On the morning of may 26th I boarded a plane for Quito to begin my fabulous 2 week vacation. After the expected 1 1/2 delay I was on my way. The flight from Cuenca to Quito is breath taking. It is only 45 minutes (verses a 10 hour bus ride) and since it is so short the plane doesn´t reach a very high cruising altitude, so you just cruise right along the tops of the Andes - beautiful! I spent the day hanging out with my Colombian friend, Andrea, while I waited for the family to arrive. The next day I went to visit my Ecuadorian Grandmother, Isabel, and then the family and I went up the Teleferico (The Volcano of Pichinca). We hiked along the trail which ñeads to the peak. It seems to go on forever so after about two hours of hiking me and Sarah called it quits (The rest of the family called it quits before that). The next day we went up the Basilica. One can climb up a terrifing, shaky ladder to the top of the one of the towers for a spectacular view of Quito. The next day we went of to Otavalo, the famous artisano market, and other surrounding towns.
On the morning of May 30th we departed for the Galápagos Islands. I do not have the words to give the experience justice. It was like 8 days of living in National Geopgraphic. If your ever have the chance to visit this world gem, TAKE IT! Th only complaint I have is one is very aware of their tourist status. My brother put it perfectly, it´s like the zoo except we go to the wildlife instead of bringing it to us.
Thursday June 7th - I arrived in Puerto Lopez. I was like going home. Seeing my family anf my friends was really fabulous. The hilarious things is that it appears that time stands still in Puerto Lopez. I mean, everyone looks the same - well, maybe a little taller or they have a different hair style - the conversations are about the same things. I felt like I should be getting up and going to work at the school. Oh I lied, something had changed, Lopez now has cable TV a whole 24 channals. Big news, eh? I am going to be returning to Lopez next weekend for El Festival de las Ballenas (The Whale Festival).
Life back in Cuenca is quite enjoyable. I am living with a new family now. They are super nice. The best part is that my new mum makes cakes for a living! It´s amazing there is always some delicious treat hanging around the kitchen.
Yesterday I had my first experience of witnessing mother nature rearing her ugly head. It had basically been raining for 2 days straight. The rivers in Cuenca began to flood. The worst ones were El Rio Tarqui y el rio Yanucay, they meet right infront of the University De Azuay (where I work). It was complete chaos. The river banks were being washed away, trees were falling into the river and the near by houses were being flooded. CLASSIC ECUADORIAN MOMENT: Obviously it was VERY dangerous near the river banks. However, everyone was rushing out of the Universidad and stopping their cars to stand on the river banks to watch what was happening. The police were driving around making announcements asking people to step away from the banks, yet, no one was moving.
Bueno, I hope that everyone is well. I´ll make sure to do a better job of updating my blog!
Until next time
viernes, 22 de junio de 2007
viernes, 18 de mayo de 2007
Cuencan Vacation
My american friend who lives in Puerto Lopez came to visit me this week. I decided to take a little vacay and be a tourist with her for a couple of days. There is this special art expo called XI Benial in Cuenca. It had been going on since the end of april and lasts until early june. It consists of over 50 artists from all over south america and a couple from Europe as well. It is fabulous, especially because all the entry is free (or else the locals wouldn´t go). So we ate like queens and toured around Cuenca going to art exhibtions and admiring the amazing colonial architecture. It was fabulous. Even more so because work has been quite the headache lately.
I´m enjoying the challenge of working in a different cultural situation. It´s quite the experience and I´m learning so much. Moreover, I now know the reality of intercultural work environments, which I though I knew (ya know, Canada´s all multicultural and what not) however, I had no fucking clue what it actually entailed. Moreover, working in a muchisimo culture is another challenge within itself. I mean, sometimes I feel like my ideas are being shot down just because I´m a women, and the guys don´t like that they didn´t like of it. Who knows, I´m simply speculating.
So I ate Cuy again. This was one the best culinary experiences I´ve ever had. I ate at the grandmother´s house of one of my friends. I will argue that this women is one of the best cooks in the Sierra. The first time I ate Cuy I didn´t like the skin. Apparently, it hadn´t been prepared that well because the skin is scrumcious! Crunchy little bits of heaven. It is custom to feast on this tiny beast with ones hands. Ripping into the tender, juicy flesh and devouring every ounce of meat, sucking the bones clean. Yummm, I´m drooling right now just thinking about it. I´ve said it once, and I´ll say it again you MUST enjoy this dish if you ever make it to the Ecuadorian Sierra.
My iPod is fixed (yay!) I have some techie friends here. I don´t know what they did but it´s working again....sí musica! This experience was another sad reminder of my extreme lack of technology knowledge.
Until next time,
Steph
I´m enjoying the challenge of working in a different cultural situation. It´s quite the experience and I´m learning so much. Moreover, I now know the reality of intercultural work environments, which I though I knew (ya know, Canada´s all multicultural and what not) however, I had no fucking clue what it actually entailed. Moreover, working in a muchisimo culture is another challenge within itself. I mean, sometimes I feel like my ideas are being shot down just because I´m a women, and the guys don´t like that they didn´t like of it. Who knows, I´m simply speculating.
So I ate Cuy again. This was one the best culinary experiences I´ve ever had. I ate at the grandmother´s house of one of my friends. I will argue that this women is one of the best cooks in the Sierra. The first time I ate Cuy I didn´t like the skin. Apparently, it hadn´t been prepared that well because the skin is scrumcious! Crunchy little bits of heaven. It is custom to feast on this tiny beast with ones hands. Ripping into the tender, juicy flesh and devouring every ounce of meat, sucking the bones clean. Yummm, I´m drooling right now just thinking about it. I´ve said it once, and I´ll say it again you MUST enjoy this dish if you ever make it to the Ecuadorian Sierra.
My iPod is fixed (yay!) I have some techie friends here. I don´t know what they did but it´s working again....sí musica! This experience was another sad reminder of my extreme lack of technology knowledge.
Until next time,
Steph
martes, 15 de mayo de 2007
Clubs, Fiestas y Cuy: me encanta
After a long week of recruitment at work, which was somewhat frustrating I decided that an amazingly fun weekend was in order. I played hookie friday afternoon and went to the historic centre, ate ice cream and sat in the park. I had one of those classic ecuadorian/latinamericana moments. Sitting in the park, a thing which I can never do in peace, someone will always sit beside me and start talking. This chico sat down, asked me to be his girlfriend (after all of 2 minutes) and then started singing to me. That evening I went off to one of the local discotecas with my brother here. It was a fabulous fist pumping evening. My only complaint with Cuencan nighttime outings is the lack of places to eat past 2am. Cuenca is far from a 24 hour city.
My friend from Colombia whose working in Quito came in for the weekend. Always a pleasure to get a visit! That evening I went to the birthday party of my friends uncle. It was at his amazing ranch up in the mountains. There was a tiger there, seriously. This party was the Ecuadorian equivalant of a WASPy party. I felt like I was at the ecuadorian version of the Rounthwaite get togethers. So I felt right at home. After, I was off to the graduation party of of friend which was held at the Rotary Club. A fabulous party of whiskey with water and reggeaton/salsa.
Mother´s Day we had a fabulous super special lunch of the sierran dish of Cuy (guinea pig) Really tasty! However, not the skin, it´s really tough and kind of how I imagine eating leather would be like. If you ever make it to Ecuador and spend sometime in the sierra I whole heartedly recommend trying this typical dish.
Back at work, this week. Organizing a seminar for thr induction of new members into AIESEC. Not going to lie, it´s a little difficult. People aren´t really open to feedback so making changes is like fighting an up hill battle. It´s really helping me with my patience and cultural sensitivity.
My friend from Puerto Lopez arrived in Cuenca last evening. We had a fabulous dinenr and I am about to take her sight seeing around Cuenca. Yes, another afternoon of hooky. Bad me, I know.
I hope all is well with you :)
until next time,
Steph
My friend from Colombia whose working in Quito came in for the weekend. Always a pleasure to get a visit! That evening I went to the birthday party of my friends uncle. It was at his amazing ranch up in the mountains. There was a tiger there, seriously. This party was the Ecuadorian equivalant of a WASPy party. I felt like I was at the ecuadorian version of the Rounthwaite get togethers. So I felt right at home. After, I was off to the graduation party of of friend which was held at the Rotary Club. A fabulous party of whiskey with water and reggeaton/salsa.
Mother´s Day we had a fabulous super special lunch of the sierran dish of Cuy (guinea pig) Really tasty! However, not the skin, it´s really tough and kind of how I imagine eating leather would be like. If you ever make it to Ecuador and spend sometime in the sierra I whole heartedly recommend trying this typical dish.
Back at work, this week. Organizing a seminar for thr induction of new members into AIESEC. Not going to lie, it´s a little difficult. People aren´t really open to feedback so making changes is like fighting an up hill battle. It´s really helping me with my patience and cultural sensitivity.
My friend from Puerto Lopez arrived in Cuenca last evening. We had a fabulous dinenr and I am about to take her sight seeing around Cuenca. Yes, another afternoon of hooky. Bad me, I know.
I hope all is well with you :)
until next time,
Steph
Clubs, Fiestas y Cuy: me encanta
After a long week of recruitment at work, which was somewhat frustrating I decided that an amazingly fun weekend was in order. I played hookie friday afternoon and went to the historic centre, ate ice cream and sat in the park. I had one of those classic ecuadorian/latinamericana moments. Sitting in the park, a thing which I can never do in peace, someone will always sit beside me and start talking. This chico sat down, asked me to be his girlfriend (after all of 2 minutes) and then started singing to me. That evening I went off to one of the local discotecas with my brother here. It was a fabulous fist pumping evening. My only complaint with Cuencan nighttime outings is the lack of places to eat past 2am. Cuenca is far from a 24 hour city.
My friend from Colombia whose working in Quito came in for the weekend. Always a pleasure to get a visit! That evening I went to the birthday party of my friends uncle. It was at his amazing ranch up in the mountains. There was a tiger there, seriously. This party was the Ecuadorian equivalant of a WASPy party. I felt like I was at the ecuadorian version of the Rounthwaite get togethers. So I felt right at home. After, I was off to the graduation party of of friend which was held at the Rotary Club. A fabulous party of whiskey with water and reggeaton/salsa.
Back at work, this week. Organizing a seminar for thr induction of new members into AIESEC. Not going to lie, it´s a little difficult. People aren´t really open to feedback so making changes is like fighting an up hill battle. It´s really helping me with my patience and cultural sensitivity.
My friend from Puerto Lopez arrived in Cuenca last evening. We had a fabulous dinenr and I am about to take her sight seeing around Cuenca. Yes, another afternoon of hooky. Bad me, I know.
I hope all is well with you :)
until next time,
Steph
My friend from Colombia whose working in Quito came in for the weekend. Always a pleasure to get a visit! That evening I went to the birthday party of my friends uncle. It was at his amazing ranch up in the mountains. There was a tiger there, seriously. This party was the Ecuadorian equivalant of a WASPy party. I felt like I was at the ecuadorian version of the Rounthwaite get togethers. So I felt right at home. After, I was off to the graduation party of of friend which was held at the Rotary Club. A fabulous party of whiskey with water and reggeaton/salsa.
Back at work, this week. Organizing a seminar for thr induction of new members into AIESEC. Not going to lie, it´s a little difficult. People aren´t really open to feedback so making changes is like fighting an up hill battle. It´s really helping me with my patience and cultural sensitivity.
My friend from Puerto Lopez arrived in Cuenca last evening. We had a fabulous dinenr and I am about to take her sight seeing around Cuenca. Yes, another afternoon of hooky. Bad me, I know.
I hope all is well with you :)
until next time,
Steph
jueves, 10 de mayo de 2007
La Costa - que la extraño!
So it´s been a while since I´ve written. Sorry to my loyal fans, hahahaha. Between work and a little stint of sickness I haven´t had the time to sit, reflect and write about my adventures ecuatoriano style.
We are in recruitment right now for new members which is a busy busy time. Making class roon presentations, postering AIESEC all over the university, booking classrooms for information sessions...the works. It´s intresesting, because tacits to get people to join AIESEC are quite different in Ecuador. In Canada you can talk about all the lovely benefits and that usually catches people´s attention. Aquí, not so much. I still have yet to figure out what exactly turns the crank, I´ll let you know when I find out. However, I get to be the key marketing tool. It´s the marketing game of getting the gringa to stand and smile while people talk about AIESEC....seems to be working.
I went off to the lovely surfing/party town of Montañita this weekend. Had one night in Guayaquil where I got to catch up with my friend Diana and feast on some of the best tacos in the world. Get this pork, chicken, beef, sausage, shrimp, beans and cheese all in one taco, what more can someone ask for in life? I honestly do not know. Early next morning caught the bus to Montañita. Driving up the Ruta del Sol, my old stomping grounds of last year made me incredibly nostalgic. How I wanted to stay on the bus all the way to López. I warned people that on Sunday afternoon they´d have to drag me back onto the bus away from la costa. The people, the climate, the food, the all round way of life is so peaceful ¨tranquila no más¨. We had a fabulous day on the beach full of seafood, sun and surfers. I enjoyed some currey that night, unfortunately the yogurt was bad and poor little ole me had food poisoning. Couldn´t go out dancing. No, I spent that whole night hugging the toilet. Así es la vida. The next day, still in pain and somewhat afriad of food, I slept on the beach. There was an incident that afternoon, some guy starting drowning. Montañita only has lifeguards during high season (december - february) so one of the surf teachers ran out to save the poor guy. What I love about ecuador is that everyone runs to the scene, yet no one helps, or no one knows how. I mustered up some of my old red cross knowledge (thanks swimming lessons at GBC) and told got one of my friends some tips and he went over and instruct people about what to do. My español is definately not at that stage where I can give fast, clear orders.
At 5:00pm I boarded a bus to guayaquil and then another back to Cuenca. I had the most frustrating bus ride. I already have a hard time with the leg room in the buses here. The asshole infront of my reclined his seat the whole way. Even when I would ask him nicely he refused to move it up even a little. Since I was in such a great mood being still somewhat sick form the night before. I decided that if I wasn´t going to sleep than niether was he and spent the 5 hour bus ride kneeing and sometimes kicking the back of his seat. I know, not my finest nor maturest moment.
I believe I will get to be trying cuy (ginea pig) this weekend. I´ll let you know how that goes! :)
until next time,
Steph
p.s. yes, I do somewhat have a tan now, yay!
We are in recruitment right now for new members which is a busy busy time. Making class roon presentations, postering AIESEC all over the university, booking classrooms for information sessions...the works. It´s intresesting, because tacits to get people to join AIESEC are quite different in Ecuador. In Canada you can talk about all the lovely benefits and that usually catches people´s attention. Aquí, not so much. I still have yet to figure out what exactly turns the crank, I´ll let you know when I find out. However, I get to be the key marketing tool. It´s the marketing game of getting the gringa to stand and smile while people talk about AIESEC....seems to be working.
I went off to the lovely surfing/party town of Montañita this weekend. Had one night in Guayaquil where I got to catch up with my friend Diana and feast on some of the best tacos in the world. Get this pork, chicken, beef, sausage, shrimp, beans and cheese all in one taco, what more can someone ask for in life? I honestly do not know. Early next morning caught the bus to Montañita. Driving up the Ruta del Sol, my old stomping grounds of last year made me incredibly nostalgic. How I wanted to stay on the bus all the way to López. I warned people that on Sunday afternoon they´d have to drag me back onto the bus away from la costa. The people, the climate, the food, the all round way of life is so peaceful ¨tranquila no más¨. We had a fabulous day on the beach full of seafood, sun and surfers. I enjoyed some currey that night, unfortunately the yogurt was bad and poor little ole me had food poisoning. Couldn´t go out dancing. No, I spent that whole night hugging the toilet. Así es la vida. The next day, still in pain and somewhat afriad of food, I slept on the beach. There was an incident that afternoon, some guy starting drowning. Montañita only has lifeguards during high season (december - february) so one of the surf teachers ran out to save the poor guy. What I love about ecuador is that everyone runs to the scene, yet no one helps, or no one knows how. I mustered up some of my old red cross knowledge (thanks swimming lessons at GBC) and told got one of my friends some tips and he went over and instruct people about what to do. My español is definately not at that stage where I can give fast, clear orders.
At 5:00pm I boarded a bus to guayaquil and then another back to Cuenca. I had the most frustrating bus ride. I already have a hard time with the leg room in the buses here. The asshole infront of my reclined his seat the whole way. Even when I would ask him nicely he refused to move it up even a little. Since I was in such a great mood being still somewhat sick form the night before. I decided that if I wasn´t going to sleep than niether was he and spent the 5 hour bus ride kneeing and sometimes kicking the back of his seat. I know, not my finest nor maturest moment.
I believe I will get to be trying cuy (ginea pig) this weekend. I´ll let you know how that goes! :)
until next time,
Steph
p.s. yes, I do somewhat have a tan now, yay!
lunes, 30 de abril de 2007
Fin de semana: cuencano style
My first real weekend in Cuenca was quite the experience. It consisted of discotecas, food festivals, barbecues, bars and Incan ruins. What more could one ask for. Well, maybe a little sun would be nice.
We went to a discoteca se llama Lit on friday night cool place. Only problema, they give you a drink card. But you only get one for your entire group. So if you don´t have the card and aren´t with the person who does, well, sucks to be you. You can´t get a drink. The night ended with hamburgesas at a local stand. And thanks to la rubia (me) we got a wonderful senerade while waiting for our food.
Saturday there was a food festival in the main square. I was fabulous. I must admit though, on a food basis my heart still remains with la costa. That afternoon I went to a barbecue at the house of an AIESEC in the moutains. It was my dream afternoon, so much meat (pig, cow, lamb, chicken, sausages) with potatoes, plantains and ensalada. With a couple of beers, who could ask for more?
Sunday I went to Ingaprica. The best perserved Incan Ruins in Ecuador. It was amazing. They are two hours into the montanas de Cuenca. So powerful and mystical. I could have stayed there for hours. Unfortunately, my Ecuadorian amigas had had enough after two and half hours. I now yearn to go to Machu Pichu, I can only imagine what it would be like. However, at Ingapirca, since it is not very famoso, one can walk all over the ruins climb up them, sit on them, smoke around them.
Life in Cuenca is quite enjoyable. I think I am going to head out to LA PLAYA a Montañita next weekend for the birthday party of a trainee here in Ecuador. I need some sun....a tan. Hello, my name is Stephanie and I´m a tan-aholic.
Until neext time,
Steph
We went to a discoteca se llama Lit on friday night cool place. Only problema, they give you a drink card. But you only get one for your entire group. So if you don´t have the card and aren´t with the person who does, well, sucks to be you. You can´t get a drink. The night ended with hamburgesas at a local stand. And thanks to la rubia (me) we got a wonderful senerade while waiting for our food.
Saturday there was a food festival in the main square. I was fabulous. I must admit though, on a food basis my heart still remains with la costa. That afternoon I went to a barbecue at the house of an AIESEC in the moutains. It was my dream afternoon, so much meat (pig, cow, lamb, chicken, sausages) with potatoes, plantains and ensalada. With a couple of beers, who could ask for more?
Sunday I went to Ingaprica. The best perserved Incan Ruins in Ecuador. It was amazing. They are two hours into the montanas de Cuenca. So powerful and mystical. I could have stayed there for hours. Unfortunately, my Ecuadorian amigas had had enough after two and half hours. I now yearn to go to Machu Pichu, I can only imagine what it would be like. However, at Ingapirca, since it is not very famoso, one can walk all over the ruins climb up them, sit on them, smoke around them.
Life in Cuenca is quite enjoyable. I think I am going to head out to LA PLAYA a Montañita next weekend for the birthday party of a trainee here in Ecuador. I need some sun....a tan. Hello, my name is Stephanie and I´m a tan-aholic.
Until neext time,
Steph
viernes, 27 de abril de 2007
Marketing calls and meetings
It´s been a crazy week here in Cuenca. We are organizing a seminario so that includes recruiting members and finding sponsors. I have been on 4 sales meetings in the past 2 days. I must admit, I like the striaght forwardness of the business culture here. If a person isn´t interested in your proposal they simply tell you. None of this, ¨oh, I need to think about this, let me get back to you in a week¨ and then the company ignores your phone calls and emails.
We had, or I should say, tried to have meetings with the Organizing Committee (OC). However, when one sets a meeting for let´s say 2:00 you are luck if 1/3 of the people show up by 2:45. It does get frustrating but I´ve been very good at not letting it get to me. As most of you may know I am a punctual person, and appreciate such a virtue, but trying to combate tardiness in Ecuador would be a futile effort. I merely try to set an example and remind my wonderful members that professionalism and punctuality go hand in hand.
The lifestyle in Cuenca is vastly different from that in the rest of Ecuador. I still have yet to ride the bus here. All the AIESECers have cars. There is A LOT of money in this city. However, the people here think they are superior to the rest of Ecuadorians. Kinda like us Torontonians!! The gender relations in La Sierra are much better than those in La Costa. The men atually help around the house and cook. Unlike in La Costa when they do nothing expect drink too much on the weekends. This country never ceases to suprise me. It´s the same size as Colorado, yet, it has three distinct regions which are three differect worlds.
Until next time,
Steph
We had, or I should say, tried to have meetings with the Organizing Committee (OC). However, when one sets a meeting for let´s say 2:00 you are luck if 1/3 of the people show up by 2:45. It does get frustrating but I´ve been very good at not letting it get to me. As most of you may know I am a punctual person, and appreciate such a virtue, but trying to combate tardiness in Ecuador would be a futile effort. I merely try to set an example and remind my wonderful members that professionalism and punctuality go hand in hand.
The lifestyle in Cuenca is vastly different from that in the rest of Ecuador. I still have yet to ride the bus here. All the AIESECers have cars. There is A LOT of money in this city. However, the people here think they are superior to the rest of Ecuadorians. Kinda like us Torontonians!! The gender relations in La Sierra are much better than those in La Costa. The men atually help around the house and cook. Unlike in La Costa when they do nothing expect drink too much on the weekends. This country never ceases to suprise me. It´s the same size as Colorado, yet, it has three distinct regions which are three differect worlds.
Until next time,
Steph
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