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
viernes, 18 de mayo de 2007
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!
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