QUITO: Hasta La Vista Baby

It´s a bit crazy, but I am basically on my way out of Quito. I have been here for five weeks, with this being my sixth. All in all this will be longest I will stay in any specific place in my travels. So, before I go I wanted to share some pictures, and of course, some stories.

Note: For those who are receiving an email from me for the first time, you can go to the blog http://brazilbean.blogspot.com and read prior emails from when I left for Phase II.

PHOTOS: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=1i2bgirz.cr9jon9f&x=0&y=7bjuqs

Carlo: Still, my relationships with Carlo has been one of the best ragalos (presents) of this trip. Our relationship has been a riot of laugther, misunderstandings by others who assume we are a couple, and a continous mixing of roomate language that sounds more like a marriage than anything else. Let´s make sure to have some basic information out there. Carlo is straight, so much so I think he may have invented the concept. So, girls, rejoice! And, yes, he is still single, but hopefully not for long. Second, Drew is the only boyfriend I have and want. But, Carlo is like an Ecuadorian Drew in many ways. Statements like, "We should keep this water for cooking." have become commonplace. As Drew tells me, by "we" I mean "you." (At my house I coordinate food and Drew outings.) Carlo also loves everything I cook, like Drew. And, Carlo also has many things he simply does not eat, like Drew. Further, whenever I talk about my novio/boyfriend it has become commonplace for people to say "Drew or Carlo." With these very funny moments it has been an absolute pleasure to stay at Carlo´s. His kindness and care is beautiful and so damn authentic. It has also given me a chance to, well, ge to know the man behind the legend. Or, do I mean, the teenager behind the man? No matter, I have gotten to know him and share many of my values, wants and needs, hopes and dreams and continue to build a friendship with a truly outstanding person.

Quito: It is a beautiful city and if you have a chance to visit it, you must. I love the fact that it reminds me of SF in the way that it is small, but hip. Everything weekendy happens in about a 1 mile radius, but the places are fun, the people are welcoming, and the energy is kind and always friendly. Moreover, there is access to so much natural beauty everywhere. The mountains are ever present, the adventure travel opportunities infinite, and the air thin, but very healthy. (Ok, the city itself is a bit smoggy, but Carlo will soon be working on that. I´ve asked.) In addition, yesterday I learned quite a bit from CarlA. The city´s old town is filled with history, beautiful architecture, and rich pebble stone streets, and SF like hills. It is a little expensive since dolarization, but nothing compared to a day in LA or NYC. The weather is everything. Sun in the morning, hot, hot sun, clouds and sometimes rain in the afternoon, a beautiful sunset (amazingly, often without clouds) and cold nights. Finally, it is an outstanding place to learn Spanish.

Shaking My Bones: Prior to my departure from the States I kept saying I wanted to go out. For one reason or another it never really happened. When you have 3 months with your boyfriend going out with a bunch of sweaty men versus staying home cuddling up on a couch isn´t really a choice. Entonces (so) when I got here I immediately took too Quitos basic, but very fun dance clubs. I tried out 4 different ones and I have not regreted it. For instance, last weekend I danced from 11-3am at one and from 3-7am at the other. I walked home as the sun was rising, so, so, so happy that I had danced so much. Ok, so, yes, I am becoming a little known as the dancing queen, but alas, I am in a foreign land. So, in case you are looking for hip-hop, salsa, regaton, disco, madonna, whatever, Quito offers it. Come and join the Quitenos for a night out!

Andres and Roberto: Another outstanding connection was meeting friends of my DC based friend George Walker. I adore George and ours is a connection for a lifetime. So, when he said I should meet these boys, I said, "sure." The energy we share is so similar to the one George and I have that it is fascinating. They are outstanding people who have taken me in, taken me places, introduced me to new friends, shared their lives and stories with me, and let me cook in their kitchen. Wait a minute! I think the only reason Andres is my friend is because I cook for him. Hmmmm. I know Roberto actually likes me, but Andres, QUE SUCIO!!!! Seriously, these boys are golden and of the heart. AND, Drew, yes, these are the boys that have introduced me to Oliver the most fabulous dog ever! (well, after MacGruff that is.)

Dinners: First and foremost. Thank you mother for being such a great cook. AND, thank you Tricia for teaching me the way. I have had a chance to cook for groups several times while here. A couple of times I actually planned the dinner before hand, but many of times I was cooking for Carlo and me, until suddenly everyone showed up and I just had to keep adding food to the pan. This is something I miss A LOT about being in Latin America. I love people that just show up, I love the improptu dinners, the random madness of people that make an evening so golden. I also wanted to thank Nicole and Clarissa for sending me the GROSSI family recipe. The lasagna was oustanding. I did it in 2 days instead of 3, but it was a hit. And, thank you Carla for letting me cook with your India spices! Oh, oh, I have also had a chance to try the top 3 sushi restaurants in Quito. I say SAKE all the way. It was the yummiest!

La Lengua: School was a great experience. It was tough and I am still making lots of mistakes, but I am glad I did it. I feel I have a base to work from now, and I hope the next two months I can really practice while in Spanish speaking Latin America. As you may have guessed by now, the highlights there are Zayra and Ines; two teachers who made my time truly worthwhile. Zayra is especially memorably due to our Brazilian connections. We identified our number one problem as WE TALK TOO MUCH. Zayra also kicked my ass. Something that, from a teacher, I cannot ask for better. We covered the subjunctive in two days. After the first day I complained profusely (jokingly) and asked how many other students she did this too. She said as simply as she says everything else related to teaching and learning. "No one. The subjunctive takes two weeks to learn, but you are good enough and there is no good reason I can imagine you giving me that would convince me to go slower. Ok, now, how to use - Ojala!" And that was that. I left Friday with a booklet of homework to do this week. Note, I am not in school anymore. And, I am to meet here Wed. from 5-7 to correct all of my homework, and so that she can teach me a couple more things before I take off. She, of course, is doing this on her own time. Me gusta muchisimo! Oh, she also sent a message to Carlo today - STOP SPEAKING ENGLISH WITH JULIO!!!

Carla: A woman after my own heart. In genderization (word?) it is always comical to find someone who is just like you, but of the opposite sex. It´s like looking at yourself, but in a completely different light. Carla is outstanding (hmm, that series of sentences made me feel self-centered, oops). Seriously. She is amazing. She has taken on creating a school, is such an outstanding source of positive energy to her friends, and like many of us, seems to do an outstanding job loving her family while doing everything else. She does all of this while having a partner in Chile. Her constant demand for respect of others, kindness, and doing our damn best however we get there is inspirational, and through example, she has made me remember a lot of what I want to continue to be when I work again. Oh man, I have to work again? Ok, so maybe Carla fooled me. LOLOL!!!

Goodbye: This Friday Carlo and I are doing a going away party for me. There will be 20 people there. Some key folks I have met. We are doing a caipirinha party and I am cooking some sort of chicken for everyone, along with some potluck thing we are doing. I am sad to leave to tell you the truth, but that´s the part of traveling that one cannot go without. One has to leave one place to get to the new adventure. One has to travel to return home to the ones he loves. It´s the life energy of movement, and the wave I am riding right now. I go to Lima for 4 days on Saturday and then I meet my dad in Cuzco where we will start our Machu Pichu hike. It is going to be great! Wish us luck. JOIN US!!!

"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people." V.

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