I've survived my first week! From orientations and campus tours to 25cent bus rides, I've experienced so much in this first week that it's felt like a month.
This study abroad is so different than living in Nepal. Firstly, I feel much more independent. I've got to figure it out on my own. Even though I'm in a group of other American students that also need to "figure it out" it's been more about me discovering things and taking initiative to really not waste any moments while here in Quito. I don't have the lovely Riju and Sagar to show me around and take me to the shops and drive me on motorbikes (I MISS YOU GUYS!). I've really been exploring on my own.
I can't waste any time because we're only in Quito for one month! One month may seem like a long time, but when we have a 9-day field trip along the coast of Ecuador and only two weekends here, I'm sure the time will fly by.
My experiences so far:
- picking fruits from our backyard garden
- meeting almost all of my host-family's family, including a grandson who is my age.
- so many kisses on the cheek.
- going out on Saturday night and meeting his friends
- discovering Quito and Carolina park
- sharing thoughts with Susan, a good friend from Virginia Tech who is also here! It helps to be comfortable with someone.
- listening to my host-dad play piano (all transposed by ear)
- eating at the delicious dining halls on campus
- bicycling 20km through the countryside on the Chaquinan Trail
- figuring out the bus system
- getting really excited about marine biology and this semester!
And as the President of our university said,
"Don't go to class. Live Ecuador."
And now for some photos:
Front-view of my house in Cumbaya, a suburb-type of Quito.
Backyard garden: Even for Ecuadorian standards, this is a large garden.
And so many fruit trees! mandarinas, naranjas, avocados, limes, lemons, and the list goes on...
An afternoon snack.
