May in Korea has been beautiful if not a bit challenging. Things got hotter earlier than they usually do and the temperatures in May are now 70-80 degrees (Freiheit). With this weather comes monsoon season as hot weather is mixed with rain. I have to say this heat is making things hard as I realize I am not built for this. Walking in the heat to my classes was something I did not think of. Luckily if I want to go somewhere else the buses and subway are kept cool.
Walking by Underwood Hall In All Its Glory.Please Let Me In!
Walking by the many school fountains was so tempting in this heat. However, everyone around me seemed to not let the weather change how they dress. I walk the only one that seemed to be struggling with the heat.
I decided to try and enjoy some of this sunshine while I was out in nature. I walked through this beautiful nature area that Yonsei had on campus.
So Much Green EverywhereBeautiful Pond
After walking back from Korean class I went to the ATM and then to a convenience store. One of the many convenient things about South Korea is that you can pay for your national health insurance by visiting the convenience store with cash and your bill. I was freaking out about it more than it was worth as it went smoothly.
In the evening I went and met up with a new friend in Gangseo-gu. I took the bus by myself for 30 minutes (each way).
Busy Area! One of Many Food Alleys in Seoul
This area is not as traveled by foreigners as places like Sinchon or Hongdae. I had a great time and we laughed a lot. She showed me one of her favorite restaurants and we enjoyed some ramen.
Peaceful Bus Ride.
As I traveled home ( On what I hoped was the right bus) I enjoyed staring out the window. We passed over the Han River and it was a beautiful sight.
Walking home at night in Korea can be comforting because it is always full of lights and people going places.
Motorcycles Are EverywhereOff the BusFried Korean Treats.
I had such a good time exploring and enjoying seeing others out and having fun as well.
However, at 7 AM, I was woken up by my phone with a very loud emergency alarm. I had to translate what the warnings were saying and it said I might need to be ready to evacuate. In the past, I had gotten a small one of these for an earthquake that turned out to just be a test. I was hoping this was the same. I reached out to my American friend that lives here and she said that North Korea had launched something. She did a good job calming me down but I was defiantly rattled until they sent out the alert that everything was okay.
The word Wartime scared me so much.
Living here takes a lot of courage. I was only focused on everything positive about Korea and I over-looked this important issue.
I hope I can continue to look towards the bright side though and enjoy this warm weather with new friends.
Since the Japanese colonial period when coffee was introduced to Korea, it has become an important part of the culture. The culture is known for its fast-paced nature and thus many people find it hard to keep up. Coffee swoops in to save the day and there is a cafe every 2 buildings. Which was how I found myself at a cafe called A Twosome at 9 pm. Whoever let cafes be open until 11 was either a madman or a genius. I went to meet up with my friend to work on our final project proposal for our class “Understanding K-pop”.
The Duality of Literature. (I Only Know Winnie The Pooh)
When the weekend arrived I went to go get my nails done in Hongdae at a shop I found online that was supposed to be friendly to foreigners. The woman was very nice and my nails were very cute.
I Love Pink!
Afterward, I went to a Korean bbq place in Hongdae that specialized in eating alone. It was my introvert heaven. I ordered through a touchpad and no awkward sitting at a table alone.
So Easy!All Of This for $16! ( Plus A Drink)
It was a very relaxing day for me and as I walked back to the subway station the streets of Hongdae were filled with people enjoying an evening weekend stroll.
The next day I saw this big blow-up balloon!
Snoopy!
When I went to the mall I discovered there was a pop-up store! (Pop-up stores seem more common in South Korea).
So Cute!
I bought two cute bags for myself and an AirPods case for my boyfriend.
South Korea is defiantly a fast-paced culture but when you get to stop and look around it feels freeing.
It has been a whirlwind the last couple of weeks. With the Easter holiday, mid-semester break, and my family visiting me, a lot has happened. Let’s start with Easter. I am still amazed by the kindness New Zealanders have. By some distant connection, my flatmate and I went up to Christchurch to spend the holiday with a family. They took us in, hosted us, and fed us amazing food. It was a refreshing break from the college meals weʻve been having. I truly will remember this kindness others have been showing me and one day pay it forward.
Following the holiday in Christchurch, my tutu (grandma) and aunty met up with me in New Zealand. They explored the North Island and then flew down to the South Island to see me. This was the start of our epic road trip through New Zealand. When I say epic, I mean EPIC! Here is how it went.
Starting in Christchurch, we drove to Lake Tekapō, then to Lake Pukaki. We stayed in Twisel for a night, then went on a four-mile hike in AorakiMt. Cook National Park the next morning. It was a gorgeous day with stunning views of the mountain. After that, we drove to the town of Wanaka and enjoyed the immaculate view of the lake and the iconic Wanaka tree. This trip took place during mid-April, so it was the peak for Autumn colors. We even went jetboating on the lake and up a river in Wanaka.
Arrowtown was the best place to see the bright yellow and orange trees. We briefly stopped here on our way to Queenstown. Queenstown was another beautiful stop. We enjoyed a lamb and potato dinner since sheep are a staple here in New Zealand. In fact, there are about 7 sheep for every New Zealander that lives here. During our long drives, counting how many sheep we saw in the fields was impossible. The next day we took a day trip to Milford Sound. This place has to be the number one place I have visited thus far in New Zealand. I was overwhelmed by how beautiful it was. It is a glacier-carved fiord filled with waterfalls, dolphins, seals, and epic sea cliffs.
After Queenstown, I got to show my tutu and aunty my University. Although when we first got back to Dunedin, there were large wind gusts, the weather turned out perfectly sunny. After giving them a campus tour, we went to see the blue penguins on the peninsula. This is my second time seeing these tiny ʻfairyʻ penguins; it never gets old. They are now my new favorite animal.
I ventured out on my own when I went to Hongdae to get eyelash extensions. The lady spoke English and was very efficient. On the 20-minute walk home, I passed by a shop where 90% of the items were on sale. I bought 2 dresses and the total was $42. On the way home I stopped and got a brown sugar boba from one of the many coffee shops that have an electronic kiosk you can order at. It was a nice sunny day and I was proud of myself.
The Nice Older Lady Agreed This One Would Look Good On Me.
It has been a very eventful few weeks as I have finally discovered how to use the subway. Sinchon Line 2 has been my best friend as I have begun to branch out more. I first rode it with my friend to Myeong-dong to get to a mall. Before we arrived we stopped at a restaurant to have some iced peach tea and pasta.
Rose Shrimp Pasta. Yum!
Myeong-dong had impressive skyscrapers but I also saw some interesting old-style architecture among them.
Stands out!
The mall we went to was called Shinsaegae and it was way too expensive for me. I learned I have expensive taste when I picked up a dress and saw it was $1000. I did not buy anything but my friend bought a wallet and a belt.
We went to another mall on Wednesday named CoEx Mall. The subway ride took 40 minutes. On the way there we got to sit but we had to stand the whole way back. My feet hurt so bad at the end. For lunch we had sushi and I bought a shirt and skirt set that was very comfy. This mall is also the home of the famous Starfield Library.
I Was Amazed!Both Sides Covered!
The Library had a cute cafe on the second level.
So Sparkly!
I also discovered a store called Pop Mart which sells collectible figures in mystery blind boxes. I am now officially obsessed and have started to build an army.
This Is the Mall Location. I Have Also Visited the 3-Story One.
Today I went to Hongdae with my friend and we first went to a shoe store she had been wanting to visit. My friend takes a long time to pick something she likes but I came in knowing I wanted some cute white shoes. I ended up paying $22 and the kind store lady made sure there were no imperfections on them.
So Many Cute Shoes. Nice Atmosphere.So Cute! So Many Outfit Options!Selfie Time! Cute Mirror!
My friend then went into a store across the street but I wasn’t interested in it so I waited outside and look at a shop that had some jackets out on the street. The Older lady inside saw me staring at a jacket then pulled it and me into the store. She had me try it on and told me it would be better for me to wear because it is a jacket for spring. I was wearing a winter jacket at the time and agreed a thinner jacket would be nice. She was sweet and tried to tell me how to style it (my Korean is not that proficient yet but I tried).
Stylish! She Said It Would Be A Casual Style.
On the way home I took the subway alone for the first time. I was standing holding onto the handle of the train. A nice older lady patted the seat next to her and let me sit by her. When I got off I waved to her and she waved back. It was a small interaction but it made me smile.
Using my transportation cad I can pay to get on any bus and subway with it. I enjoy the subway more than the bus so far. The subway system is built great with trains always there to hop on. My confidence is building thanks to the subway.
It is crazy to think that this blog will be one of my last before I leave Ecuador! It’s even crazier to think that it is already May and that four whole months in a foreign country have passed. In one sense, I’m happy that my departure day is coming soon (only 20 more days!) as I do miss my family, friends, and Oregon. The other part of me, however, feels a bit bittersweet as I’ve made so many friends here and have experienced many one-in-a-lifetime activities. For now, though, I’ll just focus on persevering through finals and exploring Ecuador just a little bit more!
As I have mentioned, finals season is approaching, which means I have been wrapping up my final assignments for each of my classes. For my History of Baroque class, I recently completed my final presentation, which was to analyze any Baroque artwork of my choice. I was very nervous about this, as I, the only international student in the class, was the first to present. However, I think that my presentation went really well, as my professor really enjoyed my content and only provided feedback that would further enhance my argument. As for my other classes, there has been a recent focus on just being present and enjoying the space that we exist in, which has been a very fun shift in the regular class schedules.
College kids playing with traditional Ecuadorian toys!A serious game of JacksMarbles and wooden tops
Besides focusing on my coursework, I’ve also taken some opportunities to just spend time with my exchange friends. A few weekends ago, some of the international students celebrated our friend Ellie’s 21st birthday, which was both casual and fun! Throughout the night, we just relaxed, talked about life, and played uno until very late in the night; I don’t think I arrived home until two in the morning! My favorite part of this experience was being able to directly spend time with my friends without having any external pressures affecting our get-togethers, such as school and travel.
A week or two after Ellie’s party, a few friends and I went to get our nails painted at one of the many local peluquerías. If anyone ever ends up in Ecuador, I strongly recommend getting nails done, as they are so much cheaper here than in the United States; the current nail design that I have, which would normally cost $50 in the U.S., only cost me $13 here in Ecuador!
The photo quality may not be great, but our experience was!Girls day!Our painted nails!
This past month was full of adventures and exploration! Besides going to the Galapagos (which has a blog all to itself), I took trips to Otavalo and Cuenca, which both did not disappoint! Even though my group only spent one day in Otavalo, I really had a blast there! Our trip started out with a hike around Cuicocha, which is an earth-made lake just outside of Otavalo’s city limits.
The hike was a bit challenging, as it had a lot of uphill action, but it was so cool to see the varying angles of the lake in pure sunlight! After this hike (and an unexpected boat ride on the lake itself), we visited a very large artisanal market. For me, it was a bit difficult to enjoy the market, as I hadn’t had dinner and was a bit tired from the hike; I was both hungry and not in a shopping mood.
My boat ride on CuicochaLake Cuicocha
As for Cuenca, I absolutely loved that city and wish I had more time to explore there! Cuenca is known for its historical, elegant, and catholic town set-up. While there, my group and I visited Cajas, which is a national park outside of Cuenca, and Museo Pumapungo, which is a museum that shares indigenous artifacts and the past indigenous history of Cuenca’s land. The museum even had authentic past ruins, but sadly that part was closed off and we weren’t able to visit it.
Throughout our trip, we also visited a few artisanal markets (which I did end up buying stuff this time!), chocolate shops, and older buildings/churches. I really wish that I had time to go back to Cuenca, as this town is filled with so much, but I don’t think it’ll be possible due to my sudden departure back home.
Us eating at Negroni in CuencaA parade that we ran into!Rural CuencaOne section of Museo PumapungoMe posing with wild alpacas.A lake in Cajas
My last update for this blog is on the sadder side. Santiago Gangotena, who was the founder of USFQ, recently passed away due to a brutal bus accident. To many in Ecuador, he was a father figure to many and someone heavily involved in the community. Due to his passing, everyone associated with USFQ got a day off from school to recover and remember the legacy that was Santiago. Last week on campus, staff members had created a memorial for him, which included many flower displays and words of gratitude. Even though I really didn’t know him, it’s been heartwarming to see the local community band together in hopes of retaining the memory of their beloved.
As you may be following along, I am enrolled in a Māori performing arts class. Today marks 30 days from our concert performance. We so far have learned three songs, two of which have complete dance actions with them.
This past Saturday and Sunday, we had our wānanga, which translates to “to meet and discuss.” Essentially, it is a gathering of learning and knowledge. These days were full of learning and practicing the waiata (songs). We came into the weekend only knowing the words to one song. We then came out of the weekend having learned the actions of that song and knowing two more songs. Of course, my group and I rewarded ourselves with ice cream after such a long weekend of learning.
Practice area
A key part of this class is to learn the songs in the dark. Te reo Māori (Māori language) has traditionally been strickly an oral language. Writing was not introduced until the Europeans came around. Before that, all of the Māori whakapapa (genealogies), creation narratives, and stories were passed down orally. There were also certain times of the night that these were taught and they were usually in the form of song.
Our next song involves the poi and haka. The poi is a common dancing instrument used in Aotearoa. It is a foam ball wrapped in plastic attached to a string. Typically, the women dance with the poi, and the men do the haka; however, it is not required that we stick to those gender designations. I am learning the poi performance, and I am not as grateful as seasoned dancers make it seem. Since they grew up learning to dance with poi, I am giving myself a bit of grace. Hopefully, in the next month, I can practice enough to look somewhat good.
As briefly mentioned in my previous post, the University of Galway gives students two weeks of spring break… technically. The first week is labeled as spring break, and the second week is study week, or a chance for students to study for their end of year exams. However, because of my exam schedule, I was able to use study week as an extended spring break and do most of my studying this week. This two week break gave me the opportunity to check some sightseeing off of my Ireland bucket list.
The first stop on the bucket list was a day trip to Dublin, which I had yet to explore. I boarded the bus from Galway to Dublin’s City Centre, and 2 1/2 hours later I was there.
My first stop was at a boba shop to fuel up for the rest of the day’s adventures. I then made my way to Trinity College for a tour of their Old Library and The Book of Kells exhibit. The Book of Kells is a manuscript of the 4 gospel books of the Bible and dates from 800 AD. It is incredibly well preserved, and the library staff take great care to keep it that way, which means that photographing the actual manuscript is prohibited, as it can damage the book. The Old Library and the books housed within it are also consistently undergoing preservation work, which means that there was construction going on and about half of the collection missing when I toured. Nonetheless, the library was beautiful. My favorite part were the marble busts of famous authors, philosophers, and scientists lining the central walkway. Definitely a worthwhile visit as a bookworm.
Trinity College’s Old Library
an enlarged photo of a page from the Book of Kellscommonly used pigments in early manuscripts
The rest of my day in Dublin consisted of wandering Temple Street, where I grabbed dinner before my main reason for venturing to Dublin that day: a Rainbow Kitten Surprise concert. While the band name seems odd, their music is amazing, and they managed to climb their way to the #1 spot on my 2022 Spotify Wrapped in the span of a year. Their concert was sold out, but I managed to find someone reselling their ticket online. They rarely tour the west coast, so I find it quite ironic that it was easier to see them in a different country than the US. The concert was such an amazing experience, and I met some cool people while waiting for the doors to open. Coincidentally, I had seen them earlier in the boba shop, which made for a nice icebreaker in conversation.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise Concert
My second bucket list item of spring break was visiting the Cliffs of Moher. Most of the other international students I know had visited them earlier on in the semester, but I was holding out for better weather. The morning of my excursion was cloudy and rainy, so I thought that ship had sailed, but by the end of my 2 hour bus ride south the rain had let up and it was sunny and warm.
The cliffs, famous for their incredible view of the Atlantic (and for appearing in movies like Harry Potter and the Princess Bride), offer a visitor center, a gift shop, 800 meters of paved paths, and access to the coastal trail, which runs north-south through the cliffs. I went in the afternoon on a weekday, so it was a bit less crowded, which was super wonderful. After exploring the paved paths, I decided to venture northbound on the coastal trail for a nice little hike, and the view was spectacular. The cliffs are also known for their puffins, but I went a bit too early in the season to see any.
my photo op with the cliffs!
a memorial commemorating climbers that died on the cliffsthe sun was just starting to set as I was leaving, which made for an even more breathtaking viewhiking along the coastal trail. Some parts, like this staircase, are more well maintained than others
My next excursion of break was an overnight trip to Derry in Northern Ireland. There’s a direct bus from Galway to Derry that leaves twice a day, with the first one departing at 6 AM. A 5 hour ride and a nap on the bus later and I arrived. I checked into my AirBNB room to drop off my bag and set off to explore downtown. I ate lunch in a little café and wandered the small shops before heading to the Museum of Free Derry, which focuses on the Troubles and the Free Derry/civil rights movement in the early 1960s from the perspective of the Irish nationalists that championed for greater rights and increased parliamentary representation for Catholic citizens of Derry.
A must have photo with the Derry Girls muralPosters from the Troublespart of the Museum of Free Derry Exhibitthe Free Derry monumenta memorial dedicated to those that resisted British occupation of Northern Ireland
My next visit was to the Guildhall, which is Derry’s city hall. It also features an exhibit on the Ulster Plantation Era (which marks the beginning of British involvement in Derry) and one on the Good Friday Agreement, which was ratified 25 years ago and marked the end of the Troubles. Coincidentally, President Biden was visiting Belfast and County Mayo to commemorate this anniversary the same days I was traveling to and from Derry (which takes you through County Mayo). A few people I ran into in Derry asked me about it after realizing that I was American! Tangent aside, after a stop for dinner I headed back to where I was staying for the night.
the Guildhallthe meeting room in the Guildhalla quote from Irish nationalist John Hume, when he was jointly awarded the Nobel peace prize for his work towards ending the Troubles
The next day I started bright and early with a walk through Brooke Park and by St. Eugene’s Cathedral, then up the hill to wander the Derry city walls, which have remained intact since their creation in the 1600s. This offered an incredible view of the city, and a chance to look at old bastions and churches like St. Augustine’s.
I then headed to my third museum of the trip: the Tower Museum, which gets its name from its location in a historic tower building downtown. The main exhibit outlines the history and prehistory of Derry, including time periods such as pre-colonized Derry, the Siege of Derry in the 1600s, the Potato Famine, and the Troubles. There’s also a secondary exhibit on the excavation of a sunken Spanish Armada ship and an interactive room geared towards children. After exploring the museum I grabbed a late lunch in a different café and bought some snacks for the bus ride home.
St. Eugene’s CathedralDerry’s city wallsSt. Augustine’s churchEven Derry dislikes the British Museum (a bit of museum studies humor for you, my dear readers) 🙂a paper model of early DerryArtifacts recovered from the Spanish Armada ship
Visiting Derry as someone who loves learning about culture was such a unique experience. It was Irish enough to be similar to the culture I’ve been immersing myself in for the past three months, but there were elements that felt more similar to my visit to London, which makes sense, given that Northern Ireland belongs to the UK. They still use pounds as currency, most of the road signs were written only in English (as opposed to the bilingual nature of Irish road signs), public transportation and infrastructure was more like that of the UK, and a lot of the architecture had British influence.
I rounded out my spring break by attending a professional women’s soccer/football match here in Galway. Galway has both a men and women’s pro team, and the stadium they play in is a 10 minute walk from my apartment. Galway United took the lead off an early match score from a corner kick, but the opposing team scored in the last 15 minutes of the match to tie up the game, which made for quite an exhilarating match.
the Galway United Women’s football match!
I have a little over two weeks left in Ireland before I head home. While I’m excited to see my family and friends, I am a little sad to be leaving such a wonderful country. But, my adventure isn’t over quite yet, so stay tuned for more 🙂
One of my absolute favorite things about Ecuador is its diversity of landscape! Here, I have the opportunity to explore the mountain range of the Andes, the rainforest of the Amazon, the wide-spread coastal range, and, most excitingly, the tropicality of the Galapagos!
Since the first week of April was Semana Santa, all USFQ students got a full week break from anything academic-related. With this break, I decided that there wouldn’t be any better way to celebrate it than to go to the Galapagos. I initially started planning this trip in early March, so I was beyond excited when the time finally came to experience this long-awaited trip!
For me, my journey began at 3:00 A.M. since I had to get dressed, get a taxi, pick up my friend Leena (who I spent the entire trip with), and complete our airport flight check-in. This part I didn’t mind too much since our early flight would allow us to arrive in Santa Cruz by 8:30, giving us the whole day to explore and adjust to the new environment. Another part I found really exciting was running into the various groups of international students waiting in the airport; a majority of the USFQ international student cohort decided to do the exact same thing and spend Semana Santa in the Galapagos. Upon boarding the plane, I learned that I got an emergency-exit seat, which meant that I had extra room during the plane ride; this trip was so far going great!
Me waiting to board my flightLeena and I very excited to explore the Galapagos
After landing in the Santa Cruz airport, the moment we stepped off the plane, we immediately felt the humidity and warmth of the climate; this was so nice, especially considering that Ecuador is colder due to its high elevation. Since the Galapagos is environmentally protected land, check-in at the airport was a bit tedious due to the required taxes, forms, and security protocols. Eventually, we made it through the TSA and were able to get to Puerto Ayora by 12:00, which is Santa Cruz’s main town center. In Puerto Ayora, we took it a bit easy since we were feeling a bit jet lagged. To revive our spirits, we spent the remainder of the day on a beach, where we swam in the ocean, sunbathed, and just had the opportunity to relax. I left the beach with some very fun memories, a scar from tripping over a rock, 20 bug-bites, and without my pair of $10 Walmart sunglasses.
Beach in Santa CruzEarly morning in Santa CruzA mama and her baby
The next morning, Leena and I woke up at 5:00 A.M to take our ferry to San Cristobal. When arriving there, I automatically fell in love with the island; it was a good mix of nature, nightlife, and animals. My absolute favorite part of San Cristobal was the immense population of sea lions! Throughout my three days there, I saw sea lions everywhere, including on boardwalk benches, kayaks, and rocks! They also sound very similar to sheep, which was a very interesting surprise. While in San Cristobal, we visited the Interpretation Center, which provides the environmental history of San Cristobal and Charles Darwin theology. Additionally, Leena and I had many opportunities to snorkel, where we swam with sea lions, turtles, sharks, and rays. This was very surreal, as I hadn’t seen any of these animals before, especially this close in their natural environment. Other sites while on this island include Kicker Rock (which appears as a boot or a sleeping sea lion, depending on the particular angle), fresh-water lake El Junco, Puerto Chino, and a tortoise sanctuary. Since the daytime could be uncomfortably hot, nighttime was our time to freely (and safely) venture around San Cristobal. Here, we even reunited with quite a few international students, which was very fun to see!
Snorkeling center in San CristobalThat looks uncomfortable!Leena and I with Charles Darwin himselfKicker RockI had just finished snorkeling next to Kicker RockA congregation of sea lions!El JuncoTortoises having lunchMe feeding a tortoise!He just took a bath
After our time was up at San Cristobal, we traveled to Isabela and stayed there for two days. I was very excited to reach land, as not only was it late at night and I was tired, but our boat got a little too tipsy for my liking. Overall, I very much enjoyed the quietness of Isabela, as it is mostly just nature with some localized buildings. Since Leena and I only had one full day here, we tried to make the absolute most out of it. All in the same day, we went kayaking, snorkeling, and bikes to El Muro de las Lágrimas. I was a little disappointed on the kayaking tour, as I really wanted to see penguins (which the Galapagos does have!), but didn’t see any since the climate is currently too hot for them. However, there was a very playful sea lion that kept everyone entertained. As for snorkeling, it was very cool to see the smaller fish that belonged in the Pacific, but I was a little confused since there was this one fish that kept biting my leg; maybe it was hungry? I found El Muro de las Lágrimas, which translates to wall of tears in English, very interesting. This wall was originally constructed about 70 years ago due to the wishes of the Galapagos government. This project forced many criminals into physical labor, which served the purpose of keeping them busy/draining all of their energy from committing crimes. Nowadays, the Galapagos utilizes this wall to represent/reflect on past abuses; the wall resulted in pointless injuries and death since it was never intended to have a functional use once completed – just to occupy the criminals.
Leena and I kayakingHow Cute!Flamingos in a pondI found a wild tortoise!El Muro de las LágrimasAnother viewpoint of El Muro de las Lágrimas
After we said goodbye to Isabella, we spent one more night in Santa Cruz, which was very calm! The next morning, we went to our favorite gelato shop to eat breakfast, then headed back to the airport to catch our flight back into Quito. The flight back was very nice; once again, I was sat at the emergency exit, with the addition of having a window seat this time! Upon getting back to Quito, I went home, ate dinner, unpacked my luggage, and went to bed because I was so tired by the end of the trip. Overall, I am so grateful that I was able to have this experience! Plus, now I have a nice tan!
In my Korean language class, I have been sitting next to the same girl for weeks. We have now become exploring buddies and we go out 2-3 times a week together. Going out with her makes me feel braver and we share places we want to go. This week we went to a mall, a dermatologist, and a cat cafe.
Ruo-Ying and I!
We first went to the U-Plex Mall in Sinchon which is 13 floors (not counting the 2 basement levels). Sephora was the first store we went into. The worker spoke English with me and helped me hunt down a new foundation. She was so nice and it made me feel more at ease. After our makeup haul, we went upstairs to the cafe. The cafe was called Rendejavous. I got a roll cake and a strawberry latte while my friend got an avocado yogurt drink. I enjoyed mine but was suspicious about the combination of my friends. She assured me it was good.
Shopping Break!
We then worked our way up the floors until we reached the 11th floor which was called “The Food Alley”. Together it was decided to go to a restaurant called “Little Cuba”. We shared a pasta dish made with shrimp which was spicier than I anticipated.
Pasta Is The Best!
When we reached the 12th floor there was a beautiful bookstore. Korean book covers are so beautiful. Unfortunately, I am not proficient enough yet to be able to read them. I found a book in English about a fictional Korean family and bought that. We spent 5 hours in that mall and I was glad to finally rest my feet at the end.
On Tuesday Ruo-Ying asked me to accompany her to the dermatologist and I agreed. We decided to take the bus which is something I have not done a lot. When getting on a bus in Korea you must find a seat or hold onto something fast. Bus drivers immediately take off after the doors close. I was holding onto an overhead handle and still flew around a bit. I helped my friend navigate reception at the office and then waited in the lobby while she got her consultation done.
After all that, we decided to end the day by going to a cat cafe near my apartment. I paid $22 US dollars and we got to be there for 2 hours, get a drink, and 2 packets of cat treats.
Oh To Be A Cat Sleeping In A Cafe.Sleepy Baby.Majestic.
Midterms are this week and next, so I do not think I will do much but focus on class. However I am excited for the future adventures my friend and I will go on!
After two very long weeks of studying, projects, and exams, I was definitely ready for some fun! As a way to reward myself, I decided to take two weekend-long trips to some of Ecuador’s most beloved towns: Mindo and Baños.
I have to say, I think that Mindo is my favorite place so far that I’ve traveled to! The best way to describe Mindo is a small-forest town that has a huge emphasis on nature and tourism. Not only did I enjoy the quiet serenity at all times (but especially at night), but also the comfortably warm weather. When planning this trip, I had a lot of guidance from friends and locals, as everyone had great insight and lessons to share from their experiences; with this knowledge, I knew exactly what I wanted to do and how to do it!
My friends and I kicked off this trip by first visiting a mariposario, which acts as a sanctuary for the varying species of Ecuadorian butterflies. Here, visitors are able to put a banana paste on their hands to attract and hold butterflies (of course with their consent and well-being in mind). This was both a cool, but terrifying experience, as I don’t like insects and the only butterflies I could attract were gigantic and moth-appearing. However, I felt very accomplished afterwards, which was the important part!
My favorite butterflyMy butterfly and II still don’t know how Dalton did this
After spending some much-needed time with the butterflies, we did a Yumbos chocolate tour, which depicted both the fermentation and production process of chocolate. Since Ecuador has a well-adapted climate for cocoa growth, they have become one of the world’s leading producers in quality chocolate; one of these being the Lindt chocolate company. Throughout the tour, we were given varying samples of chocolate products, which was very much appreciated! Some of my personal favorites included their brownies, hot cocoa, and chocolate-mint squares.
Yumbos Chocolate tourUs enjoying Yumbos
Our next (and final) day in Mindo consisted of doing horseback trails and hiking waterfalls! I was extremely excited about riding horses, since I hadn’t been on a horse in at least 6 years. My horse, who was named Moro, was one of the most passive animals I think I’ve ever met; he just sat back and let the other horses, who were all dominant and wanted to be the “leader”, take the lead. Even though I did enjoy horseback riding, I think my favorite part of the experience was the drive up to the horse ranch. We were taken up by a truck, which allowed us all to ride in the cargo bed. The 20-minute drive was very carefree, as we were just having simple conversations while enjoying the surreal scenery and light breeze of the wind. I can confidently say that this experience has made it into my core memories abroad! My only regret from this trip is not staying longer in Mindo!
My new horse friend “Moro”Taxis, but Mindo styleMindo waterfallAnother Mindo Waterfall
Now, onto Baños! The one thing I can say about this trip was that it was Chaotic! Thinking back, I definitely should’ve done more research on how to travel there (like I did for Mindo), but I do think my group and I still made the best of our experience. One thing I wish I had known before traveling was how spread out all of the activities are from the town-center of Baños. Due to the very long travel times, my group and I were only able to do two activities during our weekend getaway. In addition to the tourist system that is very potent in Baños, many of the activities had short time limits, which meant we had to be very strategic (and sometimes even pushy) about how we spent our time at each attraction.
When arriving at Baños, we decided our first task of the day would be to take a bus up to Casada El Pailón, which is a smaller hike that leads to a very popular waterfall. I absolutely loved this hike, as it was simple, but also contained some unique aspects. In order to get up close to the waterfall, we had to cross two wooden sky bridges, which looked over the tops of forest trees; I felt very close to nature during this whole process! Sadly, however, due to the time constraint we had on completing the hike and returning (40 minutes), we weren’t able to finish it entirely, but we did get some awesome photos!
Us on the Baños “party” busMe trying my first ever pure sugar cane!Hiking Casada El PailónCascada El PailónSome landscape of Baños
The next day, we decided that we wanted to see Las Manos de Dios, which is a mountain ledge that is “supported” by the two hands of God. As we were traveling to this site, we also had the opportunity to see similar ledge sites, which had some very good photo opportunities! Along the way, I also had the opportunity to try rambutan, which is a traditional Asian fruit that has become very beloved in Ecuador; Originally, I was going to buy this fruit, but the vendor actually gave it to me for free, which made me very happy! Once arriving at Las manos de Dios, we actually didn’t end up going onto the ledge. Instead, we waited to go on this swing that rests near a canyon (for photographic reasons, of course!). However, we didn’t end up going on this either because a group of 4 people cut in front, and because of this, we ran out of time.
one of many popular swings in BañosEcuador REALLY loves Shrek lol
Getting ready to head back to Quito was eventful and a bit interesting. As my friends and I were walking, a random Ecuadorian guy first comes up to tell me that I smell like blue cheese, and then proceeds to ask if I’m from France, which was such a weird conversation (In case anyone was wondering, I do not, in fact, smell like blue cheese). Then, for the entire duration of the bus ride home (which was 3 hours), these two Ecuadorian kids kept staring at my friend Ryland and I. It even got to a point where they would talk about us and take photos of us, which made the bus ride a bit unsettling. After getting through this bus ride, we were happy to get an Uber and head back to our host houses. This happiness didn’t last long though as we were scammed by our Uber driver, who said that we only imputed one stop and that we needed to pay more in order to all get home. Once I managed to get home, I was so physically and mentally tired that I just went to bed.
Although I had some very questionable moments in Mindo and Baños, I don’t regret going to either place and also do plan to revisit Banos just to spend a little more time there!
