Halfway through with Ecuador

Hello! I am sorry about my empty promise to write again on Friday. The internet situation here is extremely frustrating. This past weekend we went to Ingapirca which is an Inca ruin about 2 hours away from Cuenca. It was interesting but honestly it was more boring. And cold. Saturday night I went to my first Ecuatoriano house party. It was my cousin's brother-in-law's 23rd bday. All in all it was a really good, fun experience. I was the only gringo and mostly everybody was super nice and wanted to talk to me, take pictures with me, etc. One guy, an apparent socialist, told me he thought I was an Cuencano. Most of the people were a little older than me except for my 16 yo host sister. I got a few dance lessons but definitely made a fool of myself. It was a good time for sure. Sunday I woke up and went to my first futbol game. I went with Teo (my host father) and Carlos (my host brother). The home team (Deportivo Cuenca) played the best team in the league and my family's favorite team, Emelec. It wasn't as wild and crazy as I imagined it would be, but still entertaining nonetheless. It was a pretty good weekend altogether. Sunday was one of the best I have felt mentally thus far. Today, though, was pretty terrible. Right as it seemed schoolwork was dying down, it picked right back up again today. Today was the worst set of classes yet, I didn't understand a lick. It felt/feels terrible. I know this is kind of boring, I'm sorry. I feel like I have tons of cool and interesting things to tell you but I am having a hard time remembering and clearing my mind. My mood is pretty down and sour right about now.

Anyway, I am still failing with putting pictures up. I have 300 or so and really want to but the internet connection is so terrible that it takes ages. I am really sorry I will keep trying. I need to get back to school work now. Hopefully I will have a little more entertaining blog net time. I miss you all. Hope everything is good on your hemisphere!

POOBEEEE

Happy Birthday Will from Ecuador!

I am sitting atop my school (CEDEI) with a few classmates conversing about all the big news today. From the NBA trades to the death of MJ, it seems to be a noteworthy day. But the most important thing today is my brother Will's 25th birthday. Happy birthday Poopbee, wish I could spend it with you! Have a good time tonight.

I am really short on time today and wanted to get that out there. I promise more tomorrow. I also tried to get my photos going but it failed. The internet here at school is super spotty. Talk to you all soon.

Love you all,

Bobes

El Primer

Hello all!

I am not quite sure how to start this, but I have wanted to for a week or so. I am just going to try and put some words out there. There has been so much going on, it's going to be hard to explain.

I have been in Ecuador for just over a week and it has been interesting, to say the least. The day I flew out out wasn't as bad as I had first envisioned being. I think most of that had to do with how tired I was, mentally and physically. By the time I had met my new friends and checked into Hotel Quito I was exhausted despite sleeping during most of the flights. By the way, if my grammar is bad it's due to the all the spanish I have been involved in. I have been noticing more and more that it's increasingly difficult to find and put words together and my native tongue. So not only am I terrible at spanish, but english as well. Anyway, In the few days my group (the group consists of 15 people: 10 from Syracuse and 5, including myself, from other schools; one other from CU) spent in Quito we saw quite a few things. Quito is a big, beautiful city located at 9300 ft. From our hotel, I could see unreal peaks that stretched to 19,000 ft! These sorts of heights are a normal thing for people around here. Although I enjoyed Quito, I was anxious to meet my family and get settled in Cuenca. It kind of felt like I was in a summer camp because of all the things they had us doing.

I was wired the entire flight to Cuenca (about 45 mins.). Probably the most nervous I've been in a long, long time. It was one of the most mentally exhausting days of my life, for sure. Another random thought- I might be writing and dragging on about a lot of boring things. I am also doing this to reflect on my experience. Please, please give me some input on how to make it more interesting. Okay, so, met the family. They are super nice and the house is super nice, at least for a third-world country. I have my own room, bathroom, and a pretty nice view. We also have a dog that turns 1 in August, super cute and hilarious. Suca is her name and she likes inside lots. And on behalf of Mags and Sophs undeserved reputation, Suca likes to jump up and say hello, a lot. Me like Suca. I have been trying to take pictures and will figure out how to put them up soon.

Okay well I have to go they are shutting things down and this is the only place I know that I can get some legit internet. I will try to keep updating, with pictures too. A few more quick things though, MRoss style: Have tons of class, 4 hours of spanish a day- kinda hate it and not good at all....yet. Really like some of the kids in the program- definite relief. Everything here dirt cheap except electronics- my blackberry runs for $670! No iPhones. 4o minute walk to school and back 4 times daily. have a small gym by my house, super ghetto but does the trick- life saver. miss basketball, tons of outdoor courts, playing soon. have been able to go out once, pretty fun, super big white guy that sticks out-awesome. everyone is tiny. went camping last weekend, fun but nothing compared to CO. really pretty but still not as good as CO. kind of backfired, downer. Zhumir is liquor of choice, some is good some taste like celery-tomato liquor (yeah). super tasty fruits, juices- think of you a lot Swirth. wish I had your language skills, Will. had a talk on herbal medicines and remedies, tons around here and super popular with all the people. you would love it Seth. miss all of you tons, miss the dogs, lola. miss good-ole homey feeling of CO, Monument, driving fast cars, Breck. must put TP in trash can, forget a lot. you would LOVE it Mom! really actually have to go now. sorry that was SO long!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Bobo (means silly, stupid in Spanish. looked it up after my host cousin laughed at my hat. he is the coolest guy i know here though)