Ecuador 1: Mood tapes, 12th place and "Alive"
I met with Fabian, one of my study abroad program directors at a bagel shop in Quito. Faba is one of, if not the chillest person alive. He also has an incredibly relaxing voice- My friends and I decided he should make one of those really relaxing mood tapes with waterfalls in the background. Or maybe just Jack Handey quotes recited.
On Sunday, Teresa (mom) made a delicious lunch and we watched the world cup finals (La Copa Mundial). The country is still glowing off Ecuador’s 12th place finish. Along with Ukraine and Ghana, Ecuador was the random team in the Sweet Sixteen. Over half the team is from the Afro-Ecuadorian state of Esmeraldas, and some of them play for professional teams in Europe, which allows them to support huge amounts of people in the little villages from which they come. I caught the futbol fever and brought a bright yellow jersey back in my luggage.
On Monday, I caught a plane to Yamana. The flight was the bumpiest ride of my life (until the return flight, that is) and I kept having images of the movie “Alive,” with a plane crash in the Andes. Juanita was waiting at the airport- I stayed with her and her family for 3 weeks in the small village of Yamana out in the campo (country) in the far south of Ecuador. After a beautiful, windy drive (sun setting on the right, moon rising to the left) through the mountains and a pit stop at Aunt Enma’s restaurant “Todos Vuelven” (Everyone returns), we made it to Yamana.
As we pulled in front of Juanita’s house, all the lights were off- so I knew something was up. We opened the door, and sure enough there was surprise. All my favorite kids awaited me, and after lots of hugs Andres gave me the “key” to the town and told me it would always be my home. The house was all decorated with a welcome sign, streamers and they had practiced a dance to perform. I felt at home immediately. Ecuador has that effect on people. Until tomorrow!
SB
On Sunday, Teresa (mom) made a delicious lunch and we watched the world cup finals (La Copa Mundial). The country is still glowing off Ecuador’s 12th place finish. Along with Ukraine and Ghana, Ecuador was the random team in the Sweet Sixteen. Over half the team is from the Afro-Ecuadorian state of Esmeraldas, and some of them play for professional teams in Europe, which allows them to support huge amounts of people in the little villages from which they come. I caught the futbol fever and brought a bright yellow jersey back in my luggage.
On Monday, I caught a plane to Yamana. The flight was the bumpiest ride of my life (until the return flight, that is) and I kept having images of the movie “Alive,” with a plane crash in the Andes. Juanita was waiting at the airport- I stayed with her and her family for 3 weeks in the small village of Yamana out in the campo (country) in the far south of Ecuador. After a beautiful, windy drive (sun setting on the right, moon rising to the left) through the mountains and a pit stop at Aunt Enma’s restaurant “Todos Vuelven” (Everyone returns), we made it to Yamana.
As we pulled in front of Juanita’s house, all the lights were off- so I knew something was up. We opened the door, and sure enough there was surprise. All my favorite kids awaited me, and after lots of hugs Andres gave me the “key” to the town and told me it would always be my home. The house was all decorated with a welcome sign, streamers and they had practiced a dance to perform. I felt at home immediately. Ecuador has that effect on people. Until tomorrow!
SB
posted by MissBliss at 5:52 PM
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