Hello everyone!
As some of you know, I was in
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, a couple of weeks ago. It was my first
time in South America, and my second stamp in my new passport. Yes, I
get excited for stamps. They represent my life experiences!
Anyway, I was there with my
mother for Habitat III, a huge conference organised by the United
Nations in order to present and adopt the new sustainable development
goals and the new urban agenda. Mom was there to represent Yellow
Design Foundation, and I was there to observe and witness this
historic moment. I was quite impressed. I had never seen 40,000
people coming together for just one thing.
On our first day at the
conference, mom and I met Wilson and Maria-Christina, two friendly
people who were there to promote the company Wilson works for. We
started talking and they offered to show us around the city. The next
day, we all went to the Mittad del Mundo, the centre of the world,
and our first touristic outing. It is the place where the Equator
passes by. There is a monument where you can go inside, climb to the
top and see a wonderful panorama of the city. On your way back down,
you can learn about the science behind the “centre of the world”
and do some scientific experiments. On the site, there are also some
other little 'museums', such as the palace of chocolate and a
planetarium. We could also pet lamas, which can be very exciting when
you are jetlagged. Some people also decide to get married there in a
little church, which is half in the Northern hemisphere and half in
the Southern hemisphere. It is a nice metaphor for uniting the world.
Mom and I with Maria-Christina and her daughter Daniela
The following day, I was lucky
enough to be present at the opening ceremony of the conference. Ban
Ki-moon (Yes, I had a fangirling moment), Rafael Correa (the
president of Ecuador), Nicolas Maduro (the president of Venezuela),
among others, spoke during that ceremony. I have to admit that I did
not understand most of the speeches as they were in Spanish.
Although, I did seem to understand that most countries want to
develop their public transport network in order to increase the level
of clean air in the cities and make people healthier. Being a part of
this ceremony was special for me, as I am just a language student.
Maybe, in a couple of years, I will experience something like this
again, but as someone slightly more powerful?
While
mom was networking and attending sessions and round tables, I studied
for school, or hung out in the city. I spent some time wandering
around in the city. Oh how I love getting lost in a city! I am only
half kidding actually. I found a cute little church not far from our
hotel but I have no idea how it is called, or what it looks like on
the inside – I was not allowed inside as there was a ceremony going
on. I also found a little park and the most delicious empanadas (if
anyone knows where I can find some in Brussels or Gent, let me know).
Mom and I had agreed to have lunch together but I did not have a
phone to let her know that I was running late. So in the meantime,
mom was waiting for me at the site of the conference (downside of
getting lost).
Talking
about finding things randomly, mom and I were looking for a
restaurant to have dinner in one evening, when we came upon what
looked like a religious parade. I had never seen something like it!
So many colors! So much music! So many people! I had never seen
anything like it, and, to be honest, I still do not know what it was
exactly. I wanted to take as many pics as I could, which meant that I
sometimes blocked the view of other people but they did not seem to
mind that much. The people in Ecuador are very nice, helpful and
generous! Whenever I had to ask them a question, they answered
politely and with detail!
The
same night, we went to see the Light and Sound festival at the Santo
Domingo convent. Every evening that week, an animation was projected
onto the facade of the convent. Fun fact: the animation was made in
cooperation with some people from Lyon (France). Mom and I had
visited the convent during an event that was organised by the Belgian
delegation of the conference. This was done to promote the fact that
the restauration of the convent had been sponsored by Belgian
organisations. What struck me is that the convent sort of resembled
some religious buildings I had seen in Spain. I had expected a bigger
difference in the architecture of both countries.
One afternoon, about half way
our stay in Quito, I met my friend Verito. She was on exchange in
Finland the same year as I was. We had met there and had not seen
each other since our exchanges ended. We went to the Panacillo statue
together. This statue represents a Virgin looking over the city to
protect it. It actually has a similar story as the Statue of Liberty
in New York. The Panacillo was also given to Ecuador by France. Both
statues were brought over to their respective countries in pieces,
each of which had a number, and assembled at the place where the
statue still stands today.
When you get to the Panacillo,
you notice that the statue stands on a piedestal and a globe. The
stairs to go to the top of the statue are in the piedestal. On your
way up, you can also see pictures of when the statue was assembled
and you can read about what the statue really represents. The stairs
end in the globe. On the inside walls of the statue, you can still
see the numbers which helped the assembling of the statue. Then, you
can go outside, admire the wonderful panorama and look up to the
Virgin. I was in awe! Quito looked so big and pretty. I felt small.
On a sidenote, Quito is actually forty kilometers long and seven
kilmoters wide. It is a big city! Plus, it is in the mountains, so
walking around is a good workout wherever you decide to go.
When Verito and I came back
down from the Panacillo, we visited the little market, which was
located next to the base of the statue. We tried some typical
Ecuadorian food. I had an empanada and a drink with pineapple, it
also had other fruits but I do not remember their names. I should
have written it down... I also bought some souvenirs, I am now the
proud owner of an Ecuadorian purse.
To go back to the city, Verito
and I took a bus. It was quite different than taking a bus in
Belgium! The busses were less 'stable' so I had to hold myself
constantly, otherwise I would fall off my seat. The busses were very
cheap though, only 25 cents – Ecuador uses the US dollar as a
currency. The wonderful view made it all worth it. Verito and I ended
the evening at a chocolate shop which also has a little cafe. I
ordered a hot chocolate, of course, and a quesadilla. The chocolate
was a bit more bitter than I expected, because there was no sugar at
all in it, it still tasted good though. The cups were interesting
too! It was completely round, and the thing to hold the cup was
'carved' into the cup. I know this explanation is not clear, so I
tried to 'draw' it – the brown part is the hot chocolate.
That evening, mom and I went to
have dinner with the mayor of Matale (Sri Lanka). We were sitting on
the terrasse of a little restaurant. Next to us, there were three
older men who looked like they had been friends for a long time. Mom
started talking to them, in Spanish. I tried to be a part of the
conversation but I was not very succesful. One of the men, Augusto,
noticed I was having trouble with Spanish so he started talking to me
in English. I noticed he spoke very good English, I asked him where
he had learned it. His answer was surprising in a very good way!
Here's an excerpt of our conversation:
Me: where did you learn
English so well?
Augusto: I studied in the
USA.
Me: Oh, how did you get
there?
Augusto: I got a
scholarship!
Me: From which organisation?
Augusto: American Field
Service!
Me: *gets slightly excited*
I'm sorry, what?
Augusto: American Field
Service
Me: *gets very excited* Oh
my god! I am an AFS'er too! I went to Finland!
It turns out that Augusto went
on exchange with AFS to the USA in 1966! We spent the rest of the
evening talking about our respective experiences. I find it very
funny and interesting that even though Augusto and I went on exchange
in very different times and in very different countries, our
experiences had some similarities. This shows, once more, that the
basis of humanity is actually simple and not that different according
to where you are born or which religion you have, or who you choose
to date. Being a human is thus simple and getting along with everyone
should not be a problem. Meeting Augusto is a moment that I will
cherish forever and I hope that we can keep in touch!
One of Augusto's friends
recommended us to go on a little daytrip to Cayambe, Otavalo, and
Ibarra. We went there two days later. The taxi came to pick us up at
8:30 in the morning – thank you, coffee - and then we drove to
Cayambe. The driver told us that the city was often visited by
tourists because the Equator passed by there and they could take
pictures next to the little monument. He also told us the city is
known for its hot chocolate with nata (cream) and bizcochos (a
typical pastry) . We, of course, just had to try those - because we
were hungry (and cold). On our way, we stopped to take pictures of a
big lake – I do not remember its name sadly, it was in Quechua –
and a volcano.
Otavalo is actually an average
city architectural wise. People mostly go there to meet indigenous
Ecuadorians who still dress traditionally, and to see the lovely
landscapes along the way. There are a lot of lakes in the area. When
we arrived in Otavalo, we walked around in the market on the Plaza de
los ponchos. Mom bought a few scarves and sweaters made of alpaca
wool (the best kind of wool, in my opinion), and a chess game
featuring the Spanish conquistadors and the local indigenous
population. Apparently, the colonial history is still remembered and
people like to remind the Europeans of it. I also received two
traditional belts, which are also great to support my aching back.
After our (little) shopping
spree, we went to have lunch in, what felt like, the middle of
nowhere. The restaurant was located on a road where there were not
many buildings. We got to sit in the garden. The only thing I could
see was nature, mountains, and nature again. A real lunch with a
view! Ecuadorian food does not have that much variation, except when
it comes to juices and drinks. I do not think I had the same juice
twice in the whole week we spent there. I discovered many new types
of fruits, such as guyabano and taxo. On our way back, we stopped in
Ibarra for an ice cream, they are famous for it. Again, if someone
knows where I can find taxo ice cream in Belgium, let me know.
On our last day in Quito, mom,
Verito and I went to the teleferico, an elevator to the top of a
mountain. Everyone had told us it was a must, and they were right!
When we arrived to the top of the mountain, the view was so
impressive. I felt so small, again. I, briefly, forgot how cold it
was and that I was out of breath due to the height. We walked further
up the mountain to reach the highest top. It was a bit too cold
though so we stopped at 4100 meters.
When we came back to the city,
Verito and her father took us to see the Museo del Alabado, a museum
about Pre-Colombian art and culture. I learned so much. I also
understood everything, all the pieces were arranged according to a
specific theme (eg general facts, the relationship the indigenous
people had with their ancestors, the shaman and their religious
traditions, etc. What I liked the most was that most pieces of art
had some humor in them, even though some of them had serious roles in
religious ceremonies. The museum was a nice educational and pleasant
way to end our trip. The time had come to run to the airport and
hurry through security.
In short, I had a good time in
Ecuador and I hope to be back soon so I can visit more interesting
places and learn more about South America!
I didn't do much for Halloween, just a dinner in costume with friends. But for Sinterklaas, I went the whole nine yards! The first part of my celebration, was an AFS party to introduce the concept of Saint-Nicholas to the exchange students. The party included a visit from the "real" Saint-Nicholas and his helper Piet (also known as me). Each exchange student was asked to come forward and talk to the Saint while he read (the emails sent in advance by the host parents) from his big book. The big book consisted of funny anecdotes and some of the things the students had already achieved. After their talk with Saint-Nicholas, the exchange students received a special bag of candy from Piet and we all ate pancakes together.
