So to explain my previous blog as best I can, without breaching confidentiality, I was essentially assigned to bust up a prostitution ring as part of my internship. That's really all I can say, but I assure you it's one of those instances where the real story is even better than anything you can create in your imagination. Fortunately(?) it got postponed until next week, so I haven't been 'taken' yet. Other than that little snag my internship is still going great! I'm still working primarily in the same room and I love the teacher I work with. It's so weird though, the difference between Monday and Wednesday, because after a weekend at home, with less rules, the kids return as MONSTERS on Mondays. They are the most horrifying, adorable, terrors in the world. I admire my teacher sooooo much. She is the most patient person in the entire universe.
School... well last week & this week the flu has been going around among the kids at my internship. So naturally, because I have the immune system of a premature baby I got it. I feel totally fine now but last week I was just tired and.. blah all of the time. THEREFORE, I thought I had a legitimate excuse to skip jewelry-making, even though it was sort of giving me an anxiety attack. I thought he would be really evil but I sort of had a stroke of luck. Yesterday there was a car accident and he was really late for class so everybody wrote their name on a list and left. BUT then he called me (as I was peeing in the bathroom) because he has my number from when I had to buy all of the supplies for the class and was like "where is everyone" etc etc. So I went back to class because he's psycho but because I was the only one there he was really nice to me and I got a lot done! For the next 2 weeks in Spanish class we have a substitute and she's Cuban and I can't understand anything she says which is hard, but that's about as exciting as that class is right now. I have my first essay due tomorrow (3 pages) but still don't have the rubric sooooo we'll see how that works out.
Yesterday I skipped aerobics to go for "a beer" with Carlos. I've decided, even though I love aerobics, that having that break for socializing is a lot more important. I feel like I don't talk to anyone all day when I just go from class to class to class TO CLASS. So anyway, I drank a liter and a half of beer, at 10am, and then had to go to my leadership class. It was awful/hilarious. However, on the bright (most likely humiliating as well) side I was volunteering to speak in Spanish in front of my entire Ecuadorian class. Definitely more humiliating, but luckily my memory is a little foggy. And tomorrow we're doing it again- yay!
Friday morning- Saturday night Liz, Lily, Andres, and I went to Mindo. It was really nice to get away because I hadn't really traveled in a while. Mindo is about 2 and a half hours away and supposedly gets pretty packed during vacation times but it was very relaxed when we were there. The first day we went ziplining and made "friends" with the guides. So later they met us in the town square where we were drinking rum and coke (only in Ecuador). So we went dancing, well I went jumping or whatever, and then they took us to go ziplining at like 1am! It was SO awesome in the dark! The one guy turned out to be a total creep/stalker though, seriously. My latest text message from today (after about 10 unreturned phone calls and 20 messages) said (in Spanish so it's even creepier sounding) "I would really like to go to the movies with you. I insist, even if I have to find you." So. I'm a little scared.
The next morning we had breakfast and I had my first cup of coffee!!! I literally mixed it half and half with milk and coffee and probably put enough sugar in it to kill a small child, but I would even go so far as to say I liked it. Then we went to this butterfly and hummingbird conservatory. It was beautiful! They are supposed to have really nice orchids too but I don't think they were in season. After that we took this cable car across a giant ravine to walk to these waterfalls. It was supposed to take 45 minutes, 30 if you're fast... well it felt like we were running but it took us over an hour. Must be Ecua-time. We reached this little waterfall and were all trying to pretend we weren't incredibly disappointed but then I spotted these natural steps that led to the most breathtaking waterfall ever. I had to stop myself from taking pictures because there was really no way to capture it. It was just this cavern/paradise...ahhh. I just had to.. soak it in. After a late lunch we caught the last bus back to Quito and all passed out.
Sunday I pretended to do homework and hung out with my family. Today I got my tattoo finally and while I agree I've felt better, the ribs weren't THAT terrible. My tattoo artist was awesome though. I'm debating getting another just to go talk to him again. Oh! I had the most crazy 'it's a small world moment.' So he is from Ecuador. When he was 18 he moved to NYC for school and then started tattooing in Philly. I was like "Omg I'm from Reading." Then he was like oh "So you've heard of Pottstown? I lived there for about 5 years." Whaaaaattt. That is bizarre. Bizarre.
This weekend is a FREE music festival in the park called Quitofest (http://www.quitofest.com/ --if you're interested). Friday has psycho bands like Dying Fetus and Lamb of God, but I'm DEFINITELY going Saturday. I'm really excited :) Oh last night mom finally booked the tickets and her and Johnnie are really coming!- for 8 days over Thanksgiving, so now I have to start making our itinerary! Well I guess I have some time actually... Also, in exactly 4 weeks I go to the Galapagos!
I know I say this every time but I'm really going to start blogging more. The week nights just turn into a blur after a while.
Ciao!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
I am so lazy.
Lalalalalala what happened last week? Monday, Wednesday, & Friday I have my internship, and working with children with learning disabilities is definitely not something that can be done hungover or tired, so I can't really go out during the week at all. Melany, the 2 year old I am in love with has really started to come out of her shell. It's amazing how much personality someone can show when they can't talk. She has started sticking her tongue out in retaliation a lot, but I told her next time she did it I was going to take it. Haha. She is terrified of me. Yesterday she started to stick it out and her eyes almost popped out of her head.
I love working with all of them, but I am definitely doing more teaching/babysitting/occupational therapy... not really social work, definitely not the administrative part anyway, but that's fine. It's just so awesome how they've all opened up to me. There is another girl in the class I always sort of felt hated me, but now I have to force her to stop hugging me and do her work. I lovvvvve them all. The teacher in my classroom is also really great. She involves me a lot... maybe too much in fact, because the second she leaves to get coffee (which mysteriously takes 20 minutes) all of the kids go crazy. I literally have to stand in front of the door and beg/physically force them into their seats. But I definitely can't complain that I'm not getting enough responsibility. She also asks me a lot of questions about my studies, project, etc so it really helps with my Spanish.
Oh but one morning I worked in a different classroom for another hour just to see what it was like. It was horrifying. There is a boy in the class with Down Syndrome and EXTREME hyper activity. But whenever he won't listen and gets out of his seat the teacher threatens him with food. She literally takes out his lunchbox and starts giving all of his food to the other kids and is just like "Oh Stephen doesn't want to eat today." Ah it's so messed up, for the other kids too, because then they never actually get to keep the food she gives them.
What else. Wednesday I went to see the sketch for my tattoo and I LOVVVVVEEEEEEE IT! I'm waiting to find out when I can schedule the appointment but I want it like...now. Surprisingly, both of my moms really like it too. Well as a drawing at least, maybe not as a tattoo. Afterwards, Liz and I walked around and got ice cream at the best ice cream place in the world.
Thursday I was the only person who got to start making jewelry in our whole class! [But today I messed up and am starting over on Thursday haha] I think Thursday night Lily and Liz came over to watch a movie... oh yeah we watched Yo Robot. Friday I had my internship, tried to work on grad school applications, and then we went out to La Mariscal. We went to Strawberry Fields Forever, this bar where every drink is a Beatles song and there is paraphernalia all over the walls. It was cool but pretty much all tourists. At like 3am I had the best cheeseburger I have had since I've been here... or it certainly seemed so at the time. It was from a fast food joint named G-Spot. Hmm.
Saturday Liz and I went shopping and then at night we had a tour of the Historical Center with our program. The Historical Center is the really colonial looking part of Quito. It's beautiful and there's a lot to do at night. We had an actor, "el diablo," give the tour throughout different churches and sites in the center. After that we just walked around, shopping and eating. Sunday (early) morning some of the people from our group went to South Quito, which is the more poor "dangerous" part of the city. We did a tour and then volunteered in a daycare center for a few hours. The parents were there and we did a lot of activities together, which again was really cool because I used a lot of Spanish. We had arts & crafts together and made these AWESOME/hideous visors and had lunch together.
Other randomness: My leadership teacher told me he PREFERS my papers in English so that my ideas will be more developed. Score. Oh, strangely enough samples are really big here and in the super market this weekend they were giving out these things: crackers with dulce de leche, which is almost like a caramel spread, and mozzarella cheese on top. It is DELICIOUS. I don't know how but the flavors really work. I'm salivating just thinking about it.
Milk here doesn't need refrigerated. It scares me.
Last night I watched Johnnie do a back TUCK via skype :)
Ok I need to go stress over grad school applications or my honors project now. For those who are wondering I am applying to 3-4 of the following schools:
Columbia
Boston College
Temple
UMD
University of Texas- Austin
University of Denver
I've been here for over 2 months already :O
I love working with all of them, but I am definitely doing more teaching/babysitting/occupational therapy... not really social work, definitely not the administrative part anyway, but that's fine. It's just so awesome how they've all opened up to me. There is another girl in the class I always sort of felt hated me, but now I have to force her to stop hugging me and do her work. I lovvvvve them all. The teacher in my classroom is also really great. She involves me a lot... maybe too much in fact, because the second she leaves to get coffee (which mysteriously takes 20 minutes) all of the kids go crazy. I literally have to stand in front of the door and beg/physically force them into their seats. But I definitely can't complain that I'm not getting enough responsibility. She also asks me a lot of questions about my studies, project, etc so it really helps with my Spanish.
Oh but one morning I worked in a different classroom for another hour just to see what it was like. It was horrifying. There is a boy in the class with Down Syndrome and EXTREME hyper activity. But whenever he won't listen and gets out of his seat the teacher threatens him with food. She literally takes out his lunchbox and starts giving all of his food to the other kids and is just like "Oh Stephen doesn't want to eat today." Ah it's so messed up, for the other kids too, because then they never actually get to keep the food she gives them.
What else. Wednesday I went to see the sketch for my tattoo and I LOVVVVVEEEEEEE IT! I'm waiting to find out when I can schedule the appointment but I want it like...now. Surprisingly, both of my moms really like it too. Well as a drawing at least, maybe not as a tattoo. Afterwards, Liz and I walked around and got ice cream at the best ice cream place in the world.
Thursday I was the only person who got to start making jewelry in our whole class! [But today I messed up and am starting over on Thursday haha] I think Thursday night Lily and Liz came over to watch a movie... oh yeah we watched Yo Robot. Friday I had my internship, tried to work on grad school applications, and then we went out to La Mariscal. We went to Strawberry Fields Forever, this bar where every drink is a Beatles song and there is paraphernalia all over the walls. It was cool but pretty much all tourists. At like 3am I had the best cheeseburger I have had since I've been here... or it certainly seemed so at the time. It was from a fast food joint named G-Spot. Hmm.
Saturday Liz and I went shopping and then at night we had a tour of the Historical Center with our program. The Historical Center is the really colonial looking part of Quito. It's beautiful and there's a lot to do at night. We had an actor, "el diablo," give the tour throughout different churches and sites in the center. After that we just walked around, shopping and eating. Sunday (early) morning some of the people from our group went to South Quito, which is the more poor "dangerous" part of the city. We did a tour and then volunteered in a daycare center for a few hours. The parents were there and we did a lot of activities together, which again was really cool because I used a lot of Spanish. We had arts & crafts together and made these AWESOME/hideous visors and had lunch together.
Other randomness: My leadership teacher told me he PREFERS my papers in English so that my ideas will be more developed. Score. Oh, strangely enough samples are really big here and in the super market this weekend they were giving out these things: crackers with dulce de leche, which is almost like a caramel spread, and mozzarella cheese on top. It is DELICIOUS. I don't know how but the flavors really work. I'm salivating just thinking about it.
Milk here doesn't need refrigerated. It scares me.
Last night I watched Johnnie do a back TUCK via skype :)
Ok I need to go stress over grad school applications or my honors project now. For those who are wondering I am applying to 3-4 of the following schools:
Columbia
Boston College
Temple
UMD
University of Texas- Austin
University of Denver
I've been here for over 2 months already :O
Thursday, September 16, 2010
i wanna wag my tail
My family is amazing? Can I say that enough?
I went to the mail room looking for a postcard (which I still didn't get, Nickie!) and had 3 packages! 3 I tell you!
Among the EXTREMELY random items: Halloween socks, a puzzle, a year's supply of sweettarts, CRAISINS, 2 bloody Halloween fingers, 2 pairs of earrings, hideous old photographs of myself, 3 pairs of Victoria's Secret underwear, Goldfish, etc etc etc
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Happy Birthday Dad!
I'm gonna go ahead and not explain this blog's title...
So what happened after the excitement of the mugging? Hmmm Monday and Wednesday (with the occasional Friday) are officially my internship days. I THOUGHT classes started Monday, but it was just an orientation for the parents, so instead I worked on some stuff for my honors project and had the director look over it. I got some really good feedback on my questionnaire so I'm pretty excited. My goal is to have it submitted to Etown's IRB by next week... pray for me. Tuesday was class... I can't remember anything too significant right now... And Wednesday I FINALLY met the kids! Like a true social worker, I have naturally already chosen all of my favorites :)
After Wednesday and Friday I'm still unsure of what my responsibilities will be, I was sort of just getting to know the kids. Both days I spent the first half of the school day with the "highest-functioning" kids and the second half with the "lowest-functioning". --The social worker at the center is also a teacher and this is how she introduced me to her students (in front of them), "So as you can see we have a little bit of everything. Down syndrome (points), mental retardation (points), hyperactivity (points)," and on cue the kid she pointed at jumps out of his chair and screams. Like talk about the labeling theory. It was bizarre. Especially because this was the "highest-functioning" group, with kids as old as 13.... like THEY UNDERSTAND YOU. Ugghhh. Anyway the "lowest-functioning" group has 7 students. None of them talk and 3 or 4 of them don't have control of their bowels. There's only one teacher in this room, so really she's more of a babysitter,.. and there's just barely any stimulation. It's so sad. But there is a little girl in this group, with Down Syndrome and I'm going to steal her before I leave. I'm sure of it. She is sort of the cutest thing in the world.
Thursday I had class again... Oh yes I remember the highlight of Tuesday. Since Liz dropped jewelry-making I'm the only gringa in the class.. The teacher is constantly calling me out like "Can you understand me?" but not in a reassuring way, in a like are you slow way... I kind of dislike him. So Tuesday he was "teaching" us how to use these measuring instruments that are pretty much identical to rulers. So he shows us like 6 different measurements, because we're idiots and every time he puts it right in my face and says, "do you see?" So finally I said(in Spanish), "yeessss... we use the same number system in English..." and everyone laughed and he's stopped treating me like a 2year old. yay
Back to Thursday... basically my leadership teacher is awesome but I'm too lazy to explain haha... Then after class we went to Andres' house and we all made ceviche/drank wine, super classy like. It was delicious. Friday I had my internship in the morning and then I met Liz and Lily for lunch in La Mariscal. Before I met them though, I stopped at the tattoo place, Diablo Loco. I've heard really good things about this place. There are 3 guys who run it and they seem awesome, the place is really clean, etc. BUT when he asked me where I wanted it and I said ribs, his response was "*intake of breath* do you have any other tattoos?"
"yes, two."
"Oh, ok good... because ribs are the worst..."
Then when I went back after lunch to put down the deposit another guy was in there and asked what I wanted and where. When I told him, his response was "you're brave.. really brave." So.... great. Vamos a ver. I go back Wednesday to see the sketch... I'm so excited!
So we ate lunch at this little outdoor cafe and guess what I ate. Guess!
Caprese salad!!a;sjfl;ajkdf It was wonderful. And the weather was just perfect... we sat out there for hours. Afterwards we walked around and got ice cream and shopped a bit. Then yesterday 5 of us from BCA went to Diego's house in Pifo for a U.S. vs Ecuador drinking competition... which was essentially boys vs girls. I had an awesome time, drank too much, etc etc. We ended up losing. Rude really... no mercy, even on the anniversary of September 11th. Oohhh we also made s'mores...sort of. We couldn't actually find real graham crackers, but when you're hungry enough...
Today I was supposed to do homework, but somehow accomplished NOTHING all day... Liz and I walked to the supermarket and that's pretty much all I did.
So what happened after the excitement of the mugging? Hmmm Monday and Wednesday (with the occasional Friday) are officially my internship days. I THOUGHT classes started Monday, but it was just an orientation for the parents, so instead I worked on some stuff for my honors project and had the director look over it. I got some really good feedback on my questionnaire so I'm pretty excited. My goal is to have it submitted to Etown's IRB by next week... pray for me. Tuesday was class... I can't remember anything too significant right now... And Wednesday I FINALLY met the kids! Like a true social worker, I have naturally already chosen all of my favorites :)
After Wednesday and Friday I'm still unsure of what my responsibilities will be, I was sort of just getting to know the kids. Both days I spent the first half of the school day with the "highest-functioning" kids and the second half with the "lowest-functioning". --The social worker at the center is also a teacher and this is how she introduced me to her students (in front of them), "So as you can see we have a little bit of everything. Down syndrome (points), mental retardation (points), hyperactivity (points)," and on cue the kid she pointed at jumps out of his chair and screams. Like talk about the labeling theory. It was bizarre. Especially because this was the "highest-functioning" group, with kids as old as 13.... like THEY UNDERSTAND YOU. Ugghhh. Anyway the "lowest-functioning" group has 7 students. None of them talk and 3 or 4 of them don't have control of their bowels. There's only one teacher in this room, so really she's more of a babysitter,.. and there's just barely any stimulation. It's so sad. But there is a little girl in this group, with Down Syndrome and I'm going to steal her before I leave. I'm sure of it. She is sort of the cutest thing in the world.
Thursday I had class again... Oh yes I remember the highlight of Tuesday. Since Liz dropped jewelry-making I'm the only gringa in the class.. The teacher is constantly calling me out like "Can you understand me?" but not in a reassuring way, in a like are you slow way... I kind of dislike him. So Tuesday he was "teaching" us how to use these measuring instruments that are pretty much identical to rulers. So he shows us like 6 different measurements, because we're idiots and every time he puts it right in my face and says, "do you see?" So finally I said(in Spanish), "yeessss... we use the same number system in English..." and everyone laughed and he's stopped treating me like a 2year old. yay
Back to Thursday... basically my leadership teacher is awesome but I'm too lazy to explain haha... Then after class we went to Andres' house and we all made ceviche/drank wine, super classy like. It was delicious. Friday I had my internship in the morning and then I met Liz and Lily for lunch in La Mariscal. Before I met them though, I stopped at the tattoo place, Diablo Loco. I've heard really good things about this place. There are 3 guys who run it and they seem awesome, the place is really clean, etc. BUT when he asked me where I wanted it and I said ribs, his response was "*intake of breath* do you have any other tattoos?"
"yes, two."
"Oh, ok good... because ribs are the worst..."
Then when I went back after lunch to put down the deposit another guy was in there and asked what I wanted and where. When I told him, his response was "you're brave.. really brave." So.... great. Vamos a ver. I go back Wednesday to see the sketch... I'm so excited!
So we ate lunch at this little outdoor cafe and guess what I ate. Guess!
Caprese salad!!a;sjfl;ajkdf It was wonderful. And the weather was just perfect... we sat out there for hours. Afterwards we walked around and got ice cream and shopped a bit. Then yesterday 5 of us from BCA went to Diego's house in Pifo for a U.S. vs Ecuador drinking competition... which was essentially boys vs girls. I had an awesome time, drank too much, etc etc. We ended up losing. Rude really... no mercy, even on the anniversary of September 11th. Oohhh we also made s'mores...sort of. We couldn't actually find real graham crackers, but when you're hungry enough...
Today I was supposed to do homework, but somehow accomplished NOTHING all day... Liz and I walked to the supermarket and that's pretty much all I did.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Mom and Dad,
I have some updates for you! This morning my sister got mugged. He had a gun, but don't worry! She gave him her backpack and he left. Where did it happen? Oh just at the bus stop I use...everyday...to go..everywhere. But don't worry! It was 6am.. She was out too early. I don't have to leave until 6:30am. It's much much safer then.
Don't worry, I'll make sure to carry no more than $100 on me :)
Oh and I'm getting a new tattoo this weekend.
Love from Quito,
me
I have some updates for you! This morning my sister got mugged. He had a gun, but don't worry! She gave him her backpack and he left. Where did it happen? Oh just at the bus stop I use...everyday...to go..everywhere. But don't worry! It was 6am.. She was out too early. I don't have to leave until 6:30am. It's much much safer then.
Don't worry, I'll make sure to carry no more than $100 on me :)
Oh and I'm getting a new tattoo this weekend.
Love from Quito,
me
Monday, September 6, 2010
blah.
I am NEVER going back to that stupid effing or... I mean Etown. I'm never going back to Etown.
I'm a continent away, right?
So why do I feel like I'm still there?
I'm a continent away, right?
So why do I feel like I'm still there?
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Another week flew by. Monday morning I went to my internship to review the files of some of the children I'll be working with (school doesn't start until tomorrow, so there wasn't much else to do). I told my director that I of course know everything is confidential and if she sees me writing anything it's just for new vocabulary, but she was like "no, no Daniel told me all about your project, take what you need." So that was super helpful. For those who don't know, I'm doing a senior honors project for Elizabethtown... After a few hours I pretty much decided on a needs-assessment for the parents, so I'm going to spend today writing up my questionnaire so my director can review it this week.
My friend Felipe has been telling me he had some "cool" place to show me, so we did that Monday afternoon. I thought for sure it was going to be some corny view of the city, a volcano, etc., so was a little skeptical... but he ended up bringing me to a used book store in Quito! It has the largest collection of English books in all of Ecuador. It was awesome, like when Beast gives Beauty the library. After that we went to eat at La Naranjilla Mecanica, this gallery/grunge restaurant that is famous for their French onion soup. It was delicious, in a I don't taste anything like French onion soup way. I've had it here a couple times now and it's something about the cheese... Anyway the menu was set up like a comic book, with its own story going on.... It was such a cool day.
Tuesday was my second day of class. I had my first actual aerobics class... I'm just now able to walk normally again. It was so intense. You know how most girls do the hover in public (I accidentally typed pubic at first) bathrooms? Well right after class I went to the bathroom and seriously half fell in the toilet. My "glutes" and thighs were just shot. But the class is also really fun. Since I don't have any break times throughout the day it's my stress reliever. Plus my teacher played a Lady GaGa techno melody the whole time :)
I talked to my Leadership teacher about maybe having a meeting time or something since the reading load is so intense and I couldn't understand um a lot of it. He was super helpful and told me where I could find most of the readings in English, so I'm really excited about that since it's the only class I actually need for Elizabethtown. Also, on Tuesday I officially won my battle with Etown's registrar. I'm pretty sure it had a lot more to do with not wanting to hear from me anymore than my actual argument but whatever. I have a Humanities. Hmm I can't really remember anything else on Tuesday... I helped my sister with her English homework a few times this week. It's so weird seeing the same bizarre exercises we used to have to do for Spanish, but in English. Also she needed me to explain when to use much vs many vs a lot of, and explain the difference between "few" and "a few".... It's like impossible.
OH! Thursday was my school's 22nd anniversary (I guess they celebrate every year) so there were no classes from 10-1. In our giant plaza thing there was an awesome band, free cake, and FREE, UNLIMITED CHAMPAGNE... only in Ecuador, actually probably just anywhere but the U.S. It was awesome. I don't do too well with self-control when it comes to champagne/wine, so Liz was babysitting me, but by the time we got to Spanish my professor was like "how many of you are drunk?" Thursday night my family went out to eat, which turned into like a 3 hour affair because we all started to watch the U.S. Open. The restaurant was like a step above fast food, but it was so nice, no amazing, to have a fattening, disgusting cheeseburger.
Friday I had to meet my jewelry-making professor in the Historical Center to buy my class's materials. It was really lame, but I got 2 hours towards my Friday labs, so that was awesome, since I can't make any of them because of my internship. Then Friday night Julie and Sachiyo taught my family how to make sushi. It was so much fun! Even though it seems pretty easy and I'm sure you could learn off the internet, it was a really cool way to learn. That took a while... and then after that mine and Julie's families played board games until like 1:00am. Anyone who knows me knows about my competitiveness, ESPECIALLY with Pictionary.... it was the must humbling experience having to play Pictionary, in Spanish. Nearly killed me.
Yesterday, Liz, Lily and I went to the Artisan's Market and had lunch in the city. Then I came home and had dinner with my family, and then my parents went out because they had a reunion. So Liz and Lily came over and we got schwasted and smoked a little.
That's a lie. We actually watched The Incredibles on my laptop and were all asleep by midnight.
I woke up like 4 times in the middle of the night because my throat was so scratchy and now today I have a really bad cold. It's miserable.
My friend Felipe has been telling me he had some "cool" place to show me, so we did that Monday afternoon. I thought for sure it was going to be some corny view of the city, a volcano, etc., so was a little skeptical... but he ended up bringing me to a used book store in Quito! It has the largest collection of English books in all of Ecuador. It was awesome, like when Beast gives Beauty the library. After that we went to eat at La Naranjilla Mecanica, this gallery/grunge restaurant that is famous for their French onion soup. It was delicious, in a I don't taste anything like French onion soup way. I've had it here a couple times now and it's something about the cheese... Anyway the menu was set up like a comic book, with its own story going on.... It was such a cool day.
Tuesday was my second day of class. I had my first actual aerobics class... I'm just now able to walk normally again. It was so intense. You know how most girls do the hover in public (I accidentally typed pubic at first) bathrooms? Well right after class I went to the bathroom and seriously half fell in the toilet. My "glutes" and thighs were just shot. But the class is also really fun. Since I don't have any break times throughout the day it's my stress reliever. Plus my teacher played a Lady GaGa techno melody the whole time :)
I talked to my Leadership teacher about maybe having a meeting time or something since the reading load is so intense and I couldn't understand um a lot of it. He was super helpful and told me where I could find most of the readings in English, so I'm really excited about that since it's the only class I actually need for Elizabethtown. Also, on Tuesday I officially won my battle with Etown's registrar. I'm pretty sure it had a lot more to do with not wanting to hear from me anymore than my actual argument but whatever. I have a Humanities. Hmm I can't really remember anything else on Tuesday... I helped my sister with her English homework a few times this week. It's so weird seeing the same bizarre exercises we used to have to do for Spanish, but in English. Also she needed me to explain when to use much vs many vs a lot of, and explain the difference between "few" and "a few".... It's like impossible.
OH! Thursday was my school's 22nd anniversary (I guess they celebrate every year) so there were no classes from 10-1. In our giant plaza thing there was an awesome band, free cake, and FREE, UNLIMITED CHAMPAGNE... only in Ecuador, actually probably just anywhere but the U.S. It was awesome. I don't do too well with self-control when it comes to champagne/wine, so Liz was babysitting me, but by the time we got to Spanish my professor was like "how many of you are drunk?" Thursday night my family went out to eat, which turned into like a 3 hour affair because we all started to watch the U.S. Open. The restaurant was like a step above fast food, but it was so nice, no amazing, to have a fattening, disgusting cheeseburger.
Friday I had to meet my jewelry-making professor in the Historical Center to buy my class's materials. It was really lame, but I got 2 hours towards my Friday labs, so that was awesome, since I can't make any of them because of my internship. Then Friday night Julie and Sachiyo taught my family how to make sushi. It was so much fun! Even though it seems pretty easy and I'm sure you could learn off the internet, it was a really cool way to learn. That took a while... and then after that mine and Julie's families played board games until like 1:00am. Anyone who knows me knows about my competitiveness, ESPECIALLY with Pictionary.... it was the must humbling experience having to play Pictionary, in Spanish. Nearly killed me.
Yesterday, Liz, Lily and I went to the Artisan's Market and had lunch in the city. Then I came home and had dinner with my family, and then my parents went out because they had a reunion. So Liz and Lily came over and we got schwasted and smoked a little.
That's a lie. We actually watched The Incredibles on my laptop and were all asleep by midnight.
I woke up like 4 times in the middle of the night because my throat was so scratchy and now today I have a really bad cold. It's miserable.
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