Across the Equator

---

Day 2



This morning I woke very early, around 7 am, despite being so tired because the room was so bright. I thought I left a light on and when I went to turn it off, I realized that it wasn’t a light. Instead, there’s a skylight that fills the whole room by dawn and can’t be covered up. I guess there’s no sleeping in for me. Also, the house is right by the airport so you can hear when a plane lands and takes off. It’s times like these when I wish I was a heavy sleeper.







The rest of the house is small and quaint. There is a living room, dining room, and kitchen all connected with an open floor plan. The son and the parents each have their rooms, along with one more bathroom. The house is only one floor so all the rooms are very close to each other and you can hear almost everything. I’m still getting used to everything. For example, the sinks in the US have “H” and “C” on them for hot and cold. Here, the sinks have “F” and “C” for frio (cold) and calor (hot). I keep turning on the “C” expecting cold water but instead receiving hot.







The members of the family themselves are so nice and kind. They are trying very hard to make sure that I am comfortable and happy. The only problem that we are running into is the language barrier. I was under the impression that they spoke English since knowing Spanish is not a requirement for the course. But, the family only speaks a few words. They speak to me only in Spanish. For the most part, I can get the idea of what they are saying. But sometimes I just don’t understand and they are unable to translate it into English. I’m trying my best to remember all of the Spanish I learned in school and find myself thinking in Spanish instead of English. However, it is nowhere near their level. Their thick accents make it especially difficult.







This morning, Sebastian showed me the bus route that I will have to take every day. I will take two buses each way. The bus leaves from right by their house. It is technically a Mercedes Benz bus but you would never have guessed that if there wasn’t the symbol on it. The bus costs 25 cents. Instead of putting your money in a machine when you get on, you give it to a lady sitting in the front row. She hands you a ticket and you take your seat. You pay using US quarters. When you get off the bus, you hand your ticket back. I’m not exactly sure why they do this.







The buses have no air conditioning. Instead, the drivers drive with the doors wide open. You need to flag down the bus in order for it to stop. The bus really doesn’t stop all so you need to jump on. It is the same for stopping. They play some American music on the buses including the “YMCA.”







On the streets, everybody rides their bicycles. They have a separate lane in the middle of the street for the bike riders. Also, there are constantly people in the street. Despite where you are, people are always walking out in the middle of the road. There are also people on the streets who try to sell you stuff while you’re stopped at a red light. They have fruit, magazines, and even raw meet. Homeless people will also come up to your car looking for money. A man with no arms came up to our car today but, of course, you just have to ignore them.







When I returned from learning the buses, the family and I all sat down for a big lunch. At first, Ingrid brought out some kind of potato soup and a juice they home make from a fruit that they describe as “tomatoes of the trees.” I thought that this was the whole lunch, which was very delicious. She then brought out chicken with tomatoes, white rice, lentils, ketchup, fried bananas, and cake. I am still very full and not at all hungry for dinner. The father likes to put on American music while the family eats. Breakfast is eaten in the kitchen while lunch and dinner are served in the dining room.







After lunch, we headed out to see the equator. The family has one car which we took. Most of the people drive Chevys. There are also a lot of Fords, Kias, Hondas, and Toyotas. The drive took about 20 minutes. The drivers are comparable to those of Boston or New York.







The equator line is a very touristy attraction. You can stand with your feet on both sides of the line and take a picture which I did. There’s also a monument with a globe on top. Again, you take a picture pretending like you’re holding the world. One thing I learned is that you weigh four pounds less on the equator line.







Around the equator line are a few shops. They sell everything from clothing to jewelry and more to the tourists. Most of the items are handmade, especially the clothing which is hand woven and the rugs made from llama fur. Next to the shop was an ordinary bathroom. Except, in Ecuador, you need to pay for your own toilet paper. There is a machine that disperses it outside and it costs about 15 cents. Also, there were food stands that sold traditional cuisine. One of the delicacies is guinea pig which they had roasting on a spit outside. Yuck.







In the car on the way home, we had the radio on. One station alternated between a Hispanic song and an American song. We heard Adele, Usher, Justin Beiber, and more. I found it very interesting that they played that much American music.

---

Photos

Photo 21
In public places, you need to pay for toilet paper before you use the bathroom

Photo 22
Llama rug made from llame

Guinea Pig
An Ecuadorian delicacy

Comments

[rudolf Altinger]

Picturs.Very nice and clean
I hope I get more information soon;Brooke-Opa