comic relief.

this is a really important video to consider when planning your trip to ecuador.



just kidding!

mindo: a bangin little town.

sorry for the lack of updates... life has gotten busy! we started our TESOL course last week and it is pretty intense. full days and homework on top of that... i feel braindead at the end of each day and usually too tired to do much of anything. it is a lot of work, but definitely enjoyable. 

this past weekend we went to Mindo, a little town about two hours west of Quito. it is a super chill town and although it is literally one road, there is lots to do there. we got there saturday around 10am and immediately went to "the canopy" for ziplinig. the views were amazing...a mix of mountains and jungle and we did tricks such as la mariposa and the superman. i will post pictures soon, but check out this site for pictures of what we did. 

after lunch, danielle, sydney and i walked to the butterfly garden and on the way back to the hostal, we stopped at a bakery for coffee and treats. as we were sitting there, i happened  to look up and see zac coventry (a guy i knew from college) just walking down the street. i knew he was doing peace corps in ecuador, but i had no idea where... such a small world! it was fun to see a familiar face. 

the next morning we went on a hike up a mountain to this waterfall where several of us jumped off a considerably high cliff. it was bangin.  i didn't have my camera, but here is a video of exactly what we did. 

although i felt exhausted and sore today, Mindo was a great discovery... a perfect weekend retreat from the city. 

"life is either a great adventure, or nothing." -- helen keller

pictures from the equator.

equator

pictures!

first saturday in quito

run #1: comical.

this morning, i went for my first run here in quito. let's just say that 9,3oo feet is a major detail. after five minutes of continuous running, my lungs felt like they were about to pop. like a balloon that you just keep blowing up until it bursts. after five minutes. i somehow managed to run/walk for another 25 minutes. 

i am supposed to run in a 10K in august... this could definitely get interesting. i'll keep you updated. 

i am, however, committed to keep up the habit for two reasons. first, it is a great way to see the city. this morning, i came across this big park in the middle of the city with lots of trails running through countless playgrounds and jungle gyms. i also discovered that there is some sort of market in that park on saturdays - along one of the pathways, i saw rows of green tents with people setting out their crafts. 

and, as if i needed another reason, they say that one of the ways to deal with culture shock is to incorporate the old and new. meaning, you should incorporate things that you loved in your previous lifestyle/culture into your new one. running has always been a release for me, and i don't see why it should be any different here. 

the main thing is, i'm finding out that while so many things are entirely different, the things that are important remain... or at least can be maintained with some dedication and maybe a little creativity. 

"ask yourself: can i give more? the answer is usually yes." -- paul tergat

praise him.

this morning, i took my first hot shower. not my first shower, just the first hot one. 

yesterday, i got home all by myself without getting mugged. 

everyday, there is nutella on the breakfast table. 

praise him. 

journal entry #2: linguistic imperialism

again, this assignment is for class. these are simply my thoughts and reflections on language/linguistic imperialism. i have not studied the topic and this is by no means a thesis. 

the idea of language imperialism, at it's core, could mean two things: 

1. that one language (and subsequently culture) is superior to the other and therefore threatening. 

2. on the other hand, the spread of the hegemonic language could be extremely fruitful for the less affluent country. 

as a future TESOL teacher and a culture-lover, i could argue, to a degree, either point. bringing english to a developing country, for example, is generally a very positive thing and a step in the right direction toward economic development. the ability to speak english often means more business opportunities, access to greater technology and the option to communicate with countless more people groups. it is well-established and functional all over the world, and essential for working in many industries. 

on the contrary, the transfer of dominance of a certain language can easily become a transfer of power and culture. this is obviously threatening to any valued culture, whether it has a strong global presence or otherwise. 

in the context of what i am doing here, i hope to teach english as a means to equip people for a better lifestyle - simply furthering their education and widening their span of communication. while doing so, i think it is important to be respectful of their culture and embrace it, being careful not to press my own norms on them in a demeaning way. in my goals journal, i said i wanted to embrace the culture. this means letting go of some of the things i am used to and accepting that my life now is here. 

"when in rome, do as the romans do."   --st. ambrose