4months in 4months out

Hello my fellow reader, I am excited to share with all of you that I have got through my first semester here in Ecuador. I do however, have 4 more months to go. Since my four months here I have talked about culture shock, racism, the September 30 event when the President cause more than a little uproar, how to budget, etc. but what I have not really got into is the affect Ecuador has had on me. When I first got here I must admit that I wanted so bad to go home. I felt like this was not for me and that this experience was going to hurt me. Some say it was culture shock, and part of me believes that. Here I am in a foreign country with no kind of training on the language to get around. It was so hard trying to deal with that. Sometimes I wanted to stay in bed and just wait for night fall. I, however, found ambition to get up every day and work at not only the language but getting to know people and this culture which was my goal also. Now I am at a level in Spanish where I can hold a conversation, and with four more months to go I hope to be fluent. One thing that I will take back to the States with me is the knowledge of what another country tries so hard to get that in the United States is so much easier to get; jobs, homes, cars, welfare, government help, rights, acknowledgement. All these things I took for granted are now different to me. I know that the United States is suffering, I am not saying we are all mighty and powerful, but what I am saying is compared to Ecuador we are very rich in everything. We have more opportunities than we allow ourselves to believe. I want to be that person that understand the wealth we have and to really grasp the opportunity we have in the States because, if we do not then someone else will, then we notice what we had but only once it is gone. I do not want to wait until then, no one should. This experience will follow me throughout my life. It has transformed me into a totally different person. I want more for myself than I ever wanted because I know it is possible to obtain. I know that at the age of twenty-one, if I could go to another country for the first time for an entire academic school year, that anything else that comes my way is just simply a little road block, or stepping stone to get me to the next level. I said goodbye to some really great people that I met along this experience. I will never forget what they have brought into my life. I not only learned about Ecuador, but I learned about Mexico, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Australia, and even Africa. These have changed my lives and if it was not for this experience I would have never realize what I have and the choice to be someone so grand and important. I hope to change someones life throughout this journey we call life. I hope that one day I can live up to my potential and be satisfied with the out come. Continue reading my blogs in 2011. Happy New Years and Happy Holidays to all...

Futbol

Man oh man excitement runs through my body as I type this blog up. I have experience one of the best things of Ecuador. A futbol game!! I never been to a futbol (Spanish for soccer) game not even at my College in the States, but after experiencing what I did today I have such a greater appreciation for the sport its self. Thousands of people gather in the stadium to watch Barcelona (an Ecuadorean team) play against Quito. It was a very important game seeing as how if Barcelona lost they would be done for the season, but if they won they would be put in third place. Crazy part is when Barcelona and Quito played before, Barcelona lost, so the spirit was high in the stadium. In the end Barcelona won!! I was hugging people I did not even know, fireworks went off in the stadium, songs were being song in Spanish it was such a cultural enhancement for me. I loved it!

Pictures of Hogar de Cristo

Giving back

Before I made this journey to a different country, I always thought about what this experience was going to do for me. What I could gain from this experience, what I could learn, but not once did I actually think what I could bring to this country, these beautiful here. Never once did I think about how I could change someone else life just by being here. Even though I did not think like that, now I can say maybe just maybe I can or have already impacted someone life. November the 20th a group of us international students volunteered for Hogar de Criso. Hogar de Cristo is a place that not only provide homes, but build the homes from the ground up for the most neediest people in Ecuador. If you are not aware 80% of Ecuador's population is poor. There is no middle class here. You are rich or poor, and with such a big gap the people at the bottom are the people that a treat with no respect and ignored in an economy that is trying so hard to become greater. The thing is the poor people are being forgotten, as they never really got anything from their country in the first place, but now it is even worst with only 20% of this country population growing. Hogar de Cristo is a place that looks out for those poor people, for those who are being left behind. The house cost about 800 dollars and last about 8 years minimum. Now I sure you saying what kind of house is that, but to those who have nothing and nowhere to sleep this is their palace and quite frankly with all the hard work that is put into it feels like a palace to those who build them. At Hogar de Cristo they manufacture the parts for the houses there and then send them off to the location and volunteers like us go out and start literally with the ground itself, but by the end of the day it is a rewarding experience when those kids, or families run in their home and can finally say they have a place to lay their head. It was the hardest work I ever did in my life because it meant so much to me. Hogar de Cristo is a blessing for those that cannot even phantom what a home looks like. They give back to their country. Donations pay for mostly everything and it is what keeps this place going. If you want to donate contact me and I can get it all done. Email me at eryka.sandridge@gmail.com the thing about donations is that the amount is not what is important as the thought of giving is. Realize in the states we see twenty dollars easily everyday come and go now imagine seeing twenty dollars every month!!! Can you even phantom that in your mind what it would be to live off $240.00 a month. Well these people here can and that is the amount for the working people. That is the minimum wage for people who do the same jobs as we do in the states, so know ten dollars can go a long way here. Give to your hearts content... Here are photos...I will put up more besides these...DONATE IF POSSIBLE. "THROUGH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE"

Montanita

This is a place your parents do not want you to go. This is a place that the teachers stay far away. This is a place to relieves all worries of school work, jobs, and even relationships. This is a place where the young can have fun, and where the old can regain their youthfulness. This place is Montanita. It is a small beach town in Ecuador. It is maybe three or four streets big. I know you are think well how can such a small place be so much fun? I will only try. This place has shows in the middle of the street. An entire street dedicated to drinks, many clubs to go to all night. This city does not sleep for I am telling from experience. I recently just went for about five days and I got all of about five hours of sleep my entire visit. The streets is the party as well as the clubs. Music you can hear from your hostal no matter where you are staying, and the music keeps going all night and morning, it never stops. There are people selling everything from rings, necklaces, bracelets, purses, pipes! The best part is everything is made by hand in front of you. As you walk down the street you hear drum, you meet people from all over the world that speaks many different languages. You being to fall in love with this place right before you leave. The best part of it all is that its on the beach. You have the opportunity to take surfing classes, scuba diving, anything to your hearts content. I cannot even explain therefore I have photos to do some of the explaining, and I am also going to try to put up videos on you tube.

Racism

This is a topic I have been wanting to write about for a long time, well since I had arrived here in Ecuador. It has taken me this long because to me the topic is sensitive, and because some things had happened to me here I had to wait until my mind was clear enough to write about such a thing. Let me first start off by saying that in the States most people believe racism is done, it is over. Let me say this, you are wrong! Racism still exist to this day in every country in every part of the world. So why I am I writing a blog about this? Well I feel that if you are maybe thinking about studying abroad you have to understand that in different countries not all ethics, morals, or values are the same. Everyone does not show respect nor do the give it or expect it. For me I have a few stories. For one I am African American and I am very proud of who I am not once had I ever looked down on myself, or wished I was a different race. Once I arrived here in Ecuador I was faced with many different views on me being black. I recall sitting at the bus stop with two of my friends and a guy sat down beside me. I turned to look and he was staring at me with so much disgust in his eyes. I felt so uncomfortable, I felt so targeted. I did not do anything to this man yet his staring increased and the tension grew. My friends and I finally got up and walked away as I did he jumped up and started yelling right at the bus stop. People were looking at him as he went into a fit only a toddler would do. I did not understand why nor did I want to. I felt targeted as a North American and I felt targeted as a black. So okay maybe you are saying to yourself it had nothing to do with the fact you were black or I can agree maybe it did not maybe it did. However, I do have another story. I was once going to this bar that all my friends were at waiting on me. I arrived to the door and was not allowed in. I did not understand why I could not enter the club my friends had just so shortly entered. I had to call a friend to come to the door and get me. Why did I have to go through that? Shortly after that I had been fed up. I was tired of the strange looks, the worried faces of people when I walked passed them, the little girl who seen me and started to scream and run away, the guy who seen me walking and stopped right in his tracks just so I could past. I wanted to explode. I wanted to hate Ecuador. I did not want to give it any other chance because I felt like Ecuador was not giving me a chance. I sat down and talk to some of my local friends about the problems I was faced with. I found what is even more annoying then being hated on because of your race, is people thinking you are crazy because you feel that way. My friends did not believe me, they said I was crazy, they said I did not know what I was talking about; This is so true because one night I was out at the club with some locals and we were sitting out side talking and having a good time. A little black boy walked up asking for money so I gave him my loose change. A while later another boy came up. This time it was like maybe six of them. I asked him if that was his family he told me yeah. I did not have any more change I, however, had five dollars on me, so I told him to eat to get something to drink to do what he can with what I was about to give him. As I reached into my purse one of the locals I was with said do not give that little boy money all he is going to do is buy drugs. I said why would you say that? He told me that is what statistics say. I responded and said that statistics are made by the government so therefore they are bias. This is your country and for that to be your first response is not right and unfair to those that actually need food, money, warm clothes. I cried because I tried explaining that the people here are not even aware of there ignorance towards their own people. I cried and I went to go sit by myself as I was doing that a little boy comes up to me crying but I had nothing else. My heart was hurting so bad inside I did not know what to do. One of my local friends came up and said oh you will get use to it. I was so mad how can you get use to seeing the people in your country struggle like this, how can you be use to this? I had a realization that night it change my life. People here may not ever realize how close minded they are but in the States we can be better people. How many times have you ever made the comment look at them packed like Mexicans, or oh the Mexicans will work for low. I have witnessed it I have said it, we all have. So if anything needs to change it needs to start with us and maybe one day it can spread. I am glad I can maybe change the view of somebody mind here. I may not be able to make them think differently when they see a black person, but I can represent for my race.

Carlos and Patrick

Carlos is a 13 year old boy that I met in Peru. This boy had my heart from the first moment I seen him. It was maybe one or two in the morning and my friends and I were out enjoying a night out in Peru. This little boy with a bucket in his hands approach our table. As he gently opens the bucket the smell of Peruvian potatoes hit my nose. "Tu quieres papas?" Carlos asked. I shook my head no as the guy, who is Patrick, begins to dig in his pocket for loose change. Patrick is hungry and Carlos needs the money. I looked at Carlos with sorrow in my eyes and started to wonder why was this little kid out on the dark, dangerous streets of Peru at one in the morning with no parents along his side. I asked him, "Por que estas aqui en le noche con papas?." He said he was trying to make money for his family because his sister was in college. I was so hurt. Why should a child have to worry about something so costly, something that at his age should not be in his head. At his age he should be playing sports, going to school, but yet he is on the streets of Peru. Let this be a realization for the people in the United States. I say that because despite how the people in the States feel about our country know we are a rich country and these third world country try so hard to get what we have even in our "recession" that we so much complain about. There are so many people that wish they had half of the opportunities we have in the States; Free public Education for example. All schooling from preschool on up cost money in Ecuador and Peru. In these countries if you are born poor it is most likely you will remain poor because of the issue with education. If you cannot get into school you go to the streets. You do what you have to do to survive and it breaks my heart to know in the States we have high drop out rates, people running the streets because they feel like its quick money or is better. Take advantage of what we have in the States because it is so many people who wish they could do what we take for granted.I realized this once leaving the country so I wanted to share this information make people aware of what is going on in other countries. As I said before its hard to come up from the poor here in Ecuador and Peru, but I did meet one guy who still is very poor but not as poor as he once was. Yet he is blessed for the things he has. His name is Patrick, the guy who was digging in his pocket for Peruvian potatoes. Patrick story touched me so deep I spent my last two days in Peru with him, and I feel that everyone should hear his story. Patrick is from Lima, Peru. He is twenty-three years old and has a little boy that is one year old, and a wife that he has been separated from for two years now. He currently live in Mancora, Peru which is a beach town for tourist. My heart goes out to Patrick for he is fighter. He left his family in Lima to move to Mancora to make money for his family. He had to come by himself because he knew he would not had been able to provide for his family a place to sleep, food, or any of the essential things in life we sometimes take for granted. In Mancora Patrick started off as a Tut Tut driver. They are the taxi drivers in Mancora. Patrick now working at a bar in a hostal known as PK's has a serious problem. He try's to escape from his everyday troubled mind by doing many things such as drinking too much, and doing cocaine. He tries to smother his problems with these drugs. As we talked I asked him why does he do it to himself he said he has many problems and when he is messed up he does not think about them. I told him that it makes no sense because when you come down from your high the problems will be there waiting for you to solve them. Patrick would tell me I am so much better here I have so much money. I send for my child even if that means I cannot eat. I started to think to myself that is not much money if when you provide for your child you cannot even feed yourself. He said that life for him in Mancora was so much better. How could this be I thought to myself if he was still poor. I went to where Patrick works to find behind a big door a mattress with holes up against a wall. I asked him what was that doing there. He told me that is where he sleeps, no covers, no sheets, no pillows, only a mattress that even a dog would not sleep on. It made me cry inside. Here is this man fighting to come up from nothing and still has nothing. I wanted to take him home with me. He is such a great guy despite the obvious. Sometimes in the States we judge so fast and never get to understand anyone story. I will never forget Patrick or Carlos for they are just two people out of millions that are stuck in an never ending cycle to become more than what they were born with.

Taxi!!! Taxi!!!!

This blog may be the funniest I have written. I do feel however, that it should be taken serious because at the time the events occurred it was not funny, but do enjoy! Taxi's in Ecuador are one of the main ways of transportation, taxi's or buses. I however do not ride the public buses because public buses here are dangerous. It is always extremely crowded which allows for easy pickpocket which happens normally here. Pickpocket is a big deal here and what makes it so bad is that these pickpocket's are good and you may not even notice your missing something until you need it. It happens like that all the time. For example my friend studying abroad here got eleven dollars stolen from her book bag while on the bus. I know eleven dollars is not a lot but it goes to show you that no amount is safe. With this being known I always take a taxi. Taking taxi's may seem easy just flag one down on the street and go but NO! Not here in Ecuador. Yellow taxi's are extremely dangerous here. Yes I know that sounds crazy but yellow taxi's are targeted. I was told once I got here about two young girls that were international students had been here for a year and decided to take a taxi off the street instead of calling one the taxi driver took them somewhere and people jumped out the trunk and robbed them. It could had been worst. Let me make this clear getting in a yellow taxi or ANY taxi (unmarked) is dangerous if you did not call a taxi company. If you call a taxi company your trip will be known and it is a less of a chance something can happen to you. Well one night after the movies I had mandatory meeting that I was notified about and hour before the meeting. I had to get to my destination so I went to the safest place I could think of to get a taxi drive. In front of the mall is the safest because the taxi driver's work for the a taxi company and they drive unmarked cars. I got into a taxi in the front seat. I do that because I do not like to appear like I am in a taxi. As the taxi driver is taking me to my destination he is talking to me. I do not understand anything because he is talking so fast so all I could say is no comprenda (i do not understand) but he just kept on talking. Once we got to the neighborhood the taxi driver did not know where to go I pointed to the left and all of sudden he bit my finger. I was so pissed I back hand slapped him and told him pare pare (stop) le taxi!!! I jumped out he was laughing like it was funny! I threw a dollar in the car which I should not had done is what people told me, but I did not want him to follow me. I was so mad and my anger took over. I would not suggest slapping the taxi driver, but I would suggest you to do something, because if you let anyone especially a man (no women drive taxi's here) they can sense that fear and take advantage of it. I know make sure I call my taxi because I know that is the safest way to deal with things. I just keep looking back on the situation, what if I did not jump out the taxi? What if he got mad that I slapped him? SO many things came into factor after the fact. I now look back and laugh at the situation because the thought of telling other people my finger got bit by a taxi driver seems to be unreal. Well I am a live example of that.

"kill me kill me!"

Those were the words of Ecuador president, Rafale Correa as he spoke to police officer and military personal as they protested against his new. Let me rewind a few years. Before Rafale Correa became president they had already had eight presidents in the past ten years. The past presidents got pushed out by protesters. Once Rafale Correa decided to pass a law that cut the benefits for police officers and military personal, most of them went on strike. Ecuador is its own country it is not like in the United States where we have one president to governor all the States. So when the president set that law the stronghold of this country (security) went under. People started stealing, setting things on fire, it was like when in the States alcohol got abolished! People where in the streets just like that and the crazy thing about it was that some of the police and military personal were joining in on the criminal acts. The country was put in a State of emergency. To make matters worst the president got stuck in a police hospital in Quito, Ecuador's capital. The police were not trying to help and to add to it thousands of people had gathered outside the hospital to wait for the president to come out. I was sure they were going to kill him. Sitting in my room I was really scared knowing this could go from bad to worst in seconds. I watched for hours as I heard sirens outside my window. Things did get worst however, night fell and with that criminals were everywhere. I was emailed by the US consulate I was to stay in my house there was no reason to leave. The president was still stuck in the hospital so a rescue was attempted. Footage from inside the hospital was scary the president was crawling on the floor once he got to the door his men had to cover his body with theirs. People were trying so hard to get to the president. I feared for his life and for mine if he was killed. I was not ready to go back to the states and thought that would had been a result had he been injured or even killed! The president got to safety but in the process one of the army personal got killed. He took a bullet for the president right on national television in front of the whole world eyes. It was a sight to see. Part of me wanted to cry. I know this is not my country but everyday I wake up and go to sleep here and I will be doing that until April, so I care about this country the people and what goes on it. I may not have much of a voice here but it is still evident that this is my home until I return to the States. What I experienced was worst than 9/11 because the war was here in Ecuador it was not in another country it was ten minutes down the street from me. Knowing that the only control you had was to stay in house left you feeling really overwhelmed!! Something about this country I realize through all of this was that this country is strong. They stick up for what they want they all have each other backs, even though what they were fighting for was done wrong, it just shows how when people feel strongly about something they can come together as a country. It may sound crazy but when 9/11 took place in the states people worried only about themselves. The finger was being pointed every which way on who to blame. The people here are strong and I want people to know that. This country may not be rich, this country may not obey traffic laws, but this country sticks together and if there is one thing the States can get from this blog is that as North American with all our right we should work together and fight together. We are in this all together. The next I expected to walk out on the street of saddness, pain, anger, but to my suprise people where out watering there plants, dancing, store open, it was as if the day before was a memory. It amazes me how one day this country can have so much anger and the next they are filled with joy. It amazes me how one day the president was almost killed and the next day everything is noremal. It amazes me how in the States we have been in war for nine years...

Pictures of Cuenca and Hiking

Here are pictures from the Inca ruins and Hinking

Cuenca!!!!

So this pass weekend we had a trip to the little town of Cuenca. It was the best. It was cold and I know most of you are thinking cold. Well yes Cuenca sits in the Andes, all mountains so it was really cold. Cuenca is the thrid largets city in Ecuador and is famous because it was one of the places the Incas lived at and developed many homes that still stand today. In Cuenca their primary meat is guniea pig. I know it sounds crazy but thats hat they eat. They grill it and eat it. Not much meat on a guniea pig I must add. Cuenca is famous (as I stated before) is known for the Incas whom use to live in Cuenca. The Incas were great warriors having in control eventually Ecuador to Chile dates do vary of course. One thing about the Incas that stand out to me is how they bulid their homes. They would bulid them out of bricks by stacking them on top of each other untill they made a perfect fit. They did not use anything inbtween the bricks and today some of their runis still stand. You can see in my pictures how there is nothing inbetween the bricks. The also had a rock that was a moon counter (I believe that is what my tour guide said). You can see the holes in the rock and in 28 days the moon would had hit alll those spots in the rock. The Incas were a smart civilization that eventually fell to the Spanards.

Budgeting

So this blog I wanted to talk about something very important. Money!!! When you leave the country especially in Latin America you will find that a lot of things are cheaper than in the States. This is ture, however, when things are cheaper people tend to spend more than they realize. Before you leave the country have a budget, a set amount of money you are allowed to spend each month. I think it is important to allow more spending in your first month and last month. I say first month because you are in a new place and depending if you are going with a program you will most likely go on tours and historically sites where shopping is going to be the first thing on your mind. I also say more money in the last month because once it scomes time to leave you are going to go shopping crazy for family members at home. Also the airports may charge you more for extra luggage if you accumlated any. Some airports such as in Ecuador charge a 26 dollar service fee. They charge 400 dollars for each extra luggage for international flights, so knowing in advance the airport rules will help in advance on what it is going to cost to go home. Budget is important because it would be crazy to say you are not going to spend anything. You will find yourself gooing to the beach, hanging out with friends in a different city anything is possible when studying abroad. Always follow your budget trust it is easier said then done when your friends are all doing something and you know it is going to cut into your budget its sstill kind of herad to say no. Some of the international students are here with no money and in my opinion that is dangerous because anything can happen. Another IMPORTANT thing to keep in mind no matter where you are studying abroad at NEVER NEVER have too much money on you. I have a friend who is studying abroad here and she was robbed. She lost all her money. Keep credit cards at home. People think they are not going to get robbed but you have to keep in mind everything is unfamilar to you and what may look like a guy tripping and dropping his papers is really a distraction while his friend grabs your things. It can happen to you and you have to think like that at all times. Well this was just a lesson on budgeting and staying safe.

Picking a program

Once you decide to study abroad there are many ways to go about it. I advise contacting your school international office before hand to see what options are open to you. You could go about studying abroad in so many different ways such as contacting the other school personally or find a study abroad program. In my case I chose a study abroad program by the name of KEI, Knowledge Exchange Institue. I chose this program for many reason one being they give you the option to go to a country based on your major. It alllows you to study abroad without lossing your reason for going to school. They also do excursion, so for instance when I arrived in Ecuador we spent a week going to Quito, Otavalo, and Riobamba. We also have planned trips throughout me staying here. For instance this weekend we are gong to Quenca. I say we because there are 60 international students from all over the world that decided to study here at UEES, Universidad Espritu Santo and at UEES they have us all meet that first week. Its very comforting because when you start school you realize its not that easy to make friends as in the States because you can't speak the language. You tend to get close with the other international students but one thing I say keep in mind is that you left to go to another country, so just keep in mind to sorround yourself around those people. Learn somethings from them, and you be suprise at what you learn. On the next blog I will talk about finacing your trip and budgeting throughout the whole trip. Untill then here is pictures of some of the other international students.

Meeting People

Here are the pictures I promised of some of the nicest people I have encountered while here.