Okay…so I’m pretty much done. I can’t believe it. I have my last exam tomorrow morning, and I only need to study a tiny bit more. The rest of the week will be spent packing, finish up my gift shopping at the local market, and hanging out with my friends and host family. About a month ago I was sure I’d be feeling ready and excited to go home when the 22nd rolled around, but now I’m feeling incredibly sad. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really excited to see you, I’m just not quite ready to go.
But anyway, I did a good job of keeping on top of my work so that I haven’t been quite so stressed out as some of the other students in the program (aren’t you surprised? Me, not stressed out?) This past weekend I was actually able to enjoy myself a bit rather than stay cooped up in my room doing work. On Friday I went to see the movie Legion – I think it’s actually one of the weirdest movies I’ve even seen. The message is interesting, but the way that it’s conveyed is very odd. On Saturday I went back to the big market in Otavalo do some gift shopping and on Sunday I spent the day with my host parents. They made a nice breakfast, since it was our last one all together, and then we out for a few hours. We went to the Parque Itchimbia, which is one of the places I visited during orientation when I didn’t have my camera. I got to take some pictures and we ate lunch at a nice restaurant there with a view of the city. Then we drove around some of the valleys on the outskirts of the center of the city, since I didn’t really get to explore those very much.
In honor of what is most likely my last blog post, I think it’s about time that I share some CULTURAL FUN FACTS with you all:
1) Most public bathrooms here don’t have toilet seats. They also have one main toilet roll dispenser by the entrance. So if you forget…you’re out of luck. Oh and in places like train stations it costs 15 cents.
2) Dinner here is called “cafecito.” Some families eat normal meals, some eat leftovers, some simply eat bread and tea. The time seems to range between 6 and 9:30 depending on the family. In my family, it couldn’t be more all over the map.
3) Everyone kisses on the check all the time. When you say hello or goodbye, good morning or goodnight, or when you meet someone new. Even if you run into someone on the street and there’s all of 15 seconds between hello and goodbye, you still kiss on the check both times.
4) There are stray dogs everywhere. I heard a rumor that people have to pay taxes on dogs, so when they come around to collect the money people throw their dogs out on the street so they don’t have to pay. Not sure if that’s true…
5) I walk really fast, which I’m normally aware of. But here, if I get stuck behind some Ecuadorians it’s like hitting a brick wall.
6) There are people selling things everywhere—in the streets, on the buses—you can’t avoid them. Sometimes people do magic tricks and juggle fire in front of the cars at a red light and then go around asking for money.
7) The water in the bathroom sink that I use smells like rotten eggs.
8) There’s a cuckoo clock in our house that chimes every hour…actually it’s more like 6 minutes before the hour. It has a sensor for light and stops chiming when it’s dark, so once everyone is home and in bed safe and sound my host parents will know.
9) All public school students wear uniforms.
10) It’s normal for most middle and upper class families to have a domestic employee who comes to cook, clean, etc. Some live in the homes and some only come a couple times a week, it depends. We have one who comes every day one the week, which was a little difficult for me to get used to at first.
11) There are no parking meters here, but people who collect money.
12) It’s perfectly normal to see a guy peeing in the street.
13) Everyone litters and doesn’t think twice.
14) The concept of “cold” here is entirely different. People wear parkas and gloves when it gets down to 60 degrees and cloudy.
15) My host mom uses a fork and knife to eat bananas, corn, and chicken legs.
16) The Ecovia and Trole, two forms of public transportation, have their own lanes down the middle of the street.
17) When people are thirsty it doesn’t occur to them to drink water, only juice or tea. (I’m one to talk right?)
18) “Osea” is pretty much the Spanish version of the way American youth use “like.”
19) The people here add “f” and “ito” on the ends of words: sifff, quesito, aguita….
20) It’s considered very rude to refuse food. (Maybe that’s why I’ve gained weight…)
21) I met someone during orientation who was born in Lawrence hospital and one of the guards in the IES office building lived in Yonkers for 6 years.
22) I’m pretty sure I heard someone say that the Catholic University costs $3000 per semester. That means the entire 4 years there costs the same amount as one semester at Colgate…
22 fun facts…my lucky number. Well, I’ll be in New York at about 7:30pm on Saturday. Crazy how time flies. Can’t wait to see you all!
Some pictures of our IES goodbye dinner:
