So its actually here...and as many of you probably aren't surprised...I've been meaning to write in this blog weeks ago-detailing all of my preperations for my 4 1/2 month trip to Ecuador. I don't really know how it got here so fast- it has been a whirlwind -I swear I thought I just said it was in two more weeks...now I'm going to get up in about roughly 4 more hours to get ready and leave for O'Hare: final destination: Quito, Ecuador.
I will be studying there at the Universidad de San Francisco de Quito and living with a host family. My host mom's name is Erika, and she is a single mom who lives with her brother and five year old son. I was told that "they are a very active family who like sports and traveling."
I have so much on my mind, but all I can really say is that I am exhausted......and excited and sad to leave everyone here..... nervous...and just plain scared out of my mind.
I have packed my two suitcases and carry-on up to the brim (no idea how it actually fit) and I actually have no idea what to expect...other than my Spanish is going to be horrible and am petrified I'll get stuck after "hola." And I can expect that there is absolutely no way I will be trying "cuyes" or in English-guinea pig (an Ecuadorian delicacy) : ) And I can expect that it will be a trip that comes around once in a lifetime.....
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Hahah :) cuy isn't thaaat bad. It just tastes like the dark meat of chicken I guess. It's quite an interesting cultural experience... but you can have other people try it for you, hehe.
ReplyDeleteFrom a Dad's point of view the time went even faster. I always had the awareness in the back of my mind that Lauren had signed up and committed to a semester of learning in Ecuador. I just never really wrapped my mind around the fact that the day had actually come. I was hoping to give lots of fatherly advice (which is probably harder since I never myself signed up for such an adventure). Well now that she is already off I guess it is never too late to give some advice anyways:
ReplyDelete1. Learn lots.
2. Appreciate the oppurtunity to experience a different culture.
3. Be careful (your mom would like it if I included this one)
4. Give yourself a enough time to get used to all the changes and differences in cultures.
5. Keep up with your blog/journal - years later you will appreciate how much you recoreded!
6. Remember how fast time flew for your trip to begin - well it will probably go just as fast down there; thus, "Carpe Diem"!
Can't wait to come and join you in April!
Love You! Dad