25/09/2013

I don't know if other bigger universities are like this in the United States or if this is just an Ecuadorean thing, but there are a lot of classes canceled here. At K you are lucky to have 2 classes canceled a semester.  Here you have two classes canceled a week at least. It's ridiculous. I'm slowly falling out of love with Italian. I forgot all the little nuances of learning a new language. The irregular verbs, memorizing conjugations, etc. Listening to music in that language and trying to hear specific words of lyrics. If you've learned another language, you know what i mean. But i mean, i'm still doing well, i just have to keep forcing myself to study. I'm proud to say my trip for this weekend with the guys got approved. We are going to latacunga and doing hikes and whatnot. I'm sure I'll be posting pictures and whatnot sunday night to procrastinate. Music is becoming my central focus of entertainment (from television). I almost never watch tv. Marci tends to have it on in the background but I'm not too focused. My ear is getting much better. Forcing myself to speak is still a tough issue. It's not a lack of confidence in my ability, it's just that in English 80% of what i say to friends or whatnot is a joke and/or puns. Here its a bit different. I dont really have that ability. So i refrain from speaking and feel like i can't speak unless i truly have something of value to add to a conversation. its a bit humbling and frustrating at the same time. That's one of the hardest things about being abroad. I'm slowly trying to break off communication with friends to a bare minimum. Its kind of taking away of my experience if i know i can come home and talk to someone from back home. It's kind of a complicated feeling to have and not anyone back home really gets it. I've also stopped taking my first bus to get to school. its always hot and crowded and probably dangerous but instead i walk the mile or so to the central bus station which saves me money each day, its more comfortable and just way more benefits. It actually takes about the same amount of time on the way home due to traffic. Overall, still loving it here. Of course there are minor bumps in the road but nothing too major. I mean, I want to extend my trip an extra week, if that gives you any doubt. Its kind of refreshing to be here, but I won't lie, there are times I dream or the first few seconds I wake up and it feels like I'm back home. I can honestly say I haven't had a normal dream since I've been here. I can't give an example but nothing about it feels natural. Things here can be sort of surreal, inexplicable, but encouraging. I feel like there's nothing I can't do and this place only reinforces that. Yeah, egoboost. Just what I needed, right? The food aspect is getting a little old, but I'm trying to spice that up with either cuy (guinnea pig) or guitita (cow intestine) soon. Hopefully within the next few weeks. After this week I have to start studying for midterms so that'll be boring, but from october 10th til like late november I should be able to travel and whatnot a lot more. Back to studying before the weekend starts tomrorow!