As we get started, I wanted to preface this: I know how to count. I know how to count to 11. And I know that this blog only goes to 9. Just go with the flow here. I had been really consistent with my 11 things blog after each month. And well this month, I just came up a couple short, but I still wanted it to go with the series. So just roll with it. Even though it should be titled 9 things. Relax. Take a deep breath and still enjoy the insights from this past month in Ecuador.
1. Earthquakes are only earthquakes if they are a 7.0 or higher on the richter scale.
While I was in Ecuador for the month, I experienced my first earthquake, only to be quickly corrected by the locals that it was in fact just a shake, not an earthquake. It was pretty crazy though coming from the midwest and feeling the floor shake underneath you and not knowing what could be done in that instant. It only went on for a couple of seconds. When I first felt it, it felt like I was really close to train tracks and a train was going by causing the floor to shake. But it came and went as quickly and suddenly as it came. The weird thing was not knowing whether or not to expect another one shortly after. In the whole month, I felt two shakes, which I guess is pretty typical in Quito.
2. Riding the bus makes me feel like a sardine.
I thought public transportation could get crazy in Chicago at times, but Chicago has nothing on Quito. Every day, I rode a public bus 45 minutes to ministry and another 45 minutes on the way home. Which happened to be rush hour. When everyone else was going home for the day. I had to squeeze and push and shove my way even to get on the bus and hope that the doors would close behind the other 10 people behind me so we could start to head home. Typically in the mornings, I would need to hold on to a pole or a handle from the ceiling, but on the way home, I had no need. We were so jam packed on the bus that there was no chance I was going to fall over rounding the corner. It was quite humorous at times, but I was always thankful to make it off the bus and take a deep breath again.
3. The mountains constantly blow me away.
This midwest girl was in for a shock the whole month. Every morning, I climbed out of my tent and looked out at the city, my view was filled with mountains. And on a clear day, a snow-capped mountain. Which happens to be only one of two mountains on the equator that is snow-capped. Pretty awesome. The mountains are just so incredible. Such a declaration of the glory of God. And I got to see and experience it for the whole month that I was there. It just didn’t get old. And unfortunately, pictures just don’t do it justice.
4. Just because you buy a bus ticket and have a seat, doesn’t mean it’s going to be a comfortable ride.
Okay, so this is the second thing about buses. Sorry, I spent a lot of time on buses this month, so you get to hear about it all. There was one weekend a few of us went to a nearby town for the day. We got to the bus station early, wanting to get bus tickets and have seats. Well we got seats. But not everyone else did. But they still let people on the bus. And so they stood in the aisles. And halfway over the aisle seat. Little did I know that my aisle seat was not going to entail a nice little nap on my way there. We can laugh about it now, but not gonna lie, there were moments of frustration when it wasn’t what we expected the bus to be like at all.
5. Ziplines are great.
Whether it’s zipping over the jungle, or over a river, it’s beautiful. I have been zip lining quite a few times in my life – heck I’ve ran quite a few zip lines in my life. But when you get to do it in new places and over various types of creation, it doesn’t get old. The Lord continued to blow me away by each experience, getting to enjoy His creativity and His masterpieces. And who doesn’t love the thrill and little bit of adrenaline from going down on a zip line head-first?
6. Ecuador knows how to do chocolate.
Chocolate that is so dark. Chocolate that makes you sweat. Chocolate that makes you for the first time in your life not be able to finish a brownie and ice cream. Chocolate with plantain bits in it. And the best yet, chocolate covering coffee bits. So good. So rich. But they know how to do it and love to show you how they do it.
7. Garbage trucks play music when they pick up the trash.
You know that familiar sound coming down the road, that makes you want to dash out to the street with your spare change? I hate to disappoint you, but it’s not the ice cream man. It’s in fact the garbage man. Quite hilarious to hear that sound for the first time as we were eating dinner, only to see a garbage truck go by blaring that music. I don’t know why it plays music, but it sure was entertaining. And maybe a little dream crushing at the same time.
8. People with disabilities are seen as a disgrace and often abandoned.
We had the opportunity to help out for a day at a children’s home for kids with disabilities. Many of the children have cerebral palsy. And the sad thing is many of the children were abandoned at birth. Because in the Ecuadorian culture, having children with disabilities is seen as a disgrace. And no one wants to be a disgrace. So instead they leave their children in the hospital, in garbage dumpsters, or take them to a children’s home. Very heartbreaking for sure to see.
9. Baños is a great place for relaxation & adventure.
Whether you are looking for a coffee shop to just chill in with friends or alone, or want to go white-water rafting, Baños is the place to go. It was such a cool city in Ecuador. Our whole squad spent a few days there at the end of the month for our debrief. It was a quaint little town with plenty of great places to eat, for all of you foodies our there. There were cute coffee shops. And then there were plenty of opportunities for adventure. Whether you wanted to paraglide, white-water raft, ride horses, swing on the swing at the end of the world, they had it all. If you’re ever in Ecuador, it’s definitely a place worth checking out.
So that’s my wrap-up of Month 8 in Ecuador. I know you didn’t hear much from me this month. It was a busy month with a lot going on yet, a lot of quietness in my heart where I didn’t feel like I had a ton of words to share. BUT one more month done on the race, with 3 more months of adventure and observations still left to go.
