Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Finally made it.

Tonight at about 23:00 (yeah, that's right, I'm on Ecuadorian time now) I touched down in Quito, Ecuador. As we made our final descent we began to see streetlights snaking here and there, but nothing you could properly call a city.  And then we went over the ridge.  Stretched before us, bordered by mountains on all sides lay Quito, looking 100% like a city of 2.7 million.

After the flight I jumped into the immigration line with a bunch of kids coming to Quito for the exact same reason I am.  Alex from Michigan State, Jason from Washington & Jefferson, and two very nice people from Oregon and Elon whose names I have regrettably forgotten.  I had my first conversation in Spanish with the immigration officer and it went relatively well.  Immigration and customs went quickly enough, and I soon walked into the airport's lobby, only to be confronted with a large number of Ecuadorians holding signs.  I found my host mother (Lula) quickly, and she welcomed me with a hug and kiss on the cheek.  We drove out from the airport with Lula's son and law and his friend (both from Cuba).

As soon as we got home I met my host family, Alex (25) and Cynthia (16); Danny (23) was asleep, as he had just gotten back from Bolivia where he was performing with his band (he plays the conga).  My family has been very warm and hospitable to me so far, and I can already feel myself becoming more comfortable in conversation.  I showed them pictures of my family and friends from Georgetown and Austin.  More pictures of my room and house will follow (maybe tonight, I'm in the middle of a huge adrenaline rush right now and it might be hard to sleep).

1 comment:

  1. What? No smoking jacket (a la my first night with my French host family)?

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