Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santos (UEES)

La UEES is a very nice campus. The campus is breath taking and its student body is pretty small, but with great people. The university was founded in 1993 by a man named Dr. Carlos Ortega Maldonado. It has about 5,000 undergraduate students. Sometimes when I am just hanging out waiting for my class to start, I sit by one of the many fountains and I just feel like I’m in a resort. The Guayaquil airport is only minutes away from the University so planes are flying really close above the campus. It looks as though the planes are going to land on campus.
The University has many majors in which brings a lot of students to the school. There most popular majors are Liberal Arts, Culinary Arts, Business, Communications, Law, and Medicine. On the first day of class it was interesting to see how the student was like. The university is a commuter school and they only have a few on-campus housing only for women. The students at the university are very interesting people. One example would be there style of dressing eg. the medical students ware scrubs and medical jackets, the culinary arts students ware chef uniforms, the liberal arts students have an artsy style, and the communication, business, and law students have the professional style wardrobe. It is very interesting to see how the student body dresses and make it seem as if they are already doctors, laws etc. On my first class of the day, communication theory, I felt a bit out of place. I was dressed very casually, while everyone in my class was dressed very professional.
This semester is going to be a real challenge. I am taking regular major courses all taught in Spanish. My classes are very demanding and there is a lot of work to do. For the first couple of weeks, I was feeling very overwhelmed because even though I speak the language my reading and writing is not up to par. But the professors are very accommodating and are willing to work with me every step of the way. I know that by the end of this academic year, my Spanish will be impeccable.

It was too good to be true to be able to come to Cairo and not have some stomach trouble. Unfortunately it all hit me at once and I had to spend the weekend recovering . However, while I was lying in the clinic all day on Thursday, outside student protesters locked all the gates on campus blocking access for faculty and students, leading to all classes being canceled. In a dispute between the Student body and the administration of AUC over tuition increases it seems that classes may be disrupted for the coming week and it will be interesting to see how events unfold.
Below with the pictures of the protestors are also some pictures I took of a famous market place called Khan El-Khalili. Khalili is one of Cairo’s largest and oldest Souks, dating back all the way to 1382. Filled with various vendors selling everything you could ever imagine, to coffee shops and restaurants it really is quite a scene to walk around. As soon as you pause outside a vendors shop they bombard you with a deal that they say is very good and especially for you(even though in reality it is overpriced by six or seven times). After walking around in what seemed like a maze of side allies and cobblestone streets it was nice to sit down at the famous coffee shop “El-Fishawy” and indulge in some Arab coffee and fresh juice.

My Host Family

After a long week of traveling the Sierra (the northern part of Ecuador), we finally arrived to the cost to a city called Sambróndon, Ecuador where the University and our new home is located—which is minutes away from Guayaquil, Ecuador-the biggest city in all of Ecuador. As we are approaching the campus, our director of the program tells us that our host families are sitting in university auditorium waiting patiently for us. As soon as she said that, I began to feel my anxiety level increase. I began to feel extra hot and felt as though my heart was going to rip out of my chest. I was very nervous and many thoughts were running through my mind.

We all lined up in a single fill line and walked into the room where all the families were. I immediately spotted my host mom and dad. The mom looked very anxious as well. At that time I felt as though my mom had no idea what I looked like because when my name and the families name was called out, she immediately got up and looked very surprised. The look in her eyes was shocking yet pleased to see me. She along with my host dad immediately came to me and hugged me. For a moment there I felt like an orphan child who was immediately given a family for the first time to be nurtured and cared for. I was very happy and so were they. We walked outside the auditorium together to grab my suite cases and head home. On the way home in the car we were able to chat a little to get to know each other. Upon arriving home they showed me around there huge home and then to my room.

Later on that evening, my host sister came home with her cousin and soon came into my room and the three of us began to chat and get to know each other. The girls got very comfortable and very happy that we had a lot of things in common. After the 3rd day, we felt like we all knew each other from a long time ago.

I have to say that even though it has only been 4 weeks with living with them, I feel like I’ve known them my whole life. They are very open and warming to me, making me feel like I belong in the family. I still haven’t experienced homesickness because the family has been so welcoming and catering to my every need.

Protests

I am safe.

With tear gas being thrown about downtown Cairo our biggest concern here seems to be planning what we are doing for the night and where we should go out. As I watch the protests and anti-American/Western demonstrations unfold in the Middle East and Asia it is also interesting to watch the media’s coverage of it. The media seems to cover what happens in Cairo more than any other city as well as link Cairo in to other articles when they are talking about violent attacks in such places as Sanaa, Tunis and Benghazi. Even though there are large powerful protests happening in Cairo they are not of the same violent and widespread nature of some of the other protests which are taking place.

The University itself is secluded from the protests and you would have never had guessed that anything was happening outside of the university walls. Life seems to be going on quite normally here and for the most part, in the greater Cairo area as well.  While things are still developing and evolving at quite a fast pace with the protests, I am definitely more than safe while I sit here reading an article by Max Weber on Islam for my religion in a global world class. No photos to post this time and ill be sure to write soon if there are any further developments concerning the protests.

 

Settling In

Now that I am experiencing my first full week of classes I have finally begun to get into a rhythm and things seem to be settling down. Up until last week everything seemed surreal and I almost felt as if I was in some sort of weird limbo. Now things definitely feel more settled in and I am becoming ever more familiar with my surroundings. Since my last post, there has been no big touristy trips and I have spent most of my time on campus, going to class and meeting new people. However, it is nice because I am getting to experience the city of Cairo for what it is, rather than feel like an absolute tourist (even though I still stick out of any of the city streets). But finding good restaurants, great food and freshly squeezed mango juice has become something to look forward to everyday.
For now this is just a short post, I will most likely have more to post next week. Below are pictures of the juice bar and of the fresh squeezed juice, which is everywhere. Also I decided to post some pictures of the campus seeing as it is kind of my new home. The pictures do not do justice to the beautiful brand new half a billion dollar campus which they have built out here in “New Cairo” but it is just a snapshot of a spectacular miniature city.

History and Adventure en la Sierra

This is already the ending of week two here in Ecuador. Last week we were able to visit the Equator which was a great experience. Our orientation program took us to various museums to learn and explore various parts of the Sierra region in Ecuador.

We were able to visit the Equator where we learn a lot about its history and its people. To prove that we were in the middle of the world they had us do a couple of test. Some of us were able to balance an egg on a needle (which I couldn’t believe my eyes), we attempted to walk the latitude line o’ o’ o’’ (which was very difficult), along with a couple of more interesting activities. I was very fascinated by all of this. While I was standing in the middle of the world, I felt proud and accomplished for doing something that has never been done before.

We then were able to learn about the different indigenous cultures that are found in Ecuador. Ecuador has approximately 12-14 different indigenous language that still exist today (impressive huh?). We were able to visit the home of an indigenous family and they were very welcoming and kind. They took us around their home and spoke to us a little bit about their culture. A few things that I learned from their culture were that they spoke Kichwa—which is a language spoken in 14 different towns all over the Amazon, the cost, and all over the Andes region. Their specialty dish and their most prized animal is the Guinea Pig. For us Americans and for other people in different parts of the world, would see a Guinea pig as a pet; people in Sierra (the northern part of Ecuador), Guinea pigs (El cui) are food. I wasn’t given the opportunity to try a Guinea Pig yet, but from what I’ve heard it taste just like chicken. I’m going to be here for quite some time, so if and when I do get the opportunity too, I will let you know.

To end the last week of training, we were taken to a town called Riobamba—which is a town in the north that has the highest volcano in Ecuador. The volcano Chimborazo is 6,268 meters (20,564 ft) high above ground. Chimborazo is in very high altitude. We were given the opportunity to climb Chimborazo, but only to the first and second refuge. I was only able to climb to the first refuge because the high altitude was making me feel very dizzy. I was able to drink some hot tea and sit around a nice wood fire with some friends of the program. I must add that during this first week in the North part of Ecuador, it was very cold. I was not well informed that it was going to be cold in the Sierra region of Ecuador.

Overall, this past week has been a phenomenal week. I was able to learn a lot about the Ecuadorian history, and visit a lot of their historical landmarks. I am very pleased with my choice of study abroad program. All the people that I’ve encountered here thus far have been wonderful and helpful. The fall exchange group has been a wonderful support group for each other and I couldn’t ask for a better experiences then this one!

 

 

 

 

First week!

So I haven’t been here a full week yet, but I got here on Wednesday so it’s been 4 days. I love it so much! They keep telling us this is the “honeymoon stage”, and soon the homesickness will set in but, I don’t know about that. I know that at some point I will get homesick, but I don’t think it’ll be for awhile. I have already made friends and they are great. Luckily, I came here with Michelle so I already had her, but her housemates and their friends are super nice and hung-out with us already. They are going to give a tour and take us shopping and everything, since they have cars, and live here, so they actually know where they are going. I am trying to get switched into her building, because mine is so far from everything and she has an open room. Fingers crossed that it will all work out.

Although everything is amazing now, my flight was hell. My original flight from Buffalo was delayed and I was told I was going to miss my flight to Ireland. So I really panicked. There was a lot of running and some lost baggage, but in the end I made the flight, because one really sweet flight attend held it for me. The flight itself wasn’t bad, not nearly as long as I thought it was going to be.

Anyways, classes start on Monday and it’s”freshers week” so there are events going on all week. I’m looking forward to this week a lot.

Honestly, I think I am going to really enjoy my time in Ireland!

Waking up at 530 in the morning is quite early, but it’s alright when you know within six hours you will be swimming in the calm Red Sea. However, it does get a little frustrating when the bus you are supposed to take does not arrive until nine, when it was supposed to get there three hours earlier. But waiting around and having extreme patience is something one must learn to have when doing anything in Cairo I have come to find out. It is not weird or rude to be thirty minutes or even more late when you are told it will only take five minutes. This is just one of many cultural adjustments that I have been adapting to. Coming from a society that is very intense with strict rules, regulations and always demanding you to be on time makes for a big culture shock when it is the opposite.
Nevertheless, as our small bus bumped along the highway heading east I could not close my eyes as I took in the vastness of the Sahara. Once we reached the coast and started heading south to El Gouna the deep turquoise blue of the Red Sea shimmered in the sun contrasting the baked desert and tanned mountains to our right. The resort itself was a vacationers and travelers heaven. The beaches and pools were beautiful and between our buffet meals we were able to go snorkeling, see fish and coral, and watch dolphins chase our boat as they jumped out of the water.

Now I am waking up early in the morning for a different reason though, it is time for classes. Because the weeks run from Sunday through Thursday, I have already had two days of classes and I am starting to get into a rhythm rather than run on a chaotic schedule. Hopefully, after a few weeks of classes and once I begin to grasp my schedule, I will be able to do some more traveling around this great Country!