My First 10 Days in Ecuador

It’s official! Today is my tenth day in Ecuador. Here’s an update about how I’ve settled in and what I’ve been up to in and around Cumbayá (suburb of Quito).

Day 1 - Saturday

• First things first, morning yoga with my host mom - María Sol. Yoga was perfect to stretch out after my travel day (~7 hrs of flights). Following a yoga class in Spanish was easier than I had expected; helpful to just follow those around me. Since I enjoy breathing exercises and stretching, this calmed me and helped to set myself up right.
• Later we drove into Quito and took the metro to the Colonial District, featuring cool churches and Spanish-style architecture. The metro in Quito is just over 1 year old; it is clean, well-organized, and easy to ride.

Day 2 - Sunday

• Orientation begins! 9-5 orientation at the IES Abroad Center in Quito. The staff are warm and enthusiastic, the office space is welcoming and bright. We covered a range of topics from Ecuadorian culture to resources for support during the semester. Many breaks in between for local snacks and lunch. At the end of the day we met the PANAS (Ecuadorian students that plan excursions and help welcome us) for frozen yogurt :)

Days 3-7 - Week 1

• The week flew by with many orientations, activities, and our first classes. For the Galapagos Semester program that I’m on, we have a 1-week Spanish “boot camp” before our other classes start. My class focused on elevating our grammar and Spanish pronunciation which was new and challenging.
• Orientations both through IES and the university I'm studying at - USFQ. With IES Abroad, we've had two "ENGAGE" sessions where we've discussed identity & values and set goals/intentions for the semester.
• I went on a few runs with one of my new friends here from the program since we live in the same neighborhood. The altitude here is no joke! Cumbayá is at ~7,900 ft above sea level. Runs are hilly but a great way to experience the community!
• At the end of the week, we had a formal Quito city tour which took us around the colonial district and up to El Panecillo. The views were incredible!

Days 8/9 - Weekend!

• On Saturday, we had an excursion to Otavalo and el Laguna de Cuicocha through IES Abroad. Otavalo is a city north of Quito famous for its vast market with food, clothes, gifts, and more. Many of the vendors and those walking around the market dress in traditional clothing, which is cool to see. I bought a few cute cards to put up in my room at home. Lake Cuicocha in the afternoon was incredible. We took a boat tour around the islands in the center of the lake. See below, but pictures don’t do it justice!
• Sunday, I ventured back into Colonial Quito with some friends from my program (4th time, still not quite an expert). We had a great lunch and hung out at a coffee shop after, quite chill. Before leaving, we visited the Basílica del Voto Nacional, which is the largest basílica in South America! Quito has such a rich collection of fascinating churches and architecture.

Day 10 - Monday, Today

• First day of class at the University! The atmosphere on campus was lively, and I’m excited to be underway.

My host family, new friends, and everyone I’ve met in Ecuador have been so welcoming. Truly a beautiful country, and I’m excited to keep exploring. Trips to the Amazon and Cloud Forest soon…

…and of course 2+ months in the Galapagos. Stay tuned!!!