two weeks since home.

Finally, now that Carnaval is done, businesses are open again and I can get on the internet….

So I’ve been in Loja for two weeks as of today (Wednesday, February 17). It’s hard to decide whether the time has passed quickly or slowly. The days I have to work go by quickly, but when we don’t have to work, the days pass pretty slowly. Because of Carnaval, the school was closed Monday and Tuesday. On Sunday, Annbel, newest teacher Kit from Boston, and I went to Parque Jipiro, which is in on the north side of the city. When we got to the park and I stepped out of the taxi, a truck passed us and someone poured a bucket of water over my head. Literally, the second I slammed the taxi door. Before going to the park on Sunday, Annabel and I walked around downtown Loja looking for an open internet café, which was quite a task as pretty much every business was closed because it was Sunday. Anyway, as we were walking, two kids on a balcony threw water on us and a guy that passed us poured a bottle of water on Annabel. When waiting for a taxi to get to Parque Jipiro, a city bus passed us and a kid standing on it sprayed us with foam. Unfortunate for sure. Getting soaked by strangers is not really fun and at the time, you get kind of pissed, but then just laugh it off. Thank goodness Carnaval is over. Okay, back to Parque Jipiro. It is this huge recreational park with a swimming pool, skate park, basketball courts, soccer fields, paddleboat pond, pony and horse rides, volleyball courts, and loads of playground equipment. There were also enclosures of ostriches, flamingoes, some llamas, and a goat. We walked around the park, the whole time nervous about potentially getting sprayed with foam. Rather, a couple guys soaked us with water bottles… three times. When they came after us a second time, I was yelling at them not to do it again and one of the guys said to me in Spanish “In our country, it is Carneval!” and I replied that I knew that and that I’m not a tourist, I live in Loja and didn’t want to be wet anymore …but to no avail, soaked again (see photo above). Oh well, at least it was warm and sunny on Sunday. Last week in one of my classes, I told them that in the US there is nothing quite like Carnaval except maybe Mardi Gras in New Orleans, which takes place at the same time and they were shocked.

One of my housemates is leaving to go back to Switzerland tomorrow and another one of my housemates is moving into his room, which means I get to move my things into the available room so I don’t have to sleep on my mattress on Annabel’s floor anymore and have all my stuff upstairs. Hooray! As a bonus, the room I am moving into has an in suite bathroom. How convenient!

On Monday night, my Canadian housemate’s Ecuadorian boyfriend cooked dinner for everyone. He made minestra (different beans and peppers in a sauce that consisted of peanut butter and various spices), chicken, rice, fried plantains, French fries, and a salad of avocado and tomato. O M G, it was so delicious! Definitely the best meal I’ve eaten here yet. TropiBurger (think Ecuadorian McDonald’s) is still in second place. Haha. Their clasica con queso combo is on par with McDonald’s for sure.

I’m still trying to determine if I want to stay here for 6 months or a year.  I am kind of grateful that we only have to teach three days this week. It will go by quickly.

Hope you are all doing well!

 ps Heres a picture of me in front of a Simon Bolivar mural across from la Puerta de la Ciudad, which I would also post pictures of, but waiting 5 minutes for one photo to upload is outrageous. I miss the speed of the internet at home.