So I am back in the United States after a twelve hour plane journey from Quito to Chicago I was picked up from the airport by the lovely Kendal Ann (Cupcake) and my mom.  I found my self stuttering with English and thanking the people that got me through customs in Spanish.  It is always great to come home, but weird at the same time.  I had a really wonderful experience abroad.  I am most proud of my language improvement and my academic work,  this study abroad program has advantages [...]

Yes, 7 days left of my 6 months abroad!  I am currently back in Quito taking a break from writing my final term project.  Last week was a whirlwind of feelings, celebrations, and fun.  There was a big celebration at school on Friday to send me off.  I was showered in flowers, dancing, and many thanks.  I had a great experience teaching at Nazacota Puento and learned a lot about teaching in rural areas.  I know that my experience has helped me identify a lot of my strengths and weaknesses [...]

Many weeks have passed here in Cotacachi.  I have spent a lot of time with family, friends and students.  I have exactly three weeks left in Ecuador, one full week here in Cotacachi and two more in Quito.  My English classes have been getting better with every class and with every name I remember of my students.  I have enjoyed classes with sixth, eighth and ninth grades the most, but have also had fun moments with the three year olds and the younger grades as well.  I have been trying to keep track of my [...]

I have been living in Cotacachi for about a week now and it has been wonderful.  My new family is welcoming, loving and a lot of fun.  I live with a family of five, six total counting me.  Mom-Marcia, Dad-Victor, Brother-Santiago 19, Sister-Jose 13, and Brother-Gabriel 11.  Marcia and I go everywhere together; work, home, the gym, and we even go out together!  So far the hardest adjustment has been getting used to turning on the water outside to use the bathroom, or just knowing that the water isn’t there at all.  Cotacachi is a [...]

Today I find myself in the middle of the last Saturday in Quito before I start a six-week internship on Monday!  I have enjoyed my time in here, but I am ready to say chau, hasta luego!  For I know it will be all too soon when I am back in Quito on a Saturday preparing for my flight home. On Monday, I am moving to Cotocachi, north of Quito by about 2 hours and about 20 minutes away from one of the world’s biggest artisan markets in Otovalo.  I will be living [...]

I am sitting in my room writing an analysis about a short story called “la vuelta” or “the return,” it is a very abstract story and I need to write my final Spanish paper on it…  Its about 9 pages long and has a lot of colloquial language… goodness!  Anyway, so I was trying to finish this paper, and was longingly looking outside at the mountains that surround this valley city and saw this amazing sunset!   It passed within about five minutes, as I type this now the lights of the [...]

Yes.. I am procrastinating, those who know me know how hard this is for me!  Anyway, I’m supposed to be writing a report about the educational trip we took within the education track this past week… but I just got back from spending a night and two days with one of my professors in his small farming community and would rather write about that. My professor Luis lives in Pacilqui (i think thats how it is spelled), in the province of Malchinquí (I know thats how it is spelled) in [...]

It has been a while!!  I have been busy and been traveling!  Since the new program started I have read many articles about Ecuador, globalization, westernization, the Andean cosmovision, education, the new constitution, and so much more.  I wrote a group paper, and spent great time with amazing people. As a big group of gringos we travel to communities who are working to sustain their indigenous cultures, cultivate their land, offer everything and more to their youth, and contribute to the world or larger community market.  First we visited a rose plantation, which is [...]

The semester has started!  And along with it came 24 wonderful amazing new people!  We are now a strong group of 26 women and 3 young men.  That’s a lot of estrogen!!  As I walked into the auditorium this past Tuesday which is usually empty, I was confronted with 24 new people and a collective anxious and proud energy.  As the week went on I kept switching from staying in the background and watching quietly, to interacting and telling jokes and stories in English and Spanish.  This past weekend we [...]

One month down and one semester to go! Tomorrow I finish my first month of classes in Ecuador!  I can’t believe how fast this is going!  I have a final exam tomorrow and then need to finish reading that huge packet of articles over our 5-day weekend.  I am going to find a conservatory to practice voice on Thursday and then going to have a fantastic workout at the gym and get my censo (id card for residents who are non-Ecuadorian). Below is a picture of the lunch I eat almost everyday: Ingredients: [...]

This is a gigantic city! The cab drivers on one side don’t know where streets are on the other! I am getting used to using the bus system, the buses are easy to take and are cheap, but knowing where you want to go and what bus to take is a completely different thing! I am learning slowly but surely.  My school is amazing, I never ever would have dreamed of what my school looks like, my apartment too by that matter.  I live with two twin 12-year-old sisters and a [...]

I arrived in Quito, Ecuador yesterday and was picked up by my awesome and beautiful friend Mari Ayali and her family!  Thank you so much!!  We went out to eat lunch right away and all shared a gigantic plate of seafood!  It was so fresh and tasted delicious; I even at the octopus, yummy!!  After we stuffed ourselves we drove around the city a bit to pick up some bread and cookies (those were for later :)) and went to their house.   I will meet my host family and [...]

!Bienvenidos! This is the start of my first blog!  I will try to update as often as possible with pictures, stories, notes, and whatever else inspires me. I hope you enjoy reading and sharing in my experiences! I have been traveling to Guatemala for a teaching assistant position with an organization called Safe Passage (Camino Seguro). Go to their website and check out this awesome organization!  www.safepassage.org  Their mission is to create opportunities and foster dignity through the power of education! Then on to Ecuador, where I will be studying abroad [...]