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Published: June 14th 2006
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Casa Grande
This is a picture of my mommy´s house when she lived in Ecuador. During the day we went on a walk and my host parent showed it to me. ...¡Que linda! YESTERDAY:
My first day in Ecuador couldn´t have been better. I arrived at the Simon Bolivar Aeropuerto at 5:15 in the morning with anxious family and friends awaiting my arrival. Since I was seated in 6F (by the window-yay) I was one of the last ones on the plane, but the good part was that I was among the first off. I quickly got my luggage and met my party and began my journey in the beautiful country of Ecuador. Continental made my flight nice and easy, and was a great way to begin my amazing first day.
My host family, the Loyolas, are the sweetest people I´ve ever met! They´re so kind and caring and very, very considerate. They brought me back to the house after saying goodbye to other members of my extended family. Señora Doña and I talked for quite a while before I took a quick nap. When I woke it up it was around 10 AM and Señor Loyola was here to pick us up and bring us to the private school he owns, Escuela Semillita. I´ve never seen such adorable bunches of kids! Those kids are so smart and so cute, I
In motion
A beautiful shot of the breathtaking land in Guayaquil, Ecuador. wish I could take a couple home with me.
When we got back to the house after school ended, at 12:30, we were served lunch from the family maid. It was sooooo delicious. After we finished our meal, we all went our seperate ways to take a nap for the afternoon. We all had a couple hours to spend with ourselves, but I used the time I should have been napping to unpack my suitcases. It was worth it though. I even had some leftover time which I spend lying on my bed listening to my CD player. I´m very happy to say that my room is amazing! Actually the entire house is gorgeous! And compared to some parts of Guayaquil, it´s simply unbelievable.
We got ready to go out and take Señora to the dentist and after her short visit we took a walk around one of the many parts of Guayaquil. At first I couldn´t believe the driving that I saw here in Ecuador. The only traffic law they obey is the light, and only sometimes then. There´s no lines on the roads, and no one goes the same speed. It´s super, super dangeous, but when
Simon Bolivar
Yes, the liberator of Ecuador is bound to be famous anywhere you go in the country. I think about it, it really isn´t that bad. No one is afraid to use their horn and it´s usually just to benefit the other person anyway. The thing that I like about their system is that they care enough to not get in an accident. I haven´t seen one accident yet! Back home we have designated speed limits, traffic lights, signs telling us what do to...but I can´t even count the number of times I´ve witnessed an accident. Ecuadorians don´t put up with a lot of crap, so they´re always on the lookout for themselves because they don´t have the systems that we have in the US to help them out if they get in an accident. It´s better that way.
After the dentist, we went to the Simon Bolivar park and saw tons of iguanas. It was incredible! We were there in the evening and the lighting was magnificent. There were lights everywhere, along with people, noise, action, cars, etc. I refrained from buying anything, but I know that won´t last for too long.
On the way back home, we stopped at side store and picked up some yogurt for the ride home.
Once in
Just a Tree?
Is it just a tree...or can you spot the iguana? the house, I took a shower and went straight to bed! What an amazing day!
TODAY:
The first full day in Ecuador...AMAZING! Wow, I love this place!! I don´t think I´m going to want to come back home! (...just kidding, Mom and Dad; I miss you both very, very much) Let´s see now, here´s my daily schedule from now until when I leave:
5:30 wake up/drink juice/get ready
6:30 leave for Esceula Semillita
7:00 arrive
8:00 begin!
10:00 snack time
12:30 school´s over
1:00 eat lunch
1:30 nap/free time
3:30 GO OUT!!
when we get back is more free time
9:00 bedtime
At the school today, I was introduced to the all the students who quickly fell in love with me, and I with them, and began helping the youngest kids in kindergarten. We even went on a field trip today down the street! It was pretty hard with a huge group of kids yelling questions I could understand because (a) they´re either 4 or 5, or, (b) they´re speaking Spanish! Oh well, it was still fun, and we all got along well. When school was almost over, many kids introduced themselves to me and I talked for a little at a time with each kid. They´re so sweet and adorable! Also, at school, I was able to go on line for a little, and talked to the secratary for a while when I was in there. I ate a delicious snack made of cheese and jelly between 2 slices of bread. You say weird, but I say yum.
Today during my first free time, I took a nap on the roof and got a nice suntan. After I was up there for about an hour and a half, I came down on floor, still outside, and read in the hammock. It was great!
After nap time, we went shopping!! Yay! After seeing most of the prices in the stores at the malls there, I decided to wait for things like the market and for when I spend my time on the beaches. I did, however, end up buying 2 necklaces, 4 pairs of earrings, and 1 ring when I was there, but I got them all at very nice prices. We stopped for fresh juice while shopping, and brought home some delicious morocho, a famous drink in Ecuador. We ate that with bread before heading upstairs for the night.
It´s awkward the way the boys/men look at me when either I pass them on the street in the car or when I walk by them in a store. Even though I´m with a couple who some of the most respectable people in the world, these men don´t care, and gawk and stare, and sometimes even say things. I simply act like I don´t know they´re staring at me or they´re looking at me, and turn my other cheek. It sounds mean, but that´s the way you´ve got to be here, otherwise they´ll keep on, thinking that I´m interested when I certainly am not!
Well now it´s 9:30, so I best be getting myself to bed if I plan to be up at all in the morning. For those of you who know...I´m not at all a morning person, and my body usually complains if I get up before 8. I´m in for a rude awakening...
Until next time,
Shir
<3
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Kt Mc
non-member comment
Hey, Shir!
I'm glad you are doing well. Have fun at the markets! Hopefully you will be better at bargaining than I am. I have not quite mastered that art yet. Well, I'm thinkin' about you and will be praying for you. I miss you! Kt