I have the cold.. or it may have been an asthma attack/allergies. LOL I have no idea, but I coughed and couldn't breathe very well. And my nose was super stuffy and I keep on sneezing/have that feeling. But my host parents were really sweet and caring and keep asking me if I feel better. Seriously, every hour or so, they ask me if I feel better, even though I told them that I do hahaha. And César made me the cinnamon tea again tonight. Que chevre!
I start school tomorrow... Kinda nervous/really excited. This week was going by so slowly because I wasn't doing anything during orientation, and then I was getting used to the homestay situation. But now everything is going to go by quickly, hopefully. Speaking Spanish 24/7 is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. During dinner today, some family members came over: tío Marcel y tía Lily. They also have an exchange student named Maddy from Idaho (their daughter is currently living with Maddy's family). While we were conversing, it hit me that I wouldn't be talking to actual people (one-on-one) in English for quite some time.. and it made me really sad/frustrated. I didn't think that this would actually happen to me - is this a form of culture shock? Because it hit me like an electrocution. HAHAHA sorry..
Also went to the mall again today. Que chevre y grande! It almost feels like Woodfield, but with more Ecuadorians, and no gringos (white people) whatsoever. Daniel took me to the big store that was selling school supplies, and afterwards, we went into a really nice bookstore. And I bought the Spanish version of The Kite Runner, called Cometas en el cielo. I'm really excited to read it; it looks long, but since I've read the English version before, it shouldn't be hard to understand - I'll hopefully get the gist of it.
Anyway. Here's the schedule I promised:
9/2: Homestay in Los Chillos - César, Rocío, Diego y Daniel (with Winnie y Gato - their two dogs)
9/5: Daily Spanish classes begin with Field Study Seminars (FSS) twice a week afterwards
9/17 - 9/20: Excursion to Cloud Forest in Intag, Ecuador!
9/30: Spanish classes end!
10/2: Leave Los Chillos forever :(
10/3 - 10/6: Excursion to Cuyabena (aka the Amazon Rain Forest in El Oriente!!)
10/8: Homestay in Quito
10/10: Daily Culture Study Seminars (CSS)
10/19 - 10/26: Village Study in Santa Manta, a city en La Costa de Ecuador
11/5: Quito homestay ends, and Independent Study Project (ISP) begins!!
12/4: ISP ends and evaluation begins in another place TBA
12/10: Leave Quito at 10:50am and arrive to Chicago at 8:05pm!!! :)
With love from Sangolquí
Gina
Hi, Gina! Do they have Neti-pots there? It looks like a toy teapot, and you use it to irrigate your sinus. You use salt water at body temperature. Just enough salt so it's salty but not too much as too much salt can irritate it. It really helps when you've got sinus congestion. I've used it because I can't be taking claritin D all year round. Take care! ~ Mimi
ReplyDeleteHaha I don't know if they have Neti-pots here!! I haven't seen any in the pharmacy or anything. But my host dad has been making me some awesome tea before I go to bed, and I'm feeling a lot better. Thanks so much! I hope Sunny's doing well... I miss her cuteness!! Haha
ReplyDelete