In other news, I wanted to talk about my host family here in the Galapagos. They are AMAZING. I have a very big family. I have a host mom and dad, a 13 year old brother, a 2 year old brother, and a 21 year old sister. My sister Rosa is engaged and just moved in to the bedrooms downstairs with her fiance and 2 year old daughter, Fina. My little niece, and my 2 year old host brother, Morfin, are very good at waking up early and coming into my room to play... My 13 year brother, Estiven, loves to surf/bogey board at the beach. He asks me every day to go surfing with him. My host dad is named Victor just like my real dad. Victor works in petroleum, but they also have a tourism agency. My host mom Maria coordinates the tourism agency when she is not working as a high school teacher. There is also a nice man named Gabriel who lives with us. He is the best friend of Victor and works on their boat, and helping with the little kids. Below from left to right: (Back row) Sister Rosa, Brother Estiven, Mom Maria, Dad Victor, (front row) Rosa's daughter Fina, Gabriel, and little bro Morfin.
It really impresses me how my host mom runs her company. She works with a Norwegian travel agency communicating via email to contract tourists. The most interesting part is that she only speaks Spanish and the company only speaks Norwegian. The two parties use google translate to translate the messages that they send. Apparently it works really well, because Maria says they are very reliable, always send the same number of tourists, and pay on time. Technology really amazes me!
As far as my living situation, I have my own room with a refrigerator, TV, and air conditioning (the best part!). I think I am the only student in my program that has air conditioning, and it is wonderful! In general the islands are very poor, the electricity usually goes out once/day and sometimes we don't have fresh water. I am lucky to have a family that has air conditioning and internet access.
I really feel part of the family living with the Changotasigs. Every weekend they invite me to do something fun with them. I have been up to their farm in the high lands, out fishing on their boat, and swimming at the beach with them. I was even invited to be the photographer for Rosa and Javier's wedding ceremony at the municipal building. However, my favorite thing to do with my family are the walks around town that they take in the evenings. The two little kids ride their hotwheel tricycles and the dogs come. We walk down to the pier, visit friends in the town, and stop to buy ice creams. This is the best time to practice my Spanish, as my host dad always has a lot to ask me. Also, we always see really cool wildlife, like this one time we saw an entire school of baby sting rays down by the fishing pier.
I wish I had more time to update my blog, but I am staying busy with classes and all the activities there are to do here! Just last week I was on Santa Cruz island swimming with sharks, climbing volcanoes, visiting giant tortoises, hiking through lava tunnels, and exploring pirate caves!
Miss you guys, wish you were here!
