Guaguas

Before I start my recap of the day, I have an update re: el papa. El papa’s name is Francisco. He likes me now because I attempt to speak Spanish, but he enjoys making fun of my limited vocabulary. He is still intimidating, but his teaching methods are actually working and I’ve learned a couple of new words because he has made me go look them up as soon as I don’t understand something (this has happened twice when I was eating and once when Martha and I were talking). Two of the new words I have learned are: chupa- lick; parranda-fiesta. Some of the words I am learning are not Spanish, but Quechua, which is the language of the indigenous people of Ecuador. Some of the Quechua words I have learned are: guaguas- niños, kids; ñaños- hermanos, siblings.

Today was the first day that my host parents didn’t have to work and I was able to spend the whole day with them. It was a long, but good, day with mis padres y sus nietos. After breakfast, we picked the grandkids up from their house across the city. All three grandkids are girls, Manuela- 9, Matilde-6, y Maria Eduarda- 3. We took them to La Parque Metropolitano, the biggest park in Quito and Francisco says it’s the largest park in South America. It was nice to talk to the Maria Eduarda- we have about the same vocabulary and comprehension level (actually, she may be a bit more advanced). We had a quick lunch at the apartment and then we went on a road trip.

My host parents have a second house in a small puebelita outside of Quito, close to Pasocha.  I guess it is their “country house”. On our way there, we bought some type of candy from a lady in the street. I think it may have been sugar cane? It comes in pre-cut pieces, and you suck on them, chew them and then spit out the remaining piece. They were pretty good, but I have no idea exactly what it was. Manuela was surprised that I had never had them before. When we got to the house, the nietas swam in the pool and we played games like memory and Battleship. Manuela kept explaining the rules of Battleship to me, and finally I had to tell her that the game is from los EEUU. On the way back to the city, we stopped at an ice cream shop and I had the best ice cream I have ever tasted. All of the ice cream around Quito is made from fruits and I had coco (coconut). I also had a quesadilla, but it was a sweet bread, not a tortilla con queso.

This evening I went to the orientation meeting for my program. It was nice to meet everyone in person and get our schedule finalized. I was also pleased to meet at least two other girls who know less Spanish than I do (whew!). It made me feel better about myself.

Tomorrow we are going on a group tour of the city, so I should have some pictures to post.