Category: Ecuador

!Hola Desde Quito!

I am back and more enthusiastic than ever! During these past few weeks away from the blog, I’ve been able to find a good balance between university life and exploration, which has been a huge stress relief!  Sometimes, it can be very challenging trying to prioritize travel, especially when there are other obligations, but so far, I don’t have a single regret. Not only have I been able to explore more of Ecuador’s natural beauty, but I have also had the opportunity to push myself outside of my comfort zone while showing my adventurous side.

One of my first adventures since my last blog was taking a spontaneous trip with a group of exchange friends to visit the Historical Center of Quito. This was a very fun experience, as we were able to go at our own pace and choose how to go about our exploration. Our first stop of the day was to “Centro de arte contemporaneo”, which is a museum that showcases various forms of contemporary art. Overall, I really enjoyed this museum and what it had to offer, especially the exhibits portraying climate preservation and Indigenous artwork. In the museum, there was also an option to travel to the top level, where there was an amazing view of the residential area of the Historical Center. I, along with my friend Nati, also probably had a bit too much fun in the kid center, where we made a colorful piece of art; try to guess which side belongs to which artist!         

After our time at the “Centro de arte contemporaneo”, we traveled to the nearby church “Basílica del voto nacional”. This church was outstanding! Not only is the architecture gorgeous, but it also has a unique feature of letting the public climb to the top of its towers. This was a bit scary for me, as the main method of climbing is using a single staircase that exists on the outside of the building. However, after some self-convincing (along with friendly support from my friends), I was able to climb to the top and have never felt more proud! From this position, I had a great viewpoint of both the residential area and the nearby mountains. It is also interesting to hear how loudly some residents play their music, as I was being serenaded to “Funky Town” almost 400 feet above ground level. 

Light going through a stained glass window

On another separate day in February, another group of friends and I took a trip to “Museo de cera ‘Alberto Mena Caamaño’” for our Ecuadorian culture class. Here, we learned about the history of Ecuador’s independence, leading up to its formation as a singular republic. This museum illustrated the history through information boards and wax figures, which I thought was very intriguing! However, there was one part of the museum that mimicked a graphic war scene in a dungeon, which was a little too gory for my taste. My favorite fun fact from this exhibit centers around the resemblance that Ecuador’s flag shares with Columbia and Venezuela. At one point, these countries made up the republic of Gran Colombia; when this republic disbanded, that led to the formation of each country, resulting in similar flag patterns to that of Gran Colombia. 

Probably my favorite excursion in Ecuador thus far has been hiking mount Pichincha! This mountain trail takes about 4 hours to hike up (as it is very uphill), and about 1.5 hours to hike down. In order to get to this trail, I had to take a teleférico, which resembles a cable car traveling above ground. I will not lie; this part was a bit scary, as heights are something that I try to avoid. This trip, however, is about pushing my boundaries, which has now given me a very memorable experience. On the car ride up, I realized that I had forgotten to pack snacks (silly me), so I ended up buying a sandwich at a nearby cafe. The hike itself was very interesting, as it transitioned from a mountain path to a form of safe rock climbing to a giant sand hill (which was my least favorite part). Even though doing this hike in white Nike running shoes was a very bad idea, it was definitely worth it, as the viewpoint was outstanding! I also enjoyed the quality bonding time I had with the group I went with, as I definitely made new friendships on this trip! 

!Chao!

Cassie Klagge

Hola desde Quito!

In my last blog, I mentioned something about “fun surprises”. Well, I was in for probably the “most fun” of these surprises when I learned that the start of classes was pushed back a week due to a university-wide cyberattack. Upon hearing this news, I felt super relieved, as this meant that I had an additional week to become adjusted to Ecuadorian lifestyle and to improve my Spanish before heading onto campus. This additional week would also serve as a great opportunity to become acquainted with other international students and to explore the natural beauty of Ecuador without having the pressure to focus on academic obligations. Us international students were very blessed as USFQ had arranged a full week of fun activities, such as paying soccer/volleyball, learning traditional Hispanic dances, watching a preservation documentary about the Amazon, and visiting geographically unique locations.

Of these activities, my personal favorite was traveling to Mitad Del Mundo, which translates to “middle of the world”. Its name is a direct translation of its geography, as it is located exactly on the equator. Although there are other locations that also lay on the equator, Ecuador’s elevation is significantly higher, making it the closest landmark to the center of Earth. As a science major, it was extremely interesting learning how physical forces behave differently at the center of the equator vs. other locations! To “prove” this behavior, we did many interactive activities that dealt with gravity and balance. My personal favorite was trying to balance an egg on a nail, even though I was very much not successful. I was very ambitious to be successful, however, as I wanted both bragging rights and the “egg master” certificate. I may have not gotten the certificate, but I did get my passport stamped there, which was both an unsuspected and pleasant surprise.

While visiting Mitad del Mundo, my friends and I also visited Museo Iniñan, which is an interactive museum meant to illustrate the traditional lifestyle of Amazonian and Andean indigenous tribes. My favorite part of this museum was being able to tour previously inhabited indigenous houses, which were present many years prior to the exhibit’s construction. I also found it very interesting how guinea pigs were commonly relied on to determine personal health and spiritual energy.

Prior to knowing this, my tour group was asked to walk into one of the traditional houses, where, to none of our knowledge, there were guinea pigs present. Since they didn’t make any noise throughout our duration in the house, it meant that we had good energy, which I will definitely take as a compliment! Lastly, I found the animal species of the Amazon really interesting, but a bit scary. At this museum, they had a replica BABY tarantula, which is by far the biggest spider that I have ever seen; I don’t know if I ever want to see a grown Amazonian tarantula!     

These past few weeks I have really enjoyed getting to know my international peers! On Sundays, a group of us get together to play soccer in La Carolina. This has been a very enjoyable experience, as I’ve never really played soccer before, even at the recreational level. One of the guys (Jack), has been helping me learn, which has been so beneficial! After about two weeks of practicing, I think I have improved so much! I even scored my first goal this past Sunday, which felt so good! My personal favorite thing to do on the field is play defense, as I just really like stealing the ball. Hopefully I can take these new soccer skills back to the U.S! I will say, however, the thought of leaving my friends behind in May is already so sad to me!

As it is the end of January, I have completed my first week of classes! I have never felt so overwhelmed, proud, and content in one week. The main thing that I struggled with was determining whether my classes were too easy or too linguistically challenging for me, as all of my classes are in Spanish. Due to this, I have switched most of my schedule around to accommodate for each of these areas.

For the most part, I am now content with my schedule, but I am still a little stressed, as I haven’t yet attended three of the four classes that are currently on my schedule. It has also been a little intimidating trying to talk in classes that have native Ecuadorian students, as they are very linguistically advanced in Spanish! However, all of my encounters with native students have been very positive and I plan to talk to more natives/try to form friendships within the next coming weeks! Heading into February, I feel a little uneasy, but very hopeful that everything academically will work out!

Chao,
Cassie Klagge

¡Hola desde Quito! 

Wow! Reflecting on this past week has been such an emotional rollercoaster. Since beginning my departure process into Ecuador, I have had the wonderful opportunity to learn a few things about myself, specifically within the realms of adaptability, vulnerability, and patience. From navigating various international airports and becoming exposed to a culture that is foreign to my own, I have (for the most part) experienced pure enjoyment, with a little bit of “fun surprise” thrown in the mix. 

I give myself a gold star for getting through the transportation process to Ecuador! The flights themselves weren’t too troublesome, but they more or less represented a monumental milestone within my self-development. I knew that saying goodbye to my friends, family, and Oregon would be hard, as they are my entire support system. However, I didn’t expect myself to be overcome with so much emotion when looking at Oregon’s overhead view from my seat. So far in my journey, that has been the hardest part. This, for me, was my reality check that I was leaving. 

Once reaching Los Angeles for my second flight, my mindset had switched and I was now very excited to first reach Miami, then board onto my third flight into Ecuador. In Miami, I was finally able to board my plane, where I met three other students who happened to also be studying abroad at USFQ. This part of my flight was really reassuring, as I now had some familiar faces for when school began. Once I had finally arrived in Quito, I met up with my host mom (who is so sweet!). I toured my new home for the next four months, took a very much needed shower, and went to bed as I had been functioning on almost two days’ worth of no sleep.

 

 

 

 

Although I am now secure within my new home, there have been some challenges with adjusting to the Ecuadorian lifestyle. As I am not entirely fluent in Spanish and still have so much to learn, communicating with my host family and locals has been a bit of a struggle, resulting in a lot of frustration. However, as I have been in Ecuador for about a week now, I have already seen a massive improvement with my verbal comprehension skills! Some things that have really helped within this realm have been making small talk with locals/other international students, asking clarifying questions so that I know I heard the right thing, and watching shows/movies in Spanish. Right now, my host mom and I are watching “los Cien”, which is a very intense show! 

For the most part, I think that I am adjusting to the everyday Ecuadorian lifestyle pretty well! I have really enjoyed using the Ecuadorian bus system and becoming familiar with Quito’s geography! One of my favorite places to explore is “Parque La Carolina”, which is said to be the equivalent to New York’s “Central Park”. Another place that I would love to visit again is the historic center of Quito, which has a rich history of churches, government buildings, and private vendors. I have also enjoyed trying the different types of traditional Ecuadorian cuisine! Some of the dishes that I’ve tried including pan de yuca, choclo con huevos (which has been my favorite so far), and humita. Another thing to note is that the coffee down here is absolutely amazing! I have even had the ability to try chocolate-covered coffee beans from the Amazon, which were so enjoyable! Overall, Ecuadorian food is simple, but very tasty! I will definitely not go hungry while abroad!

 

Chao,

Cassie Klagge

Semana Santa or “Holy Week” is a time of religious practices but also cultural festivities. During the days leading up to Easter, it’s custom for families to gather this week to eat Fanesca which is a traditional soup served in this season. Fanesca is made with 12 different types of beans to represent the 12 apostles, and it’s considered a very complex dish. It’s a whole ordeal to make and not everyone makes it well, so it’s custom that the same person makes it each year. I had the opportunity to eat it twice this year since every family eats it on a different day and I was invited by two classmates. A lot of people don’t like fanesca and sometimes it’s even a debate among Ecuadorians if it’s good or not. I personally really liked it and I’m sad I likely won’t eat it again. 

For Easter break, we only had one day off which was surprising to me since in other Catholic countries it’s a bigger deal and they get more than a week off. For the weekend I had plans to go to the coast with some friends, however, plans fell through 5 days before and I was left with nothing to do.

Thankfully, my best friend Sofia is very adventurous and we agreed we would take a spontaneous trip. Sofia is from New Jersey and she’s the international student I spend most of my time with. For this trip, we flew to Cuenca which is a beautiful colonial city to the south of Quito. While here, we spent our days going to museums, eating traditional food and simply walking around. I loved this break and it was super relaxing since Cuenca isn’t as busy and hectic as Quito and there’s not much going on. Although we flew in alone, while there, we found a group of students from our University in Ecuador and we became a little group. Overall, I think Cuenca is the most beautiful city I’ve visited in Ecuador and I’m super thankful that I was able to make good plans so quickly. 

Un abrazo,

Salma Galvan

 

 

 

These last few weeks have been very stressful since we are preparing for exam season to commence. During midterms, every class had an exam, and there weren’t projects or essays. However, for the end of the semester, it’s more essays and final projects such as group presentations or videos. We are currently seeing less content in classes as we prepare to turn in our finals.

If you take classes with Ecuadorians it’s a much different experience than taking classes with international students. Not only is the difficulty level higher, but it’s already hard enough to focus and do everything completely in Spanish. I generally like my classes with Ecuadorians much more than my classes with international students. The cons are that they are harder and there’s more homework. On the other hand, I feel that I learn more and that it’s more engaging and interesting than classes with international students. This is definitely something that depends on the level though and I’m a native speaker so I need more challenging classes as far as language goes. 

An amazing part of USFQ is that they have themed weeks with corresponding events. For example, one week was diversity week and they had several activities, performances, and events that were hosted by diverse individuals including but not limited to race, sexual orientation, country, etc. During this week, I went to the book release event of an Ecuadorian activist and author. The activist was Purita, a trans woman who was one of the most influential figures in passing the law to decriminalize being LGBTQ in Ecuador. This was an amazing individual to listen to, and this is just one example of the way USFQ hosts interesting and educational events outside of the classroom. 

It’s super exciting to be nearing the end of the semester and being done with school but it’s also stressful because it means the end of my experience is coming. It’s disappointing that classes and leaving are so closely correlated because it’s impossible to be carefree and enjoy the end because there is so much to do.

To be honest, I feel that I haven’t explored all the places I want to, but I also think I’ve had a very authentic Ecuadorian experience. I study, I go out, I hang out with Ecuadorians, and I love the life I’m currently living. I haven’t seen all the cool things a tourist might, but I’m very happy with my choices. As the next few weeks approach, I will definitely work hard to manage my time to ensure that I’m able to maintain good grades while enjoying my last days here. 

Until next time,
Salma Galvan

One of the most unique things about la Universidad San Francisco de Quito is that they have locations in both the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon jungle. This month I had the opportunity to visit their base in Tiputini. This is a set of cabins where scientists from around the world go to research biodiversity and rare specimens. The trip was one of the most intense things I have undergone, we left Quito at 10 pm on Thursday and didn’t arrive until 6 pm on Friday. In total, we had a 6-hour bus, two two-hour canoes, and another three-hour bus. Upon arriving we spent the next two days hiking in nature, seeing presentations on the area, and hanging out with other students.

In total, 10 international students went along with a group of 25 students from the biotechnology faculty. Being in this environment for four days was definitely intense because we didn’t have wifi, service, or reliable electricity. We only had electricity for two hours a day and we rarely had running water which was freezing when we did have it.

However, despite the millions of mosquito bites and discomfort, the food was amazing and the company was great too. My favorite activity was when we swam in the amazon river and looked for different animals in the trees. I liked swimming because it was a nice break from the hot sun and walking near tarantulas, banana spiders, and cockroaches. Overall, it was a great time and although I’m not an outdoorsy person, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to experience the Amazon rainforest. 

Un Abrazo,

Salma Galvan

 

This last week was Carnaval break, and we had a whole week to relax and participate in various festivities. Carnaval happens in many countries around the world and each place has its unique traditions.

In Ecuador specifically, there are various cities that attract a ton of Ecuadorians due to their different ways of celebrating. In almost all the cities, people go out on the street and throw water and foam at their family, friends, and even strangers. I personally went to the Ecuadorian coast with another American girl and our Ecuadorian friends. We traveled 5 hours from Quito and finally arrived at the beach. The area we stayed at was full of college students or young adults from Quito. For the next few days, we spent our time swimming in the ocean, dancing, and drinking coconut smoothies. It was super relaxing and fun to be able to meet other students and forget about school for a bit. After this trip, I had exactly 24 hours to go home and wash my clothes and pack my bags for the trip I would be taking to Galapagos.

The trip to Galapagos was organized through a tour guide recommended from San Francisco who arranges trips to several locations solely for international students. We started the trip by flying to Baltra and taking a small boat to the biggest Island Puerto Ayora. While on this island, we went to the Charles Darwin Research station. Here we had the opportunity to learn about Darwin’s life, his theories and see a ton of tortoises. From here, we explored the island and went to Tortuga Bay which is considered the most beautiful beach in Galapagos. The next few days we spent time on several beaches where we snorkeled with sharks, turtles, sea lions, and several beautiful fish. It was amazing how close you could be to sea lions, iguanas, and birds wherever you went.

One of the most surprising things to me was how small and local the islands felt. Big companies aren’t allowed to go in so everything feels very authentic.

Overall, I loved spending my break on the beach, and although both locations were very different in terms of activities, both were unforgettable and amazing.

Un abrazo,

Salma Galvan

 

One of the best parts of being an international student is that you not only meet people from your host country but from around the world. In Universidad San Francisco de Quito, the international programs are very well organized and there’s a lot of support that is offered to its students. One of the best parts of academic life is that you have the ability to choose between having classes with international students and local ones.

Sometimes it depends on your Spanish ability, but other times it varies based on what classes sound most interesting. In my case, I have 3 classes with local students and one class with international ones. I think this is a great mix because it allows you to improve your Spanish and meet people from different groups and origins. Other than the access to special cultural classes, there are also other trips and activities for international students to be a part of. There are smaller activities like clubs or outings around the city, but there are also larger trips that the international office organizes or recommends. Specifically, they organize a trip to Tiputini which is a biological base in the Amazon jungle. Through this trip, you have the opportunity to see the university’s biodiversity station and enjoy several activities in nature. In addition to this, they recommend a trip to Peru and Galapagos during the mid-semester break where you go on an organized trip with other international students.

One of the activities I’ve been able to participate in is making traditional Ecuadorian food with professional chefs from the Gastronomy faculty. Through this activity, I was able to join 10 other international students in watching a cooking demonstration and cooking various dishes. On this day, we arrived at the gastronomic part of the campus where we put on our aprons and were given instruction. After a brief introduction, we were able to cut up vegetables, meat, and fruit, in order to prepare the ingredients. In total , we made a warm fruit drink ( colada morada), empanadas de Morocho and a fish and shrimp ceviche. Everything was delicious and it was amazing how organized and quick we were able to make so many things.

Un abrazo,

Salma Galvan

 

Traveling and doing touristy things has been heavy on my mind, but also difficult due to Covid. In my first two weeks in Ecuador, I focused on getting adjusted to both my classes and schedule and it became difficult to go on adventures. In combination with the rise in covid cases, there hasn’t been much to do. This has been giving me guilt about wasting my time here, and not going out enough.

However, this weekend I finally got out and decided to do some exploring. On Friday, Vanessa and I (another Linfield student) decided to explore el Centro Historico de Quito. This is the oldest part of the city and has been preserved to maintain its colonial architecture. There are also museums and churches here which contain some of Ecuador’s most important artworks. During this outing, we went to El Museo Fransciscano del Padre Almeida. This is both a museum and a convent and it has both beautiful sculptures and paintings. You can also go up to their tower and there’s an amazing view of the entire historic center. Although it was rainy, as Oregonians we were used to it and still able to enjoy such a beautiful part of our new city. 

This weekend continued to be exciting as the international students organized an outing to “ La mitad del mundo.” Ecuador is named after the Equator because Quito is located where the Northern and Southern hemispheres divide. At this location, twenty minutes north of where I live, there are two museums where you are guided through Ecuadorian culture and other interesting phenomena. For example, you are able to balance an egg on a nail, step in both the northern and southern hemispheres at the same time, and guess the exact time of the day by the sun’s shadow.

While we were here, we were able to “tour” Ecuador’s various regions and see recreations from different locations and their cultures. There are over a dozen different “nationalities” within Ecuador and each group has its own customs, dialect (and/or language), and way of life. After we toured both museums, we went into the little shops for souvenirs, artisanal wine, and other Ecuadorian delicacies.

We ended the night by going to an Ecuadorian classmate’s home to hang out and dance. Overall, It was a successful weekend full of meeting new people and seeing new places! 

Un Abrazo,

Salma Galvan

The past few weeks in Ecuador have been full of learning experiences not just in terms of getting adjusted to a new culture, but to overall city life. After living in a small town my whole life, there are a lot of changes that come with living in a city of over 2 million people.

Some of the biggest differences are due to Quito’s geographic location. Each day the sun rises and sets at the same time and there is never any question about that. On the other hand, the weather is extremely unpredictable and there are no marked seasons like there are in Oregon. Arguably, the hardest thing to adapt to is the altitude as Quito is ​​9,350 feet in elevation. Due to this, it’s easy to get sleepy easily, exhausted while only walking a short distance, and it even affects the way your body processes food or alcohol.

Besides these changes, a big difference is the awareness you must have when being in the city. Like most major cities (especially in Latin America), you have to be aware of your surroundings, not take your phone out, and not walk the streets at night. As a woman, one must take more precautions, and it is instrumental that you don’t let your guard down. 

One of my favorite parts of living in the city is taking public transport. There is something very liberating about being able to go wherever you want without relying on another person or having to drive. Nonetheless, the bus can be hard to get used to and also comes with its challenges.

My first time taking the bus was the morning after I arrived in Ecuador. I was still very sleepy, affected by the altitude change, and overall anxious to go to my new university right after a long day of travel. Thankfully, my host mom went with me, but I wasn’t in the best mindset to remember my bus route. Unfortunately, this would prove disastrous for my first day of school two days later. The morning of, I walked to the station and couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t see the green bus I was supposed to take. I waited and waited with no luck until I gave up and called an Uber. I later found out that I was at the wrong bus station and I had to keep walking for two more minutes to find the right station. On my way back home from the university, I was nervous to take the bus back, but I was determined to succeed despite my failure in the morning. I walked out the gates of the university and I asked a boy on the street if the bus on the side of the street went to Quito. He told me it did, and I got on feeling content that at least I would make it home on the bus. It took me 20 minutes before I realized I was moving in the opposite direction and going to Tumbaco instead of Quito. After I realized this, I got off at the next stop where I flagged a taxi to go home. I was so mad at myself and annoyed that the buses were so hard to navigate. However, I learned from this experience and it makes for a funny story about me being clueless in a big city.

Something crazy that happened from this experience is that I found my group of friends. The day after this fiasco, I found the boy who sent me on the wrong bus and it turns out he’s in my Portuguese class! I told him what happened and he felt really bad but we also laughed about it and became friends. Through this, he introduced me to his friend group and we all went out later that week.

Sometimes annoying things happen, but they can lead to good things. Knowing this has made me more excited for all the things that are to come even if they may seem bad at first.

Un abrazo,
Salma Galvan