We're beginning to slide down the hill that we call the end of the semester. I have about 2 and a half weeks left of classes and as soon as I turn in two final papers, I will have finished the semester. How I got so lucky as to not have any final exams, I have no idea but I am very very grateful.
The past two weekends, I've done something that I had originally not intended doing...revisiting places. I revisited Mindo (the cloud forest) and Canoa (the beach). Both were fairly spontaneous trips and I really enjoyed both. Since they were two of my favorite places that I'd visited, I did not feel guilty about going back because well, I can't believe this but I've pretty much seen the majority of the places I've wanted to visit. It was especially exciting to receive a warm welcome by the hostal that we stayed in the first visit in Mindo - we were surprised that the hostal owners had such great memories to remember us. In Mindo, enjoyed a long hike to several waterfalls, eating lots of chocolate & brownies at the Chocolateria, relaxing and visiting the Mariposario (butterfly farm).
Also, did you know that it is essentially mandatory to vote in Ecuador if you are over the age of 18? Between ages 16-18, it is permitted to vote but starting at age 18, all voters receive a special ticket that states that they voted and they must keep that ticket during the entire presidential term and may be asked on several occasions to present the ticket to make important transactions such as in the bank, buying land, going to the Galapagos Islands...it's almost as important as their identification card which they must also carry at all times. I learned about this during the student government elections at my university, which were also mandatory for permanent students - punishable by a fine if a student did not vote!
Sitting in Anthropology class yesterday (an appropriate place for this thought), I could not help thinking about the diversity of Ecuador's people. Hopefully by reading my blog you've already come to learn about Ecuador's geographical diversity but it's cultural diversity is just as great. I had a wonderful conversation yesterday with an Afroecuadorian student about her thoughts on the Afroecuadorian population and culture, heard about an Indigenous community in the Amazon from a classmate who had just returned from visiting family there and learned a lot about the Indigenous movement in class....all to surmount to me wondering, how are there so so so many different people with completely different cultures, united under one country? I asked a classmate and his suggestion was the natural richness of the country - whether it's the beach, the mountains, or the rainforest, almost every Ecuadorian citizen has some deep appreciation for at least one aspect of the natural beauty of the country. Regardless, I have really enjoyed learning about different cultures and I'm realizing that it would take a lifetime to learn about and understand every single cultural group in Ecuador.
I am extremely excited to announce that three students from my university here are going to study at UNC next semester/year! Last week, I was introduced to one of the girls and hopefully today I will meet her two friends that are going as well. I can't wait to share Chapel Hill/NC with them and while I have to remember that they will be there to practice their English, I'm hoping to squeeze in some Spanish practice with them every once in a while.
I hope this finds you doing well and enjoying spring weather (it has been very cold and rainy in Quito the past few weeks!).
