So, it’s been about a month since I last blogged it up. I quickly discovered how hard it is not only to find time to write, but also to find a good internet connection. Apart from taking a plethora of different buses to find a decent internet café, finding a reliable internet source is very difficult. But anyhoo, here’s the next installment of my grand adventure here in Quito.
Week one of orientation and classes went by without problem. The university I am studying at, La Universidad de San Francisco de Quito, is a very quaint but extremely beautiful university. While the campus is only about a three minute walk from end to end, the landscape and architecture are compared to none other. Cobblestone sidewalks are lined with huge palm trees, buildings all interconnect through marble staircases and neat little side hallways, and a waterfall in the heart of the campus constantly feeds a pretty lake replete with a multitude of fish. The best thing USFQ has to offer, though, would have to be the chiquitas. There is not a doubt in my mind that every gorgeous latina (with rich parents to boast) attends USFQ. I am constantly wondering why the university has even spent the money on landscaping and architecture when surely there is hardly else any straight guy could look at. Miss Quito 2008 herself goes to USFQ. Fortunately for me, my light eyes and straight teeth are a rarity, so I’m thinking if I play my cards right I should be able to walk out of this experience with a souvenir family (Just a joke, Mom).
My classes, all in all, are fairly easy. Intro to International Relations, my only class in English, is a very amusing class simply because I pretty much represent the United States, and all of our discussions tend to end up with me defending the states in whichever way I can. The two Spanish classes I am taking are guaranteed A’s, so long as I do what I do best and open my mouth. Finally I have Climate Change, which proves to be a challenge because of the advanced Spanish vocabulary that I am not so familiar with. Luckily, we are taught the principles of climate change and global warming since the third grade back home, and here it is not a topic to discuss until you are at a college level. “Greenhouse gases” was a new concept to a lot of the students in my class. I am almost certain that I will take this light load of classes and turn it into a very decent GPA.
Aside from school, which I only have on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I recently got a job! I am working at Ilingua, an international language academy. I work on the days I don’t go to school, minus the weekends. I am sent out to different corporations and businesses such as lawyer’s offices to teach business English. I have to arrange lesson plans, distribute homework, and keep track of how all my so-called students are doing. It is not tough, especially since the first day of class I am allowed to implement a “No Spanish” rule. As of now my pay is uncertain, but I will be making anywhere between 6 and 7 dollars an hour. That may seem like a very small amount compared to the States, but considering that minimum wage here is 200 dollars a month filled with full time- 40 hour work-weeks, I think I am doing quite well.
I have done so many exciting things since my arrival. The first thing I made sure to check off my list, though, was getting the dreadlocks I had been awaiting for a very long time. It took a plane ride out of the states to be far enough away from the parentals so that I could get them hassle-free. It was one of the coolest, and sketchiest experiences of my life. I spent five and-a-half hours on a dark street corner in Plaza Foch, an area know for mass crime less than five years ago, and a couple of questionable “hair-stylists” to get the job done. I have never felt so much pain over such a long period of time, but I have to say that I am very happy with the end result. In a couple of months I expect my locks to be well matured and looking marvelous.
