These are the days

This sucker is getting neglected. I am not going to keep you guys in the dark while I do exciting things. The reason it has been over a month since an update has a lot to do with the turbulence of getting adjusted to a new home. Much has happened since I last updated, most of it for the better. The best news is that I now have a steady job working for a local hospital, Clinica Santa Ines. This hospital is one of the best in the city, and probably sees the most use by foreigners living in Cuenca. The staff however is lacking in general English skills, and when I went there one day with stomach pains and a migraine, I was entirely reliant on my aunt to work translation.

Around two weeks ago a job I had lined up through the Spanish school I am attending feel through. For that week I was pretty down about the whole thing, as I was looking forward to working in a classroom environment and finally doing something remotely related to the kind of career I want to build. I got really bummed that week. A combination of getting sick, this job falling through, and a general miasma of self deprecation (also I lost every single asset in EVE and stopped playing entirely haha) meant I wasn't up for anything. I snapped out of it though and picked up a new paying student for tutoring.

I'm working really hard to not let moods disrupt my day. I did that early when I got here and it only led to regret and a desire to come home. A number of things have changed that allow me to be happy even when negative things happen. A number of students from Lewis and Clark are at the Spanish school I attend. They are really cool and I find a lot in common with them despite an age difference of about three years. They are more interesting and mature then the group of people I spent most of my time with in the last few years. It is funny how age doesn't mean much once you get out of your teens. I've meet immature travelers here in their late 40's that I couldn't stand more than a few hours around. Here outside of my home country, age means less than attitude. I've spent evenings with 20-50 year olds, and I find it is the attitude of discovery and living outside of your comfort zone that makes these people excellent individuals to be around.

I've also made friends with a few locals and foreigners outside of the school. Yesterday was poker night with a number of them. I've gotten to the point where I don't have nights without any plans anymore. I usually just have to wait and I'll find people calling me! It reminds me of the busy life I had when I lived in Beijing. It is the dynamic pace of life I used to describe my life in China with. These days my weekends begin on Wednesday with poker night. Thursday is of course a huge party night in Cuenca, apparently because it is fashionable to go to class the next day hung over. I can't party as hard now that I tutor a Doctor in the mornings, but that just means I don't drink much on Thursdays. We usually go dancing that night anyway.

Weekends are long here, or at least they feel long. I prefer the bars to the dance clubs, but I don't mind going to a dance club here one a week. I've been learning Salsa so that I can go to the salsatecas. The turns are hilariously over the top compared even to swing and lindy hop. I've planned a weekend camping trip to the Cajas in about 2 weeks as a test run for a longer trip. I have 3 other people coming with me so things should go well.

I have my papers of nationalization but now need to go to Quito to receive the correct documents to obtain my national ID card. Though it is a pain in the ass to have to make a trip just to drop off some documents, it does give it an adventurous feel. Heading to the seat of government to become a citizen, the trip will undoubtedly have a sense of excitement as I further integrate into this country.

The best news however is my new employment. Yesterday I taught my second class to a group of nurses and doctors at Santa Ines. While the first class was bumpy given they told me to expect 3-4 students and I found myself teaching 14, this second class went extremely well. I taught them the different components of a date, name of day, name of month, number of the day, and the year, and followed it all up with a game that proved quite popular. I was surprised at how much they thanked me afterwards, and the great feeling as I walked home across the greenish blue river Tomebamba was enough to last me the whole day. I am ecstatic to finally begin acquiring experience in the general field I want to enter. I can't wait till the next class, which unfortunately won't be for another week or so.

The reason for this however is a good one. For Carnival I am headed to the Amazon for a week long visit. I am incredibly excited about this and have been anticipating it for a while now. I was lucky enough that Myra asked me if I wanted to join the Lewis and Clark students on their week long trip. She proposed it when I wasn't feel to hot a month or so back, and a number of the students are excited that I will be joining them. I forget how close I am in Cuenca to one of the largest and most vital biomes in the entire world. I feel extremely lucky and privileged to get to go back so soon from my initial trip there.

I need to end this entry early. I was gonna throw in some pictures but it is 4:30am and I need to wake up at 6:30am for the bus ride tomorrow. When I get back, I promise many pictures of the jungle.

Apologies for any spelling errors, I need to get to sleep.