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.

 

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 :)