Cuy is Ginea Pig, this is a delicatessen here in Ecuador. I have been in Ecuador 4 times and I have not eaten Cuy until last night. I have to say overall it was not a good experience.
We had a farewell dinner for the team of American doctors who were leaving to go back to the states. Several of them wanted Cuy so we went to a place that was known for their Cuy.
First, the way the cook Cuy. They remove all the hair and take out all the insides. They load them on a stick (usually 3 at a time). The stick comes out their mouth. They are then cooked over charcoal rotissere style.
It arrived on our table all cut up, basically cut down the middle then in pieces about 3 inches. The head was on the plate as well, and all the legs, still with feet. The mouth still had teeth in it. I was told you have to eat it as soon as you get it because the longer it sits, the worse it gets.
I tried a piece that had ribs. Not much meat on this part and a lot of bones. It tasted like smoked ham, but fake ham, more like bologna maybe. Not horrible, but not really good either. Then the skin, very crunchy, salty (from seasonings I am assuming). The skin I had a hard time with mentally. I only tried one piece, then I was done.
It is an experience I can say I am glad I had, but I hope to never have again. I really had chicken for dinner, that was just something I tried.
I think the thought of eating Cuy was actually worse than eating it. It just didn't taste that good, and I only had a hard time with the skin.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
volunteering
This week I am volunteering at Foundacion Hogar in the afternoons. There is a group of doctors from the States here so there are between 100-200 patients per day. So I go in and help out after my spanish classes.
It has been weird for me, here´s why. This is the first time I have seen patients when not in a training program. The other doctors here know my story, they know I did a fellowship and they know I just finished. But they are not family doctors except one (one family doc, one cardiologist, one PA who works urgent care, one NP, and one pediatrician.). So they have been sending me most of the female patients with female problems. And the cardiologist (who has probably been practicing for 20+ years) is asking me questions. This is what is wierd for me. I have always been in a training program, and now people are coming to me when they don´t know something.
Everything else is going good. I am enjoying spanish class, but I feel like I have gone backwards. I am learning more grammar now, so I am trying to say things correctly so I speak so slowly now. I am sure this will improve with practice.
Keep praying as I know this is helping me tremendously. I was reading about David this week. It is amazing to me how many times he messed up big time, yet God continued to bless him. And it appears to me that he ultimately stayed on track, he kept the Isrealites focused on God, and he advanced God's Kingdom. This is encouraging because I know I mess up a lot of times as well, and yet God continues to bless me also. What a great God we serve!!
It has been weird for me, here´s why. This is the first time I have seen patients when not in a training program. The other doctors here know my story, they know I did a fellowship and they know I just finished. But they are not family doctors except one (one family doc, one cardiologist, one PA who works urgent care, one NP, and one pediatrician.). So they have been sending me most of the female patients with female problems. And the cardiologist (who has probably been practicing for 20+ years) is asking me questions. This is what is wierd for me. I have always been in a training program, and now people are coming to me when they don´t know something.
Everything else is going good. I am enjoying spanish class, but I feel like I have gone backwards. I am learning more grammar now, so I am trying to say things correctly so I speak so slowly now. I am sure this will improve with practice.
Keep praying as I know this is helping me tremendously. I was reading about David this week. It is amazing to me how many times he messed up big time, yet God continued to bless him. And it appears to me that he ultimately stayed on track, he kept the Isrealites focused on God, and he advanced God's Kingdom. This is encouraging because I know I mess up a lot of times as well, and yet God continues to bless me also. What a great God we serve!!
Friday, October 19, 2007
first impressions of language school
I just completed my first week of spanish language classes. I would have to say it has been interesting. I have studied spanish in the past, but always in the states with teachers who were native Americans. The teachers I have now are native spanish speakers, and do not speak much english. When I do not understand something, they will explain it in spanish not in english. Many of the other students do not speak english either, many speak german. So we can't even help each other except in spanish. Right now it is a little frustrating, but in the long run I think it will prove to be a good way to learn a language.
Right now I go to class all morning, then I have about 1 hour of homework. I usually spend a little more time just going over vocabulary. But, I have to speak spanish all the time because I do not have much contact right now with people who speak english, that has been good for me as well. I am no longer afraid to try, I either try, or I don't talk and we all know that is not going to happen.
We do some fun things at the school as well. This week we went to a museum about the history and culture of Ecuador. We had dance class where we learned salsa. We also had a cooking class, but I did not go to that class.
Overall it has been a good experience thus far.
Right now I go to class all morning, then I have about 1 hour of homework. I usually spend a little more time just going over vocabulary. But, I have to speak spanish all the time because I do not have much contact right now with people who speak english, that has been good for me as well. I am no longer afraid to try, I either try, or I don't talk and we all know that is not going to happen.
We do some fun things at the school as well. This week we went to a museum about the history and culture of Ecuador. We had dance class where we learned salsa. We also had a cooking class, but I did not go to that class.
Overall it has been a good experience thus far.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
reflections
Today I would like to reflect on a book and a scripture. I don't read very much for fun because I am usually so busy working or reading for work that I don't take the time (and let's not forget my busy social life).
Right now, I have a lot of free time. I only have class from 7:45 am to 12 noon, with only about one hour of homework. So, I have had time to read.
First the scripture, Job 37:14 "...stand still and consider the wondrous works of God." This is my favorite verse these days for a couple reasons. "The Wondrous works of God" makes me think about nature and nature is one of the major ways I worship. So this verse reminds me to worship. Then the "stand still" part. Like I said above, my work and my busy social life many times take presidence over my relationship. This verse reminds me that I need to stop what I am doing and be still in order to see the works of God. When I am soo busy, I let the world pass me by and that includes creation. This also reminds me that when we are so busy, we can easily miss what God is doing or trying to do in our lives or the lives of those around us.
Now the book. I just read "More Ready Than You Realize" by Brian McLaren. I recommend this book to everyone. It is about evangelism, but not how most of us think about evangelism. Believe it or not, I read this book in 3 days, that maybe a record for me. The main point is that we have to change the way we think about evangelism, or the opportunities God is bringing our way may go overlooked. We have to be friends with nonchristians or they may never see what christianity is all about. I have often had thoughts about how people who are not christians should not be allowed to serve in a church. But isn't this basically keeping them as outsiders? How will they really see what we are all about if we don't let them participate, if we don't let them in. Please read the book, and then lets dialogue about it. I want to hear your thoughts as well.
Now just a few funny things I have experienced since I came to Ecuador. We went to a restaurant and on our way out they gave us a cough drop instead of mints??? We ordered pizza (at Pizza Hut) with choriazo which is sausage but it really had hot dog on it??? I had some hot milk, but it tasted like melted butter (that was the worst one)???
And a sad note, my lizard, Ester, the one who lost her tail for those of you who know, died this AM. She was sick before I left and I knew it was only a matter of time, but I am sad just the same.
Right now, I have a lot of free time. I only have class from 7:45 am to 12 noon, with only about one hour of homework. So, I have had time to read.
First the scripture, Job 37:14 "...stand still and consider the wondrous works of God." This is my favorite verse these days for a couple reasons. "The Wondrous works of God" makes me think about nature and nature is one of the major ways I worship. So this verse reminds me to worship. Then the "stand still" part. Like I said above, my work and my busy social life many times take presidence over my relationship. This verse reminds me that I need to stop what I am doing and be still in order to see the works of God. When I am soo busy, I let the world pass me by and that includes creation. This also reminds me that when we are so busy, we can easily miss what God is doing or trying to do in our lives or the lives of those around us.
Now the book. I just read "More Ready Than You Realize" by Brian McLaren. I recommend this book to everyone. It is about evangelism, but not how most of us think about evangelism. Believe it or not, I read this book in 3 days, that maybe a record for me. The main point is that we have to change the way we think about evangelism, or the opportunities God is bringing our way may go overlooked. We have to be friends with nonchristians or they may never see what christianity is all about. I have often had thoughts about how people who are not christians should not be allowed to serve in a church. But isn't this basically keeping them as outsiders? How will they really see what we are all about if we don't let them participate, if we don't let them in. Please read the book, and then lets dialogue about it. I want to hear your thoughts as well.
Now just a few funny things I have experienced since I came to Ecuador. We went to a restaurant and on our way out they gave us a cough drop instead of mints??? We ordered pizza (at Pizza Hut) with choriazo which is sausage but it really had hot dog on it??? I had some hot milk, but it tasted like melted butter (that was the worst one)???
And a sad note, my lizard, Ester, the one who lost her tail for those of you who know, died this AM. She was sick before I left and I knew it was only a matter of time, but I am sad just the same.
Friday, October 12, 2007
24 hours in Ecuador
10/12/07
I have now been in Ecuador for 24 hours. Let me give you the recap.
First, when connected to the internet here at the Sheraton Quito, everything is in Spanish, interesting.
My flight arrived without any problems, I got through immigration and customs easily, my luggage made it with me. And not surprisingly, no one was there to pick me up, (much like my last trip to Ecuador, except this time it was not midnight). After staring at the pay phone for about 5 minutes and trying to make a call, I finally asked someone and found out I needed to buy a special card to use that phone. Now I had the card, but phone numbers are weird here. The prefix is different depending on what you are calling (cell vs land line) and where you are calling from. After about 5 more minutes, I figured it out all by myself, and the call was made. About 10 minutes later my ride arrived and all was good.
I am staying at the Sheraton Hotel and we ate dinner at TGI Fridays (doesn’t really sound like I am in a foreign country, does it?)
Day 2 was a bit different. I joined the staff of Samaritan’s Purse for a picnic with the team for Operation Christmas Child. We drove about 1 hour up and down mountains with 15 people in the van. I saw many of the things that I love about Ecuador. The mountains are beautiful. There are cows randomly on the side of major highways. At one point today we were driving up a “hill”, about 5 people had to get out and walk up the hill because we could not get the van up the hill (when’s the last time you had to do that in the states).
The picnic was fun, the house it was at was beautiful, set on a hill, surrounded by lots of land. The food was good and the fellowship was great.
Tomorrow I am off to Cuenca.
I have now been in Ecuador for 24 hours. Let me give you the recap.
First, when connected to the internet here at the Sheraton Quito, everything is in Spanish, interesting.
My flight arrived without any problems, I got through immigration and customs easily, my luggage made it with me. And not surprisingly, no one was there to pick me up, (much like my last trip to Ecuador, except this time it was not midnight). After staring at the pay phone for about 5 minutes and trying to make a call, I finally asked someone and found out I needed to buy a special card to use that phone. Now I had the card, but phone numbers are weird here. The prefix is different depending on what you are calling (cell vs land line) and where you are calling from. After about 5 more minutes, I figured it out all by myself, and the call was made. About 10 minutes later my ride arrived and all was good.
I am staying at the Sheraton Hotel and we ate dinner at TGI Fridays (doesn’t really sound like I am in a foreign country, does it?)
Day 2 was a bit different. I joined the staff of Samaritan’s Purse for a picnic with the team for Operation Christmas Child. We drove about 1 hour up and down mountains with 15 people in the van. I saw many of the things that I love about Ecuador. The mountains are beautiful. There are cows randomly on the side of major highways. At one point today we were driving up a “hill”, about 5 people had to get out and walk up the hill because we could not get the van up the hill (when’s the last time you had to do that in the states).
The picnic was fun, the house it was at was beautiful, set on a hill, surrounded by lots of land. The food was good and the fellowship was great.
Tomorrow I am off to Cuenca.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Ready to leave
This is my first Blog post, so please be patient with me. This is a learning process for me.
I will be leaving for Ecuador in one day. I have to say that so far the hardest thing for me has been giving my 2 bearded dragons away. I know the friends that have them are going to take good care of them and keep me posted on how they are doing. But it was still hard. Many people probably do not understand this. Just think about your animals, whether it be dogs or cats, birds, small mammals, or whatever you have, think about having to give them away. It is the same thing.
So right now, I do not think the reality of moving overseas for 2 years has hit me. I will be coming home in 2 months for about 2 weeks. So right now this is just like a 2 month mission trip, no big deal, right? In January when I leave for the remainder of the 2 years is when I think it is going to hit me.
Well, Please keep in touch and send me comments or e-mails.
I will be leaving for Ecuador in one day. I have to say that so far the hardest thing for me has been giving my 2 bearded dragons away. I know the friends that have them are going to take good care of them and keep me posted on how they are doing. But it was still hard. Many people probably do not understand this. Just think about your animals, whether it be dogs or cats, birds, small mammals, or whatever you have, think about having to give them away. It is the same thing.
So right now, I do not think the reality of moving overseas for 2 years has hit me. I will be coming home in 2 months for about 2 weeks. So right now this is just like a 2 month mission trip, no big deal, right? In January when I leave for the remainder of the 2 years is when I think it is going to hit me.
Well, Please keep in touch and send me comments or e-mails.
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