Today was the first day of classes, which went pretty well. I miss my first one, because I tried to find my schedule on the computer, but I don’t have internet at home and the internet here was initially really slow until I got my computer configured. Spanish went well, but I wasn’t expecting too much of a challenge as I’m stuck in a country where everyone only speaks Spanish, and the class is less advanced than a few I have taken at St. Norbert.
Last night was CRAZY! They had an orientation party at a place call Mulligan’s located in the Mariscal district, which they warned us never to go to. Our ticket included two beers, but the majority of students bought more and got really hammered and then proceeded across the street to smoke hookah. I might this really awesome guy named Santi who offered to take us (two girls and me) home, and he started showing off by careening through the hilly streets and fast speeds and slamming on the brakes. Needless to say, this dangerous activity didn’t happen without consequences. The car spun out of control, slamming his tire onto the curb (which in Quito can range anywhere from 10” to a foot and a half) and dislodging the tire from the rim of his car. Everyone was alright, and I found it ironic that his first car accident (or minor annoyance) happened when he was showing off. But everyone was fine, so it didn’t much matter.
I got about 5 hours of sleep last night due to having to take a taxi home with a girl who had no idea where she lives. This was the same girl who kept asking Santi what his favorite school was (expecting an enthusiastic BELOIT, where she comes from). That school has an outrageous drinking problem, as was evidence in this tiny girl. At about 5’4”, she downed nearly ten beers and regaled us all with stories of her university’s “drinking team” and their nightly encounters. After we finally found her house, my friend Margaret gave perfect directions to her house. We had a little trouble finding my house as well, but the cab driver seemed content with everything. I got home around 3:30 and only had to get up at 8, which was extremely difficult. Once I got to school, however, the sickness quickly left me, and I was able to spend time with all of my friends.
At the party I met a girl name Michelle from Canada. Although I was surprised at how little she represented the typical Canadian (she only said “eh” about once every five minutes), I didn’t fail to take notice of the small pronunciation differences. She doesn’t live in a house, she lives in a hewse. But it doesn’t really matter much, because the poor pronunciation gives way to an absolutely astounding and perfect French accent from her childhood near Ottawa. There are two other guys in our program from Canada, one name Guillaume and one named Colin. They’re all super friendly, and we all took a trip to the grocery store yesterday (hilariously called SuperMaxi, which sounds like a gargantuan sanitary napkin) and to the cell phone store to purchase phones.
I also pretty much completely remade my schedule, dropping Sanskrit which I really excited to take. Unfortunately, the class ends at around 7, when it is completely dark in Quito. I don’t know if I mentioned, but the sun rises and sets at 6:30 every 12 hours. You can set your watch by it.
At around 3, I returned home (safely, which gave me a lot of confidence about my traveling skills). My host mother brought me to hem my pants that I had bought, and I think I can pick them up tomorrow. While in Cumbayá, I went to a store selling videos, expecting to buy something that would entertain me for the rest of the evening, as my host family tends to keep to themselves (which I am more than ok with). I bought 2 seasons of Sex & The City, a season of the Simpsons; Run, Lola, Run and Juno. And what was my final price, you ask? An astounding $22.25. Normally, that would cost me over one hundred dollars in the States. The movies are all pirated, but their quality is just as good as the originals, as I soon found out when I got home.
I had a headache after watching one movie, and went to bed around 7:00 pm. I think my host mother prepared me dinner, but I slept soundly throughout the night, most likely from the five hours I received the night before. A full twelve hours later, I started it all over again.
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