So, the super shuttle was suppose to pick me up at 1:30 am for my 6:00 am flight...it didn't.
It came around 2:30 am, but the driver did call me. To pass the time I sat in the lobby of my cousin's dorm and watched the infomercial for the Timeless Collection of Body and Soul Music...you know Luther Vandross, Al Greene, The Temptations, etc. I was almost sold...for 5 easy payments of $26.00 I could have 10 cds of classic love songs. I think I decided to you tube those bad boys instead. The funniest part was that the security guard was jamming to the music as well....I could tell he was like who is this young child listening to this old school music.
When the shuttle arrived, I tried my best to stay awake on the way to the airport. I failed horribly. The driver, who was an older man from Columbia was very nice. His name was Franklin. We were able to exchange some words in Spanish. For instance, I apologized to him when I left the door open, because I was so sleepy that I forgot to close it. I also met a little person on the ride to the airport who was on tour doing impressions of Lady Gaga and Brittney Spears. She was a cool lady.
When I arrived at the airport and went to the Copa airlines desk, I immediately felt the cultural difference. Suddenly most people were speaking Spanish instead of English. And as I talked to people in the airport and on the plane, it seemed easy for them to see that they should speak English to me. I don't know if it was my broken Spanish, or the questions I instinctively blurted out in English instead of taking the time to formulate the question in Spanish. Whatever the reason people knew that I didn't speak their language. As I reflected on this I realized that although I felt a little bit embarrassed by my limited Spanish speaking skills, it was good for me to feel like an outsider. It was good for me to place myself in an uncomfortable position so that I can learn from those around me and to identify with the people who travel to the United States from many different nations. Matthew 23:12 says "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." I believe coming to Ecuador, to a place where I am the outsider is a form of humbling myself. I mean, I barely know the language, I don't know the culture, I know nothing about traveling, and I'm too small to carry my heavy bags (lol...I just had to add that in). I'm deciding to be okay with these weaknesses in myself right now, and to watch God to awesome things while I'm here.
On the plane, I was so tickled by a little boy who had to be 4 or 5 years old. I saw his dad hand him the telephone, and the child said to his mom excitedly "Mama Estoy en el avion." It made me smile for two reasons. First, because he was so excited. Second, because I understood him! I also met an older black lady from Panama on the airplane. After we both woke up from our 5 to 6 hour slumber, she encouraged me to practice my Spanish, and to not be shy. This lady was impeccably dressed and kept up. Her hair was recently straightened with a Keratin treatment, her nails and toes were done, her make up was perfect, and she topped it off with a nice outfit and a louis v. bag. Walking around the airport in Panama, I noticed that all the ladies were so well dressed. Even the house keeping staff had on cute jeans and nicely done make up. After seeing this, I thought to myself...I can definitely do better...lol. I also noticed that when the flight attendants served us on the plane they always serve the women first even if they had to reach over the men. It was quite nice. I sat in between two men, and I always got served first!
After arriving in Quito...I was surprised by the heat. It was scorching!!!! I was prepared for 50 degree weather, but that's not what I got. The weather channels says it 73, but to me it feels like 93....can you say "una sorpresa"! A driver from the hotel picked us up from the airport with a sign that said "la familia perry". I felt so important. Getting to hotel was nice, the driver spoke Spanish to us and helped with the heavy bags. Hotel Los Alpes is everything I expected it to be. It is beautiful and peaceful and quaint. I'm staying in the family suite with my classmates Peter and Caroline. The only down point of the hotel was that I almost killed myself carrying my bags up 3 flights of stairs...I'm all better now though.
I only have a few more hours in Quito...who knows what they hold??? Maybe dinner in the city, maybe some live Ecuadorian music and great conversation with my traveling buddies...I say this is a successful day two of my journey!
EP<3
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