"Vamos por un ratito..." translates into "let's go on a little trip"; what we would consider errands or "I'm gonna run to the store" type outings. Something quick with a purpose. I'm learning that this phrase can mean more than "a little trip".
"Vamos por un ratito por pan..." = Let's go on a little trip for bread.
Duh I jumped on this one, who wouldn't want to go on a little trip for fresh, warm pan (bread)? Here, pan is such an important part of the culture. On San Cristobal there are three panaderias (bread stores), quite a few for this size island. My host dad typically makes a "ratito" for pan a little before 7pm, when the fresh batch is just being brought out of the oven. He comes home with fresh steaming croissants, pan ducle (sweet bread - my favorite) and pan sal (salted bread) right before dinner. It is so hard to politely say "no thanks" when he offers me some, as I don't want to ruin my appetite for dinner.
One night he decided to go for pan after dinner. It was a "ratito" including me, my host mom, dad and sister. We piled into the little sedan and headed down the hill for pan. It took about 2 minutes to drive to the panaderia. I had never seen it at this hour (8 pm). It was bustling with people coming in for fresh pan for the morning - moms, kids, elderly people; literally everyone on the island seemed to be trying to squeeze into this closet-sized bread store. Sandry (my host mom) was back in the car within 2 minutes with fresh pan - it was incredibly delicious and fresh. From there we ended up driving around the malicon (board walk) and around town at what must have been the slowest speed the stick shift car could go without stalling. We somehow drove around the malicon for 30 minutes (you can walk it probably 8 times in 30 minutes) and eventually returned to the house around 8:30pm. At home, if mom or dad have to run an errand at night it's a quick run to the store and back. Here, going "on a little trip" for bread turned into a half hour excursion through the streets - but then again, what else do they have to do on this tiny island?
"Vamos por un ratito, ven con nosotros" = We're going on a little trip, come with us.
On Wednesday night I came home from dinner expecting to ice a cake and sing happy birthday to my host mom. I came home, iced the cake and was waiting in the sitting area when my host mom came downstairs all prettied-up. She told me they were going on a small trip and that she would like for me to come. It was her birthday, how could I refuse? Of course, since she said "ratito", I was expecting maybe a trip for pan or ice cream... nope ended up being an hour and a half long dinner at a restaurant. I had already eaten at the University, so I politely sat with my family at the restaurant while they all ate dinner. We got back to the house around 9:30pm and eventually sang happy birthday and ate the two cakes I had made (they found out I bake and want to learn how to make so many different cakes). To say the least, I wasn't expecting to spend 1.5 hours at a restaurant when I was told "ratito" - I still had readings for class the next day. But it's all part of the experience, right?
As I learn more and more about island life I'm finding that I have to "go with the flow" even more than in Quito. My one friend was told she was going on a "ratito" with her family - it ended up turning into 2 hours of riding around town on a two person moped with three people. I honestly don't know how you can ride around this one-square mile town for 2 hours, but they somehow did! I can only wonder what my next "ratito" will be...
Until then, Chao :)
P.S. So excited for Mom and Dad to arrive here tomorrow! I can't wait to share this amazing place with them! I'm sure some good stories will come out of their visit :)
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Island Life
We finally made it to the islands, and it sure is different than the city life of Quito! I've successfully completed my first full week of "classes" here on San Cristobal, ending the week spending the entire day on Friday diving at Leon Dormido and sun bathing on secluded beaches "for class".
San Cristobal is the eastern most of 18 islands that make up the Galapagos; only three of which are inhabited. All of the 18 islands are a national park and marine reserve (extending 40 miles off the coast of the islands), creating a habitat that preserves animals and marine life that are seen no where else in the world.
There are pleanty of unique animals, but the sea lions ("los lobos" en espanol) run the island. You cannot walk along the boardwalk (malicon) or a beach without seeing them lounging on a bench, the sand or splashing around in the water. They make different noises here than the sea lions in San Francisco, and it is really only the "macho" or dominant male that does all the talking/barking.
San Cristobal is super safe, but definitely looks like a developing country beyond the malicon. I lucked out and my house is really nice. I have my own room (with two double beds) with an attached bathroom and a huge window that overlooks the ocean. Other students live in "shacks" where the walls don't all touch the ceilings and they share bathrooms with their family members.
My host family is super sweet and active. I have a mom, dad, 14 year old brother and 8 year old sister. There is also a 24 year old daughter from the dad's first marriage that is with us occasionally. I don't see them as often as my Quito family, since I'm usually out of the house all day and our dinners rotate between with our host families, on our own, or at a restaurant that the university pays. Whenever I do see them they are super sweet and are looking forward to meeting my mom and dad when they come in two weeks. They also found out that I cook/bake - I am now in charge of my host brother's birthday cake this Friday; hopefully the island has all the ingredients for a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache. We also have a cat and two dogs that live on the roof. It's weird listening to the dogs run over the ceiling of my bedroom as I fall asleep at night.
The University here has about 4 classrooms and a really nice science center with advanced marine labs. It is pretty impressive for the size that it is, but internet is definitely a hit or miss. The best part about the university is that the beach is literally across the street; some sea lions from the colony across the street have a tendency to walk into the university out of curiosity! There is also a great deck on the second floor where we eat breakfast, and occasionally do schoolwork, with a beautiful view of the beach and ocean.
Shout out to Daddy: Happy Birthday! Can't wait to share this place with you in 10 days! I love you!... Until next time, Chao :)
San Cristobal is the eastern most of 18 islands that make up the Galapagos; only three of which are inhabited. All of the 18 islands are a national park and marine reserve (extending 40 miles off the coast of the islands), creating a habitat that preserves animals and marine life that are seen no where else in the world.
There are pleanty of unique animals, but the sea lions ("los lobos" en espanol) run the island. You cannot walk along the boardwalk (malicon) or a beach without seeing them lounging on a bench, the sand or splashing around in the water. They make different noises here than the sea lions in San Francisco, and it is really only the "macho" or dominant male that does all the talking/barking.
San Cristobal is super safe, but definitely looks like a developing country beyond the malicon. I lucked out and my house is really nice. I have my own room (with two double beds) with an attached bathroom and a huge window that overlooks the ocean. Other students live in "shacks" where the walls don't all touch the ceilings and they share bathrooms with their family members.
My host family is super sweet and active. I have a mom, dad, 14 year old brother and 8 year old sister. There is also a 24 year old daughter from the dad's first marriage that is with us occasionally. I don't see them as often as my Quito family, since I'm usually out of the house all day and our dinners rotate between with our host families, on our own, or at a restaurant that the university pays. Whenever I do see them they are super sweet and are looking forward to meeting my mom and dad when they come in two weeks. They also found out that I cook/bake - I am now in charge of my host brother's birthday cake this Friday; hopefully the island has all the ingredients for a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache. We also have a cat and two dogs that live on the roof. It's weird listening to the dogs run over the ceiling of my bedroom as I fall asleep at night.
The University here has about 4 classrooms and a really nice science center with advanced marine labs. It is pretty impressive for the size that it is, but internet is definitely a hit or miss. The best part about the university is that the beach is literally across the street; some sea lions from the colony across the street have a tendency to walk into the university out of curiosity! There is also a great deck on the second floor where we eat breakfast, and occasionally do schoolwork, with a beautiful view of the beach and ocean.
looking out from the university doors
On the island we walk EVERYWHERE. Thankfully, everything is in walking distance and being back at sea level makes it doable. The only real nuisance is "gurua" or this mist-type rain that occurs in the morning and evening and occasionally throughout the day. It's hard to explain in that you get damp, but not wet and its a little more rain than a mist, but not quite a drizzle. Otherwise it has been fairly cloudy most days, with the occasional sun coming. As we get further into October the weather is supposed to turn and be sunny almost the entire day, can't wait! When the sun has come through, it is super strong - after all I am on the equator.
Shout out to Daddy: Happy Birthday! Can't wait to share this place with you in 10 days! I love you!... Until next time, Chao :)
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