Oh hey, Tumblr.
I never told you about my tattoo!
I had joked all semester about getting a tattoo while I was in Ecuador, and then one day I was walking around with my friends Tyler and Anneke, when I said “Hey, I think we’re near the tattoo place that someone told me about.” I had mentioned an idea I had to Anneke, and she was all, “Tell Tyler!” Tyler immediately grabbed me and said “LETS GO RIGHT NOW.” So we did. It was super spontaneous but I definitely don’t regret it- since being more spontaneous is something I’ve been trying to do here.
The phrase says “Siga nomas,” and is such a common thing to say here that every Ecuadorian who sees it thinks its hilarious. The direct translation is “continue no more,” which obviously makes no sense. What it really means is “just keep going” or “go right ahead,” and is something often said by bus drivers or store employees (hence why many Ecuadorians laugh at it). However, to me, the phrase really embodies this entire experience. Not only is it an incredibly Ecuadorian phrase, but it also accurately describes my entire attitude about being here. Things get difficult sometimes (see my post about Machismo), and there are occasions where I’d rather be at home, but I just have to “Siga nomas,” and keep going straight ahead, taking each day as it comes.
Something that I’ve noticed about people here, or at least my host family, is how very observant and vocal they are when it comes to physical appearance.
Whenever we watch TV, my host mom and sister always have something to say about how an actor, actress, or singer looks.
When someone is “perfect” theres a lot of “Que guapo” , “Que linda la chica”
When someone is just a little bit not perfect it’s suddenly “él es un poco mediofeo” ”Que fea”
And when someone is just a little curvy, its “Que gorda, es!”
I don’t know whether to appreciate their blunt judgement or be offended by it. In the states, it’s not really PC anymore to comment on someone’s appearance out loud - even if everyone instinctively thinks something insulting. Here, there isn’t a way to explain political correctness.
I’m not here to pass judgement, but to observe…and this is just one of many observations.
some days I have these moments where I just stop and think, “holy shit. I’m in Ecuador.”
Exactly 1 week and I’ll be ON ZE PLANE.
T-minus 21 days (exactly 3 weeks) till Ecuador
oh my god i just registered for my classes as USFQ this shit is getting so real
also lol look at how awesome this schedule is
Monday / Wed :
- 1pm-2:25 : Intermediate Conversation
- 2:30 - 3:55 : Modern Ecuadorian Art
Tues/Thurs
- 10am-11:25 : Weaving
- 2:30-3:55 : Art of colonial Quito
And if i’m lucky, at least one of the art classes will count towards my major
Also let’s talk about how EASY registering was compared to connect carolina….
