Mini Tivoli

Hola 

Just making a quick update from Ecuador... 

Another day without school. I'm not quite sure why? A teacher just came Wednesday in the middle of a lesson and told us that there was no school tomorrow, Thursday.
I really don't feel like question it, no school is awesome! 

Actually I didn't do much doing the day time, but in the evening one of friends called and asked if I wanted to go with them to a mini tivoli, who can say no to that? 

It was super funny! My cheeks are literally  hurting, because I have been smiling so much. But also it was kinda scary, the rollor coaster was so old and the security so bad. They had to run with the wagon to make it start driving. For a moment I thought I was going to die.
I'm having a lot of does moments here... But isn't it why I'm here? ;-) 

Beautiful night 

The girls were screaming like crazy and I couldn't stop laughing at them. They should try The Demon!

Tomorrow I will go to school and then Quito, because Saturday David Guetta plays in Quito and I got tickets! :-D I'm going with Sofie from Denmark and Renni from Germany! And at the concert we will meet up with the rest of the exchange students that are going. I'm looking so forward and I can't wait to tell you guys about it!  

Love

A Lot Of Quito In One Week!

Hola

It has been a very busy week, but that's the way I like it!

Monday and Tuesday:
Was normal days. You can read in one of my other updates what I do normal days.
Actually something else did happen Tuesday evening, I went to a pool with Diana. It was super funny and nice to swim again. Diana and me and a group of boys were the only ones there. The boys were super sweet and one of them spoke English, because he has been living in the US.

Wednesday:
I didn't go to school, because Pablo came and visit me. So I was hanging out with him all day and showed him around in Otavalo. We saw the market and the waterfall. For the first time did I see the waterfall, while the sun was shining. It was so pretty! I had a good day.

To get to the waterfall we took a little off-road 

One of those places where the picture says nothing, but in really life - Omg! 

Thursday:
No school again, but this time, because it was a important day for Otavalo. It was some parade day... All the schools, universities and stuff like that was walking in the parade. It was a little bit boring, because they all just played the same melody and did the same steps. But the dancers had pretty uniforms. The parade was over 4 hours long...
I saw it because my school was in it and one of my really good friends was one of the dancers. Also my host mom would give a speech in the end of the parade, but it started raining so they had to get inside and then I couldn't see or hear her.

My host mom is the lady that waves

My host mom is the lady that thumbs up

My friend is the rear - So pretty in her uniform 

After the parade I went straight home, because i had to pack for Quito.
Same day I went to Quito, because there was a Halloween party that night with all the exchange students. I came an hour late and also I was the only one not dressed in a costume... But it was still fun. The party was already done at 10 pm, because it was a Thursday.

Friday:  
Friday doing the day time was a little bit boring, because all the exchange students in Quito was in school and couldn't hangout. So i was home alone in my host brothers apartment, but then he came home and we went out and ate lunch together.
There was another Halloween party Friday and I went together with Pablo and his friends. It was a fun night.

Again not a costume... 

Saturday: 
Home to little Otavalo.
I was supposed to go to another Halloween party in Ibarra, but I said no thanks and stayed home for the first Saturday - It was nice.

Sunday:  
Friday had I left my jacket in one of the guys car and I forgot to get it back Saturday, so Sunday off I went to Quito again to get my jacket. Because it's a two hours long bus ride I already left Otavalo 8 am and stayed the whole day in Quito. But as stupid as I'm, I forgot my sunglasses at my friend's home -.- So yes I have to go back to Quito and get my sunglasses. Hopefully I wont forget anything this time!

Monday:
I was so tried that I didn't hear my alarm and first woke up 11 am. No school for me today...
Unfortunately my grandpa here in Ecuador just died today and the day has pretty much turned grey!

Take good care of each other! I miss you all in Denmark.  

Love

My Life In Ecuador Is Not Only Cakes And Dancing...

Hola

So I finally have time to make a update about my everyday life here in Ecuador.
So today I'm going to tell you guys about general things here. 

I don't remember if I actually have told where I live? But here it comes I live in Otavalo which is a little city, about 2 hours away from Quito the capital of Ecuador. Otavalo may be a little city, but it's every famous, because Otavalo is one of the oldest city's and it's here all the original people come from in Ecuador. 

So I go to school with a lot of the original Ecuadorian and they are the only once allowed not to wear school uniform, because they are wearing the original clothes. 

So yes I wear school uniform every single day! Monday the boys wear tie and the girls a blue bow on there shirt, but I still don't have that one... Then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday it's normal school uniform. Friday, because we have gym class we wear our gym uniform and it's so ugly!

The normal school uniform...

Here in Ecuador the school starts at 7 am and it's so early, but the school is always done at 01:10 pm. I can walk to school and it only takes me 10 minutes. Everyday when the bell rings (which btw isn't a bell, but a weird sound with a horn) everybody goes to the schoolyard and we stand in long roads with our class for 20 minutes, because we are "listing" to a nun reading up from the bible and then we pray. Also everyday 12 pm we pray. It is so weird and so different from Denmark! 

We only have on break and we don't eat lunch at school, so I'm always so hungry when I come home from school. Normally I'm first home 2 pm, because when I walk home I walk together with all my friends and they take a huge detour, they do it, because they want to walk on the main street of Otavalo, because all students in Otavalo walks on that street and basically the girls only do it to look at boys and the boys only do it to look at girls... And all the older boys that can drive, drives around in their cars and play loud music and this happens every day! But of course there are more people on Fridays... And btw in my school we are not allowed to wear make-up. So everyday 10 minutes before the bell rings, all the girls sits and put makeup on, do their hair and makes sure that they look nice, to the daily walk home.

After an hour of walking around and looking at boys and talking with my friends, I go home and eat lunch, which my maid has made for me. 

I have a maid and she is fantastic! I don't know what to do when I return to Denmark? She is the nicest person ever and she does everything for me! 

Around 4 pm I go out with my friends. They always have to make homework, but they do it in bars and cafés, because there is wifi there and then we can have a good time, talk and get a snack while doing homework - Smart! 

I would love to show pictures of my school, but I don't have any, because I'm not allowed to have my phone with me to school. 

Mostly my school makes me think about The Garden Of Eden, it's so tropical... All over my school there is stone animals with flowers growing out of their back. Then there is all the tropical plants, trees and flowers. The birds are always singing and I've seen hummingbirds more than once in a old flower tree. And all the buildings are painted in a delicate yellow color and on top of that words from the bible is writing all over the school... My school is super Catholic. It even has a church in the school, not close to the school, no the church are in the school and only used by the school.

If anybody wonders what I do in school, I can tell you nothing. Mostly I sleep... Sometimes I help/make the girls homework, because a lot of it is just writing after a book and I can do that even do it is in Spanish and the teachers still haven't noticed that the handwriting changes. English and gym is the only two classes I fully participate in.

When someone suggests that I try harder in school...

Of course I don't sleep in school, mom! I do my best to participate...

So as you guys can guess my Spanish is still not fluent at all! But I can have an conversation now and most important I can ask for my host parents permission to different things :-)  

Nodding your head, smiling, and saying yes...

The way people dress here is also very different. The girls always wear high heels, lots of jewelry and their pants are extremely tight! They always look good and put a lot of lipgloss on. I like that kind of culture where you take the time to make something out of yourself. But sometimes it's just to much and it makes me feel like shit, because all the girls are styled up like if they were going to a party and I'm just wearing jeans and t-shirt...

The boys style are more like Danish boys, but more rock/badass than hipster... 

I really want to buy clothes here in Ecuador, so my style will be more like theirs, but clothes is so expensive here!
Please send me money!

What your friends from home tell you about your new foreign style: 

Love You All

If there is anything you guys would like to know about my life here and Ecuador, just let me know!  

What The F***?

Hola
Somethings here in Ecuador are just to weird not to mansion...

When it's too hard to not judge the cultural differences:

  

So here is a list over different things from Denmark to Ecuador: 

• They eat chess with EVERYTHING? Every time we eat there is always a plate only with chess... Even when we eat cake/dessert. They even put chess in the hot chocolate?
  
• Here is none road signs that tell the speed you are a lot to drive with? I have seen road signs for bump and children on the street, but never a sign that tell the maximum speed...
  
• Here it's totally normally and totally okay to like your own stuff on Facebook? Every Ecuadorian person I'm friends with on Facebook does it. Wtf it's like giving yourself a high five...
  
• The age different of couples here are huge, the boy are always at least 2 years older, but mostly more! Some of the girls in my school that are 14 years old date guys that are 20? Why would a 20 years old guy want to date a girl that still doesn't wear a bra?
  
• It's normal to have more than one girl/boyfriend?
  
• It's only the driver wearing the seat belt, on less you drive on the highway.
  
• Every time a teacher enters the classroom everybody stands up and greetings the teacher. But in general they have no respect for their teachers...
  
• Food are so cheap here, I can buy a nice big dinner + soda for 5 dollars.
  
• Boys and girls are not allowed to be alone together in the house.
  
• They don't use knifes to eat with, only to cut their food with.
  
  Coping each other's homework is totally okay, from the teacher side.
  
• They have a television in every single room, except the living room.
  
• Men do nothing in the house.
  
• Boys always pay for the girls! (I actually like this different - Danish boys could learn something)
  
• They don't hug when they say Hi/Bye, they kiss on the cheek. (It have cost me a lot of awkward moments)
  
• There are big walls in front of every house or metal mesh on the windows and doors. All the houses/stores are super protected.
  
• Having a maid is normal.
  
• There are guards with weapons in front of the banks.
  
• At school they pay for the cope sheets the teachers gives them.
  
• They have statues and pictures with Jesus and Maria or cross in every room!
  
• Having two phones is normal. A smartphone and then a shitty phone for texting and calling.
  
• There are homeless dogs on every street.
  
• There isn't toilet paper in the single box on public toilets, you need to take it before you go in.

Keep track on my list, I may put more things on...

Love 

16-20/10 Manabi

Hola

I have spent the last 5 days on the beach, some place in Manabi.
I have had a great time! It was so nice to see all the exchange students from the high land again and to meet all the exchange students from the coast! 

It's so nice to be home again, the Hotel we stayed at was the worst shit ever! The room I was in smelled so bad and the toilet didn't work. There was blood on the sheets? And in addition, there was Bed Bugs, so now everybody has small bites all over their bodies...  

I got stolen 60 dollars and I wasn't the only one 4 other exchange got stolen their money as well. 

The toilet...

But I had fun anyway... 

Wednesday:

We spent all day in the bus... 

Thursday:

We were divided into different teams, I was blue. We played different games and compete against the different colors/teams. 

While doing that we switched to sail with a boat to an island where there were a lot of crabs and birds. It was so pretty! 

Later did we all go up to the top of the mountain and took a group photo. The view was amazing and the pictures say nothing compared to how it actually looks like. 

Some good old love between Norway and Denmark...

In the evening there was a big bonfire...

Bonfire

Friday:

We all drove to Portoviejo. In Portoviejo it was parade day and of course we were in it. It was so cool! We all walked with our flags. Obviously I walked with all the Danish girls, and we were singing and yelling in Danish. We are a really strong group and we share everything together. I don't know what I would do without them here in Ecuador. 

Lama 

After the parade did we visit a museum or I think it was... It had a lot of small shops. I bought a new colorful bag and a lot of small bracelets and it's all handmade.

In the evening was there a talent show.
We all had to do something cultural from our country. The Danish girls and me started out with dancing Folke Dans and then we danced to a Danish boy band called Nik & Jay. It was so funny and not to brag, but we were pretty good! ;-)

Saturday:
Saturday we all went to the beach. The theme was The Olympic games, so there was a lot of games. There was speakers that played loud music and speed boats, that had Bananas behind them and it was so funny! I had a great day with lots of fun. Except the part where I got sunburned. Typical me...

Of course there was also I show Saturday night... Reina Del Paseo, that was boring. But there was a party after, so it was fine. I like dancing with other people, who can't dance...          

Sunday:
Home, but first as always our bus was 2 hours late - love Ecuadorian time!

Love 

11-14/10 || Another weekend in Quito ||

Hola 

Friday I didn't go to school because it was a holiday. Instead for school did I go to Ibarra an hangout with Arnetta. 

Friday was game day Ecuador vs Uruguay - it was a very imported game because if Ecuador didn't win, Ecuador would be out of the next round, but of course Ecuador won! :-D 

It was a party day, everybody was happy! And Arnetta's host parents bought a cake - it was good! 

We had planed that I would spent the hole weekend with Arnetta and her family. We were supposed to go camping, but instead of camping saturday, went we to Quito.

We stayed at Arnetta's host mom's sister house. 

For lunch saturday did we went to a candies restaurant with chines food? It was a weird concept, but the food was good! 

Then Arnetta and I went to Quicentro, there we met Pablo. We didn't do much mostly we just talked and walked around, but we had a good time. 

We were supposed to go to a disco with some of the other exchange students in Quito that night, but nobody showed up? So instead Arnetta, Pablo and I went to the movie theater. 

Sunday we went sit seeing! 

We were Arnetta's host family and her moms sister and hoistbind. So we was 7 and we only drove in one car, which means there wasn't enough seats for everybody, so Arnetta and I were put in the trunk of the car... It was fun siting there and taking pictures of every thing! 

First we went to TeleferíQo...

It was raining, and Arnetta's host mom told me to blow air out, because there is an old saying that if it's raining and a person who lives in Otavalo blows air out it will stop raining and it actually did stop raining! 

It was quite cold on the top and we couldn't see much, but it was still pretty cool and the lift that took us to the top had a great view over the city! 

Then we went to Pancillo. Pancillo is a big statue of a woman, and you have the best view over Quito from her. It was really pretty! We ate lunch there. 

After that we went to the place where the president lives Casa Presidencial and then to Basilica.

I have visited both places before with my family, but back then we visited it during the day time and this time it was night. It was so pretty with all the light. 

We were supposed to go home Sunday but we stayed an extra night. 

Monday we drove home, but first we visited a big mall! 

In the evening did Arnetta, Lucas and I went to the Rotary meting. 

Today at 17:30 my Chairman will pick me up and take me to Quito, because Wednesday I am going to Manabi with all the exchange students and I will first return home Sunday... 

I am looking forward to some vacation and of course to see the other exchange students! 

Some of you may wonder why I'm looking forward to vacation, but it can be hard going to school for one day!

Love

Caceria Del Zorro

Hola 

I wanted to make a good and long post this time, but my computer decided to delete my post - not once but twice... So this is the third time I'm writing this post. That is way it isn't so detailed anymore. Sorry!   

Well okay, I will start telling you guys about last Thursday. Not because something special happened, but because i went to the gym. It's the best thing ever. I love it! It isn't like a Danish gym with a lot of old sweaty men, no no... It's fun!
I went with my good friend from school, Diana. What we did was a two hours long dance team. The first hour was with Latin dance and the last hour was with exercise dance. I was quite impressed it's men who teach and they are really good at the hip thing! I have never laughed so much, I was sooo bad at it! But even though I laughed like a crazy person, I really felt like I was getting something good out of it. And the best thing is that it's free and I can go every night! 

Saturday morning did I go to Ibarra. I was staying at Arnetta's house for the night, because it was Caceria Del Zorro... Caceria Del Zorro are like a tradition. It happens every year during the anniversary of Ibarra's foundation. (Wise words I haven't made up myself) 

Super cool Zorro hat...

When I arrived, right away we went to the mall to buy tickets for the concert/party Saturday night. At the mall did we met Pablo, a friend from Quito and Ariana, my counselors daughter. They were our rescue, because Arnetta and me had no idea what, when and where things was going to happened...

Of we went with them, and our ride was pretty cool! It was one of those trucks you use for parades (which was pretty lucky, since that was the purposed of the truck). It had an DJ that played really loud music and of course space were you could dance on the truck. It was really cool driving through Ibarra's streets on that. 

Then we went to the lake. It was there the horse race was held. We came about two hours too early and we missed the parade, but who cares we had a good time! To be honest the race was quite boring, after three rounds was it over and none of us was sure what was going on... But again who cares, the sun was shining, good company, a lot of happy drunk people and the view was so beautiful!     

At night we went to the concert/party. There was a lot of people and it took ages to get ind!
But as usual did I had a good time. I'm not sure who played, but the music was good. 

The party - I love bad quality! 

Sunday was chill day... We didn't do anything besides eating Chinese Food - It was really good! Haha

Chinese Food 

Love