I can take hot showers, drink tap water, and (almost) everyone speaks English - I must be back in the States.
There's a lot that I have taken for granted. And I'm really happy that going to Ecuador made me realize that. It really makes me appreciate the little, simple things that I have here at home. Like being able to eat salad without fear of bloody diarrhea, for one thing.
And as much as it was annoying at first, I think island life on the Galapagos taught me what's important. Mainly, that nothing is really worth stressing out over. And perhaps that mantra only works in the isolated community of San Cristobal, where equatorial sun and sea breezes have an ever-present calming effect. Yet, I'm ready to try to incorporate that idea of a relaxed, friendly, Bob Marley-esque philosophy into my every-day interactions.
"Everyone, just chill," is pretty much what I'll be saying for the next few months.
Unexpectedly, readjusting to being back is a bit harder then I would've thought. I would say it's just slightly less difficult than it was to adjust to living in Ecuador. Rather than everyday being filled with constant learning and exploring, I'm spending the first few days here remembering everything, like how to drive a car and speak in English. And they're two very different states of being and both equally exhausting.
Nevertheless, I'm so glad to be back. I'll miss Ecuador for sure, but there's so much to look forward to (school and studying abroad again) that I can't just reminisce about the past.
7.17.2009
7.13.2009
la vida
Oh man oh man, Ecuador. What would I have done without you??
Nothing nearly as awesome, that's for sure.
And it's not like I'd be able to see blue footed boobies any where else. Now that made it all worth it.
It has been a dream come true to come here and I can't believe it'll soon be over (two days!).
Today I was at the super market here, MegaMaxi, and I started getting emotional in the produce isle. I've fallen in love with all the exotic fruit here and realizing I wouldn't be able to have them again was an instantly crushing feeling.
I'll miss it all. The perfumy maracuya, or the oddly sweet flesh of cactus fruit, even the all too tomato-y tamarillo will hold special palce in my memory.
Every meal my host mom serves me a glass of fresh fruit juice and each time it's the most amazing juice I've ever had in my life. I'll never be able to enjoy fruit in the States the same way again. Even the bananas are better here. How? I have no idea. All I know is when it comes to some things, Ecuador really does it right.
Whether it's a particularly delicious blend of juice in the morning or being able to watch the sunset on the beach after class, all I know is I'm really going to miss the day-to-day things.
If only I could bring a baby sea lion home with me then I think I'd have a much easier time saying goodbye.
Nothing nearly as awesome, that's for sure.
And it's not like I'd be able to see blue footed boobies any where else. Now that made it all worth it.
It has been a dream come true to come here and I can't believe it'll soon be over (two days!).
Today I was at the super market here, MegaMaxi, and I started getting emotional in the produce isle. I've fallen in love with all the exotic fruit here and realizing I wouldn't be able to have them again was an instantly crushing feeling.
I'll miss it all. The perfumy maracuya, or the oddly sweet flesh of cactus fruit, even the all too tomato-y tamarillo will hold special palce in my memory.
Every meal my host mom serves me a glass of fresh fruit juice and each time it's the most amazing juice I've ever had in my life. I'll never be able to enjoy fruit in the States the same way again. Even the bananas are better here. How? I have no idea. All I know is when it comes to some things, Ecuador really does it right.
Whether it's a particularly delicious blend of juice in the morning or being able to watch the sunset on the beach after class, all I know is I'm really going to miss the day-to-day things.
If only I could bring a baby sea lion home with me then I think I'd have a much easier time saying goodbye.
7.12.2009
engrish
Saw this at my favorite cafe in the Galapagos today:
....for those days when digesting it yourself is not enough.
....for those days when digesting it yourself is not enough.
7.06.2009
mobile home
Maybe there's a reason I shouldn't study abroad. And I think it's because I don't need a home. Like a hermit crab, I'm pretty comfortable bringing my life along where ever I go. 
Perhaps my parents were right about being scared and not letting me go to school in Paris - because I would probably never come back. Though I don't think it would've been France that kept me away considering I consider Rochester my home now, which is pretty much as far away from Portland as you can get while still being in the U.S.
Moving to Rochester satisfied my travel urge for a bit, but now I'm in in Ecuador and it's hitting hard core again.
(tentative) Life plan for now:
Should I go to Amsterdam to study progressive social and environmental policies?
Or New Zealand for a look at South Pacific culture and ecosystems?
Perhaps South Africa or Thailand to do field work with grassroots organizations regarding sustainable development?
Or even yet, Vietnam for a chance to explore my heritage and learn the language I was never taught?
As you can see, I'm having a really hard time deciding. Luckily, I have about 6 months to figure it out.
Decisions decisions.
Perhaps my parents were right about being scared and not letting me go to school in Paris - because I would probably never come back. Though I don't think it would've been France that kept me away considering I consider Rochester my home now, which is pretty much as far away from Portland as you can get while still being in the U.S.
Moving to Rochester satisfied my travel urge for a bit, but now I'm in in Ecuador and it's hitting hard core again.
(tentative) Life plan for now:
- Finish up here in Ecuador and go back for the summer, splitting my time between Portland and Rochester.
- Fall 09 at Rochester.
- Spring 2010 = semester at sea, which I'm going to apply for once I get home. This is a pretty much non negotiable plan, since it has been my dream since I was 15.
- Summer '10 in Rochester for summer class.
- Fall '10 abroad again*
- Spring '11 = graduation.
- after that? we'll see.
Should I go to Amsterdam to study progressive social and environmental policies?
Or New Zealand for a look at South Pacific culture and ecosystems?
Perhaps South Africa or Thailand to do field work with grassroots organizations regarding sustainable development?
Or even yet, Vietnam for a chance to explore my heritage and learn the language I was never taught?
As you can see, I'm having a really hard time deciding. Luckily, I have about 6 months to figure it out.
Decisions decisions.
7.04.2009
Island Life
Living here on San Cristobal is interesting. It's full of excitement, yet I'm quickly beginning to realize the real pace of living on an island of just 8,000 people.
First of all, the way of life here is way relaxed, which is both fantastic and annoying. It's aggravating in the sense that shops close and open at whim, people are almost always late or never show up at all, and they don't really take things seriously here. For instance, I was locked out of my host family's house at 1AM and when I called the program coordinator all she said to me was "Well, that's too bad. Don't worry, in a week you'll think it's funny."
But on the other side, it's so nice to be in a place where people really take the time to enjoy what each day has to offer. I've noticed that despite the small amount of people, it's really easy to make friends here. Life is slower and relaxed and there's really no need to stress out because if something doesn't happen today then there's always tomorrow.
I've decided that even though island life isn't for me, it's definitely a much needed hiatus from the hyper-busyness of my life back home. Although, the fact that we're cramming in a semester's worth of class work into three weeks is something that slightly dampens my relaxing time.
Waking up every day and getting to know the Galapagos a little bit better is unreal and I'll miss it for sure. With only about a week left (!!), I'm already feeling separation anxiety from what will probably be one of the best times of my life.
Can't wait to go home and I don't want to leave.
First of all, the way of life here is way relaxed, which is both fantastic and annoying. It's aggravating in the sense that shops close and open at whim, people are almost always late or never show up at all, and they don't really take things seriously here. For instance, I was locked out of my host family's house at 1AM and when I called the program coordinator all she said to me was "Well, that's too bad. Don't worry, in a week you'll think it's funny."
But on the other side, it's so nice to be in a place where people really take the time to enjoy what each day has to offer. I've noticed that despite the small amount of people, it's really easy to make friends here. Life is slower and relaxed and there's really no need to stress out because if something doesn't happen today then there's always tomorrow.
I've decided that even though island life isn't for me, it's definitely a much needed hiatus from the hyper-busyness of my life back home. Although, the fact that we're cramming in a semester's worth of class work into three weeks is something that slightly dampens my relaxing time.
Waking up every day and getting to know the Galapagos a little bit better is unreal and I'll miss it for sure. With only about a week left (!!), I'm already feeling separation anxiety from what will probably be one of the best times of my life.
Can't wait to go home and I don't want to leave.
6.27.2009
Galap-amazing
Hello, from the Galapagos Islands!
Well, we've finally arrived to GAIAS (Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences), which is a satellite school of USFQ and where we'll be taking a marine ecology and conservation class for the next two weeks.
We've actually been here in the archipelago for a week now but we've spent the first part of the trip touring the different islands. And with pretty limited internet availability coupled with complete exhaustion = no time for updating. It was a pretty crazy week full of hiking, snorkeling, boat rides, and learning to play ecuadorian volleyball (aka who can talk the most trash about the other team).
Needless to say, it was an exhausting whirlwind tour of the islands and I'm glad to settle down once again.
I'm living with another host family here which is a mom and a teenage daughter. They are really nice and laid back, as it most of the island. We're on San Cristobal, which has a population of about 5,000 I think. It's the picturesque island culture where people show up an hour late to events and everyone leaves their front doors unlocked and open. It's so much different from Quito, where I feel like I have to constantly look over my shoulder and need to open 5 different locks to get into my house.
I really like it here so far and life is good.
Well, the ocean is calling and the sea lions are playing, so I'm off to the beach right now. Summer school is such a drag!
Well, we've finally arrived to GAIAS (Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences), which is a satellite school of USFQ and where we'll be taking a marine ecology and conservation class for the next two weeks.
We've actually been here in the archipelago for a week now but we've spent the first part of the trip touring the different islands. And with pretty limited internet availability coupled with complete exhaustion = no time for updating. It was a pretty crazy week full of hiking, snorkeling, boat rides, and learning to play ecuadorian volleyball (aka who can talk the most trash about the other team).
Needless to say, it was an exhausting whirlwind tour of the islands and I'm glad to settle down once again.
I'm living with another host family here which is a mom and a teenage daughter. They are really nice and laid back, as it most of the island. We're on San Cristobal, which has a population of about 5,000 I think. It's the picturesque island culture where people show up an hour late to events and everyone leaves their front doors unlocked and open. It's so much different from Quito, where I feel like I have to constantly look over my shoulder and need to open 5 different locks to get into my house.
I really like it here so far and life is good.
Well, the ocean is calling and the sea lions are playing, so I'm off to the beach right now. Summer school is such a drag!
6.19.2009
Best part
Omg I don't even have the time to put up all my Amazon jungle posts.
Expect things to start coming retroactively, as we're so busy here that it's getting difficult to stay up to date.
Today we visited the Cloud Forest of Bellavista. The forests is known for it's amazing diversity of orchids and birds, specifically hummingbirds. So pretty much two of my favorite things all in one place.
It was absolutely beautiful. Despite my camera battery dying before I could get any hummingbird pictures, it was another awesome day. Hiking through the forest, wading up the river and swimming in a waterfall, does it get much better than this?
Well, it actually just might.
We're leaving for the Galapagos tomorrow!
So when I applied for the program back in March, the Galapagos trip was originally supposed to be just a 5 day field-trip. Then we got the final mailing and it turns out we'll be actually living there - for three weeks! omgfuckingshit, I had a heart attack when I found that out. Not only will we be taking classes at the GAIAS institute, but for the first week we'll be touring the islands on a charter boat. Snorkeling, island hoping, and getting up close and personal with toritoises. How sweet!
The only thing I'm nervous about is I'll be getting a new host family while I'm there. I've just gotten really comfortable with my family here in Quito, and now I'll have to readjust. But, it's a small price to pay for such an amazing adventure!
I can't believe I'm leaving tomorrow!!!
My next post will be from the Galapagosssssssssss
Expect things to start coming retroactively, as we're so busy here that it's getting difficult to stay up to date.
Today we visited the Cloud Forest of Bellavista. The forests is known for it's amazing diversity of orchids and birds, specifically hummingbirds. So pretty much two of my favorite things all in one place.
It was absolutely beautiful. Despite my camera battery dying before I could get any hummingbird pictures, it was another awesome day. Hiking through the forest, wading up the river and swimming in a waterfall, does it get much better than this?
Well, it actually just might.
We're leaving for the Galapagos tomorrow!
So when I applied for the program back in March, the Galapagos trip was originally supposed to be just a 5 day field-trip. Then we got the final mailing and it turns out we'll be actually living there - for three weeks! omgfuckingshit, I had a heart attack when I found that out. Not only will we be taking classes at the GAIAS institute, but for the first week we'll be touring the islands on a charter boat. Snorkeling, island hoping, and getting up close and personal with toritoises. How sweet!
The only thing I'm nervous about is I'll be getting a new host family while I'm there. I've just gotten really comfortable with my family here in Quito, and now I'll have to readjust. But, it's a small price to pay for such an amazing adventure!
I can't believe I'm leaving tomorrow!!!
My next post will be from the Galapagosssssssssss
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