I shouted out "who killed the Kennedy's?" when after all it was you and me

Hola Amigos,
In roughly two days I will have been in Ecuador for two months. I have found out a lot in these past months. One them being how hard it is to blog. A lot happens in a month, so I´ll try to sum it up in way that makes it seem nothing is really going on.
Since my last post I have settled down on the traveling and lolligagging (I´ve never actually seen that written. It looks offensive, sorry) and have started school. In school, we have a variety of classes including: Philosophy, Sociology, Geography, Civics, Math, Pscicology, Literature, Computation, History and Ecuadorian history class Realidad Nacional. School has proved to be easy. Most teachers don´t really care about the exchange students, but I still do my homework. School is from 7 am. to 1:30 P.M. There is a break in the middle and I eat lunch at home after school. The actual work done in class is very easy. Homework is extremely easy and mostly consists of topics I covered two years ago. Another advantage is that almost every day a teacher doesn´t show up or we don´t have class for some reason or another. We just sit in our classroom and talk until the next period. Three big differences of this high school to mine are 1. The teachers are not called by there names. They are called by a title similar to Doctor, Lisen. 2. When a teacher enters a room, we must stand until they tell us to sit down. 3. The teachers come to your classroom, not the opposite. There is one big similarity: I don´t like it. I won´t complain about it too much, but high school is the same all around the world, I think. I was voted Caballero (Gentleman) and had to escort the Madrina (equivalent to gentleman, but a girl). Essentially, I escorted her for a 20 meter spread and then it was over, but it was cool nonetheless.
In my free time I have continued to wander the city eating, observing, thinking and learning. I know Riobamba just as well, if not better, than most of the kids in my high school by now.
Also, the other exchange students and I have been taking a Latin American dance course that meets every day after school. We learned all sorts of dances like Samba, Flamenco, Reggaton, Salsa, Merengue, and other traditional Ecuadorian dances. Not only has it rasied my BAR (Babe Attraction Ratio) ten-fold, but I have been learning a lot more about the culture while getting some quality excersise. And I know what everyone´s thoughts are " I can´t picture you dancing, Seth", but believe me, I dance with the utmost Grace and Elegance possible. Kidding, I´m lanky, awkward, and tall, but my instructor did say that I was very good at Salsa.
My Spanish is improving day by day. I do speak a lot of English with my brother and friend, Anton, but I my brother says that I´m am doing very well for two months. It´s strange how learning a language works when you´re immersed. Sometimes I´ll be speaking with a friend and just say a word or conjugate a verb without any previous knowledge. After I finish I think to myself " Where did that come from?"
Not much has gone on past that (Big lie), but I will inform as soon as cooler stuff surfaces. I´m going to Cuenca and Latacunga for some Festival/Celebrations in two weeks. Gonna be gnarly. Later, Big Dawgs.

I need a Kamera to my eye.

Here are some pictures for ya'll. I worked in that greenhouse. My family owns a farm in Chambo which is right outside of Ecuador in the mountains, so we occasionally have to work there. Aince my brother and I have no car, we have to take a bus into Chambo and walk through the moutains on gravel paths to get to the farm. Quite the enjoyable walk though. The photo with the volcano and the mountains are Riobamba, the city I live in. The church is a church in Banos. A touristy city 2 hours north of Riobamba. More pictures to come.

Now he's buried by the daisies, so I could stay the tallest man in your eyes, babe.

My brother, Paco, and I have done some nice traveling in an attempt to occupy our time before school starts. We just got back from Cuenca. Cuenca is located in the southern part of the country. We took a bus down there which was far from comfortable. It took about 6 hours to get there. The drive is beautiful though. You know those car commercials you see where a car is smoothly winding around a bend and when you look out there is nothing but mountains and the open road? That’s the ride to Cuenca. Except for the corners you turn aren’t done smoothly, but almost on two wheels and over a bunch of potholes. As you gander out into the valleys, you can see the two kinds of people. Indians or just really poor people. It really makes you appreciate all that you have and how easy life is elsewhere when you see a woman approaching 70 years and carrying satchels of plants or wood up a mountain side.
Cuenca is an interesting city. Being one of the three major cities in Ecuador, it is relatively big. Relative to what you ask? I‘m not sure. Cuenca is known for its architecture, its rivers and for the home of the Panama hat. I bought a Panama hat from a man who was one of the original maker. He is extremely old and cannot speak. From what I could understand, Panama hat makers make hats with a certain glaze or liquid. Over time the liquid or the fumes have gotten to his lungs and affected his speech. If anyone ever does go to Cuenca, you must get a Panama hat. Not only are they handcrafted and beautiful, but they are the city’s famous export and to get one from the birthplace means more…I think. They have a incredible Catholic church in Cuenca. Décor of gold, marble, and dimly lit candles makes it a jaw-dropper. There is a statue of Jesus in the front of the church that is probably 40 in length and made entirely of gold. I stole it and now I’m rich. Just kidding. There are four rivers that cross over the city of Cuenca. The main river, which the name escapes my memory, separates the new and old parts of the city. It is a very clean city compared to most cities I’ve been to in Ecuador. Reminds me much more of home than Riobamba.
Cuenca’s nightlife is pretty “happenin’” On Friday and Saturday nights, the town is littered with people drinking, dancing, and having a good ol’ time. I wanted to go to a discoteque, but I was with two guys and one girl and it was more of a couples thing that night. We decided to walk up a mountain where we could overlook the whole city. It was quite amazing. Naturally, I forgot my camera, so I didn’t get any pictures of Cuenca. I need to get better about taking photographs. We then went and got some food at about 2 am. All of the stands and outdoor restaurants(if you can call them that) are open very late. For a large plate of rice, papas fritas(French fries, but more potato-y) and some chicken is $1.50. The most a meal will be at a normal eatery will be about $3 or $4.

Cultural info #1-A lot, but not all, of Ecuadorians eat very fast. My brother was telling me about a good dish he really likes. I asked him “Have you ever tasted it?”. He didn’t really get it. I thought it was funny.

Cultural info #2- All of the stands and outdoor restaurants(if you can call them that) are open very late. For a large plate of rice, papas fritas(French fries, but more potato-y) and some chicken is $1.50. The most a meal will be at a normal eatery will be about $3 or $4.

Cultural info #3-Don’t plan on using your credit/debit card, or $20 bills. Most places don’t take credit/debit and not many places can make change for a 20. Always bring a card in case and to withdraw money, but never rely solely on it. You should have maybe 40 or 50 dollars ones, fives and tens when you get here and a good amount of coin. They have different coins in appearance, but they take all U.S. currency. The Sacajawea dollar is used frequently. They think that Sacajawea is an Ecuadorian Indian. I´m educating them on the truth though.

Personal Realization #1-If everyone listened to a little more Bob Seger, the world would be a better place.

And yes, there's something you can send back to me: Spanish boots of Spanish leather.

Greetings Northern Hemisphere-ers,
I’m closing in on my first full week, so let me get you up to speed on all that has happened. Thursday afternoon I arrived in Miami. I stayed at the Embassy Suites hotel. There I had an orientation with other AFSers going to The Dominican Republic, Mexico, Honduras, or Ecuador. There were nine other United Statesians (we realized we are not the only Americans) going to Ecuador. Luckily, they were all cool. Right off the bat we were talking, joking, and laughing. After a full day of orientation hullabaloo, we headed off for Ecuador. We flew into Quito, Ecuador around 8:30 P.M. We then took a bus ride to another orientation at a camp called Nueva Vida Campamento. We drove up through the mountains and were able to see spectacular views of Quito below. Located right in the middle of the Andes mountains, it served as my home for the next two days. The first thing I did was go to the bathroom only to be surprised by two things. I was hoping to witness the Coriolis Effect (toilet water flushing opposite way), but was disappointed when the water rocketed straight down. Also, toilet paper cannot be flushed Ecuador; it’s thrown in the trash. Fortunately, my friend, Tyler, translated the sign to let me know before or else we would have had a pretty shitty night. < that’s ‘punny’. The next morning we met all of the other students going to Ecuador from all around the world. Not much happened the weekend. We all just interacted and breathed heavily at high altitudes. Monday morning all of the students going to Ambato, Guarana, Riobamba or Friobamba (that’s me) because of its chilly mountain air and Latacunga took a bus to their respective cities. It was boring and but the scenery was beautiful. When I go to Riobamba I met my the family I will be staying with for the first leg of my trip. They are really cool and my brother, Paco, speaks English. Clutch. We rode back to my new home in the back of a pickup truck. My journey had officially begun. The next two days we went to school to get registered and get my uniform. I will update you on what’s going on as soon as I figure it out myself. I don’t understand a word anyone says. I have, however, mastered three phrases “Hola” and “ No entiendo” and “Me Llamo Seth”meaning “hello”, “I don’t understand “ and “My name is Seth”. I’ve decided to not waste valuable opportunity for silence, so I usually just use those phrases consecutively without pause. Then, I proceed to laugh nervously and look away to act as if I am completely interested with my surroundings. Now that I have brought you so far up to speed that you are practically writing this with me, I’ll reveal some of the secrets of Ecuador.

Cultural info #1- Driving is crazy. Speed limits are rarely followed and there are no traffic laws. Cars drive in the left lane and honk at the person in front of them to let them know that they are going to pass and they must move over for them

Cultural info #2- On the top of many walls there are broken beer bottles glued to the top. It is cheaper than barbed wire and it looks kind of cool too.

Cultural info #3-There are dogs everywhere. They just wander the streets aimlessly.

Cultural info #4- almost every meal is rice, with beef, chicken, or fish, and a soup.

Cultural info #5-Sanitation is non-existent. So are $20 bills and above.

Cultural info #6- Most things are very inexpensive except for items such as shoes which are twice the price of shoes in the U.S.

Cultural realization #1- Even though Ecuador is poor and sub-par compared to most of the world’s standards, you don’t even realize it. The best they have is the most you are looking for. You eat food you don’t particularly like, you deal with the insanely cold showers, and you accept everything because, for me, it is my new home. I will be here for a year and what good would coming home be without things to miss.

Phone my family. Tell 'em I'm lost on the sidewalk.

Howdy ya'll,
As most of you know I leave tomorrow 8/20/09 for Ecuador. If you don't know I don't really know why you would be reading this blog, so leave. Just kidding. Anyway, I'm about to embark on the journey of a life time. I have been working my little hiney off for a year to be able to take part on this foreign exchange experience. I've doubled up on classes in school , taken summer classes, struggled through seemingly endless application processes, and worked a full-time job on top of that. But finally, my hard work is starting pay off. I'm excited to be immersed in a culture enitrely different from my own, meet people entirely different from myself and consistently fail at speaking Spanish. As much as I will miss my family, friends, and Panda Express, I know that my life will be changed for the better upon my return. I don't really know anything about my host family, where I'll be living or the school I'll be going, so I'll have to update everyone as that information becomes available. For now, I will will answer some common questions I've been asked:

Do they speak Ecuadorian in Ecuador? No, they speak Spanish

Ecuador is in Africa, right? No, South America. Get a map.

What's the weather like? Hot on the coast, mild in the mountains (center of the country)

Are you going to live in a hut? Possible, but not likely. It's not as poor as people think it is.

Well, talk to everyone as soon as possible. If you have a skype name, or e-mail address please send it to me, so I can keep in touch.