I'll Be Home for Christmas

Every time I’ve tried to write something the past few weeks, I haven’t been able to piece together my incoherent thoughts. Plenty of things happen on a daily basis, but nothing that seems noteworthy. Now, here I am, getting ready to fly home for the holidays, with my mind racing. I haven’t travelled to any exotic locales or accomplished anything significant, but life has been happening. 

Thanksgiving came and went without much ado in Quito. We had a staff potluck during our lunch hour; there was talk of other Thanksgiving dinners going on, but nothing that made the holiday feel real to me. Since the weather is relatively the same all year, the holiday didn’t have the same fresh fall feel. No excitement about pumpkin EVERYthing. Not to mention I sorely missed our annual tradition of traveling to visit my family in New Jersey. 

All that being said, my Thanksgiving (which came a few days later) was equally beautiful. I joined a group of WorldTeach volunteers (so thankful they embraced me as one of their own!) at a BYOD feast. We ate all the typical things like turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole, and also pleased our palates with some out of the ordinary dishes like tomato/carrot soup and a veggie stir-fry. We drank wine and a celebratory Ecuadorian drink called Canelazo. We blended cultures and traditions to create something new and, even though it was different, it was good. I think that sometimes a fresh perspective can make you appreciate things more.

In the past month, I’ve also discovered the beauty of a Gonzalo Suarez hotdog (don’t tell my healthier persona about this health disaster) which is covered in sauces, potato chips, and- of course- aji. 

I tried Chocolate Ambateño- a hot chocolate served with cheese (to put inside) and biscochos to snack on. 

I made homemade empanadas de viento with a sweet Ecuadorian instructor. These delicious pastries are filled with cheese, fried, then covered with sugar. Yum! 

I attended a beautiful Ecuadorian wedding and got to act as chief procurer of photos. 

I finished my first cycle teaching English at my university…nothing at all like I imagined my professional life. I cannot express how much better this teaching experience has been for me than others in the past. Maybe I'm not cut out to boss little kids around... they're more fun to play with! :)

There have been small, beautiful moments, awkward encounters, uncomfortable situations, sucky situations, challenges and rewards. Life in Ecuador is definitely different. Now, I am very excited to make it to Raleigh and (eventually) Stoneville to spend time with my family and friends.  I only have a short time back in the States before a road trip in Ecuador and the start of our next academic cycle.

Besos! 

Katey <3

Isaiah 14:27

Predictability

Predictability is the degree to which a correct prediction or forecast of a system's state can be made either qualitatively or quantitatively.

By this definition, would it be fair to say that something is predictably unpredictable? 

One of the best, worst, and most interesting things about life in Ecuador is the unpredictable nature of it. You might arrive home one day and discover that you have no power. You might meet a new friend who has not only heard of the small county you're from, but has actually been there. You may be struggling to figure out how to say something in Spanish, only to have the Ecua you're talking to break out an exceptionally coherent sentence in English. 

Sometimes the surprises are beautiful acts of kindness- like the locals trying to help foreign missionaries figure out where they need to get off the bus. Sometimes they are kind words spoken by a stranger, random offers from students (who aren't your own) to show you around the city or take you out for a piece of chocolate cake. 

Sometimes the surprises aren't so lovely- old men who seem friendly at first, but progressively get more creepy as they speak to you about  all the places they could take you, stolen cell phones (culturally predictable, but personally surprising), rude bus assistants (okay, not so unpredictable, but still... would it kill them to crack a smile?), finally experiencing that old "myth" of Ecua superficiality... you know, when someone appears to be friendly or helpful, but are only concerned about you as long as it's beneficial for them. 

As one of the most positive people I know (**chuckles**), it's hard for me to admit that some of these things get me down sometimes, but they do. After a long week of one problem after another, I began feeling a bit miffed at the universe. Sometimes when one thing goes wrong, it's hard for me to bounce back immediately. Sometimes things just seem to build up (or maybe I let them). At times like those, I like to listen to music that matches my mood and wallow in my sadness. 

Fortunately, at the same time, I'm able to recognize that this is not healthy. I have an undeniable amount of things to be thankful for, to appreciate. I (personally) feel that I am great at picking out life's beautiful moments, not letting them slip past without notice. However, when I let myself focus on all the negatives, I am much less inclined to care. This reduces part of who I am. It makes me less than my best and does no good. 

It's time like these when I really have to trust that I am taken care of, that everything happens for a reason. Sometimes it's hard to see the good in a situation, but I know that it's there. Every situation- good or bad- is a learning opportunity and, as a teacher, who am I to deny a chance to further my education? 

Live and Love <3
Katey

Colassians 3:2
Romans 12:12

Breathing In

Do you ever feel that your life has become a little stale? Like your soul is crying out for a breath of fresh air? For me, the confines of city life and public transportation make me feel this way. Until I got out of town this weekend, I didn’t realize how much I missed being surrounded by the beauty of the countryside- God’s love letter to me. 

I had the opportunity to travel to Baños this weekend with a group of volunteers from WorldTeach (funny how the world works, eh?). Nestled in a valley just a few hours south of Quito in the province of Tungurahua, I was instantly captivated by the stellar views and charm of this “small” town. Baños is well known for it’s adventure sports and tourist opportunities. It was also my breath of fresh air.

On Saturday, we biked 12 miles along a scenic route through the beautiful mountains. We made a few stops along the way to ride a cable car over a beautiful waterfall, eat some ice-cream, and jump off of a bridge (okay, so only one person actually jumped off the bridge, but still). At the end of our ride, we hiked down to El Pailo del Diablo- the most powerful waterfall I’ve ever seen. As we crawled through the narrow tunnel to get a closer look at the waterfall, we met some Ecuadorians who informed us the water from the fall is clean enough to drink (they were bottling it). I found this to be a little off-putting (haven’t they heard of acid rain?), but still interesting. We also discovered a place where we could stand behind the water… and also become completely soaked. 

After we hiked back from the fall, we caught a ride back into town and headed to dinner at an Italian restaurant. I have to say, I was skeptical because food here is so different from what we have in the US, but this place was delicious! We were all well satisfied. Once we figured out our sueltitos (maybe the number one rule in Ecuador: Always carry small bills and change!), we changed into our bathing suits and set off for “las piscinas” for a swim. The water comes from a natural spring and is heated by the volcano there.

Sunday we headed out for La Casa del Arbol after breakfast and got to “swing at the end of the world.” This was something I was really looking forward to and was not disappointed. The views were amazing and the experience was well worth it. When we finally felt ready to move on, we hiked (for about an hour) down the mountain to a cafe that overlooks the town of Baños. Talk about breathtaking. We caught a taxi back to town and prepared ourselves to journey back home.

Within these bigger adventures were smaller adventures. We made new friends, we danced, we got “lost,” and given misdirections. We experienced the kindness of strangers and the indifference of strangers as well. I think this is what traveling is about. Experiencing new cultures, meeting new people, taking everything in and discovering part of yourself in the process. I look forward to many more discoveries in the future! 

Live and love,

Katey <3

Nehemiah 9:6

Familiarity

The past few days have been full of adventures, new discoveries, and the familiarity of old routines.

Monday, we had our teacher's meeting and received class schedules and materials. I am teaching Advanced 2, which means that my students have some fluency and are focusing on learning more vocabulary and grammar. These students put my feeble attempts at learning Spanish to shame.

Tuesday was our first day of classes. I start teaching bright and early at 7am, so nothing new there. One difference is actually getting to work. Since I live pretty far away- by Quiteño standards- I have been catching a taxi to the school. These rides are not cheap but, until I figure out the bus schedule, they are necessary. Traffic in Quito is terrible, so meter prices can tick by pretty quickly. A taxi ride to school can cost anywhere from $2.75-$4.00 while a bus ride is just $.25. Each afternoon,  I have been experimenting with different bus routes. So far, I haven't figured out how to get directly to my neighborhood, but I've made friends!

On Tuesday I didn't pick the right bus (I mean, it got me sort of close..ish), but I still felt okay about the experience. I got to see different parts of Quito and was entertained by an adorable 4 year old named Mateo. As soon as he got on the bus, Mateo began vying for my attention. He sat directly behind me and began singing. Every time I glanced in his direction he squealed with delight and paused until I looked away. Eventually, he began questioning me... "Como te llamas?" What's your name? "Cuantos años tienes?" How old am I? What are my parents names? Where do I live? Before long, we were drawing pictures on the foggy windows and giggling together.

Wednesday, I took a bus closer to my apartment and then hopped in a taxi. Unfortunately, it was monsooning that day, so my clothes were pretty wet and every car that passed by through the three inches of water on the road made a big splash. To cut back on the cost of the taxi, I had the driver let me out across the street, rather than trying to fight through traffic and go down and back again to get me to the correct side. While I was waiting to cross, more cars splashed by, but a very nice Ecua started holding his umbrella out in front of us so we wouldn't get soaked. It's the little things like this that happen that make me smile at the kindness of some people.

Thursday and Friday passed without my much incident... I made it through my first week of school and came to Riobamba with Joha to visit my host family from this summer (and hopefully catch up with some friends!). I haven't had any exciting adventures yet, but I'm enjoying being back in Ecuador where I can soak in the language and culture. Life is beautiful.



Live and love ❤️
Katey

Ecua-ficial

As I began my 20 minute walk to the grocery store today, the skies were quickly darkening. From the time I stepped out of my apartment to the time I got out to the main avenue, the sky had gotten at least three shades darker- but only in one direction! It was sunny and beautiful the other direction (can you imagine my excitement? I love looking at the sky, especially when there’s such cool contrast going on up there!). Luckily, I made it all the way to Supermaxi before the bottom fell out. While I was finished up my shopping I heard the thunder start rumbling and the rain start pouring. Needless to say, I caught a taxi back to my apartment. 

While en route, the inevitable question of “De donde eres? De que pais?” Came up. Then, how long will I be in Ecuador? For some reason, the taxi driver’s next question is always “Tiene un novio ecuatoriano?” Followed by some type of love advice. This always amuses me. Today, my taxi driver shared his feelings that love can overcome everything- socioeconomic status, age, and lifestyle, among other things. He also informed me that should I fall in love and get serious with someone in Ecuador, this boy should come to the U.S. with me when I leave. Or we could get married… you never know what could happen. This provided some entertainment for me on the ride home, which I appreciated. What I didn’t appreciate was the $2.50 price tag.. where’s my discuento for being so friendly? Haha.

Friday we had new teacher orientation at the university where I’ll be working. I took a taxi into town, but wanted to try to figure out the bus system on the way back. The advice I received from my Ecua friends was to find a bus that had a familiar place listed and hop on. So, that’s what I did! Turns out, this wasn’t the most sound advice, but it got me in the general vicinity. Luckily, a very helpful Ecuadorian helped me figure out with bus I needed to take (after the one I chose) to get where I needed to go. I might have gone the long way around, but I ended up at the right place! :)

I also received my Ecuadorian ATM card on Friday (whoop!) and got to see my host dad and brother from this summer. 

Yesterday, I met up with some people who are here with a study abroad program. We walked around el Centro Historico and had lunch. It was also my first experience with the ecua via. This bus system is extremely crowded and ecuas don’t necessarily believe in personal space. Luckily I had some very nice new friends with me to act as my guias :)

Classes start next week and I’m sure I’ll have more interesting stories to share then… In the meantime, 

Live and love

Katey <3

John 17:18

Settling In

It’s my second day in the windy city of Quito, Ecuador. I haven't done much in the way of exploring or venturing out of my apartment- I guess you could attribute that to the fact that the city is a little more daunting when you’re alone and don’t speak much of the language. That being said, I am very thankful to be able to live with one of my host sisters from this summer! 

My two flights from the US went well, with no issues to report. I landed at the airport around 11:30 local time (we’re one hour behind the states at the moment). At the suggestion of my local friends, I took an airport shuttle bus from the new airport to the old airport, which they have converted into a sort of bus terminal. It was much cheaper to travel this way (and safer!). Once I arrived at the old airport, I caught a taxi to my new apartment! Places can be hard to find in Ecuador since most don’t have exact addresses, but it was relatively easy to get to and close by. As for my taxi driver… he "might could use" some prayers for patience :p 

I am looking forward to learning how to use the city bus system (now those crowds… I could probably do without), finding the best restaurants, and learning to cook some local cuisine! I am also excited for/nervous about meeting the staff at the university I’m working at and getting started with classes. This will be something totally new and unique for me.. working with adults. Yikes! I never thought I’d be teaching anyone that tall (well, unless you count some of my gigantic middle schoolers).

I already miss my family and friends and still occasionally daydream about my future house and buying decorations, but this is my life for the next year! I expect you all to learn Spanish so I’ll have people to practice with when I come home and I’d love for you all to stay in touch via any form of social media that uses wifi! 

Thanks for reading! 

Live and love <3

Katey

Isaiah 41:10

Love and the Outcome

It's been said that I care too much, too quickly about others.

Let me first say that this is true. If you earn my trust, I will do almost anything for you. The "problem," I think, is that I always expect the best from people. Whether you've done good or evil, I believe people can change. They can surprise you. They can come through for you.

Trusting people so much, having all this hope and these expectations for people does, occasionally, lead to disappointment. Sometimes to heartache. Sometimes to utter devastation. But I will not change. I won't hold back. Is it any better to go through life jaded; closed off?

After all, how can I show others the love of Christ if I'm too busy worrying about if/when/how they will disappoint me or let me down? Love and caring are not conditional. I was fearfully and wonderfully made.  I have been blessed with love beyond measure, why would I not want to share that with others?

After typing all this out last night, I was thrilled to come across this verse today, which just seems to drive (one of) my point (s) home:


"If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly."
Romans 12:8

That's my randomness for the day!

Live and love ❤️
Katey