The Gardens in the Park

On Friday, we had the day off. Our program heads Joe and Catherine took us to the Botanical Gardens in the middle of the Parque De Carolina, which is in the middle of the city of Quito. We learned about a lot of the varieties of plants and got to see them all.

Giant Banana Flower

My favorite plant! Its called chicks and hens and looks like a rose but is a cactus type plant.

This looks like it's taken underwater, but its on land

Giant Leaf the size of me

Catherine explaining plants

My Program

Week Update

Wow,It has been a long time since I've updated, so I will break my update down into a few parts.
First, I'll explain school.
7:00 Wake up
7:45 Breakfast with Nancy
8:10 Meet Grace at the Bus stop near my house, then trasfer at Rio Coca station to Cumbaya
9:10 Arrive in Cumbaya and walk to the University of San Fransisco in Quito
9:30 Biology Class with everyone on the program
12:30 Lunch
2:00 Spanish Class- Intermediate
5:00 Time to Play
5:30 Take Bus home so I get there before Dark
6:30 Get home
Night time= go out, do work, relax,
11:00 Bedtime

And that is my schedule from Monday through Thursday

The first day of class was really interesting in biology, but my Spanish class is really boring because it is hard to sit in a class for 3 hours and another for 3 hours in another language. Our teacher's name is Tomas and he is fun. Our class is goofy, and it gets better everyday. I'm being told that my Spanish is greatly improving everyday.

University of San Fransisco in Quito

The campus itself is absolutely breathtaking, here are some photos:

the middle of what would be the quad

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entrance walkway

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Beautiful View

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The beautiful lake

Some students on my program playing Volleyball

The first day of class, Grace and I decided to stay late and use the internet. It was getting dark very fast, and it is not safe to take the bus at night and walk home alone in the dark, so we decided to call a taxi, but the taxi didn't understand us, and it is very unsafe to flag one down. We went across the street to a mall, and I went into a bra store and asked the lady to call us a taxi. She did, but we couldn't understand what she was saying. We thought she called one, but time was passing, and we didn't know where we were or what was going on, but at least Grace and I were together. We called our host mom's who told us to come home on the bus, but they didn't understand that we didn't want to walk from the to our house alone in the dark. Another lady came into the store and was looking around, when she heard us talking. In perfect English, she said "are you girls looking for the bus?". We were so relieved to find someone who spoke English. It turned out that she was a translator, and her husband was a lawyer for the taxi company. She called us a safe taxi home, and it only took 10 minutes to get home because apparently there is a tunnel just for cars and taxis, and our University is only a 10 minutes away by car. We were so relieved after that day!
The next few days were a lot easier. Grace and I went out to dinner with some Ecuadorians we met that go to USFQ. We went to a Hookah and Schwarma bar, which reminded me a lot of Israel! We had a lot of fun.
On Thursday, I came straight home from class, but Nancy works until 7, so she was not home. I decided to wait with the guard of our building, and we watched TV in Spanish and listened to Salsa. I met some of the building's other residents when they would come in, and a few of them spoke English. I met a couple who was older, and we talked for a bit. A few minutes later, a guy that looked in his late 20s walked in, and the guard and him said hey and did the peace signs at each other. When the guy saw me, he came into the guard station and talked to me. It turned out, he is 29, and used to work in California. His name is Juan and he speaks English pretty well so we talked for a while. He works for Porta, a big phone company here I mentioned before (just like Verizon or Sprint), and his sister is my age and goes to USFQ as well. His other sister is an exchange student in Atlanta, and studies Genetics! His aunt lives on the first floor and she walked in with her ShiTzu and talked to me a bit as well. We talked for a while, and he asked me to run across the street to the store with him. He was so polite, and asked if I wanted anything, but since I just met him, I declined. When we got back, he took me to the roof of the building, which was the most beautiful view! He explained where everything was in Quito, and offered to take me anywhere I wanted to go since he spoke both languages. He said that I should tell Nancy where I was, and then he wanted to introduce me to his sister. We went downstairs to see if Nancy came home, and when she opened the door, she threw her arms around him and kissed him. I guess she knows his family. Later she told me that his dad is the president of our building, and owns a lot here. She said Juan and his family are very respected, educated, nice, and funniest part, muy rico. (rich). He invited me a few times out since, and has helped me with cabs. He is one of the nicest people I've ever met, and his family is really nice. They speak English well, and his stepdad graduated from USC, so he likes the US.
I also decided to get a new phone because the one I have been using is Fernanda's old one, and it is hard to use. I found the model I wanted, and it was 60$ at Porta or 70$ at Movistar. All I need to do is put my chip in it. I literally went into every Porta and Movistar around, and everyone was out of it. On Friday, I came home, and Nancy was not home yet, so I decided to walk around my area and see if there was a phone place. I found a cute little nail and hair place, and I got a manicure for 4 dollars. The lady was really nice, and it was just me and her. Her husband came in later and they sat and talked to me for a bit because her husband is learning English. They are from the Dominican Republic, and told me to come back soon. The both gave me the traditional Ecuadorian kiss goodbye and I told them I'd be back with friends. People here are very friendly, and I LOVE it. While walking around, I saw a guard of a big political building next to my apartment. I asked him where to buy a new phone, and he directed me to a little storefront half a block away. I walked in and asked for a new phone, and the guy showed me a few phones. They were all used, but really good phones compared to the one I have. I decided on the Motorola Pebble, and bought it. I sat in my building, and transferred my chip to my new phone. There was already a chip in the new phone, but I didn't think much of it and just took it out and replaced it with mine. When Nancy and Lorena returned, I showed her my new phone. She told me is was a "robero phone", meaning it was a stolen phone. I asked how she knew, and apparently, any phone not bought at a Porta or Movistar is robbed. I assumed it was just used, but then she asked if I got a reciept, but I hadn't. Also, I told her it came with a chip inside, and she laughed. It was definitely a phone of someone who had been robbed! That was a funny experience, but at least I have a cheap and nice phone.

Meeting the Familia

Hola¡
Im back. I have had a very busy past few days. I have not been able to write in a while!
I went to a discoteca on Friday, but the wait was so bad. Some friends got in, but some of us were left behind. This is weird for me seeing as I am not used to waiting in such a mob for a bar. A bunch of us ended up meeting some Ecuadorians that go to school in America and were on break so their English was perfect. We took a cab to an awesome bar called Chelsea that had the BEST lighting and drinks.
The next day, Nancy took me to her office. I knew she was a doctor, but it turns out she is a gyno.

Nancy's Office

Wow. She did a sort of medical test where she took a photo of my eyes and it was supposed to tell me what is wrong with each organ. Not sure how accurate it is...
As Nancy was looking at the results, Fernanda, my host sister, and her 8 year old son came, Camillo. Camillo was this little boy that was shaking with excitement and just ran up and threw his arms around me. He doesn't speak english, but Fernanda does a bit and told him what to say. They brought me candy and presents.
For those of you that know me, I am obsessed with Yorkies and want one so bad. Well, sure enough, they brought their Yorkie, Foster. I didn't know they had a dog, but I was really hoping for a family with a dog and a little kid so it was perfect!
I bought them each gifts, and for Camillo, I brought a Bears Jersey and a U of I hat. He was soooo happy.

Camillo with his presents

I brought Fernanda ballet shoes because she does ballet, but unfortunately, they were not the right size. They use different measurements here, so she was mixed up and told me the wrong size.
My friend Grace's host mom just left her alone all day, so I asked Fernanda to pick her up. We all went to a place called TropiBurger which was like an apple store mixed with a nasty McDonalds. There were headphones and music players everywhere and and each table, there was an ipod speaker. Camillo was listening, and Fernanda talked to us for a while.

Fernanda and I waiting to go out

Later that night, Fernanda had something planned for me, and it turned out to be... KARAOKE! We took Grace as well, so the three of us went to the karaoke bar and I picked out some songs, and they picked out others. They did not have many in English, but they happen to have had Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber. I sang Shakira in spanish, and Fernanda sang. She is really really good, and I realized she looks identical to Mila Kunis!

Foster

Camillo got a close up

Some other friends from our program met up with us, but then went across the street. When we wanted to leave, Fernanda said it was too dangerous even to go outside unless we had a guy with us. Our friend Steve came back and got us and we went to another bar where they were playing "REGATONE". Regatone is a mix of Hip-Hop and Reggae, and I happen to really enjoy it!
The next day, Fernanda and Camillo left. They are only living here on weekends! I needed to rest up because my first day of  class was Monday.
I will update/write and upload photos tomorrow from my first few days at the University!
For now,
CIAO

Universidad De San Francisco Quito

¡HOLA!
Today was awesome! It started at 7am. I got up, had coffee and eggs with Nancy, then she walked me to the bus stop and showed me the exact route I need to take to USFQ, where I will be taking classes. We met up with her cousin and Tenzin and took the public transportation bus that reminded me of the subway, but on the street in its own section of the road. We stopped at a station and I thought we were there, but it turned out, we were just transferring to a coach bus. Tenzin and I sat next to each other. The bus does not stop so if you want to get on and off, you must jump on or off- but of course, they come to a full stop for a woman. They are very different towards women here- more about that later.
Anyways, a few vendors jumped on the coach bus to sell things, then walked up and down the aisle and got back off. It was so weird to see that. That bus was about a 15 minute ride, and soooo beautiful. The campus is in the mountains and booming with all sorts of plants, trees, and amazing architecture! I have photos that I will post later. Nancy and her cousin walked us in, and we sat through a long orientation. We had a campus tour, and I couldn´t be more excited!
They talked about politics here, and the current president is an alum of UIUC, so they asked if anyone was from there. Another girl and I raised our hands and he said they all know of U of I.
I met a few other students on the other program, and they live around us in the city. My friend Grace and I went to get lunch and got a giant meal of random things and I still don´t know what they are. We got fresh juices, and bought our first legal beer!
Tonight, a bunch of us are going to the bar area of Quito, I am pumped! We are not allowed to wear dresses though because we will stand out too much-so its all jeans for Quito.
I need to do a lot for tomorrow, so I have to finish writing and upload my photos later this weekend. There is so much to write about, but for now,

CAIO!

First Full Day

Today was a long and interesting day. I set my alarm and was ready to get up and meet everyone on my trip. Unfortunately, my alarm clock was a half hour behind.- no idea how that happened- but I was done getting ready at 8:55 when I thought it was 8:25. I walked out and Nancy was saying ayyy, Dena, RAPIDO RAPIDO. I looked and the breakfast table was set with juices and such. I felt really bad, but we had to leave right away to make it to the bank. At the bank, we all deposited 10$ and then got a deposit slip to take to the immigracion center to get a censo. We all sat and chatted for an hour or so, and then we all went out separate ways. My host mother found her cousin there, who is hosting another student on the program. So my host mom, her secretary Lorena, her cousin, her cousin’s student all packed into a car. We headed to the “centro commercial” mas grande in Ecuador. The biggest mall in Ecuador was very similar to the malls at home, only in Spanish. We went to a cell phone store for the Movister phone. The prices are written with a comma instead of a decimal, so I was so confused. Phones here are very confusing. There are two companies in Ecuador for phones, Movistar or Porta. 

Most people here have a phone from each company. I ended up using one of my host mom’s old phones with a new number.

After that, we went to a food place that had fruit in everything on the menu. We ate “bolon de platano relleno verde con queso” and black coffee. It was really delicious and tasted like nothing I’ve had before.

I had a big backpack with me and my host mom told me NOOO, that is too big. So we went to some store that looked like Macy’s and bought a new purse that is smaller and looks more like the ones people here wear.

After purses, Nancy, Lorena, and I went to yet another place. We pulled up and I wasn’t sure what it was. Apparently, it is a restaurant run by Nancy’s good friend. One of the waiters spoke a bit of English, and talked to me for a bit because he was my age and very nice. We had plantanes, rice, meat, vegatables, lemonade, and bananas for dessert. I didn’t understand Nancy, but I think she was telling me that I needed to finish so I did.

We then went back to another mall to get a map of Quito for my travels tomorrow, and a much needed Spanish-English dictionary. I have no internet in my house, and the phones are strange so it is very hard to communicate with other students or even anyone outside this house. Having no phone or internet is a bit annoying, but I think it will be good for me. 

I am now sitting in the centro de commercial where I can get internet! Yay! 

I have many photos and stories to come!

Arrival

4 AM: Wake up and give my family hugs and kisses.

8AM: Flight leaves Chicago

Noon: Arrive in Miami

3PM: Flight leaves Miami

7PM: Flight arrives in Quito. Customs, Baggage Claim, and Meet with my host family

I walked out of the gate at about 8PM where I saw my name on a red sign. I saw the woman named Nancy who is my new Ecuadorian mother. She was with her secretary, Lorena, and they took me to the car. Nancy, nor her secretary, speak a word of English. When I said hola, me llamo Dena, they were confused. They thought my name was Dana this whole time because the “e” makes an “ay” sound in Spanish. I can only say a few stories and things I had prepared, but other than that, I did not understand them. They were trying to ask me questions on the ride to my new home, but I had no idea what they were saying. After passing a McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, and “Fashion XXI”, we arrived at Edificio ZUKO, my new home base. Fernanda, my new sister, called because she speaks a bit of English. Her 8 year old son Camillo really wanted to talk to me, and he is taking English at his school which is in another town out of Quito. I helped him over the phone as well as I could. He has an English exam tomorrow.

Then Lorena, the secretary of my new mother, left and Nancy and I sat down for dinner. We had el pan con salame (bread with salami spread-I think) and peppers. She made me tea and had very interesting fruits on the table. She called one a tomato, but it didn’t look like an American tomato. She cut it for me and told me to squeeze. I tasted it and it tasted like a bitter tomato. She told me to add sugar to make it “dulce”, but that was not too good. I think they use sugar for a lot here, and they do not have any artificial sweeteners like in the US.

I saw another fruit that was yellow on the outside and very strange. She peeled this one, and it was green on the inside. I thought it was a green orange, but when I looked inside, it was a bunch of seeds that look like pomegranate seeds but green with a clear outer flesh. She told me not to chew, you just suck it up then peel some more. The peel was hard and cracked under your fingers when you peeled it. When the seeds were sucked out, there were these fingerlike looking things- it was the strangest fruit I’ve ever seen, and I LOVED it.

Los garanadillos

After eating an assortment of new foods on the bread, she was trying to tell me something. The language barrier is very challenging for me, but I am glad that I will be with other Americans most of the days. Nancy decided she was going to draw out what she was saying. She was trying to ask me what meat I eat. She drew out a pig and cow and I would say the English word and she would say “Si si“! She also explained a lot that went right over my head. I told her that I was going to get way better, and she told me that by the end of the month I will speak very fast. When I told her I didn’t understand something, she would say “I’ll tell you again in 2 weeks” and for the rest of the night, she would say “dos semanas”. She made everything in her apartment a Spanish practice. We practiced for 2 hours.

I unpacked and now I am going to sleep because I have to be up at 7:30 to go the “El Banco Internacional” to get my student visa and consensus form.

Getting Ready to Leave

Got my Visa!
I am leaving on January 5th. I can't wait! I fly from Chicago to Miami to Quito, Ecuador where I will meet up with my host family.
I got my assigned host family and have been talking with them. I will be living with a doctor named Nancy, her daughter Fernanda, who is 35, and Fernanda's son Camillo who is 8! They seem like such amazing people who share so many of my interests! They already have so much planned for me!
They do not speak much English, so this will be a cool challenge!

I am in the process of packing, so we'll see how this goes.

2 bags for 5.5 months
This may be my toughest packing job yet.