Fancy-Pants U

It is quite stinky to feel like a freshman again- you know...not knowing your way around, not knowing other students, not knowing what the school's norms are.

And this school is SO different from Juniata!

First of all, the campus. Juniata's campus is pretty, but USFQ's campus is paradise. It's SCARY how beautiful it is here! The school is located in a valley down below mountainous Quito, so it's (pleasantly) warmer here. There's a beautiful pond with a waterfall, surrounded by plush, green grass where you can sit and soak up the sun. The yoga, tai chi, and tai kwon do classes are held in this beautiful, simplistic pagoda building next to the pond. The classroom buildings have a modern colonial feel; one is covered with ivy and others surround a courtyard where on Thursdays, there are student performances. There is a beautiful fountain and beautiful tropical flowers and beautiful chirping birds. Seriously, it's beautiful. :)


BUT, you know, this is not Ecuador. The students here are quite affluent (the top 5% of society), and it's pretty apparent. The Ecuadorian students are well-dressed and well-groomed. I'm not accustomed to being surrounded by so many fashionable and fancy people! It's actually very intimidating. But maybe it's good that here, I can't just roll out of bed and go to class in sweats... :) And I have met a few approachable people, with whom I can practice my Spanish.

They say this is "the best university in Ecuador," with the most serious academics and most qualified professors. So we're lucky to be here. For instance, I'm taking a Volcanology class with a prof who is the most-published in Ecuador in his field. But it's unfortunate that this place is completely out of reach of nearly all of the Ecuadorian populous.

My host brother, Sebastian, is a pre-med student at the Universidad Central de Quito, where it sounds like he's getting a good education. He studies a lot and he's incredibly smart. Some day when I don't have class, he is going to take me to check out his school. And another day, he will come with me to USFQ, even though he's been here before. I'm excited to see what another university is like.