I am heading off to Quito, Ecuador on January 3rd for a five month adventure.Although the majority of the trip hasn't begun yet, my adventures started about a month ago when my fellow-traveler and I went to Washington DC to get our Visas. We drove to VA first and stayed at Heather's house.
The next day, we drove to DC...left late, got lost three times, and made it to the consulate's office 15 mins before they closed. The consulate officer played a joke on us when we got in the door. He said that he couldn't give us our visas at all. WELL! I started to explain how he had to give us the visas today--we had just come from 5 hours away.... and Heather informed him that she was going to cry if he didn't give them to us.
That did it. We got out visas within 20 mins and enjoyed watching Kim Possible Spanish-version in the lobby. Then, we drove all the way back home with our special documents in hand. YES!
Now, only 11 days before the departure, I am vaccinated, (Yellow Fever, Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid) medicated, (Malaria) and packed (almost). I have bought everything I will need for five months away: socks, bug spray, a gift for my host family, glasses, and a soap container. I have procured two lovely suitcases from friends and a new wallet from Kohls. I am almost ready.
I will be taking a full course load in Spanish at the Universidad de San Francisco de Quito:
Anthropology of Andean Culture - Colonial Art - Women's Movements in Ecuador - Indigenous Lit
My host family has contacted me, Jaquie (host mom) Pedro (host dad) Anita (host sister, 25) and Jose (host brother, 15) They sound very nice and refer to Ecuador as their beloved country. I am planning on visiting my church contacts in Quito and learning about the mission organization, HCJB. It should be an exciting trip. Heather and I are hoping to go to the Galapagos Islands and maybe Peru and Brazil. One of the interesting elements to this trip is that I received a scholarship that requires that the recipient enact a special project. I came up with an idea to research the educational opportunities that are provided for impoverish Ecuadorian children, so I am hoping to visit some countryside schools and get to know them. Later, Lordwilling, within six months of returning to USA, I will complete my project with a community service activity that I have planned. More to come on that later!
For now, I hope to enjoy the last few days I have with my family and friends.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!
