A couple of weeks ago a group of us went to San Pedro de Atacama together for the weekend. Like most places we've visited, it was nothing short of incredible. During our time there we stayed at a great little hostel (Backapackers) that was packed with other travelers from the United States, Aulstralia, Brazil, Panama, Germany, and even Canada. Apart from meeting new people, you get to cook for youself in hostels and sometimes they'll have hostel-wide events/activities that are super fun.

      “You said You-Know-Who’s name!” said Ron, sounding both shocked and impressed. “I’d have thought you, of all people —”

      “I’m not trying to be brave or anything, saying the name,” said Harry, “I just never knew you shouldn’t. See what I mean? I’ve got loads to learn…”

*

English is everywhere here.

Alright - I’m not exactly proud of what I’m about to describe here, but here we go… My top 4 Cultural Misunderstandings living in Ecuador thus far:

1. A Tale of Two Gringas and a Chinita

I never imagined being stranded in the middle of a cloud forest 30 minutes before dark. But there’s a first time for everything.

What’s Cool?

Wow, so even though it’s now coming up on halfway through the IES Dublin program (halfway! I can’t believe it!), I feel like every week I’m learning and experiencing something new. Last Friday I embarked on an amazing trip to the UK, and got to see things that I think I could only have dreamed of less than a year ago. First stop? London! We bought tickets to spend our first full day in London at the Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour and, let me say, the 30 or so pounds I ended up spending on it? SO WORTH IT.

            It isn’t that I can’t spin off some simple definition for the brave or the beautiful here. I’ve seen enough saccharine television, read enough moralizing novels, and lived enough years to know that bravery involves acting in spite of the pit in your stomach.

            “Jesus, Chelsea,” my friend Danny says when I stretch my left leg out behind me, pointing my toes backwards and extending my arms wide like the ballerina I have never been. I quit dance lessons in elementary school. “Will you stop that?”