The YS Theory

Dear Chris Kwon,

Since Otavalo, my life has been extremely dull. I had a cumulative language final today. Tomorrow, I have an essay on an indigenous tribe (The quechua) due and a presentation. Plus, I have a literature final. These things have consumed my life. Enough of that boring drabble.

I found one interesting thing while researching my tribe (actually, my dad found it, but it's legitimate). Quichua, the language spoken by my tribe, inspired the language of Jabba the Hut.

YS has reappeared. She and I had breakfast together this morning. She was wearing a business suit and was hurriedly eating. She rushed out of the door. I cleaned her dishes. I think she is a business woman (probably dealings llama sweaters) who stays with us every time she is in Quito. She has a husband, who is probably locked in some basement making said sweaters. Please, come up with your own theories and share them. One day, we will get to the bottom of this. As an extra clue, YS was not wearing her yellow sweater tonight, but rather a full gray U.S Navy (San Diego location) sweatsuit. Let the theory-making begin!

Today, I had a final at 1:30. I was supposed to leave at 1:00. I was called to lunch at 12:45. I usually eat quickly so I can get to school on time. Today, my host mom talked to me while I was eating. I told her I was going into the amazon this weekend. She told me it was really important to explore the rural areas. She said that all cities are the same (a sort of "you've seen one, you've seen them all" mentality) and you can't truly find a country's culture until you enter the rural areas. I really liked this idea. I think it fits Ecuador perfectly. Here, much of the indigenous culture has been preserved, so it is somewhat accessible. Susy and I discussed traveling and she told me a brief story about her experience with racism when she was studying in New York City. Wait... What?! She studied in NYC? I'm pretty sure that's what she said, because I paid extra special attention to what verb forms she was using. Unfortunately, I had to go to my final. The amount of culture I'm absorbing here is way more important than any letter grade I receive.

That being said, I am entering into the depths of the amazon tomorrow (actually, I am only going about 5 hours away to the border of the amazons). I will be in "el oriente" nonetheless and plan on doing some serious picture taking and some even more serious mosquito killing. Stick around comrades, because by the time I get back the spring quarter time schedule will be posted.