First Impressions of Quito

By Bradley Rehak - Guest Blogger studying in Ecuador

I admit to knowing very little, if nothing, about Ecuador. I don't see anything wrong with that, because where am I to better learn about it than here? However, I did have a few ideas about what the country and the people would be like. Most of these were colored by my roommate Brad, whose mother is Ecuadorian (and whom I've never met). I imagined the people to be mostly short and squat, with dark skin and round heads. Other characteristics of my roommate (idleness, near-continual intoxication, popcorn eating) I assumed to be unrelated to his maternal ancestors.

I was pretty much correct. The people generally are short and squat, with dark brown skin and heads twice the size of mine (I have a rather narrow head). I was surprised today by a few six foot and then some pale giants, but they are limited so far to the presidential guard. I have found no evidence of laziness (the gate guard at our school wasn't there when we returned this afternoon, and when he saw us he sprinted to let us in) nor midday drunkenness--however, I assume that the popularity of corn here means that somewhere, Ecuadorians are eating popcorn.

The city of Quito is much more modern than I expected: tall buildings, clean streets, internet cafes, etc. It's in the shape of a rather thin rectangle that runs North-South, which allows for its odd public transportation, that basically only runs right through the middle of the city. And the views of the mountain range to the West (which includes a volcano) are impressive. That sums up my knowledge of the city itself at this point: mountains to the West, buses in the middle. I'm not quite sure how to get back to my house, to be entirely honest. I've received some assistance from one of the coordinators here, so hopefully my city map (which bears a somewhat frightening resemblance to those of Six Flags or Disney World) is detailed enough to get me home for dinner in four hours.

My biggest surprise so far is this: finally being forced to speak Spanish again having taken numerous classes the last few years, I've found that I'm actually pretty good when I don't have English to fall back on.