Arrival and First Impressions

My arrival in Ecuador was quite a journey. Colegio Americano de Quito was closed this week, so I decided to travel to Cuenca to sightsee. Long story short, I ended up being awake for nearly 36 hours because of my poor planning. Being exhausted and a bit disoriented by the language barrier was quite a lot.

However, because sleep was not an option by this point, I decided to head out and explore Cuenca with another student teacher from Ohio. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were days spent sightseeing and having fun! I found the locals to be very hospitable and kind. The sights are magical! Some wonderful places I was able to visit include the main cathedral, the Panama hat factory, and Ingapirca (Incan ruins).

During my time in Cuenca, I stayed at a hostel for the first time. I was able to meet many people from all over the world. These travelers were able to share some travel tips and experiences with me. Discussing similar challenges with these travelers also gave me a sense of comfort.

Friday evening I flew back to Quito to meet my host family for the first time. I have really enjoyed getting to know them over the previous day. I am lucky to be staying with such a kind family.

On Monday, I will have my first day at Colegio Americano. I am uncertain of what the experience will be like, but I am looking forward to meeting the students. As the fun winds down, I know that school work and teaching are soon to begin.