Culture SHOCK!

   Plain and simple: Exchange is hard. Before I left, people would always say how proud they were of me and I never felt like I deserved it... until now. To me, an exchange wasn't something to be proud of, but rather something that was expected of me. I have always known that I wanted to travel and experience the world, so to me going on exchange was just part of the plan. Things get difficult, however, when certain events are realizations present themselves that were not anticipated, such as culture shock.
   Don't worry, the Rotarians warned us a'pleanty that we were all going to experience some form of culture shock but at the time I thought to myself, "Me? Not me. I can adapt to anything!" I couldn't have been more wrong. I thought that since I grew up in a Latin family, with Latin food and Spanish, I would be set, that I could practically become apart of the family and my school upon walking through the doors. When everything is different and difficult, you're self esteem begins to loose power and you enter a slight depression. You think to yourself, "Why me? I must not be trying hard enough. All the other exchange students seem to be doing fine!" but again, couldn't be more wrong! Culture shock really is just another part of exchange and one that is overcome with time.
  There are good days and bad days, and times when I miss my Mom and Sister more than words can describe, but the experience of being here in Ecuador overrides the pangs of missing I feel for my family and friends back at home.
 

   The exchange students in District 4400 were invited to attend RYLA, which stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, in Cuenca, Ecuador. The event was held last weekend (Sept. 23-25) and what a blast it was! I was worried before coming here that the Rotarians here would be a lot less open to allowing the exchange students to be involved in Rotary events outside of Youth Exchange events, but so far they have given us equal amounts of opportunity! First with RYLA and also with Interact. My friend Maria, from South Carolina, and I will be going to our first Interact meeting with our new friends from RYLA tomorrow!

   Ecuador doesn't cease to amaze me and my trip to Cuenca solidified that. The beauty of the country is so breathtakingly gorgeous that you can't help but ask yourself why someone couldn't believe in God. For example, direct your eyes to the STUNNING photo to your left. It beauty like this that honestly brings me to tears and I'm so blessed to have such access to it.
  Anyways, I'm having an absolute blast and I thought I would keep you all in the loop! More posts and pictures later

Marlee

One Month Down!

   How can something feel so short, yet so long at the same time? Well I guess that's the very definition of Exchange, my friends. My first month here in Ecuador has presented me with experiences and fun that I would have never dreamed of having, but it has likewise delivered challenges never anticipated.

   Since my last update, I have gone to Spanish Camp and started school. Both events being at opposite ends of the spectrum of adventure: the fun and the challenge. So what, you may ask yourself, happens when a group of 30+ teenagers gets together on a tropical island? FUN. That's what! Germany the the USA were most  represented but France, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Taiwan, Belgium, Canada and Brazil were present- and our group was only a third of all the Exchange students in Ecuador!!! Since Ecuador make itself home to over 150 exchange students every year, they split up the camp groups according to region. Our "region", which was made up of all the kids living in the South Eastern part of Ecuador, went to Jambeli, an island off the the coast of Machala (my city!). It was absolutely gorgeous there and we all had so much fun (despite not learned much Spanish! Tee hee!). We had cooking classes, Language classes and even Salsa classes! Here are some pictures from the week:

Here's the whole group! Including our dance instructors and past exchange students from Machala! I am on the top row right smack dab in the middle.

Dancing Queens... and Kings. We learned a traditional Ecuadorian dance to show on the last night. You can tell we had a blast!

The beach was gorgeous, yes. But I had to laugh at all the tanning people! I myself didn't tan (I'm already dark enough, thank you very much!). But I guess people will do what they've got to do!

Everything about this picture just screams bliss!!!! The guitar and the hammocks and the ocean! Those hammocks were  always occupied and always comfortable!

The view of the resort we stayed at, from the beach. El Faro Resort and Spa!



The seriously glorious pool and hot tub with our little huts in the background



Here was my hut. I mean, how stinking ADORABLE is this thing???

So there you go! Pictures of the trip. I made them extra large so you can see the details I (or the photographer friends I stole these pictures from because I'm terrible with taking pictures....) captured.

   The latest challenge that has presented itself has been school. I was forewarned about the challenges I might face, but I was no where near prepared for just what exactly those challenges would entail. I barely started school Monday and already I foresee it being my biggest obstacle. I'm not being pessimistic or close minded, I am being truthful! The language barrier is seriously nothing. In my (almost) month of being here, I have acquired quite the knack for understanding everything and everyone around me. It's the talking back that I'm still having issues with. So, listening to and comprehending what my teachers are trying to teach is easy- but it's getting the room quiet enough for me to listen that's the challenge. Schools here are not run like they are in the United States.

   First of all, the teachers switch classes- not the students. I never realized how much I appreciated the decorations the teachers provided until I walked into a classroom completely naked, save the statue of Mother Mary in the corner. A white box with only the florescent lights attached to the corners of the room to illuminate our work and sometimes not even that, because the power goes out occasionally.

   Second of all, the students run the classes, not the teachers. Now I don't mean this literally, as the students don't actually teach the class. However, for the most part the students dictate what is taught and what is not. This aspect of my school life provides the most arduous challenge: Listening. Ever since I was a little girl, I have had a... problem... with wanting to be involved with every one's conversations and during the day, during class, about 1000 conversations are going on at once AND in a language I am only barely understanding. The teachers words are easily drowned out by the buzz of conversation. Tomorrow will only be my third day, but I am working on trying to fix the lack of listening abilities I currently posses. 

   Lastly, and probably the most interesting difference: (to me at least. It's a common situation for people who attend private school, but in the two private schools I have attended we were not required to wear...) UNIFORMS. Monday's uniform (pictured) includes a blazer a blouse, pantyhose, my plaid skirt and high heels to boot. Different, different, differente. But I am working to get accustomed to it.

   Things are rough, but I am working through it. I miss my friends, I miss my mom and my sister and the rest of my family and I miss the comforts of American living. Just thinking about it makes me tear up! But everyone who knows me, knows that I'm a crier ;) Once again, I've written a small book, but I hope you enjoyed the update. More to come soon, I promise!

Marlee Chavez