I'm getting a bit more comfortable here, though my Spanish still sucks. The thing that has surprised me the most so far is how bureaucracy functions here. For example, last week Carlitos needed to get a new driver's license (his was misplaced). In Chicago, if you loose your license you get a duplicate and pay $5 and have to wait in line for maybe an hour or two (though there are some offices that only print and reprint licenses, like when you change your address, that take 5 minutes). That's not the case in Cuenca.
So we went to one police station for some document, they said no, you need to go to another place for a different document. We went to the second place, no they said, you need a notarized statement saying that you lost your license. We go to the notary, get the statement, go back to the second place. The statement is not valid. We go to a different police station, and find out he needs more documents. So we call it quits for the day.
The next day we go back to the first place from the day before (by the way, we need to drive to all the places, since they are scattered all over the city, not the most legal thing when one is trying to get a new license). We get a document that the day before they said he didn't need (proving he has not criminal record). We go to another place and get another document, some sort of judgment statement that needs to stamped at a different place. Finally we return to the second police station, I read my book while Carlitos needs to take an eye test and a written driving test that was a joke. And finally after two days and about $80 he got his license.
I think I'm going to get my international license when I am back in Chicago rather than attempting to get one here.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Cuenca
I finally made it to Ecuador. Actually, I arrived last week, but it has taken a while to acclimate. I'm a flatlander. Chicago is about 200m above sea level (I didn't know that but I just googled it) and Delft is below sea level. Cuenca is about 2500m above sea level. I flew into Guayaquil, on the coast, where Carlitos met me at the airport. We spent the night there and the next morning walked around the city a bit. That's where my ailments began; I got sunburned.
That afternoon we went by road to Cuenca, only three hours away and through Cajas, the national park where Carlitos used to work. I didn't see the park. I was asleep, or maybe had just passed out due to the lack of oxygen, since the park is at about 4000m. When we arrived at his house in Cuenca I felt alright, which was fortunate, since about half his family was there to meet me (his family, i.e., parents, siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews, are about 26 in number). I met the rest of the family a few days later.
However, that night was terrible. I was up sick half the night and spent the next day in bed just resting. I was trying to convince myself that I didn't drink the water in Guayaquil (I should know better, since I now have a masters degree in "don't drink the water"), but then remembered that my juice had had some ice in it. After a day in bed, I was ready to emerge and meet the rest of the family. Carlitos' parents have a summer home (not really a summer home since here by the equator it's almost seasonless, but what is referred to as a summer home in the US) a bit outside of town where on weekends the whole family goes to BBQ, garden, gossip, drink, play, etc. While I had a very nice time there, the affliction of the day was shortness of breath.
On Monday morning Carlitos had an interview in a city about an hour away. We drove there with his father and while Carlitos was in the interview, I talked with papi in my best Spanish (now at about a first grade level, but improving). After the interview, we drove a bit further down the road for some sugarcane juice. In the afternoon, I finally made it into the central part of Cuenca. We saw few churches, wandered through the market, and dodged traffic. I was really surprised by how many cars there were. The historic center is beautiful, but unlike Delft, there are cars everywhere (and the sidewalks are quite narrow). Maybe that's why I started sneezing.
Or maybe the cold that I woke up with on Tuesday was due to the climate. The temperature here is relatively consistent, between 10-20C (50-70F) year round. Therefore, they don't have indoor heating. And I am one of those people who is always cold. I have layers, but I just don't like wearing a jacket indoors. Also, the air here is dry. Therefore, we spent the afternoon in neighboring town of Baños, at a Turkish bath (a steam room with a cold shower). It was very very nice.
OK, this had gotten a bit long so far. Up next, how to get a drivers license in Ecuador and why I can drink the tap water in Cuenca. And photos too. I'm having a bit of an uploading issue right now. Sorry.
That afternoon we went by road to Cuenca, only three hours away and through Cajas, the national park where Carlitos used to work. I didn't see the park. I was asleep, or maybe had just passed out due to the lack of oxygen, since the park is at about 4000m. When we arrived at his house in Cuenca I felt alright, which was fortunate, since about half his family was there to meet me (his family, i.e., parents, siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews, are about 26 in number). I met the rest of the family a few days later.
However, that night was terrible. I was up sick half the night and spent the next day in bed just resting. I was trying to convince myself that I didn't drink the water in Guayaquil (I should know better, since I now have a masters degree in "don't drink the water"), but then remembered that my juice had had some ice in it. After a day in bed, I was ready to emerge and meet the rest of the family. Carlitos' parents have a summer home (not really a summer home since here by the equator it's almost seasonless, but what is referred to as a summer home in the US) a bit outside of town where on weekends the whole family goes to BBQ, garden, gossip, drink, play, etc. While I had a very nice time there, the affliction of the day was shortness of breath.
On Monday morning Carlitos had an interview in a city about an hour away. We drove there with his father and while Carlitos was in the interview, I talked with papi in my best Spanish (now at about a first grade level, but improving). After the interview, we drove a bit further down the road for some sugarcane juice. In the afternoon, I finally made it into the central part of Cuenca. We saw few churches, wandered through the market, and dodged traffic. I was really surprised by how many cars there were. The historic center is beautiful, but unlike Delft, there are cars everywhere (and the sidewalks are quite narrow). Maybe that's why I started sneezing.
Or maybe the cold that I woke up with on Tuesday was due to the climate. The temperature here is relatively consistent, between 10-20C (50-70F) year round. Therefore, they don't have indoor heating. And I am one of those people who is always cold. I have layers, but I just don't like wearing a jacket indoors. Also, the air here is dry. Therefore, we spent the afternoon in neighboring town of Baños, at a Turkish bath (a steam room with a cold shower). It was very very nice.
OK, this had gotten a bit long so far. Up next, how to get a drivers license in Ecuador and why I can drink the tap water in Cuenca. And photos too. I'm having a bit of an uploading issue right now. Sorry.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Where am I?
I'm currently in Chicago, on Connie and Greg's couch petting their dog. My adventures are in a holding pattern until next week. I know there is some adventure in Chicago, I sensed it as I stepped of the plane to the distinct aroma of O'Hare (that looks so wrong with the apostrophe, but wikipedia assured me it is correct, maybe I'm just not used to it anymore). The airport smells like cinnamon and disinfectant.
Anyway, whatever adventure there may be in town, I am not having it right now. I am spending my three days here unpacking and repacking. And hanging out with the family a bit. The day after tomorrow I move to Cuenca, Ecuador, to be with my boyfriend Carlos. I am very excited, but a bit nervous, since I haven't practiced my Spanish in weeks, almost months. Though he speaks English, most of his family does not. When I met his parents a few months ago the conversation started simply and during the first few days my head was aching from language immersion, though after a few weeks my Spanish conversation skills had improved. However, as soon as they left I promptly forgot everything I had learned to make room in my skull for my thesis. Even though I graduated a months ago, those thoughts are still lingering since my engineering skills are a bit stronger than my language skills (which is why I'm an engineer, duh).
So, more adventure and more photos will be posted soon. I am sure that Ecuador will be an adventure like The Netherlands was. Probably even more so.
Anyway, whatever adventure there may be in town, I am not having it right now. I am spending my three days here unpacking and repacking. And hanging out with the family a bit. The day after tomorrow I move to Cuenca, Ecuador, to be with my boyfriend Carlos. I am very excited, but a bit nervous, since I haven't practiced my Spanish in weeks, almost months. Though he speaks English, most of his family does not. When I met his parents a few months ago the conversation started simply and during the first few days my head was aching from language immersion, though after a few weeks my Spanish conversation skills had improved. However, as soon as they left I promptly forgot everything I had learned to make room in my skull for my thesis. Even though I graduated a months ago, those thoughts are still lingering since my engineering skills are a bit stronger than my language skills (which is why I'm an engineer, duh).
So, more adventure and more photos will be posted soon. I am sure that Ecuador will be an adventure like The Netherlands was. Probably even more so.
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