Life in another country

LAST DANCE

2006-05-14T20:15:00.000-04:00

what is Ecuador to me?

2006-05-14T18:12:00.000-04:00

A country of emotions
of people from the earth
of frustated love
a place to grow

a place to live forever
a song in a bus
a market with fruits
a story with love

I miss Ecuador
everyday in my life
I will never live there
but I can't forget this land

Spanish Guitar

2006-05-14T18:06:00.000-04:00

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2006-05-13T23:57:00.000-04:00

Parrot

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A Parrot can speak Spanish

2006-05-13T23:02:00.001-04:00

Mark's sweater

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here Mark is making a sweater... the music is real, not added! you can hear a charango, a type of guitar that is made of an armadillo. We are in a typical Otavalo's home.

Otavalo

2006-05-13T22:49:00.000-04:00

People from Otavalo are beautiful. Their market is a great spectacle, very important in Latin America.
There, Mark, Brandi and I are dress like Otavaleños. We are different: I am a married woman cause I have a scarf on my shoulders, while Brandi is not. The type of shirt is from Spain, from the colonial times but it is common today.

A legal Alien talking

2006-05-10T20:33:00.000-04:00

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me

2006-05-10T20:26:00.000-04:00

Me gusta Ecuador

2006-05-10T18:49:00.000-04:00

I love Ecuador very much! Yo amo Ecuador

Asking for money

2006-05-09T22:20:00.000-04:00

This lady would follow you around asking you for money. Sad, but true. There are many of them, together with the children: how is life in another country? Why these problems happen?

Tarabita

2006-05-09T01:22:00.000-04:00

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A MUSIC POEM

2006-05-09T00:53:00.000-04:00

Salsa is not just food
salsa is "you can move"
salsa is my soul
and everywhere I go

salsa some want to think
was born in Nueva York
but there is more to it
talk to Cuba, si SENOR

it has african roots
like many other things
comes from a tradition of love
comes from the heart, not from swing

Salsa is part of me
and it makes me close to you
if you learn how to dance
you would understand why

Music is the language
of everyone in the world
and it has true meaning
the meaning of love
(Muy queso?)

A note on Coca Cola

2006-05-09T00:50:00.000-04:00

Many of us like the gas in the drink...but do you want to know why people in Ecuador do not want ICE in their coke? CAUSE THEY GIVE YOU LESS AMOUNT OF COKE, THE ICE TAKES THE SPACE!!!!!SO WE WANT ALL THE COKE WE CAN GET. Just to let you know

A legal alllien talking

2006-05-09T00:44:00.000-04:00

Monkeys

2006-05-07T17:41:00.000-04:00

They are in a special reserve... monkeys get food. They are also treated very nice..I was happy to see a place like this

Kids in Ahuano

2006-05-07T17:36:00.000-04:00

So this is a child from Ahuano, a little town close to El Hotal Suizo. It is a very nice hotel in this town, pretty much out of nowhere. People on the town walk bare feet and they are at the clinic all the time. I did take students to be checked for ear problems. These kids are there for food sometimes

5 de Mayo Bull

2006-05-06T18:28:00.000-04:00

I am tired of people saying congratualtions on May 5th. It means nothing to me, but cause I look Latina then people say it. Don't even know what happened on that day...It was a battle, Mexico against France. It wasn't anyone's indepedence. In the US it is just an excuse to celebrate bear. Don Pablo's was packed at Lennox Center. Most people in Mexico do not celebrate this day. I am from Argentina so can you explain why people say that to me? why people think I like spicy food? Oh well, we have a long way to go. Maybe expending sometime in Ecuador would help!

video

2006-05-03T19:04:00.000-04:00

Real Football

2006-05-03T18:42:00.000-04:00

In Argentina we love soccer, AKA real football! Watch this video

2006-05-03T01:12:00.000-04:00

ELI

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Elizabeth talks about her trip to Ecuador

Alyssa Farrell

2006-05-02T22:25:00.000-04:00

My Study Abroad trip to Quito, Ecuador....geez, where do I start? Well, I had the time of my life and met some of the most wonderful friends on Earth! This didn't just happen right away though, the first week there, all I was thinking about was how much I wanted to go home and how horrible it was that I was so far away from home and all that I knew and loved. But after that first week was over, I prayed for the strength to get through it and got a new attitude and outlook on the wonderful experience that I was blessed to receive. After that moment, the trip changed completely. I bonded with the whole group, tried new things, learned Spanish, and had so much fun because I put away my shyness and fear and let the "new me" come out. I am very thankful that I had the chance to experience this life-changing event and encourage everyone who has that chance to take it without hesitation because it will surely change you for the better!

Article for Que Pasa OSU magazine

2006-05-02T22:22:00.000-04:00

Last winter, I had the opportunity to be the Resident Director for Ohio State University’s Study Abroad Program in Quito, Ecuador. I do not know how or when it happened, but by the end of the ten weeks, all of the 12 OSU students in the program and I had fallen in love with this enchanting country.

The students who participated in the program received 15 credits in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, and their primary goal was of course to perfect their Spanish. In the end, they found that Ecuador has so much more to offer than just its language. From mountains to rivers, jungles to cloud forests, beaches to volcanoes, Ecuador truly has it all. The native Ecuadorians are always ready to show off their picturesque country and teach you all about it. When you are abroad, everywhere you go brings new people, places, and friends.

Being a Resident Director means juggling many situations at once. I could not have succeeded without a great support team to help coach me every step of the way. Back home at OSU, Rachel Sanabria of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese provided assistance for academic issues. Michelle Garcia at the International Study Abroad Office helped to coordinate and advised on everyday issues. I was not alone in Quito either. Lori Espinoza and her husband, Juan Miguel Espinoza, were in charge of the host school for OSU’s students. Not only are they dedicated to helping the students, but they also have time for the Resident Directors! They planned trips and really helped the students and I to acclimate to our new environment with our host families.

There was also an excellent team of Ecuadorian teachers trained in all the levels of Spanish instruction required by the academic program. What makes the experience so interesting is that from Monday to Friday the students have classes, tests, oral exams and excursions to local places of historical significance. Sometimes they take in soccer matches or visit museums. Almost every weekend, however, the students travel together to a new place. … Some lucky students even went to the Galapagos Islands!

When I was asked to write this article for Que Pasa Osu, I asked my students to send me a paragraph to share with other students that might want to do the same. Carolyn Minor sent me an email and she wants to share this with everyone:

Diana, this experience was life altering. I have a deeper respect for the Spanish culture. I went into this program wanting to experience and understand better the culture of Ecuador. Not only did I achieve this but also, I felt a real sense of belonging. My family welcomed me with open arms and made my stay with them one that I will not soon forget. Along with my academic education, I also received an education in the selflessness, honesty, and affection of the Ecuadorian people. Ecuador will always hold a very special place in my heart.

It does not matter what background you come from, you will not regret going to study abroad, not only to learn Spanish, but any language. Living in another country will help you understand others and yourself better. You will change and your life will be enriched from this experience. I lived 25 years in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I was born. Now that I live in Columbus, Ohio I understand and appreciate other cultures better, and of course I love Argentina even more!

As an RD the most touching experience for me was to see the change in every student, from day one until then end: no one was the same when it was over. Almost everyone in-group was able to have a whole conversation in Spanish with their family, with friends. They also were able to write and read, and most of all: everyone loved Ecuador.

In the end, I had some unbelievable experiences during my time in Ecuador. I truly believe that all OSU students should spend some time abroad as part of their educational experience. Ecuadorians are full of love, patience and friendship. I know that I will never forget my winter quarter in Quito, but just in case I do, I’m headed back again this summer!

Dissapeared in Argentina

2006-04-16T19:38:00.000-04:00

Child abuse in the world

2006-04-16T19:29:00.000-04:00

NO MORE DANCING

2006-04-16T03:48:00.000-04:00

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