The Andes

Where to start. Last week was pretty great. We had our trip to the Andes with my program. It was fun to see everyone's happy faces again. A few people I hadn't seen since we all got here in August. The trip start off the like beach trip. Another lovely 10+ hour bus ride to Quito with 2 of the girls from Machala. It was nice knowing we had no real obligations until the evening. We basically spent the day snacking, shopping in the market, and wondering around. In the evening, we met all the other people going on the trip too. On Monday, we took a tour of the city. It was interesting to see places I remembered from when I went to Quito with my class back in September/October. I felt a little deja vu when we went to La Plaza Grande. This is where the Casa Blanca is or White House. This is where there are often events where the president along with other people wave to the crowd. There were a lot of people along with a band in uniform that played the national anthem. Along with the plaza, we went to a few churches. The first was called Iglesia Basilica. It was huge. We all went inside and started the long climb to the top of the bell tower. Along the way, we could see a great view of the city and surrounding mountains but it was even better from the top. After, we walked down a street to a chocolate shop where we saw the step by step process of how chocolate (more specifically the cacao bean) gets from the bean form to a chocolate bar. Yum! As we were walking, we saw a small group of street performers. A few were juggling, one guy was walking on stilts, one was hula hooping and was was playing hopscotch. One of the guys from Belguim joined and the jugglers passed bowling pins back and forth around him. It was fun to watch. Later or the next day, I can't remember which, we went up Teleferico. It is basically like the Portland Tram but with more cars (I don't know if that is the right term) and a lot longer. It starts from a platform above the city (at the bottom of a mountain) and slowly climbs its way to the top. It was a little eerie at times cause of all the fog that surrounded the car. Even when there was less fog, we could only see the green of the plants below. It was super cold and a little windy at the top so we didn't linger for long plus we couldn't see anything. Next day. We all got in the bus and drove north to the town of Otavalo (I still can't spell that). They told us that this town is famous for the market. Maybe we just didn't see the whole thing or something but my thought after was yes the town is pretty and the market too but I think I like the one in Quito better. In the market, I heard a family speaking English and it sounded like it was from my part of the country. I asked where they were from and they said Idaho. When I said I was from Portland, the man said he grew up in Eugene. It always makes me happy inside when I find/meet a person from the West Coast or Oregon. The next day we took the bus to the base/parking lot thing for Cotopaxi. Cotopaxi is one of the largest volcanoes in Ecuador but not the largest. We were all told to put on lots of layers and for good reasons. It was very cold. We started and hike and I could really feel the altitude. I live basically at sea level and it is hot everyday. So for me to go to a mouontain where it was freezing was a little bit of a shock. When we started, it was relatively clear but later there were times when we couldn't see the path or people below. It was tranquil because when you climbing the path up a mountain, all you hear is the wind, the sound of your heart, and the occasional person or donkey behind you. There were points where I just listened and heard nothing and thought how lucky am I to be a in a place away from technology and just listen to nature. I did my best and made it to the refuge point but decided to turn back and not go to the glacier because my head hurt from the altitude. It was still super cool to have climb up the mountain and feel the cold. After our journey back down the mountain, we got back on the bus and made our way to Riobamba. We split into two different groups and were taken on a tour of the city. I liked the cobble stone streets cause it made it feel really old-timey (not sure if that is a word or not). On the tour, we stopped at church that was having a service. The people started to stand up and congregate in a line in front of the alter. I had never seen this before so I had little idea what was going on. I asked our tour guide and he said it was Comunion. It was all very interesting to watch. After that, we went to a bakery where they make bread unique to Riobamba. I always forget what it is called. It is like a hot sweet roll filled with marmelade. I kinda a thought of it as toast and jam for the lazy (if you are reading this Kate, I am talking to you). In the evening, we got back on the bus once again and headed to Ambato. It was a little weird being in a city where there were actual buildings and houses to penetrate the landscape. Oh, and actual hills. They don't have hills here in Machala. We enjoyed a nice dinner there after a long day. After dinner, we had a chance to go a bar. It was nice just listening to the music, sipping a drink, and chatting with friends. I am honestly not sure what else we did in Ambato.

Flash forward to March 15th.
We started the day nice and early with packing our belongs followed by a lovely breakfast in Ambato. After everyone is ready and gathered up, we get on the bus. We made our way from Ambato and arrive in Cuenca a few hours later. It was nice being in Cuenca again. I mean actually being there. I had travelled there twice before with my family. But each time, we never really saw the city. We only saw the family's houses and the stadium. Plus it was dark and I had no idea where we were anyway. Here, it was day and we all got to enjoy Cuenca. I was excited because it was the day before my birthday and I was hoping we were gonna do something for it. First, we enjoyed a traditional lunch of rice, meat, and soup. Very exciting. After, we split into groups again and walked around the city. It was nice to see all the buildings and the churches were very old and pretty. We also visited the marketplace I had been to once before. The fruit looked so fresh and juicy. Yum! Then we headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. It was pizza which was a nice change from rice everyday. After dinner, we headed to a middle eastern restaurant to get drinks. They were lovely. It would be fun to go back there again someday. I can always dream. I got a good friend to drop a hint to our group leader telling him that this was the night before my birthday. When we were all told we were going to a discotek (dance club), I was really happy. This would be something I would remember for a long time. We all danced and had a jolly good time. At midnight, I saw one of the volunteers start walking across the dance floor holding a cake-shaped box aloft. He told everyone to head to the little lounge area where we left our coats and things. When everyone sang happy birthday, I felt so loved. It was the best feelings. Then, my fellow Machalan Vincenz gently pushed my face into the cake. This is a tradition here when it is your birthday; to eat the first bite of cake with your mouth. It tasted really good. I guess it was okay I had bits of cake on my face and hair cause it was the beginning of my 18th birthday and I could have cared less.

As you would imagined, we were all super tired when we got back to the hotel. In the morning, we packed all our belongings and headed to the bus. I think a lot of people were asleep from having gone to bed so late the night/early morning before. All the people from Machala were dropped off at the bus station and everyone else had a long, lovely drive to Quito. Cuenca is about 3.5 hours from Machala while Quito is about 10 hours away. Shorter bus ride even if you have to say see you later a little early. I said see you later and not goodbye because I don't want to say goodbye. I started this post awhile ago and am just now finishing it. I am leaving this beautiful country very soon. I am excited to see my friends and family again but at the same time, I feel a little bit like I did in August. I am leaving the place I have grown to love; like a second home. I don't want to leave the people I love but I know that I must and will be better soon. I don't like not knowing. Not knowing when I will be able to come back and visit. Not knowing what will happen when I return to the U.S again. I do know that I will make it if I take one step at a time. Scratch that. I have almost made it to the finish line and that was not the easiest thing in the world. Okay. I'm gonna save that for the next post (whenever that might be).

Hasta luego,

Aviva

Halfway there!

As of January 15th, I have been in Ecuador for 5 months. So much has happened that sometimes it feels like it's been a lot longer. I am grateful for my family who have welcomed me into their house for the past 3 months. I will give a brief story of that. In October (or probably before) I started to feel unhappy in my family because I felt very lonely. I don't want to go into too much detail because I don't like to think about it. It made it a little better talking to friends here and friends back at home via Facebook and Skype. It made me feel not so quite alone. The best and worst day was leaving my family and changing. It was the worst cause I was sad and didn't know what the hell I was supposed to do and felt guilty. It was the best because I knew that I would have a fresh start with a new family that was caring and loving to me. I feel now I can talk to my family better and be more of a part of it. Everyone is so caring and open. It feels great.

At the beginning of this year, I felt like I was having a lot of deja vu. Like things that happened were so similar (or the same) as things that happened at home in the past. Also friends reminding me of friend at home. I started to think of them as the Ecuadorian version. When I told a friend at home about these feelings, they said it was kind of normal because you miss the people who are close to you when you go away for a long time. The weirdest one that I wish wasn't deja vu was changing families. When my family hosted a girl a few years ago, we had our differences (a few problems, okay more than a few but that's beside the point). And when I was unhappy during the beginning of my stay here in Ecuador, I felt like it was the same things happening again. So basically, deja vu is not fun at all. Now I feel like my luck has changed. I have a family that cares and is loving and welcoming of me into their home. That was 3 months ago but it feels long that that (sometimes).

Enough of that stuff. Let's see. Wow. I am at the halfway point. I am not the same person as when I left 5 months ago but then again, who doesn't change (at least a little bit) in 5 months. I have become a little more confident in my Spanish ability and I watch all the movies in Spanish that I have watched previously in English and understand most of what they are saying. Writing in Spanish is pretty easy but dictation is still hard in class cause it's hard to know how to write the words without seeing them. I ask people to slow down a lot less than when I first got here. I don't think I have asked in a while which shows I am understanding more. I was very proud of myself the other day for writing 14 pages in my travel journal in Spanish. I feel like that when summer vacation comes in about 5 weeks, my time in Ecuador will feel like no time at all. I don't want to think about leaving because that means saying goodbye and goodbye means forgetting. Oh wait. Scratch that. I will never forget this experience (the good memories and the bad ones).It's not something I will be able to replicate either no matter how hard I try. I read a quote once that said,

''Exchange isn't a year in your life. It is your life in a year.''

I don't know who first said this quote, but it is 100% true. Although there are many years in your life, an exchange year isn't one of them. Weird right. On the calendar, yes but by all other view points, no. When you go on exchange, it is your life in a year. Since coming here, I have learned so much and changed (of course, but then again who doesn't in 5 and a half months). I probably can't see all of them but I'm sure that other people around me can. I have learned to stay (at least try my absolute best) strong even when it's hard and to not give up. I had a pretty opened mind/guts (in my opinion. I mean, you kind of have to have one to even decide to take this amazing journey/risk and live in a new country and culture and language for a year away from your family and friends) and it has opened up even more. With all the new things here and people and food and culture and well everything, it's amazing. I am definitely going to appreciate the small things I used to take for granted  back home; like a dishwasher and dryer. At least doing the dishes by hand and using a clothes line helps the environment some.

I feel like after school ends, I only have a small amount of time left in Ecuador. Okay, maybe I should look at it as glass half full. I am halfway through and have experienced so many new things plus learning/speaking Spanish all the time. If I have made it this far, I can make it until June. I am going to try and cherish every day that I have left in this place as much as I can. Here's to the next 4 plus months!!!

Chao!