Hello! My name is Jenny and I am studying in the city of Quito, Ecuador. I will be living here for four months while taking Spanish classes, completing an internship, traveling through the different regions of the country, and taking a series of other classes that will equip me to better understand life and culture here in Ecuador.
In preparing to study abroad, I was not nervous about the adventure in front of me. All I felt was pure excitement that is, until the day of my travels. After a long day of flights, lost baggage, and a missed connection, I finally arrived in the city of Quito, Ecuador.
Three weeks later and I am amazed at how much I have learned already. In three weeks’ time, I have learned how to: order at restaurants completely in Spanish, grocery shop on my own, take the trolley, bus, or taxi to my intended destination, and how to live life at a slower pace. That last point is the one I want to take some time to talk about.
Quiteños live life at a much slower pace than Americans, which is not to say that they aren’t busy or hardworking. In fact, Quito feels like a city that never sleeps as it is always bustling and moving. What I do mean is that Quiteños find great value in the small interactions of everyday life. Upon meeting new people, you are greeted with a besito, which is a small kiss on the cheek. If you decide to get almuerzo (lunch) at a small local restaurant, you can almost guarantee that you will leave that restaurant knowing who the owner is, what their family is like, and their best travel recommendations. I regularly visit the same coffee shop, and I am not a stranger, rather a familiar face. A simple welcome is never in order as I am greeted as mi corazon (my heart) and mi vida (my life). I have learned that my American self will need to allow time in my day for these small but significant interactions, because they are often the thing I love most about my day.
Yesterday, I took a trip with my classmates to a volcano called Quilatoa. This volcano erupted many years ago, leaving a crater sized lake behind. Upon summiting the top and looking over the edge, my breath was taken away as I peered down at the turquoise green waters. It took us an hour to hike down into the crater, but it was well worth it as we discovered the natural beauty of the trails and the water. Quito feels much the same. I have only scratched the surface of this country and its people, but what I have seen so far is simply beautiful, and I can’t wait to discover more.
