I was surprised by the amount of wealth at USFQ. I had been told that it was the school where all the better-off kids went but I was not expecting the abundance of designer apparel that I encountered. If I had any knowledge of this sort of thing I'd be able to name some of the labels but I don't want to make myself look like a complete moron.
Classes were pretty good. I started my first day (Wednesday) with Introduction to International Relations. I'm thinking that it should be an interesting class but I don't really know because I could barely hear the prof talking about what we would be talking about about. I know that we are starting with a unit on Revolutions and that I have a quiz on Monday. Next was my Spanish Conversation class which I know already will be very helpful. The prof's main goal is to introduce us to new vocabulary which is really what you need in order to succeed in a foreign language. Next was supposed to be a political science class called Theories of Development but the professor didn't show up. We waited 15 minutes and then followed the native students when the left.
Today was a little easier. French 101 in the morning. This is to what the title of this post is referring. My professor was speaking Spanish with a French accent. I have no idea why I never thought about that but it was kinda interesting. Luckily I was still able to understand everything and I think that class shouldn't be too dificult. Finally today I had Intro to Ecuadorian Culture which is gonna be another very useful class in which I will learn lots of practical stuff and also be forced to speak in front of people.
I know I told a lot of you that I was gonna be taking a culinary class. Unfortunately there was a prereq for the one I was signed up. Taking that class was an option but I would've had to be at school at 7:30 in the AM and that just wasn't gonna happen. As disappointed as I was to not be able to take it, this relieved a major stress just because I was very unsure about what to expect from the whole thing.
So overall, it shouldn't be too difficult of a semester academically which means that I will have plenty of time to experience the rest of the culture. This weekend is gonna be full of exploring the city. I already took a nice walk through one of the biggest parks in the city this afternoon and got some cool pictures. Tomorrow we get a tour of Old Town and I will probably take the Teleferico (a little ski lift sort of thing) up the volcano that border the city sometime this weekend, so expect some cool photos to come!
So to sum up, life is good, I am alive, and I am already feeling amazingly at home here. I felt a sense of pride when I was walking in the streets that this was quickly becoming another one of "my cities". I am very very happy here and know that it will only get better as I start to explore the rest of the country. I believe that a trip to the beach is in the works for next weekend...
Sorry to all of you fighting snow.
But not really...
Tom and I shoveled 6 inches of snow off the driveway today! It's beautiful here, just as it is there. Sounds like USFQ might be a little bit like the Syracuse U. you didn't attend. Or maybe more like Northwestern!! You will be a wonderful example to them that all Americans aren't addicted to materialism. Have you found a "Goodwill" yet??!!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, Eric. Looks lush. Are the majority of the buildings brightly colored as the one you're sharing with us?
ReplyDeleteAnxious to hear about your beach venture. Especially curious about the difference in climate between Quito and the coast. My understanding is that the coastal area is warmer and more humid.
Ole (extent of my Spanish!)
Greg Lawless
Loved the idea of your prof speaking Spanish with a French accent. Love it! Je l'adore! And I checked out all your pics on FB. Enjoyed learning from the cultural ones, but appreciated the color and composition of the one in the parque.
ReplyDelete@+