we decided to go on a roller coaster and the bumper cars.
I was in Ecuador last summer with an organization called Extreme Response. I was able to get in touch with them while I've been here this summer. I spent a day at Pan de Vida, a soup kitchen for the people in Quito. It was really fun talked with other volunteers while preparing the food and then talking to the people of Quito while serving them. Afterwards I went to a friend's for an American-style cook out and movie.
I went to Otavalo for a Saturday. The market is open on Saturdays and we were able to get great deals on souvenirs and gifts. After an authentic Ecuadorian meal of soup, rice, and chicken, we made our way over to a lagoon called Cuicocha. It is a beautiful crater-lake that formed from a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. Since then it has accumulated wildlife and over 400 species of plants such as orchids, bamboo, and cattails. We took a boat tour through the center of the small hills in the center and enjoyed complimentary canelzo (a type of warm drink similar to tea made with spices).
This last Wednesday was the 4th of July! It wasn't the same experience spending it outside of the United States but we still had a good day showing our American pride. Some of the students tried to have a cookout while others went to Kentucky Fried Chicken. I skyped with my family while making peanut butter cookies with my roommate. Then we met up with some friends to get a hot dog from a small-chain hot dog restaurant called Gonzalez Suarez.
My classes have been keeping me busy as well. I had a big project in my literature class. I had to read a book from the BOOM latin american literature period and give a presentation on it. I was worried about it because I didn't know if my Spanish skills would be up to par for this project. As it turns out I survived! I impressed myself with how much I could understand in the book and then communicate it to my classmates. Now with only one more week left of classes I have to keep this achieving mind-set as I finish my last exams and papers.
I went on a trip with both of my roommates our friend from Washington D.C. to the coast. We went to Pacific coast in a town called Canoa. It was a great place to go to the beach because it wasn't very big and it was very pretty. We were not only able to see the town and meet some of the people there, but we also walked the beach, swam in the ocean, tried some surfing, and hiked through some rocks to see a cave! On our way back we took a small detour on the bus to see Puerto Viejo. It was a perfect place to stop by for the day. There was a very large and modern church that we were able to see. We spent a lot of time in the park just outside of it. Through out the day we ate some delicious pastries from a pastelería and had some menestra at a local restaurant.
I spent a day sight-seeing in the Centro Histórico. We were able to see the president's house, and many churches. The churches in the Centro are very elaborate and decorative. My favorite was the Church of the Society of Jesus. The ornate artwork is almost all made out of gold! It was a breath-taking experience. We also wandered into a used bookstore and were able to pick up some books in Spanish.
Another host sister from last summer came back to visit! She is studying writing at Yale and lived with my host family last summer to do research. This summer she is in Lima, Peru and spent a week visiting Quito again. I enjoyed spending time with her and revisiting some of the key tourist spots such as the artisan market.
We went to the TelefériQo in Quito. This is a chair lift that goes up the volcano Pichincha to see a great view of the city and of Ecuador. It is one of the highest airlifts in the world that goes up to 12,943 feet. When we got to the top we hiked up a little bit more. We went at about sunset so we got to watch the sunset through the mountains! When we went back down there was a small amusement park. So to top the night off, we decided to go on a roller coaster and the bumper cars.
I was in Ecuador last summer with an organization called Extreme Response. I was able to get in touch with them while I've been here this summer. I spent a day at Pan de Vida, a soup kitchen for the people in Quito. It was really fun talked with other volunteers while preparing the food and then talking to the people of Quito while serving them. Afterwards I went to a friend's for an American-style cook out and movie.
I went to Otavalo for a Saturday. The market is open on Saturdays and we were able to get great deals on souvenirs and gifts. After an authentic Ecuadorian meal of soup, rice, and chicken, we made our way over to a lagoon called Cuicocha. It is a beautiful crater-lake that formed from a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. Since then it has accumulated wildlife and over 400 species of plants such as orchids, bamboo, and cattails. We took a boat tour through the center of the small hills in the center and enjoyed complimentary canelzo (a type of warm drink similar to tea made with spices).
This last Wednesday was the 4th of July! It wasn't the same experience spending it outside of the United States but we still had a good day showing our American pride. Some of the students tried to have a cookout while others went to Kentucky Fried Chicken. I skyped with my family while making peanut butter cookies with my roommate. Then we met up with some friends to get a hot dog from a small-chain hot dog restaurant called Gonzalez Suarez.
My classes have been keeping me busy as well. I had a big project in my literature class. I had to read a book from the BOOM latin american literature period and give a presentation on it. I was worried about it because I didn't know if my Spanish skills would be up to par for this project. As it turns out I survived! I impressed myself with how much I could understand in the book and then communicate it to my classmates. Now with only one more week left of classes I have to keep this achieving mind-set as I finish my last exams and papers.
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