Soon Enough I'll Be in Ecuador!

Originally, I wrote this to-do list post two months ago when I was in the early stages of preparing for my semester abroad. Now that I'm two days away from departure, I want to revisit my to-do list and provide any insights about how I've gotten ready:

To-Do:

• Yellow Fever and Typhoid Vaccines
  • Done! I went to a Walgreens pharmacy and surprisingly my insurance covered one of the vaccines. After calling my insurance provider and multiple travel clinics/pharmacies, I ended up paying ~$150 for the two vaccines. Much less than I had anticipated. Do your research to try and find the most affordable location for you!
• Complete the IES Abroad travel itinerary form
  • I booked my flights early in the summer. The forms on the IES Abroad website are straightforward and easy to complete.
• Complete the IES Abroad certificate of vaccination form
  • For the GAIAS program that I'm doing, you need a yellow proof-of-vaccine card. Walgreens provided me one at my vaccine appointment.
• Attend my program’s virtual orientation in the end of July
  • As an IES Abroad direct enrollment student, I had pre-departure orientations both through IES Abroad and the university that I'm taking classes at. Both were informative in their own ways, and I'm glad I heard some info twice to nail it in. Some of the most important tips I received were:
    • Bring plenty of sunscreen, it is expensive and lower-quality in Quito.
    • Pack empty bags/backpacks to use once there.
    • Prepare for the altitude in Quito. I plan to take it easy when I first arrive and stay hydrated. Lotion is also recommended since it may be drier than you're used to!

Those were the four 100% necessary steps that I had to complete before heading abroad, aside from packing and getting myself to the airport. I completed all successfully! There were some additional to-dos I planned on to prepare just a bit more thoroughly:

My Aunt's whole family is Ecuadorian, so I plan on finding out much more about Ecuador from her when I see her this summer. She still has some uncles that live in Ecuador, though I don’t know where. I’d love to pick up some slang/customs from her.

• I spoke with my Aunt about Ecuador and she was super helpful! I'm already prepared, so I looked to her more to tell me about why she loves the country and her favorite things. She raved about the food and fresh fruit, and instilled much comfort in me. I can't wait to verify all of her positivity!
• Regarding slang/customs, I forgot to ask, but she told me that Ecuadorian Spanish is fairly clear compared to other Latin American countries - meaning they enunciate most of their syllables and phrases fully. She did tell me that "por favor" is often shortened to "por fa-"

For Spanish practice, I just started reading En el tiempo de las Mariposas by Julia Alvarez, which is a novel about four heroic sisters and their stories living under the Dominican dictatorship of Trujillo. My professor from a Latin American literature class recommended the book, and I started (unsuccessfully) to read it last summer. I’m already a few chapters in, so I think this time it’ll stick. In hindsight, I should’ve picked an Ecuadorian book, but ah well! 

• I read ~1/3 of this book. I enjoyed it ... my inability to finish it speaks more to my habit of leaving books unfinished than the book itself! For Spanish practice, I've been describing things to myself or narrating my actions while at work and around daily life. TBD if that was helpful.

Finally, I’m looking into buying a new backpack for the trip and will likely need to buy some clothes, too. Luckily, the climate will remain fairly consistent, and I won’t need to pack any heavy layers or winter jackets. Huge plus of traveling to the equator!

• I bought: a 42L Cotopaxi backpack that I can use and carry easily for excursions while in Ecuador; a rain jacket; Teva sandals for the Galapagos and water activities; UPF thin, layers for field trips such as to the Tiputini Station in the Amazon Rainforest; and a few pairs of wool socks for hiking

That’s all for now. I'm nearly done with packing and I've been spending my waning days at home with family and friends. Next you'll hear from me, I'll be on the ground in Ecuador! 

-Aidan