Sabado

5-15-10
19:05

I met two Americans today, one of whom is attending the same language school as I. They both speak much better Spanish, but that is to be expected, me of un poco castellano. Interesting language side-note: I thought that only Argentinians added a J to their double Ls, but from what I can tell so far, Ecuadorians (or at least those in Quito) do this as well. For example, amarillo (yellow) is pronounced amaryjho.

I can't say enough how much I like the family I'm staying with. I am grateful especially for the little things. Like when Marie casually picked a speck of lint off my shirt – something that no one did while I was in France. And it is very helpful that there isn't a great language barrier, as both parents speak English.

They are pretty well off I think. The father, Nixon, owns a gym that is on the first floor of the house. As such there is constant stream of American pop-music and a little Latin pop...which I like much better. Maybe because I don't understand the simplicity of their lyrics. Today I went with Nixon to run a few errands. We went somewhere very similar to Lowe's or Home Depot, which is frequented by the upper class. It was interesting to see that I had darker skin than half of the people in there, the only thing to give me away were my eyes. We also briefly went to El Bosque, the mall, which is built up the side of a mountain (Quito reminds me of San Francisco in ways, except even more mountainous. I love it!). In an electronics store, the price of a netbook was around $1000 – one that I think would run $300 in the US. Nixon said this is due to the newly elected president (as of two years ago) who has introduced insanely high taxes...something that I think is a new concept in Ecuador. Also, Nixon said the average monthly income (I think in Quito) is approx $200-$250. Later he said the house he rents is $400/mo., thus my deduction of well off. Although I don't know if this means just the living space and the gym of the family I'm staying with, or the entire building which is inhabited by three generations and three separate families.

Now we are off to a birthday party (the second one today!) where wearing pink is a requirement. I am in one of Alexandria's shirts that says Vitamin D under the picture of a cow.

I can't help myself: 67 days to go.

21:00

Well Ecuadorians are famous for fashionably late, says the guidebook, and it does not lie. (Never be on time, it says, unless for a business meeting. Arrive at least a half hour late. If you don't your host will not even be dressed yet, which is never considered good manners anywhere.) Anyway, no party to report on yet, but it's nice to just chill.

My favorite chilling pastime is people watching. My bedroom overlooks a bustling street complete with food vendors, a giant inflatable slide, and of course the people. I sit in a chair close to the window and peak my head over just far enough to see most of what is down there (for fear of being spotted – la gringa). I don't know if it's just the weekend, but to all appearances there's a party here every night, all night. Too bad I'm too nervous to go out at night and check it out for myself (at least alone, which rationally I know is a good reaction).

The people line up for food starting around 5pm and ending...past my bedtime :-). I have been so tired this past couple of days, which for me means a LOT of sleep is needed. Let's just say 10 hours plus naps is optimal for this amiga right now. There are usually several (feral?) dogs roaming around, begging for food scraps.

One thing I forgot to write yesterday: flying into Quito at night ranks as one of the most beautiful things I have seen in my life thus far. Nothing like flying into industrial Frankfurt, Quito was a softly orange-lit mosaic of neatly spaced street-lanterns and house lights. Not bright and pompous like a lot of cities...just a blanket of orange pinpricks draped elegantly over the rolling sea of both steep and gentle mountains. The storm we had just passed through definitely helped add to the general ambiance.

5-16-10

3:17

What was I saying about early to bed? Que? Yeah right! We just got back from the birthday party/crazy dance party. 3 o'clock in the morning. And even the grandmother was there til the end. The young and the old, bumpin' and grindin' in the courtyard that was the dance floor. And the sound system was complete with DJ and turntables. Ecuadorians know how to party. Nothing like this would have EVER happened at any of my highschool parties, or even now for that matter. Wow, maybe more later when I can think straight.