So...yesterday.
I went to Spanish class then I came here to the internet café to take care of some business as usual. If you´re wandering, that business consisted of checking facebook, email...and that´s about it.
I decided I was going to visit the Old Town...or the historic part of Quito...just as I am going to do today. I got on the Ecovia (one of the main bus lines) and normally it is packed. Yesterday, it wasn´t. A seat opened up beside a couple of people and I noticed they were speaking english...so I proceded to ask them if they were from the United States. They said they were from North Carolina. I told them my school was about an hour across the mountain from Boone and it was about 20 minutes from the North Carolina border. Here is the rest of the conversation between Channa (the girl) and I:
Channa: Do you know where Bristol is?
Zach: Yeah...my school is only about 20 minutes from Bristol.
Channa: Do you know where Abingdon is?
Zach: Yeah! I go to Emory & Henry!
Channa: Oh my gosh! I graduated from Abingdon High School!
That might not have been the exact wording...but it was similar. I am in the middle of Quito, Ecuador, got on a random bus, and met a girl who graduated from Abingdon High School! It was nuts.
Everything is good. I have the weekend ahead and I´m not sure what I´m going to do yet.
Yesterday, after I hung out with Channa and her friend Estyn for a little while, I visited the San Francisco Monestary and Museum. It was very interesting. I paid $2 and had an english speaking guide walk me around the museum. It was cool.
See everyone in 10 days!
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Spanish Mishaps
Of course, if you´re just learning Spanish, you are going to have words confused and things sometimes aren´t going to come out right. Since I really don´t have anything to talk about on my blog today, I will update you on a few of the mishaps I have had over the past few days. Me and my spanish ¨profesora¨ spent a good time laughing over most of these.
1. She wanted me to write down the past tense of verbs. She said ¨pasado¨ which is the spanish word for past. I quickly asked her, ¨fish?¨ The spanish word for fish is pescado...I had gotten them confused.
2. Today, she was asking me what I ate for dinner with my Ecuadorian family. I was explaining in spanish that my family really doesn´t eat dinner...and I was telling her some of the things I fix for myself. I said, ¨Yo como sanduches de jabón.¨ Translated: I like to eat soap sandwiches. I meant to say jamon, the word for ham.
3. Today, I was trying to tell her that my host sisters in Ecuador do not speak english, that they only speak spanish. I said, ¨Mi hijas ecuadoriana no hablo inglés.¨ Translated: My ecuadorian daughters do not speak english.¨ I quickly turned myself around and explained to her that I was talking of my ecuadorian hermanas, or sisters and I am positive I have no ecuadorian daughters.
4. One of our daily exercizes is that we go through verbs, and I ask my teacher questions in spanish. Yesterday, I asked her, ¨Que gusta hace in la noche?¨ Translated: What do you like to do in the night? I was expecting to get the answer from her, ¨I like to sleep.¨ I think she took my question pervertedly and she thought I was hitting on her and asking her out. It was confusing.
5. I´m not going to try any spanish for this one, but I asked my teacher yesterday why she liked to work in the mountains. I meant to ask her why she liked to travel in the mountains.
I hope everything is good in the United States. I return in 11 days. Although I am enjoying Ecuador, I´m ready to get back.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
1. She wanted me to write down the past tense of verbs. She said ¨pasado¨ which is the spanish word for past. I quickly asked her, ¨fish?¨ The spanish word for fish is pescado...I had gotten them confused.
2. Today, she was asking me what I ate for dinner with my Ecuadorian family. I was explaining in spanish that my family really doesn´t eat dinner...and I was telling her some of the things I fix for myself. I said, ¨Yo como sanduches de jabón.¨ Translated: I like to eat soap sandwiches. I meant to say jamon, the word for ham.
3. Today, I was trying to tell her that my host sisters in Ecuador do not speak english, that they only speak spanish. I said, ¨Mi hijas ecuadoriana no hablo inglés.¨ Translated: My ecuadorian daughters do not speak english.¨ I quickly turned myself around and explained to her that I was talking of my ecuadorian hermanas, or sisters and I am positive I have no ecuadorian daughters.
4. One of our daily exercizes is that we go through verbs, and I ask my teacher questions in spanish. Yesterday, I asked her, ¨Que gusta hace in la noche?¨ Translated: What do you like to do in the night? I was expecting to get the answer from her, ¨I like to sleep.¨ I think she took my question pervertedly and she thought I was hitting on her and asking her out. It was confusing.
5. I´m not going to try any spanish for this one, but I asked my teacher yesterday why she liked to work in the mountains. I meant to ask her why she liked to travel in the mountains.
I hope everything is good in the United States. I return in 11 days. Although I am enjoying Ecuador, I´m ready to get back.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Excitement of a Bank
So,
Ecuadorian banks are not like banks in America. Well, banks in Southwest Virginia that is. The bank I went to a few minutes ago was very similar to a DMV. You walk in, punch in some information on a computer, and you are given a number. When I got there, I received number C400. The tellers were on number C345. That meant there were 55 people in front of me! I ended up waiting about 45 minutes to see a teller.
Anyways...two interesting things. Most little shops, especially the internet cafés in Quito, won´t take bills larger than 1s! They won´t even change a $5 bill. So, I went to the ATM and it gave me two 20s and two 5s. I didn´t know what to tell the teller, so my host mom wrote out a conversation for me on a piece of paper. When I went to the window assigned to me, I kindly said, ¨Hola! Yo no hablo español,¨and then I handed the teller my money and instructions...haha. It was basically like one of those robberies where a person walks up to the bank window and hands the teller instructions on what to do...except my instructions said graçias with a big exclamation point at the bottom. It was a good time and the teller laughed because of the instructions and fact I wanted 50 one dollar bills.
The other interesting thing. People get really excited when they´re number is called. If you went to a bank and had to wait 45 minutes to see a teller...you would be excited too! Anyways, there was this shorter lady in a business suit who had on really high heels and she was sitting in the seat beside me waiting. Her number was called. She jumped up really quickly not noticing that the front of her foot was wrapped around the chair leg in front of us. She flattened out in front of the whole host of people waiting to see tellers. Everyone from Ecuador was like ,¨ahh!¨ and they ran to help her. I, on the other hand, had to keep my cackle inside. I think I was the only one laughing. I really need to learn not to laugh at inappropriate situations like that.
I don´t know what I´m going to do this afternoon. I may go to the Vivarium...it´s a museum with all kinds of live reptiles. On the other hand, I may go back and take a nap.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Ecuadorian banks are not like banks in America. Well, banks in Southwest Virginia that is. The bank I went to a few minutes ago was very similar to a DMV. You walk in, punch in some information on a computer, and you are given a number. When I got there, I received number C400. The tellers were on number C345. That meant there were 55 people in front of me! I ended up waiting about 45 minutes to see a teller.
Anyways...two interesting things. Most little shops, especially the internet cafés in Quito, won´t take bills larger than 1s! They won´t even change a $5 bill. So, I went to the ATM and it gave me two 20s and two 5s. I didn´t know what to tell the teller, so my host mom wrote out a conversation for me on a piece of paper. When I went to the window assigned to me, I kindly said, ¨Hola! Yo no hablo español,¨and then I handed the teller my money and instructions...haha. It was basically like one of those robberies where a person walks up to the bank window and hands the teller instructions on what to do...except my instructions said graçias with a big exclamation point at the bottom. It was a good time and the teller laughed because of the instructions and fact I wanted 50 one dollar bills.
The other interesting thing. People get really excited when they´re number is called. If you went to a bank and had to wait 45 minutes to see a teller...you would be excited too! Anyways, there was this shorter lady in a business suit who had on really high heels and she was sitting in the seat beside me waiting. Her number was called. She jumped up really quickly not noticing that the front of her foot was wrapped around the chair leg in front of us. She flattened out in front of the whole host of people waiting to see tellers. Everyone from Ecuador was like ,¨ahh!¨ and they ran to help her. I, on the other hand, had to keep my cackle inside. I think I was the only one laughing. I really need to learn not to laugh at inappropriate situations like that.
I don´t know what I´m going to do this afternoon. I may go to the Vivarium...it´s a museum with all kinds of live reptiles. On the other hand, I may go back and take a nap.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Monday, May 25, 2009
A Day in the Life of Zach
I said a few days ago that I was going to educate you on the culture of Ecuador. I have a list of topics made up...but I figured I would do something different. Here is a day in the life of me, in Quito:
6:15- I wake up because the sun is coming through my window. I roll over, pull the blankets over my head, and try to sleep a few more minutes.
7:00- This must be when everyone begins to drive to work because this is when car horns start blowing. By now, I am awake...and I probably won´t go back to sleep. My bed is comfortable so I continue laying there for another 30 minutes.
7:30- Now, it´s time for me to start getting ready. I only have an hour to get to the spanish school. I gather all of my shower stuff and head to the bathroom.
7:33- I walk in the bathroom and turn on the hot water and wait for it to make it´s way from the water heater in the kitchen. This takes approximately 3 minutes.
7:36- The water is steaming, so I step in. I make sure the large window in the shower is barely cracked so that the neighbors in nearby apartment are not blinded by my white, American posterior.
7:45- I get out of the shower and head back to my room to get dressed. I put on my clothes and make my bed because it would be rude for me to leave my room a mess in someone else´s house.
7:53- After getting dressed and making my bed, I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I have to be careful not to swallow any of the water out of the sink when rinsing my brush so that I don´t contract E-coli which could lead to bad number 2´s.
8:00- I head to the kitchen where Cecilia, my host mom, has a slice of pineapple waiting on me. I pop two pieces of toast in the toaster, layer it with ¨marmalada de frutas¨, and eat the toast along with my one ¨omelette egg¨, as Cecilia says.
8:15- After discussing the weather, breakfast, and some Spanish with Cecilia, I head back to my room to gather my things. I put $5 in my back pocket in case of a mugging, my keys in my left pocket, change in my right pocket, and grab my backpack.
8:21- I´m out the door!
8:22- I wait a minute for the elevator to get to the top of the apartment building, then I ride it down.
8:24- ¨Hola, amigo! Buenas dias,¨ I tell the apartment guy as I walk out the front door.
8:25- Now, I´m at the intersection of Seis de Diceiembre and Orellana. I rush across the road to keep from getting hit by a taxi all while having a bus honk it´s horn at me. It´s not very often that a unusually tall, red bearded gringo is running across the streets of Quito.
8:27- I turn the corner of Yanez Pinzon street and head towards the language school. I pass many people in suits who are headed out to work. I, the gringo (American), am in my Gap pants, an E&H tshirt, and either my trusty North Face sweatshirt or my favorite Old Navy sweatshirt.
8:30- I arrive in front of the Equinoccal language school and hit the button to have the gate opened for me. After they look through their little security camera and see it is me, they buzz me in.
10:30- By this time, I have had two hours of español and I want a break. My teacher lets me go get a drink of water and chat with my friends at the school for a bit.
12:30- I am starved! After having them buzz me out of the gate at the language school, I head straight for my apartment.
12:43- After taking my backpack to my bedroom, I head straight to the kitchen where Cecilia has a plate of food waiting on me.
1:07- I usually finish eating my rice and whatever else around now and I head to my bedroom to put some more change in my pocket.
1:15- I leave now to head to the internet café to check my email, check my facebook, and update my blog!! Yea!
2:45- Depending on the amount of email and such that I have, I usually head out of the internet café around this time.
2:45-5:15- During this time, I may go a park, a museum...something like that. After I am done with that, I head back to the internet café before it gets dark to check my email and facebook one final time for the day. Sometimes, important messages come within those three hours!
6:15- I usually head back to the apartment around this time.
6:25- I arrive back at the apartment and head for my bedroom.
6:32- After thinking about the day for approximately 7 minutes, I pick up my book I´m reading and read until around 7:45.
7:45- I head to the kitchen a fix a ham sandwich...yeah! My splurge of American food each day.
7:55- I head back to my bedroom and do my Spanish homework. Usually, it takes me around 45 minutes.
9:00- I go to my closet, grab my toothbrush, floss, head to the bathroom, brush my teeth, floss, and then I head to bed.
11:10- I usually wake up around this exact time every night. I think there is a really loud plane that goes over around this time every night.
11:13- I´m back to sleep.
12:30- A car alarm goes off. Awake again. Then, I´m back to sleep and sleep until 6:15 the next morning!
Wow...that turned out much longer than I expected. I hope you like it though.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
6:15- I wake up because the sun is coming through my window. I roll over, pull the blankets over my head, and try to sleep a few more minutes.
7:00- This must be when everyone begins to drive to work because this is when car horns start blowing. By now, I am awake...and I probably won´t go back to sleep. My bed is comfortable so I continue laying there for another 30 minutes.
7:30- Now, it´s time for me to start getting ready. I only have an hour to get to the spanish school. I gather all of my shower stuff and head to the bathroom.
7:33- I walk in the bathroom and turn on the hot water and wait for it to make it´s way from the water heater in the kitchen. This takes approximately 3 minutes.
7:36- The water is steaming, so I step in. I make sure the large window in the shower is barely cracked so that the neighbors in nearby apartment are not blinded by my white, American posterior.
7:45- I get out of the shower and head back to my room to get dressed. I put on my clothes and make my bed because it would be rude for me to leave my room a mess in someone else´s house.
7:53- After getting dressed and making my bed, I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I have to be careful not to swallow any of the water out of the sink when rinsing my brush so that I don´t contract E-coli which could lead to bad number 2´s.
8:00- I head to the kitchen where Cecilia, my host mom, has a slice of pineapple waiting on me. I pop two pieces of toast in the toaster, layer it with ¨marmalada de frutas¨, and eat the toast along with my one ¨omelette egg¨, as Cecilia says.
8:15- After discussing the weather, breakfast, and some Spanish with Cecilia, I head back to my room to gather my things. I put $5 in my back pocket in case of a mugging, my keys in my left pocket, change in my right pocket, and grab my backpack.
8:21- I´m out the door!
8:22- I wait a minute for the elevator to get to the top of the apartment building, then I ride it down.
8:24- ¨Hola, amigo! Buenas dias,¨ I tell the apartment guy as I walk out the front door.
8:25- Now, I´m at the intersection of Seis de Diceiembre and Orellana. I rush across the road to keep from getting hit by a taxi all while having a bus honk it´s horn at me. It´s not very often that a unusually tall, red bearded gringo is running across the streets of Quito.
8:27- I turn the corner of Yanez Pinzon street and head towards the language school. I pass many people in suits who are headed out to work. I, the gringo (American), am in my Gap pants, an E&H tshirt, and either my trusty North Face sweatshirt or my favorite Old Navy sweatshirt.
8:30- I arrive in front of the Equinoccal language school and hit the button to have the gate opened for me. After they look through their little security camera and see it is me, they buzz me in.
10:30- By this time, I have had two hours of español and I want a break. My teacher lets me go get a drink of water and chat with my friends at the school for a bit.
12:30- I am starved! After having them buzz me out of the gate at the language school, I head straight for my apartment.
12:43- After taking my backpack to my bedroom, I head straight to the kitchen where Cecilia has a plate of food waiting on me.
1:07- I usually finish eating my rice and whatever else around now and I head to my bedroom to put some more change in my pocket.
1:15- I leave now to head to the internet café to check my email, check my facebook, and update my blog!! Yea!
2:45- Depending on the amount of email and such that I have, I usually head out of the internet café around this time.
2:45-5:15- During this time, I may go a park, a museum...something like that. After I am done with that, I head back to the internet café before it gets dark to check my email and facebook one final time for the day. Sometimes, important messages come within those three hours!
6:15- I usually head back to the apartment around this time.
6:25- I arrive back at the apartment and head for my bedroom.
6:32- After thinking about the day for approximately 7 minutes, I pick up my book I´m reading and read until around 7:45.
7:45- I head to the kitchen a fix a ham sandwich...yeah! My splurge of American food each day.
7:55- I head back to my bedroom and do my Spanish homework. Usually, it takes me around 45 minutes.
9:00- I go to my closet, grab my toothbrush, floss, head to the bathroom, brush my teeth, floss, and then I head to bed.
11:10- I usually wake up around this exact time every night. I think there is a really loud plane that goes over around this time every night.
11:13- I´m back to sleep.
12:30- A car alarm goes off. Awake again. Then, I´m back to sleep and sleep until 6:15 the next morning!
Wow...that turned out much longer than I expected. I hope you like it though.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Yesterday, I Walked on the Equator
A few times that I have updated, I have told about what I considered to be my best time yet in Ecuador. Once again, I will say that yesterday was the best day I have had thus far in Ecuador.
I took a trip with the group from Clemson. We met at the school around 9 yesterday morning and headed north of Quito towards the equator. On the way, we stopped at an overlook. I forgot what the name of the volcano was that we were looking at, but it was an amazing view. There is a picture in my photo album.
We left there and headed towards the equator. We first encountered the equator at a museum we visited. It was a museum that demonstrated how the Incas lived. It was very interesting. In this museum is where the equator passed. It is where all of my pictures of the equator were taken. There were many neat instruments they had placed on the equator to demonstrate the forces of gravity and the sun telling time and seasons and such.
We left there and visited La Mitad del Mundo, or, the middle of the world. We ate lunch at a nice little café and then visited an ethnographic museum that explained all the different peoples that live in Ecuador. It was very interesting. Even though most of the day was spent learning stuff in Spanish, I got the general idea of what the guides were trying to tell us.
We arrived back in Quito around 4 yesterday evening and then we went out to a bar\dance place last night. It was fun. There was a ton of spanish music and all of a sudden...Usher came on. Of course, I danced a lot. Since it is dangerous to walk from my apartment to the ¨Mariscal¨, or club area of the city, I had to take a taxi by myself to the Mariscal last night. I got a taxi, told him where I needed to go, negotiated a price, and paid him...all in spanish! It was good. Even though it may sound simple, and it was, I was proud of myself because I did the whole thing in spanish. At around 1230, I took a taxi back as well.
I stayed in bed until 1030 this morning which is different for me considering I have been waking up at 7 every morning. It was good to just relax. I don´t know what I´m going to do this afternoon. I may go the park not far from where I live and finish reading my book I´m on. I will have it done by this afternoon. That will make two books that I have read since I have been here. And, I only brought two. I´m going to have to seek out an english bookstore here in the city and buy a couple more to last the rest of the time while I am here.
I added a few new pictures from the equator to my album:
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
I took a trip with the group from Clemson. We met at the school around 9 yesterday morning and headed north of Quito towards the equator. On the way, we stopped at an overlook. I forgot what the name of the volcano was that we were looking at, but it was an amazing view. There is a picture in my photo album.
We left there and headed towards the equator. We first encountered the equator at a museum we visited. It was a museum that demonstrated how the Incas lived. It was very interesting. In this museum is where the equator passed. It is where all of my pictures of the equator were taken. There were many neat instruments they had placed on the equator to demonstrate the forces of gravity and the sun telling time and seasons and such.
We left there and visited La Mitad del Mundo, or, the middle of the world. We ate lunch at a nice little café and then visited an ethnographic museum that explained all the different peoples that live in Ecuador. It was very interesting. Even though most of the day was spent learning stuff in Spanish, I got the general idea of what the guides were trying to tell us.
We arrived back in Quito around 4 yesterday evening and then we went out to a bar\dance place last night. It was fun. There was a ton of spanish music and all of a sudden...Usher came on. Of course, I danced a lot. Since it is dangerous to walk from my apartment to the ¨Mariscal¨, or club area of the city, I had to take a taxi by myself to the Mariscal last night. I got a taxi, told him where I needed to go, negotiated a price, and paid him...all in spanish! It was good. Even though it may sound simple, and it was, I was proud of myself because I did the whole thing in spanish. At around 1230, I took a taxi back as well.
I stayed in bed until 1030 this morning which is different for me considering I have been waking up at 7 every morning. It was good to just relax. I don´t know what I´m going to do this afternoon. I may go the park not far from where I live and finish reading my book I´m on. I will have it done by this afternoon. That will make two books that I have read since I have been here. And, I only brought two. I´m going to have to seek out an english bookstore here in the city and buy a couple more to last the rest of the time while I am here.
I added a few new pictures from the equator to my album:
 |
| Ecuador |
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Friday, May 22, 2009
It´s Friday!
Here in Quito, Friday´s feel the same as they do in the United States...I am glad they finally come around. I have two days free of spanish classes which is a big relief. Even though my spanish classes are going pretty good, it´s nice to have a break.
Yesterday, I visited the Botanical Gardens. It was actually a good visit. It cost me $3.50 to get in and I could walk around as much as I wanted. A couple good pictures I took are in the photos I have uploaded.
After I visited the Botanical Gardens, I went and laid by a pond in a park for about an hour and just watched people. It was fun.
Tomorrow, I am headed off to la mitad del mundo...the equator! I leave here around 9am in the morning and I will get back around 5 tomorrow evening. I am going with the language school so there is no need in worrying about me getting lost somewhere in random Ecuador. I will be fine.
I put a few new pictures in my album. Enjoy-
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Yesterday, I visited the Botanical Gardens. It was actually a good visit. It cost me $3.50 to get in and I could walk around as much as I wanted. A couple good pictures I took are in the photos I have uploaded.
After I visited the Botanical Gardens, I went and laid by a pond in a park for about an hour and just watched people. It was fun.
Tomorrow, I am headed off to la mitad del mundo...the equator! I leave here around 9am in the morning and I will get back around 5 tomorrow evening. I am going with the language school so there is no need in worrying about me getting lost somewhere in random Ecuador. I will be fine.
I put a few new pictures in my album. Enjoy-
 |
| Ecuador |
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Going on a Week
Tomorrow, I will have been in Quito for seven days. That is hard to believe. I was counting up last night...I really don´t have that much time left here. I have 11 days of Spanish classes and 3 weekends. The last weekend I am here I am taking a trip to Otavalo, so it will go by fast.
I figured I would make today a more worthy update than yesterday. Actually, yesterday after my update has been my best time in Quito yet. I have decided that instead of just having my blog, ¨Zach did this...Zach did that,¨ I will try to teach you a little bit more about the Ecuadorian culture than what I have been doing. I feel like the last few posts have just been similar to a journal or something and I am not really teaching you about life in Ecuador. So, my plan for tonight sometime...I am going to sit down, make a list of things that stand out to me (the children here, food, clothes, cars, etc.) and each day that I update, I will try to teach you something new about Ecuador.
First off, I was disappointed to get to my email this afternoon and have no emails...from anyone...nada. I look forward to hearing from people and all my faithful readers did great for the first 4 or 5 days. But you are slacking now. Get back at it!
Yesterday after I updated, I began to walk back towards my apartment. I can´t remember if I told you this yesterday, but I made a list of 16 different museums, gardens, parks, and things like that I want to see while I am here. Since I have all of my afternoons free, that basically gives me one thing to do each afternoon from now until I leave.
Anyways, yesterday, I began to walk back towards my apartment because I was going to go to the Botanical Gardens. According to my handy-dandy Ecuador guide book, it was opened in 2005 and has over 300 species of plants native to Ecuador. Of course, being my touristy self, I want to visit the Botanical Gardens. As I was walking, I passed by one of the city bus stops. The city buses here are only 25 cents but I had been afraid to get on them since I don´t speak spanish. Well, yesterday, I decided I was going to brave up, get on a bus, and go to the historic district.
Once I got off the bus stop, I walked directly to find the city square. I learned in Urban Geography this past semester that one of the main points in South American cities is the plaza. So, I found it. I just sat down and was watching all the people when all of a sudden, I heard music. I looked around and what I assume to be the national army/military band was walking around the plaza. All of a sudden, they doubled in numbers. There was some type of celebration going on and I got there just in time to see it! Some of the military guys were on horses playing their instruments and it was very organized. It was quite an amazing site.
Pictures- Just to let you know, pictures are a pain here. Sometime tomorrow afternoon or this weekend, I plan to put up a few more. I won´t be putting up many while I am here. Once I get back to the United States, I will make an entire Ecuador album on my google account and let you see every single picture I have taken. It will be much easier once I get back. Also, I have a few videos of the event I witnessed on the plaza yesterday that I will put on YouTube and link to my blog.
Otherwise, everything is going well. It is only 2pm here, so I think I may head to the Botanical Gardens today since I didn´t go yesterday.
Email people! Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
I figured I would make today a more worthy update than yesterday. Actually, yesterday after my update has been my best time in Quito yet. I have decided that instead of just having my blog, ¨Zach did this...Zach did that,¨ I will try to teach you a little bit more about the Ecuadorian culture than what I have been doing. I feel like the last few posts have just been similar to a journal or something and I am not really teaching you about life in Ecuador. So, my plan for tonight sometime...I am going to sit down, make a list of things that stand out to me (the children here, food, clothes, cars, etc.) and each day that I update, I will try to teach you something new about Ecuador.
First off, I was disappointed to get to my email this afternoon and have no emails...from anyone...nada. I look forward to hearing from people and all my faithful readers did great for the first 4 or 5 days. But you are slacking now. Get back at it!
Yesterday after I updated, I began to walk back towards my apartment. I can´t remember if I told you this yesterday, but I made a list of 16 different museums, gardens, parks, and things like that I want to see while I am here. Since I have all of my afternoons free, that basically gives me one thing to do each afternoon from now until I leave.
Anyways, yesterday, I began to walk back towards my apartment because I was going to go to the Botanical Gardens. According to my handy-dandy Ecuador guide book, it was opened in 2005 and has over 300 species of plants native to Ecuador. Of course, being my touristy self, I want to visit the Botanical Gardens. As I was walking, I passed by one of the city bus stops. The city buses here are only 25 cents but I had been afraid to get on them since I don´t speak spanish. Well, yesterday, I decided I was going to brave up, get on a bus, and go to the historic district.
Once I got off the bus stop, I walked directly to find the city square. I learned in Urban Geography this past semester that one of the main points in South American cities is the plaza. So, I found it. I just sat down and was watching all the people when all of a sudden, I heard music. I looked around and what I assume to be the national army/military band was walking around the plaza. All of a sudden, they doubled in numbers. There was some type of celebration going on and I got there just in time to see it! Some of the military guys were on horses playing their instruments and it was very organized. It was quite an amazing site.
Pictures- Just to let you know, pictures are a pain here. Sometime tomorrow afternoon or this weekend, I plan to put up a few more. I won´t be putting up many while I am here. Once I get back to the United States, I will make an entire Ecuador album on my google account and let you see every single picture I have taken. It will be much easier once I get back. Also, I have a few videos of the event I witnessed on the plaza yesterday that I will put on YouTube and link to my blog.
Otherwise, everything is going well. It is only 2pm here, so I think I may head to the Botanical Gardens today since I didn´t go yesterday.
Email people! Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Life of Quito
Spanish is about to kill me. I have spent the past two days learning one verb. Although it is hard, I am learning.
I met a group of people from Clemson University yesterday at the language school. It is good to have some people here from America that I know now. I was supposed to go to a salsa class with them last night but it turns out the dance teacher had the times wrong so we went to a little restaurant instead.
I´m going to have to start updating my blog before I reply to all kinds of emails. By now, I am tired of typing.
I will sit down tonight and make a list of things I want to talk about in my blog tomorrow. I promise I will have a more rewarding post tomorrow.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
I met a group of people from Clemson University yesterday at the language school. It is good to have some people here from America that I know now. I was supposed to go to a salsa class with them last night but it turns out the dance teacher had the times wrong so we went to a little restaurant instead.
I´m going to have to start updating my blog before I reply to all kinds of emails. By now, I am tired of typing.
I will sit down tonight and make a list of things I want to talk about in my blog tomorrow. I promise I will have a more rewarding post tomorrow.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Monday, May 18, 2009
A Few Pictures
Funny...I´m at the internet cafe nearly 3 hours from earlier and My Humps just came on again.
Just to let you know, pictures are a hassle to upload from here. I uploaded 11 and they will give you a general idea of where I live and such. Below is the link.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Just to let you know, pictures are a hassle to upload from here. I uploaded 11 and they will give you a general idea of where I live and such. Below is the link.
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| Ecuador |
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
My Humps in Ecuador
The internet café I come to in Ecuador plays a variety of American music. As of right now, Fergie is blasting with My Humps. It is quite comical.
Thanks for the emails everyone! My blog post from yesterday definitely prompted emails and now I have my work cut out for me responding. It is good though...I like hearing from people.
Today was my first day of spanish classes. They went well. My spanish school is about a 5-10 minute walk from my apartment. It´s in a house and the people are really nice. There is a group of students from Clemson University there as well but I didn´t get to meet them today. I´m hoping to meet them soon and maybe they will give me some people from America to hang out with.
My spanish teacher is really nice. She doesn´t speak a lot of english, but she speaks enough for me to communicate with her. I am actually suprised at how much spanish I picked up in the 4 hours I had class this morning. I have a lot of studying to do tonight.
I promise I will put up pictures soon. I would do it right now but I can´t find the computer that goes with this monitor. I know that may sound stupid, but it is true.
I am off for now. I need to reply to the emails I received, send a couple more, then go study for a while. Don´t think my trip to Ecuador is a vacation...it is actually going to be a lot of work.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Thanks for the emails everyone! My blog post from yesterday definitely prompted emails and now I have my work cut out for me responding. It is good though...I like hearing from people.
Today was my first day of spanish classes. They went well. My spanish school is about a 5-10 minute walk from my apartment. It´s in a house and the people are really nice. There is a group of students from Clemson University there as well but I didn´t get to meet them today. I´m hoping to meet them soon and maybe they will give me some people from America to hang out with.
My spanish teacher is really nice. She doesn´t speak a lot of english, but she speaks enough for me to communicate with her. I am actually suprised at how much spanish I picked up in the 4 hours I had class this morning. I have a lot of studying to do tonight.
I promise I will put up pictures soon. I would do it right now but I can´t find the computer that goes with this monitor. I know that may sound stupid, but it is true.
I am off for now. I need to reply to the emails I received, send a couple more, then go study for a while. Don´t think my trip to Ecuador is a vacation...it is actually going to be a lot of work.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
I Live Above a Gynecologist
First, I´ll explain the title. I live on the 7th floor of an apartment building. On the first floor is a gynecologist office. I just found it amusing when I walked in to where I was living the other day and there was a sign for a gynecologist office in the lobby.
I figured since I was at the internet café checking my email and such this morning I would give you an update on yesterday. After I updated my blog, I headed back to the apartment for lunch. Eating is much different here. Basically, I eat a banana or something and then a couple pieces of toast along with a cup of hot tea. I´ve never been a big tea person but I´m learning to like it. Different from in the Estados Unidos (United States), the big meal of the day is lunch. Yesterday, my host mom fixed us really good homemade spaghetti. It was very tasty. After lunch, I headed out to explore the city a little bit.
I found a park that is about 45 minutes from the apartment. I am afraid to use the bus system right now since my Spanish is not good so I have been walking a lot. The park was really nice. It had a little pond and a lazy river type thing with rowboats and paddle boats. It was cool. I took some pictures and I will put them up later. I don´t want to put up a lot of pictures until I have a few more.
I am off to a park that overlooks the city now. I have figured up that it will take me about an hour to walk back to the apartment from the park and I have to be back by two so it will be good timing. The streets are very easy to navigate here so I won´t get lost.
I will check my email later on this evening before it gets dark here. If anyone reads this today and wants to email me, feel free. I´ve not gotten any emails from anyone and I would be excited to get them.
Hasta luego!
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
I figured since I was at the internet café checking my email and such this morning I would give you an update on yesterday. After I updated my blog, I headed back to the apartment for lunch. Eating is much different here. Basically, I eat a banana or something and then a couple pieces of toast along with a cup of hot tea. I´ve never been a big tea person but I´m learning to like it. Different from in the Estados Unidos (United States), the big meal of the day is lunch. Yesterday, my host mom fixed us really good homemade spaghetti. It was very tasty. After lunch, I headed out to explore the city a little bit.
I found a park that is about 45 minutes from the apartment. I am afraid to use the bus system right now since my Spanish is not good so I have been walking a lot. The park was really nice. It had a little pond and a lazy river type thing with rowboats and paddle boats. It was cool. I took some pictures and I will put them up later. I don´t want to put up a lot of pictures until I have a few more.
I am off to a park that overlooks the city now. I have figured up that it will take me about an hour to walk back to the apartment from the park and I have to be back by two so it will be good timing. The streets are very easy to navigate here so I won´t get lost.
I will check my email later on this evening before it gets dark here. If anyone reads this today and wants to email me, feel free. I´ve not gotten any emails from anyone and I would be excited to get them.
Hasta luego!
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
I Made It!
So, I made it to Ecuador. It was definitely an interesting day yesterday. Not knowing if I was going to have a seat on my flight from Charlotte to Miami, I got at the airport 3 hours early to find out that I did indeed have a seat. Since the small plane I rode on from Charlotte to Miami wasn´t worthy of a real gate at the airport, we were parked on the taxiway and put on a bus that took us to the airport.
Since I didn´t book my ticket here until Monday because of my series of unfortunate kidney events, I had a middle seat from Miami to Quito. The flight was about 3 hours and 40 minutes and it was quite bumpy to be on a large plane. Arriving at the Quito airport was interesting. The airport is right in the middle of the city. So, when you are landing, it looks like you are landing right on top of multiple buildings. But, it turns out you are on the runway. Customs was much easier than I expected. Basically they just stamped my passport and sent my bags through an x-ray machine and that was it. As I was walking through the area where people get picked up by cabs and stuff, I heard my name called. It was some random guy at a cab window. It turns out my driver had called him to let him know that he was running a couple minutes late and I just needed to wait. Eventually my driver, Benecio, came and drove me to my host family´s house. It could have possibly been the scariest ride I have ever taken in my life.
My host mom is very nice. She speaks english rather well. I can have a conversation with her. I have my own bedroom with a great view of the city. The flight path for the airport runs right outside my window so I can sit on my bed and watch planes fly right over! I´ll put up pictures of my home sometime later.
I slept ok last night. I am right in the middle of the city and there are all kinds of car horns and such. There is a major issue in this city with car alarms. Apparently when a bus drives by and jars a car it can cause the alarm to go off. Also, my host mom says the wind from busses cause fruit to fall from the trees and land on cars and set the alarms off. Apparently, the windows in my bedroom are not very thick because I heard alarms all night.
There is another man staying in the apartment until Thursday. His name is Ray and he has been here for 3 weeks already. He told me a lot about the city last night and then we walked around a bit this morning. I have discovered this little internet cafe this morning while walking. It is cheap and it has phone booths where I can call the United States for about 7 cents per minute. It is good.
For now, I am going to run. I really don´t have anything at all to do today. I think I´ll go back and get my backpack and walk to a park and read or something. There are all kinds of parks around the city. If anything excited happens by tomorrow evening, I will update again. Otherwise, I´ll update after my first day of language classes on Monday.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Since I didn´t book my ticket here until Monday because of my series of unfortunate kidney events, I had a middle seat from Miami to Quito. The flight was about 3 hours and 40 minutes and it was quite bumpy to be on a large plane. Arriving at the Quito airport was interesting. The airport is right in the middle of the city. So, when you are landing, it looks like you are landing right on top of multiple buildings. But, it turns out you are on the runway. Customs was much easier than I expected. Basically they just stamped my passport and sent my bags through an x-ray machine and that was it. As I was walking through the area where people get picked up by cabs and stuff, I heard my name called. It was some random guy at a cab window. It turns out my driver had called him to let him know that he was running a couple minutes late and I just needed to wait. Eventually my driver, Benecio, came and drove me to my host family´s house. It could have possibly been the scariest ride I have ever taken in my life.
My host mom is very nice. She speaks english rather well. I can have a conversation with her. I have my own bedroom with a great view of the city. The flight path for the airport runs right outside my window so I can sit on my bed and watch planes fly right over! I´ll put up pictures of my home sometime later.
I slept ok last night. I am right in the middle of the city and there are all kinds of car horns and such. There is a major issue in this city with car alarms. Apparently when a bus drives by and jars a car it can cause the alarm to go off. Also, my host mom says the wind from busses cause fruit to fall from the trees and land on cars and set the alarms off. Apparently, the windows in my bedroom are not very thick because I heard alarms all night.
There is another man staying in the apartment until Thursday. His name is Ray and he has been here for 3 weeks already. He told me a lot about the city last night and then we walked around a bit this morning. I have discovered this little internet cafe this morning while walking. It is cheap and it has phone booths where I can call the United States for about 7 cents per minute. It is good.
For now, I am going to run. I really don´t have anything at all to do today. I think I´ll go back and get my backpack and walk to a park and read or something. There are all kinds of parks around the city. If anything excited happens by tomorrow evening, I will update again. Otherwise, I´ll update after my first day of language classes on Monday.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
In the midst of packing my stuff for Ecuador, I decided to take a break and share a picture with you.
Today, I was laying in my hammock outside my apartment. I was staring at the ground while I laid. It's amazing. If you look at the grass from a distance, it looks so still. But, if you're about 2 feet from it just staring, you can see all the movement; ants, spiders, and other creatures. It was great.
I decided to go inside and get my new camera and see what kind of pictures it takes in situations such as this. This is one of the pictures I got:
Back to packing for Ecuador. Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Today, I was laying in my hammock outside my apartment. I was staring at the ground while I laid. It's amazing. If you look at the grass from a distance, it looks so still. But, if you're about 2 feet from it just staring, you can see all the movement; ants, spiders, and other creatures. It was great.
I decided to go inside and get my new camera and see what kind of pictures it takes in situations such as this. This is one of the pictures I got:
Back to packing for Ecuador. Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Monday, May 11, 2009
It's Still On
Hey folks. I figured I would give you an update. Right now, I should be departing Miami for Quito, Ecuador...but I'm not. It's ok though.
The last time I updated, I had underwent surgery and had a stent placed in me to help me pass my stones. I went to the doctor in Kingsport today and he has released me to go on my trip Friday. I have already bought a plane ticket for Friday so I will be going to Ecuador then!
I am excited. At first, I was very disappointed. But, everything happens for a reason. I'm still going to Ecuador though.
I bought a new digital camera the other day! Yesterday, it was a b-e-a-utiful day here at Emory and since I didn't have anything to keep me occupied due to my trip delay, I decided to walk around and take some pictures of campus. Here is the link to those photos:
Enjoy. Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
The last time I updated, I had underwent surgery and had a stent placed in me to help me pass my stones. I went to the doctor in Kingsport today and he has released me to go on my trip Friday. I have already bought a plane ticket for Friday so I will be going to Ecuador then!
I am excited. At first, I was very disappointed. But, everything happens for a reason. I'm still going to Ecuador though.
I bought a new digital camera the other day! Yesterday, it was a b-e-a-utiful day here at Emory and since I didn't have anything to keep me occupied due to my trip delay, I decided to walk around and take some pictures of campus. Here is the link to those photos:
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| Emory on May 10, 2009 |
Enjoy. Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Friday, May 8, 2009
A Slight Setback
The past couple days of my life have been rather eventful. I will give you a day-by-day breakdown and I will make it short:
Wednesday: I go to have a Cat Scan done for my kidney stones before I leave for Ecuador on Monday. I leave there, go to the hospital where my mom is having surgery, then head back to Emory to take my last exam. I didn't think I did good on my exam and I had a B going into it, but I didn't do that bad because I ended up with a B in that class. That's another point of excitement...I made 3 As, an A-, and a B for the semester! I'm excited. That day went on with no other happenings...besides me going to eat Mexican with my two aunts and two cousins, which was fun.
Thursday (yesterday): I get up early and go to Johnson City with my friend Dana. While we are there, the college nurse calls and says that Dr. Elmore (my doctor) wants me to see a urologist before I leave for Ecuador. My cat scan showed that I had a 7mm kidney stone blocking my ureter and I also had another 3mm stone somewhere else. So, after having my records faxed all over the planet it seemed, I ended up at Bristol Urology yesterday evening. I saw the nurse practitioner and she told me that my trip to Ecuador wouldn't be feasible unless I had something done about this because if I put it off, I could lose a kidney. So, after being upset for a minute about my trip, I realized that I purchased trip insurance so it shouldn't be a problem to put off my trip a couple days. The nurse practitioner makes some phone calls and gets me an appointment with a urologist in Kingsport this morning at 8:15. Yesterday evening, Josh (the kid I mentor) came to Emory and we played ping pong for a while. It was good to get my mind off of this mess.
Today: I visit the urologist in Kingsport this morning at 8:15. He tells me he wants to do surgery today at 1:00. So, I went directly to the hospital and checked in. He went in, shocked and lasered my stones, and now I'm sitting in my aunt's condo in Bristol with a stent in me. My trip is being postponed for a just a few days. I have an appointment on Monday morning to have an x-ray and a follow-up with my doctor in Kingsport. If everything goes as planned, I should be off to Ecuador by Friday or Saturday, Monday at the latest.
I was depressed about this at first, but it's best I had this done rather than lose a kidney in Ecuador! I'll keep everyone up to date. Sorry you had to hear about my dang kidney stone troubles, but I figured I should explain rather than just say I wasn't going to Ecuador Monday. This is a set back, but at least I will be healthy in Ecuador and my later trip to California.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Wednesday: I go to have a Cat Scan done for my kidney stones before I leave for Ecuador on Monday. I leave there, go to the hospital where my mom is having surgery, then head back to Emory to take my last exam. I didn't think I did good on my exam and I had a B going into it, but I didn't do that bad because I ended up with a B in that class. That's another point of excitement...I made 3 As, an A-, and a B for the semester! I'm excited. That day went on with no other happenings...besides me going to eat Mexican with my two aunts and two cousins, which was fun.
Thursday (yesterday): I get up early and go to Johnson City with my friend Dana. While we are there, the college nurse calls and says that Dr. Elmore (my doctor) wants me to see a urologist before I leave for Ecuador. My cat scan showed that I had a 7mm kidney stone blocking my ureter and I also had another 3mm stone somewhere else. So, after having my records faxed all over the planet it seemed, I ended up at Bristol Urology yesterday evening. I saw the nurse practitioner and she told me that my trip to Ecuador wouldn't be feasible unless I had something done about this because if I put it off, I could lose a kidney. So, after being upset for a minute about my trip, I realized that I purchased trip insurance so it shouldn't be a problem to put off my trip a couple days. The nurse practitioner makes some phone calls and gets me an appointment with a urologist in Kingsport this morning at 8:15. Yesterday evening, Josh (the kid I mentor) came to Emory and we played ping pong for a while. It was good to get my mind off of this mess.
Today: I visit the urologist in Kingsport this morning at 8:15. He tells me he wants to do surgery today at 1:00. So, I went directly to the hospital and checked in. He went in, shocked and lasered my stones, and now I'm sitting in my aunt's condo in Bristol with a stent in me. My trip is being postponed for a just a few days. I have an appointment on Monday morning to have an x-ray and a follow-up with my doctor in Kingsport. If everything goes as planned, I should be off to Ecuador by Friday or Saturday, Monday at the latest.
I was depressed about this at first, but it's best I had this done rather than lose a kidney in Ecuador! I'll keep everyone up to date. Sorry you had to hear about my dang kidney stone troubles, but I figured I should explain rather than just say I wasn't going to Ecuador Monday. This is a set back, but at least I will be healthy in Ecuador and my later trip to California.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
One Week
I can remember updating this blog several months ago and telling you how I was going to Ecuador in May. Now, I can't believe it is only one week away. That is simply hard to believe.
This year has flown by. I can't believe I will be a senior next year. Everyone keeps asking me what I want to do after graduation. I don't know. That is a year away. My advisor and I had a good talk the other day and he brought it to my attention that I worry about the future way too much. I just need to chill and not worry. I have big plans for the summer, and I need to focus on those instead of worrying what I'm going to be doing a year from now.
My interests have changed somewhat over the past year, so it's hard telling what I will want to do a year from now. I'll just go where the wind blows me...although at this time it seems to be blowing me towards the Peace Corps. It is very enticing. But, I'm not worried about that right now.
I leave for Ecuador next Sunday. Dad is taking me to Charlotte and we're spending Sunday night and then my plane leaves at 10:15 on Monday morning. My Spanish has made a little bit of progress. Even though I can speak Spanish un poco (a little), I think I will just tell people down there that I can't speak it. Because technically, I can't. That's the whole reason I'm going to Ecuador...to learn Spanish. I feel like it is better for me to go down there with a small knowledge instead of trying to teach myself and learning it wrong.
I'm still debating on whether or not to take my laptop. I don't think I would use it. I definitely won't be carrying it around because there is a chance I could get mugged and I wouldn't want to lose my laptop! I will probably just find a cozy little internet cafe somewhere around where I live where I can go and sip coffee, update my blog, and email everyone.
I'm excited, yet anxious at the same time about this next adventure in my life. I've never been out of the country, and I'm going by myself! It will be interesting. I will update again before I leave.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
This year has flown by. I can't believe I will be a senior next year. Everyone keeps asking me what I want to do after graduation. I don't know. That is a year away. My advisor and I had a good talk the other day and he brought it to my attention that I worry about the future way too much. I just need to chill and not worry. I have big plans for the summer, and I need to focus on those instead of worrying what I'm going to be doing a year from now.
My interests have changed somewhat over the past year, so it's hard telling what I will want to do a year from now. I'll just go where the wind blows me...although at this time it seems to be blowing me towards the Peace Corps. It is very enticing. But, I'm not worried about that right now.
I leave for Ecuador next Sunday. Dad is taking me to Charlotte and we're spending Sunday night and then my plane leaves at 10:15 on Monday morning. My Spanish has made a little bit of progress. Even though I can speak Spanish un poco (a little), I think I will just tell people down there that I can't speak it. Because technically, I can't. That's the whole reason I'm going to Ecuador...to learn Spanish. I feel like it is better for me to go down there with a small knowledge instead of trying to teach myself and learning it wrong.
I'm still debating on whether or not to take my laptop. I don't think I would use it. I definitely won't be carrying it around because there is a chance I could get mugged and I wouldn't want to lose my laptop! I will probably just find a cozy little internet cafe somewhere around where I live where I can go and sip coffee, update my blog, and email everyone.
I'm excited, yet anxious at the same time about this next adventure in my life. I've never been out of the country, and I'm going by myself! It will be interesting. I will update again before I leave.
Until next time, Zach will leave it at that.
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