I'd like to share my on-going list of things, some very small, that I've noticed about living here in Ecuador.
1.) TP is thrown in the trash can, not flushed down the toilet. Sewer systems here can't handle it.
2.) You don't ever go barefoot... not even in the house.
3.) Rice is eaten with every meal.
4.) Freshly made fruit juice is eaten with every meal.
5.) Milk isn't always kept cold. It sits on regular shelves in the stores.. and it only comes in boxes or bags, no jugs.
6.) The tap water isn't okay to drink. Families either: have huge jugs delivered, boil their water, or have a different faucet with drinking water.
7.) There isn't hardly any grass at all. Cement or dirt is pretty much everywhere.
8.) There are stray dogs wondering almost all streets. I've asked about shelters, and I've been told that there are some, but there is no where near enough room for all of the dogs and cats.
9.) There are traffic suggestions, not laws. The lines on the roads to separate lanes, are never obeyed, and I've never actually seen someone stop at a stop sign. Automobile crashes are the #1 cause of death here.
10.) The majority of children live with their parents until they get married... even if they've already graduated college and everything.
11.) Girls dress up to go to college every single day. No rolling out of bed for them.
12.) Girl-girl greetings and girl-guy greetings consist of touching cheeks and kissing the air. Guy-guy greetings are just usually shaking hands.
14.) There are tons of street vendors at stop lights and on the side walks... and even some who will sneak on to public buses to give you a speal about their product... (usually candy or gummies).
13.) Social classes are huge here-- if you have even a little money, people do anything to make it seem like they're rich... and if they're rich, you definitely will know it. And they aren't afraid to say that others are at a different level.
14.) Along with that, there are maids here. The majority of all middle-class and upper-class families have maids. They may live there or just come during the days, but the labor is incredibly cheap, so most families can afford to have them.
15.) Patience... almost unheard of here. They don't wait in cars, they don't wait in bathroom lines, they'll form a line at each stall... even if that means passing you right up.
I'll keep this list going as I think of more... Just a little food for thought!
xoxo,
Jenna
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Coincidental? Not if you ask me...
I think that God has a great way of making this huge world seem so small in order to comfort and take care of his own. :)
The following are some totally random occurences that have happened to me in Ecuador, where I've been blown away... In a good way, of course!
1.) My first night meeting my host family, I was so nervous that I was shaking. My host mom was there to pick me up, and she didn't speak any English, while I didn't speak any Spanish... my thoughts? I'm doomed. I get to the house and they bring me into the kitchen where there's about 15 people waiting for my arrival. They all started to speak to me and I couldn't understand anything, nor say anything back, and I just stood there as tears welled up in my eyes. There was a girl named Lauren sitting at the table, who was a former student of theirs just in for a visit, who started talking to me. She helped me feel better, and as we kept talking, she had told me she was from California. I told her that I was from Orrville, Ohio, and out of all odds possible-- her dad was born and raised in little old Orrville, Ohio, and he is a Bowers... also related to many Linsalatas. I know SO many Bowers & Linsalatas! How insane?
2.) I was in the hospital the second week I was in Ecuador, which was the first week in Guayquil. I was with my host family, who'd I'd only known for about 2 days, and my Spanish speaking was awful! My host mom had to leave for a little bit to go pick up Arial and Jose from school, so I was in my room with just Claudia (the director of the KEI program that sent me here). A minute later, this woman walks in the door, speaking great English, saying, "Is this Jenna's room?!" She comes in to tell me that she passed Mami Francia going to her car, who she knows because they go to the same church and had asked her why she was at the hospital, and Mami Francia said that her student from Ohio was in here. The lady (Martha) asked which room, and she came up to visit me. She just so happened to be from Dover, Ohio! Whom we play in football every year, and she drives through Orrville all the time. She also is a professor at UEES (my university here in Guayquil!)
3.) I was walking home from the bus one night, and it's a little more than a half-walk to my house, when I said good-bye to some gringa friends, as my house in the farthest away. This boy who was up ahead of me had heard me say good-bye and sort of stood there waiting for me to catch up. I was a little nervous until he started talking to me in near-perfect English, and introduced me to his huge dog. He asked me where I was from and we happened to be walking the same way, so it wasn't a big deal at all. He told me his name was David, and somehow we ended up talking about where he learned such good English. And of all places, he did an internship in Charleston, SC, while he lived in Mount Pleasant. I told him I'd been there a bunch, because my boyfriend lived there, and we talked about all of the good places to eat!
4.) I'm on the plane to the Galapagos Islands with my friends, and I ended up having the seat open beside me, which was right by the isle. A boy came up to me and asked (in awful broken, attempted English) if he could sit there to talk to his friend who was sitting across the isle. He sat down and they started talking. He started speaking to me in Spanish, saying something like, "I hope your boyfriend isn't coming back for his seat... I might have to fight him for it." Oh my, I knew the rest of the plane ride would be interesting, but I was thoroughly impressed with myself to understand and try to respond to these Argentinian goof-balls going to the Galapagos. They asked where I was from, and I told them, and they said that one of their friends had been to Ohio. They called him over, and come to find out, he spent his senior year of high school studying at McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio.
*It's a small world after all. :) I hope to add more to this before I head back home.
xoxo,
Jenna
The following are some totally random occurences that have happened to me in Ecuador, where I've been blown away... In a good way, of course!
1.) My first night meeting my host family, I was so nervous that I was shaking. My host mom was there to pick me up, and she didn't speak any English, while I didn't speak any Spanish... my thoughts? I'm doomed. I get to the house and they bring me into the kitchen where there's about 15 people waiting for my arrival. They all started to speak to me and I couldn't understand anything, nor say anything back, and I just stood there as tears welled up in my eyes. There was a girl named Lauren sitting at the table, who was a former student of theirs just in for a visit, who started talking to me. She helped me feel better, and as we kept talking, she had told me she was from California. I told her that I was from Orrville, Ohio, and out of all odds possible-- her dad was born and raised in little old Orrville, Ohio, and he is a Bowers... also related to many Linsalatas. I know SO many Bowers & Linsalatas! How insane?
2.) I was in the hospital the second week I was in Ecuador, which was the first week in Guayquil. I was with my host family, who'd I'd only known for about 2 days, and my Spanish speaking was awful! My host mom had to leave for a little bit to go pick up Arial and Jose from school, so I was in my room with just Claudia (the director of the KEI program that sent me here). A minute later, this woman walks in the door, speaking great English, saying, "Is this Jenna's room?!" She comes in to tell me that she passed Mami Francia going to her car, who she knows because they go to the same church and had asked her why she was at the hospital, and Mami Francia said that her student from Ohio was in here. The lady (Martha) asked which room, and she came up to visit me. She just so happened to be from Dover, Ohio! Whom we play in football every year, and she drives through Orrville all the time. She also is a professor at UEES (my university here in Guayquil!)
3.) I was walking home from the bus one night, and it's a little more than a half-walk to my house, when I said good-bye to some gringa friends, as my house in the farthest away. This boy who was up ahead of me had heard me say good-bye and sort of stood there waiting for me to catch up. I was a little nervous until he started talking to me in near-perfect English, and introduced me to his huge dog. He asked me where I was from and we happened to be walking the same way, so it wasn't a big deal at all. He told me his name was David, and somehow we ended up talking about where he learned such good English. And of all places, he did an internship in Charleston, SC, while he lived in Mount Pleasant. I told him I'd been there a bunch, because my boyfriend lived there, and we talked about all of the good places to eat!
4.) I'm on the plane to the Galapagos Islands with my friends, and I ended up having the seat open beside me, which was right by the isle. A boy came up to me and asked (in awful broken, attempted English) if he could sit there to talk to his friend who was sitting across the isle. He sat down and they started talking. He started speaking to me in Spanish, saying something like, "I hope your boyfriend isn't coming back for his seat... I might have to fight him for it." Oh my, I knew the rest of the plane ride would be interesting, but I was thoroughly impressed with myself to understand and try to respond to these Argentinian goof-balls going to the Galapagos. They asked where I was from, and I told them, and they said that one of their friends had been to Ohio. They called him over, and come to find out, he spent his senior year of high school studying at McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio.
*It's a small world after all. :) I hope to add more to this before I head back home.
xoxo,
Jenna
Monday, November 22, 2010
You know something is a little corrupt, when....
Yes, you know that there is something corrupt going on when a police officer wouldn't protect you from excessive cat calls, because they're taking part in them.
i'm going to have to say this is NOT my favorite thing about Ecuador.
i'm going to have to say this is NOT my favorite thing about Ecuador.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
If you'd like to surprise me with some snail mail, here goes it:
Jenna Hilty
Entre Rios: Plazoleta 11 Nùmero 57 y Ave. 5ta
Via a Samborondòn
Via a Samborondòn
Guayaquil
Ecuador-South America (593)
I love letters! :)
xoxo,
Jenna
I have a passion for hiking.
I had never really been hiking before I came to Ecuador, and here, I've developed a love for it.
On the last day of our 1st week here, we traveled thru the city of Riobamba on the way to meet our host families. Just outside the city, there is the Chimborazo National Park.
It has the tallest mountain in Ecuador, Mt. Chimborazo. It isn't the tallest mountain in the world, but it is the farthest from the center of the earth, because it sits directly on the equator. We hiked it!
How can one not love this calming, tranquil workout? It's amazing! I can't wait to hike in the States!
xoxo,
jenna
On the last day of our 1st week here, we traveled thru the city of Riobamba on the way to meet our host families. Just outside the city, there is the Chimborazo National Park.
At the bottom:
Hitting snow:
At the top: (about 4,500 meters up... aka 14,000 feet up!)
Doing a lib on top of the mountain for my cheerleaders!:
The 2nd hike was a few weeks into my trip, but we were on our way to visit the city of Cuenca, and we went hiking in Cajas National Park:
Charlie and Autumn, my best friends in Ecuador:
How can one not love this calming, tranquil workout? It's amazing! I can't wait to hike in the States!
xoxo,
jenna
One of my Seven Wonders of the World
Cuicocha Crater Lake is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.
It is a volcano that erupted and fell inside itself, to create this lake. The volcano still has gas emissions coming from it, which is why you can see these bubbles when you get near the island:
This made me really think... What a wonderful Maker we have. God has created the most beautiful earth!
xoxo,
Jenna
the ecological reserve:
It is a volcano that erupted and fell inside itself, to create this lake. The volcano still has gas emissions coming from it, which is why you can see these bubbles when you get near the island:
This made me really think... What a wonderful Maker we have. God has created the most beautiful earth!
xoxo,
Jenna
I really wanted to do this.
...and I'm haven't been. Therefore, I'm going to catch everyone up. Slowly, but surely.. on my life in Ecuador!
I posted about day 1, but we traveled around the country in one week.. So I'll start here from days 2 & 3:
We visited the Equator, the middle of the earth, "Mitad del Mundo"
Then we visited numerous indigenous cultures...
...and then traveled to Otovalo the next day, where we watched one of our students have her soul "cleansed" by a Shaman (spirit doctor) while she had to be nearly naked..
...and visited the most amazing artisan market there, too. I was in heaven!
I posted about day 1, but we traveled around the country in one week.. So I'll start here from days 2 & 3:
We visited the Equator, the middle of the earth, "Mitad del Mundo"
There isn't even enough time in the day to spend at each place... it's amazing!
Sending love,
Jenna
Thursday, August 26, 2010
My first day in Ecuador
Hola! :) Although, I know little to no Spanish at all, I have learned a few words and phrases today!
Let's start with getting here--
I got so sick on the flight from Atlanta to Quito. I feel so sorry for the people who had to sit beside me. Once we got off of our flight, we had to wait for other students to land, so I was sick on the bus. Then, still sick once we got back to the hotel... where my room key wouldn't work for my room, because my roommate had already locked it from the inside. Ah! I got into a room at around 1:00 am (2:00 am at home)... and was finally able to sleep at around 2:30 am. Whew.
Today, I woke up feeling a lot better, just very weak. I took it easy in the morning, but we toured Quito, the capital city all day. First, we went to the most awesome Catholic church. There were altars and the most beautiful stained glass windows inside. I loved the gargoyles and animal statues on the outside, used to keep bad spirits away.
I couldn't believe the driving here. It's like a free-for-all. NO STREET LAWS OBSERVED AT ALL. It was so scary, there is no problem with being less than an inch from another car at all times. I couldn't drive here! Also, we're high in the mountains, and I've never been on streets this sloped or seen buildings built on such uneven ground. There are stray dogs all over just laying in the street. It's heart-breaking. I just want to take them home with me... Can you imagine that getting through customs? ;) There were little boys no older than 7 asking to shine my shoes today, by themselves in this huge city. People like push little kids around too, it seems. I cannot even imagine someone younger than Max being out on their own like this.. I might bring one of them home too. Haha. Sorry for the rambling! We then went to the Independence Plaza... there are government buildings there, La Cathedral (a huge church), and the King's Palace. We got to go into the King's Palace some. There are 2 guards protecting the King's Palace, who change every Monday with a sort of ceremony along with it.
There was an awesome statue in the middle of the plaza, representing the freedom from Spain and the people who died for freedom.
We went up one of the mountains to see another statue, and altitude was even worse there.
We saw Volcan Cotopaxi, which is Ecuador's 2nd largest mountain/active volcano. It errupted about a month ago!
We then toured the La Compania de Jesus. This church was made of pretty much gold everywhere. The altars were so immaculate. It was unbelievably gorgeous.
The last place we visited was an art museum of Ecuador's most famous artist, Oswaldo Guayasamin. His works were unlike anything I've ever seen. It was neat; google his stuff!
This post was forever long, but we did so much today. Welcome to the capital of Ecuador.. Quito!
xoxo,
Jenna
Let's start with getting here--
I got so sick on the flight from Atlanta to Quito. I feel so sorry for the people who had to sit beside me. Once we got off of our flight, we had to wait for other students to land, so I was sick on the bus. Then, still sick once we got back to the hotel... where my room key wouldn't work for my room, because my roommate had already locked it from the inside. Ah! I got into a room at around 1:00 am (2:00 am at home)... and was finally able to sleep at around 2:30 am. Whew.
Today, I woke up feeling a lot better, just very weak. I took it easy in the morning, but we toured Quito, the capital city all day. First, we went to the most awesome Catholic church. There were altars and the most beautiful stained glass windows inside. I loved the gargoyles and animal statues on the outside, used to keep bad spirits away.
We then toured the La Compania de Jesus. This church was made of pretty much gold everywhere. The altars were so immaculate. It was unbelievably gorgeous.
This post was forever long, but we did so much today. Welcome to the capital of Ecuador.. Quito!
xoxo,
Jenna
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