The anticipation is over...

Well friends, it’s currently raining, so I guess now is as good of time as ever to get this promised blog started... It’s only been three days, but I have a lot to share. In an effort to actually enjoy updating this blog I am going to avoid any and all revisions, be they grammatical, punctual, spelling, vocabulary, or whatever other crap you English majors care about. It will also probably read much the same way as I talk, so if you’re sick of my rambling, my only advice would be to stop reading, because I do not anticipate my brain will be functioning any more efficiently any time soon. That being said, here goes…

I left Wisconsin and my mom after a moderately tearful goodbye early Thursday morning and set off for what I anticipated to be an extremely stressful day. I was very nervous - not about flying or crashing or anything thing like that – no, it was exponentially more likely that I was going to fall down, get lost, or miss my plane in between flights, especially since I was connecting in O’Hare and Atlanta. But my fears were quickly dissolved, unlike the poor kid sitting across from me from Chicago to Atlanta. As soon I sat down I heard him say that he hated flying and I noted his white knuckled kung-fu grip on the arm rests despite the fact that people were still boarding. During take-off and landing, I don’t think he could have possibly talked any faster to anyone who would listen. I know it’s physiologically impossible, but I don’t think he was even breathing. I don’t even know how he was processing his own thoughts that fast. But no worries Jenna Becker, this kid could take you in speed, but you’ve got him beat in volume, no contest.

Saying goodbye to everything familiar

I arrived in Quito around 11pm that night in one piece with all my luggage (I thought for sure that since I survived the day, there was no way my suitcase was going to make it there too – pessimism at its finest). Immigration was a breeze and my host mom, Betty Cevallos (approx. age 60) and her daughter María Fernanda (approx. 28) who lives with her, were waiting for me. Note my use of approximations as I’m pretty sure it’s universally inappropriate to ask a woman her age. They apologized immensely for the rain and crappy weather and I’m pretty sure they still don’t believe me when I tell them I’m not cold (it’s been mid 60s since I arrived – not much different than the freakish weather in wisco right now). They drove me back to their home, an apartment on the 11^th floor of their building and I could have sworn that cute little old woman was Jeff Gordon. Actually I’m pretty sure everyone on the road here drives for NASCAR. There may or may not be speed limits, or traffic rules in general and I still can’t believe we didn’t see at least a hundred accidents in the 20 minute drive from the airport to the apartment. The guard is the cutest old man, probably useless in the event of an actually break-in, but cute none the less. He always talks to me, but he has really thick accent so I really never know what he’s saying to me. But like I said, cute.  Their home is simple and modest but practical and functional and I have my own room and Internet in the apartment was a welcomed surprise.

The view from my living room window

Excuse the clouds  - like I said, it's raining

In the morning, after a breakfast of fruit, yogurt, bread, and cheese, mi mama and María Fernanda took me to Cumbayá, a suburb of Quito where the university that I will attend (Universidad San Francisco de Quito) is located. Cumbayá has drawn many middle and upper class families from Quito, boosting the local economy and the wealth is evident in the homes and the many private schools. Cumbayá is also the home of the hospital where Betty’s other daughter María Carla works as a doctor and where Betty’s father, abuelito as he is better known, is currently hospitalized. We stopped at the hospital for a quick visit before we went to USFQ. Never have I felt so much love in one room – love for eachother, and genuine love for me, basically a stranger to these people. Abuelito and his wife were beyond precious. When he didn’t want to finish his breakfast, she told him he’d better be careful or his girlfriend would leave him for a gordito. María Carla was there as well, visiting on her break, and she is as kind as the rest of her family. Betty’s sister was there with her husband who is a great man, full of affection and enthusiasm who introduced himself as my uncle and then, as well as the two occasions I have seen him since, he calls me “mi sobrina”. They are a lively bunch to put it mildly, and so many loud conversations going on at once was definitely overwhelming, but their humor and good will would have been obvious had I not spoken a word of Spanish. They were all extremely patient and kind and encouraged my participation in the conversation which quickly put me at ease. After an exchange of hugs and kisses with everyone (Mattie Appleman), we left for the university. The campus is seriously so beautiful it hurts. Stay tuned for pics but if you really can’t wait – google it. And then seriously consider taking up a hobby. They took me out for lunch in Cumbayá before we returned to Quito where we chatted for a bit over tea. Then Betty and I were off again to learn how to ride the bus. It costs a quarter which is pretty legit (they use US currency here which has proved extremely convenient) but I have to take two buses to school and it takes close to an hour. No more rolling outta bed 15 minutes before class for this girl. Oh, and everyone dresses super nice here. Always. So I’m definitely going to have to start showering regularly and resist the urge to wear my pajamas to class. I’m sure I’ll adjust eventually, at least more quickly to that than to the other custom I discovered upon returning home from our two hour bus excursion. Apparently they don’t eat dinner here. Instead, a large lunch is eaten midday and each evening, coffee and bread is the norm. That will take some getting used to. Around 7, mi mama and María Fernanda went to meet María Carla and invited me to join. I declined, feeling exhausted from the day and a little homesick. After they left, I sent a few emails and crept on facebook to feel a little closer to home (aside from the obvious 3000 mile physical separation), read for a while, and went to bed.

Saturday, María Carla was scheduled to perform an operation at the hospital, so her two children, Martin (7) and Paula Isabella (2) spent the day with Betty and I (María Fernanda teaches English at the University in Quito during the week and takes classes (about teaching English) on the weekends). Betty, the kiddos, and I spent the day at the park very near the apartment which is absolutely huge – we walked for two hours and didn’t make it through the whole thing! There were easily hundreds of people playing soccer – 5 year olds to legitimate athletes to old men, playground equipment, a place to rent boats, multiple biking/running paths, and vendors of all kinds. The kids insisted on buying chifles which are sliced green bananas, fried and like anything friend, they’re fantastic. Martin took great interest in the fact that I will be going to the Galapagos and when we returned to the house we spent a solid hour looking through my textbook, identifying all the different animals. He provided the Spanish, and I the English. He also gave me a children’s magazine about the Galapagos to borrow J He is adorable and I would very much like to keep him (Sean Statz). After lunch, they crashed and I left to meet up with one of the girls from UW. It was such a relief to speak English. I was really feeling the effects of the strain speaking Spanish all day was having on my brain. The last two days, I needed to constantly be making a conscious effect to listen, process, form thoughts, and speak. Nothing was easy. From the moment I woke up, I needed to be on my game and I was seriously fatigued. We grabbed coffee down the street from my apartment and swapped stories and for lack of a better word, it was great. Later that evening, after my classmate and I parted ways, I was feeling a little homesick again and because I couldn’t access hulu or anything like that I ventured downstairs to the less than legitimate DVD store in my building and bought UP for $1.50 – a pretty cheap remedy I’d say. After that sleep came easily. I’m a little surprised my host family haven’t said anything about my snoring now that I think about it…

Yikes, this is getting lengthy. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Well I’m sick of writing as I’m sure you’re sick of reading. So you will all have to wait until to tomorrow to hear about my adventure to al centro and my first day of class! Ciao!