October 7, 2008 Email

Compañeros –

Two classes down, two to go. Yesterday at 7:30 AM I had my first class at university – Régimen Mundial del Comercio GATT.OMC (Global Commercial Regime of GATT.WTO). You know, the type of stuff we grow up dreaming about studying in a second language. It is even more fun when you make up a word in Spanish as you introduce yourself, saying “diecicuatro” for fourteen when the actual word is “catorce.” Luckily, my professor was kind enough to correct me in front of the class so the other students wouldn’t make the same mistake.

Truth is, I have enjoyed both classes. The professors are very kind, speak pretty slowly, and obviously know their stuff. The other students in the class don’t mind when I whisper “¿Que dijo?” (“What did he say?”) or peer over their shoulders to frantically copy their notes.

This last month before the start of school was tremendous. For three weeks I went to Spanish school, receiving individual instruction in the morning and visiting historical sites in Quito during the afternoons with my classmates. We visited churches filled with history and art (see attached photo), art museums (I have a new favorite painter – well, maybe my first… - Guayasamín), and city parks. Visiting these places gave me a better sense of the culture and the history of the city, although I know that there is much more to learn.

I also got to share some of my own culture, presenting to my classmates on Massachusetts, California and New Mexico, the three States I have called home over the last 25 years. On my last day, we had a potluck event, and I prepared chiles rellenos of New Mexico fame (see attached photo.). They came out…interesting. Everyone sang a song in Spanish about friendship and I felt sad. Luckily, I am allowed to come back for afternoon activities whenever I want!

On the weekends I joined other students in traveling around the country. My first weekend I spent in Otavalo during the festival Yamor. I celebrated my birthday by wandering around Ecuador’s largest indigenous market (I bought an alpaca sweater – these things are so warm I don’t know how alpacas can stand it), dancing with a very, very drunk older man to Andean flute music, visiting the magical tree “El Lechero,” and then watching 15 rickety wooden carts fly down a 5 KM road with hairpin turns in the yearly go-cart race (see attached photo). One accident, zero deaths. They said it was a good year.

The next weekend I enjoyed the hot springs in the small town of Papallacta, and my third weekend and much of this last week I traveled on my own through the southern colonial town of Cuenca where I fell in love. That is, with the city. Incredible architecture (see attached photo), beautiful folk-art, safe streets, salsa dancing, and the national park of Cajas where it is always raining, or at least you are always in clouds (see attached photo.) I was sad to leave there and a couple friends I made including my heavy-drinking Scottish friend Gary, but I know I’ll visit again.

My experience with the local Rotary clubs has been excellent as well. Several weeks ago the President of Rotary International came from S. Korea to speak in Quito. It was a major event, with Ecuador’s Vice-President in attendance. I managed to fight my way through for a picture with the President of Rotary International – with his holding my Claremont, CA Rotary Club’s flag no less! (Picture soon to be posted on the blog) I have also become involved the local Rotaract Club (Rotary for 18-30 year olds) and next weekend head to small town outside Quito to begin work on a school expansion service project. Needless to say, all the Rotary people I have met have been warm and welcoming, like the population as a whole.

This email is getting long, so I think I’ll sign off here. Needless to say, there is a great deal more happening both in my life and in Ecuador, including the passage of a new “21^st Century Socialist” Constitution. I don’t really know all the Constitution says, so I’ll reserve judgment, but needless to say its passage was a major deal and 65% of the country is very happy. They’ll be even happier if Ecuador’s national fútbol team beats Chile’s on the 12^th.

All the best,

Jesse