Quito, Ecuador has been a dream month for me! My team has had such a good time with our ministry and our living conditions are pretty great which has made for a great adjustment to World Race living. The beginning of the race is filled with excitement, confusion, nervousness, and a whole lot of growing as you try and figure it all out; working with a team of new people, what day-to-day life feels like, and even how to get into the swing of traveling and living in another country. I have fallen head over heals for this country and this city and I wish my time here were much longer. Here’s a few of my favorite things this month- some little and some big:
1. Interesting bus Rides
My team and I spend a fair amount of time on the bus going to and from ministry. I actually really enjoy the ride and getting to see the amazing views of the city as well as spend some time in prayer. These buses fly through the city and sometimes don’t even come to a full stop to pick someone up. The real treat though is there is always something interesting going on! People will get on, give a whole speel about something they are trying to sell, and then people actually buy the product. We’ve seen everything from vitamins to various desserts to a telephone number to call to hear a joke to reduce your stress. Other times there are performers- we’ve seen a boy band as well as a guy who rapped his life story. Needless to say this is entertaining and helps me practice my Spanish!
2. Greeting every person with a kiss on the cheek
The greeting here is an embrace along with a kiss on the cheek- I love it! Whenever my team and I go someplace where we know the person, we end up making a little greeting line and do the same on the way out. There’s something nice about such a friendly gesture and makes you feel right at home.
3. Dogs, so many dogs
Quito is filled to the brim with dogs- both owned and unowned. The amount of kinds amazes me and the puppies are adorable. I also have a special place in my heart for our hostel’s two dogs; Guapa and Guapita.
4. Casa Blanca
This is our hostel that is owned by a Christian ministry called IncaLink and I can’t say enough about how amazing it is. We have multiple teams staying here so it’s always filled to the brim with racers. That means dance parties, laughter, deep conversations, music, games, and adventures around the clock! Casa Blanca is well run and organized and I love the people in charge- they have changed my life and encouraged me so much this month. My favorite passtime is bumming around the kitchen; helping where I can, learning more Spanish, talking and dancing, and of course eating any delicious leftovers.
5. “ito” at the end of everything
I came knowing and teeny tiny bit of Spanish from high school and was a bit confused at first- people here add “ito” or “ita” to the end of everything- names, foods, animals, places. It’s fun- add ito in Quito!
6. bipolar weather
We are on the equator, so I assumed that it would be really hot all the time. Wrong. Taking the mountains into account, the weather is so weird. It’s usually warmest in the morning and then when we are at our ministry the fog rolls over the mountains in the late afternoon and it gets pretty cool. My alternative is snow at home though, so I will take it!
7. Mountains! And altitude…
We are high up in the Andes and surrounded by mountains and everywhere you look is the most gorgeous view- this is a big deal for a Wisconsin girl! Quito is breathtaking in another way; the altitude is killer. It makes me feel so accomplished to even walk up a hill without gasping like a fish, so that’s fun too.
8. Painting for Ministry
For most of our ministry this month we have been decorating the inside and outside of a brand new children’s ministry building. This has been a dream come true for me as I love art and working with my hands. We got to be creative and pretty much do what we wanted and I think it turned out well.
9. Our Ministry Hosts
Andrea and Fabian have loved my team and I so well! They work with a church and we are the first World Race team they have ever hosted, so we were all a bit nervous about what we were getting into at the beginning when we didn’t have any details. No worries though! They have treated us better than family and we have spent a fair amount of time together getting to know them. From taking us to places around Quito, to having us catch lunch at their cousin’s restaurante (best food ever!), to bringing us to their church on Saturdays, and the conversations and laughs- it has truly been the best.
10. The fruit!
I LOVE FRUIT. And believe me, there’s lots of it here! From things I recognize like the most delicious bananas and mangos I have ever had to completely new and strange fruits like granidillas (known by many racers as “snot fruit”). I love going to the little stores pilled high with fresh fruits in wooden crates and burlap bags and getting some fresh blended juice or a smoothie. Yum!
11. Alpaca Blankets
We get bunk beds this month (yay!) and on each is a big, woven alpaca blanket and it is the most glorious thing ever. They are so warm and cozy and I would totally buy one if this wasn’t month one and I didn’t have to lug it around the rest of the world with me.
We have only a few more days here in Quito before our debreif in another area and it is going to be so tough to say goodbye. I was worried that it would be tough to get myself to truly love and care for a country and its people in such a short time, but boy was I wrong- at least for this month!
