Settling in to Quito
First post in Ecuador!
I've been in Quito for 3 weeks now! It feels like ages since I was last home. I am still adjusting to being a part of a new culture, place, and altitude, but I have learned and seen a lot since I arrived.
I live on a pretty quiet street next to a huge park, Parque Metropolitano, which has hiking trails, dog parks, exercise areas, and more views of Quito's incredible mountains. A 10 minute run in the other direction gets me to Parque Carolina, which has a track, all kinds of sports fields, a botanical garden, and lots of green grass. This area definitely motivates me to get out and walk, but since school started last Tuesday I have made that my priority. I hope once I get acclimated to the schedule, routines, and planning, I will be able to walk to one of these places on the reg.
Quito is a safe city to live in, so it is okay that I walk on the streets!
It is taking a long time for me to adjust to the food, feeling poorly comes and goes throughout the time I've been here. RIght now, I'm okay! There are many restaurants and cafes around me so I don't have to go very far to eat. in addition, there are lots of teachers who live in my area, so many of them make plans to stay around here--which is very convenient!
I need to give a shout out to Brenda, who lives just across the street from me and has been lookin' out for all the newbies since before we arrived. Since I've been here, she has made sure I know about different plans, helped me turn on my stovetop, connect my internet, and she has given me so much advice about the area and life in Ecuador in general. I feel very lucky to be able to get to know her!
Overall, everyone has been really supportive and helpful. One of my teaching partner's, Aissa, has been so patient and understanding, always asking me if I have questions or if I need anything. She is the whisperer who helps me not feel so lost at meetings and even in my own classroom. Since I'm teaching 6th grade this year, that means new curriculum and new material to learn! Cami, our 6th grade assistant, has also been absolutely wonderful-- we all agree she is the best in the school.
Yesterday, I got to see another part of the city, La Floresta with Quito Street Tours. I will definitely have my family and friends take this tour when they visit! We saw murals and art, visited cafes, and learned a lot of interesting history about Quito. Thanks Emerson!
The Spanish language is slower here than it was in Maracaibo, so I feel hopeful that I can learn a lot while I'm here! How cool would it be if I was fluent?! .... Life goals... hehe.
Today I met up with one of my friends from Venezuela that just moved here, Osmary! She told me about a vegan festival that was happening in parque metropolitano, it was awesome! Dogs EVERYWHERE, free samples of food, live bands, and even some flamenco dancing! I couldn't stop thinking about how I wouldn't have known about this super cool event that was happening in my backyard if she hadn't told me!
I've been in Quito for 3 weeks now! It feels like ages since I was last home. I am still adjusting to being a part of a new culture, place, and altitude, but I have learned and seen a lot since I arrived.
I live on a pretty quiet street next to a huge park, Parque Metropolitano, which has hiking trails, dog parks, exercise areas, and more views of Quito's incredible mountains. A 10 minute run in the other direction gets me to Parque Carolina, which has a track, all kinds of sports fields, a botanical garden, and lots of green grass. This area definitely motivates me to get out and walk, but since school started last Tuesday I have made that my priority. I hope once I get acclimated to the schedule, routines, and planning, I will be able to walk to one of these places on the reg.
Quito is a safe city to live in, so it is okay that I walk on the streets!
It is taking a long time for me to adjust to the food, feeling poorly comes and goes throughout the time I've been here. RIght now, I'm okay! There are many restaurants and cafes around me so I don't have to go very far to eat. in addition, there are lots of teachers who live in my area, so many of them make plans to stay around here--which is very convenient!
I need to give a shout out to Brenda, who lives just across the street from me and has been lookin' out for all the newbies since before we arrived. Since I've been here, she has made sure I know about different plans, helped me turn on my stovetop, connect my internet, and she has given me so much advice about the area and life in Ecuador in general. I feel very lucky to be able to get to know her!
Overall, everyone has been really supportive and helpful. One of my teaching partner's, Aissa, has been so patient and understanding, always asking me if I have questions or if I need anything. She is the whisperer who helps me not feel so lost at meetings and even in my own classroom. Since I'm teaching 6th grade this year, that means new curriculum and new material to learn! Cami, our 6th grade assistant, has also been absolutely wonderful-- we all agree she is the best in the school.
Yesterday, I got to see another part of the city, La Floresta with Quito Street Tours. I will definitely have my family and friends take this tour when they visit! We saw murals and art, visited cafes, and learned a lot of interesting history about Quito. Thanks Emerson!
The Spanish language is slower here than it was in Maracaibo, so I feel hopeful that I can learn a lot while I'm here! How cool would it be if I was fluent?! .... Life goals... hehe.
Today I met up with one of my friends from Venezuela that just moved here, Osmary! She told me about a vegan festival that was happening in parque metropolitano, it was awesome! Dogs EVERYWHERE, free samples of food, live bands, and even some flamenco dancing! I couldn't stop thinking about how I wouldn't have known about this super cool event that was happening in my backyard if she hadn't told me!
In the first days of being here, we got stuck in an elevator seeing one of the apartments. Some of us handled it better than others lol... Looking at that apartment after that experience was clearly pointless as we were all scarred!
Windy apartment hunting!
Part of my massively beautiful school campus
Street art part I
Can't get enough of these views.
After my first visit to IƱaquito market!
I went cray cray!
Llama selfies!
Frita wanted to make friends with the llamas so much, but when they picked their heads up from eating she was terrified and bolted away!
Our second attempt to find this sign and it was well worth the wait! Parque Metropolitano.
Quito Street Tours of La Floresta
Street art part II
This company delivers their cocoa to many places in the world!
Beautiful friends and beautiful views!
Chai FRIO. Pure delicious. Still dreaming about it.
Interesting to put a plane in Parque Carolina...
Dark photo from a bigggg teacher mixer on Saturday night. Red light has me laughing! This girl cracks me up every day. Reppin' the Northeast together!
Breaking for some shade today! Hanging out with Venezuelans in Ecuador! š I am so pale.
Fresh falafel.. Reminds me of London markets. Nomnomnom!
Ciao for now! I hope you've enjoyed!!!
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