Hello everyone,
Sorry if I haven't stayed on top of my communication so far. My hope is that this will change while I am down in Ecuador. I will have more to say then. This summer has been good. I have all of my papers put together now. I am still waiting on some things to finish with my loan application but it should go through with no problems. I have my visa and passport back and am ready to go.
I have gotten some information about my home stay family. They seem like they are very good people. I have spoken with their oldest daughter, Daniela, on the phone and that went well enough. I have been corresponding with them via e-mail for about two and a half weeks now. They have asked me more questions than have given me answers, so it's a bit hard to describe them. I know their names and ages, and a little bit about what they like to do.
The home has no father. I am not sure why. The mother's name is Gabriela Barahona. She is an accountant. Her mother's name is Marcia and she stays at home. Her three daughters are Daniela, who is 15, Maria Jose, who is 13, and Nicole who is 9. Gabriela said that they like to read, walk, watch movies and travel, so I should fit in there fairly well.
Gabriela said that their house is in a very secure area of the city and that there is a hospital right down the road. She also said that there is a clinic on the way to the school and there is one in the school. So, if I get hurt anywhere between my house and the school I know I will be by a hospital. My room will be upstairs. They said that my room is upstairs, and it seems like whatever the upstairs entails will be my lodgings. They said it has a great view of the city.
Right now it is between 53 and 70 degrees in Quito. Gabriela said it is very strange weather because it is their summer and it is normally less rainy and hotter. The altitude in Quito is 9,000 feet, so I may get altitude sickness for a little while.
I am all registered for my classes now. I will be taking The History of Ecuadorian Thought, Grammar, two Spanish Language courses and Indigenous Literature.
I found a Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Quito, but my home stay family goes to church also. I'm not sure whether they are Roman Catholic or not though, so I will be playing that by ear. I also am in contact with two missionaries in Ecuador that I will hopefully have the chance of meeting while I am down there.
For the next two weeks I will be staying with me father in Toledo. I have been here for two weeks already. While here, I have been volunteering in the Fire Department just like old times. It's been fun. My dad and I are re-sheeting the front of his house, and are redoing his front porch.
Anyway, my plane leaves at 3:10p.m. on August 22nd. I will be flying out of Portland. MY expected arrival time is 6:30p.m. on August 23rd. Please pray for my flight and my time there. If you would like to e-mail me about anything my e-mail is S_P_E_N_C_E@hotmail.com.
I love and miss you all,
Spencer Ewing
About Me
- Spencer
- I am 20 years old. I am living in Ecuador for a year. I am involved in a study abroad program through the Oregon University System. This counts as my junior year of college. I have complete two years with Rogue Community College and will finish my bachelor in Spanish and my master in teaching in two years. I am a Reformed Protestant who loves to be active in my church but am still working on finding one in Ecuador.
4 comments:
We are Re-siding the front of the house, and before you leaave i will have worked your fingers to the bone. Dad
I go to the bagel shop every week and Matt asked about you today. I said that as far as I was concerned you had already left the country, since I hadn't heard from you since Grants Pass. Glad you have a blogspot! I'll be visiting often. I'm praying for you, and I know you're going to turn Ecuador upside down.
Somehow I didn't realize that you were going to Ecuador for a study abroad program (I guess I just thought you were taking a year to travel or something)--that's so exciting! What made you decide to go to Ecuador rather than somewhere else? And that's great that it counts as your junior year so you won't get behind. I want to study abroad in the next few years as well, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to because I would end up graduating later.
I'm glad that you have a blogspot so that you can share your experiences! :) I'm praying for you.
Hey Spencer,
Oh how I love this blog. I actually got on to check-in with you to see how you were doing. I am so glad you are having this time with your Dad. Go "Dad" on working that boy.
As I read your blog, I thought just the opposite of Evan. I thought Ecuador is going to turn you uside down...in a good way. Sounds like you are going to have your nose in the books as you did while you lived here. But those classes sound really great...richer than the Spanish classes I had...maybe it is the thought of reading in Ecuador and not in my room on campus in Illinois.
Thanks again for the update. Hopefully, I will still email news about us to you. Maybe I should think about one of these for us as a family...great way to communicate with people. A Christmas letter year round! A big improvement over my current writings.
We love and miss you too Spencer.
Ginger
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