Just as a heads up and brief summary for all my readers out there (ha ha ha), the past couple days here have been a little crazy. Yesterday some of the police force went on strike to protest a law the president had passed earlier in the week. Now, details are a little fuzzy about what exactly the law entails, and whether it does in fact disadvantage the police, or if that was a misunderstanding. But some riots broke out, and the police had set up barricades of burning tires in some parts of Quito and Guayaquil. At one point the president ventured outside to talk to the protesters and was targeted with tear gas, after which he spent the rest of the day in a hospital clinic. That night he left and the protests seemed to more or less break up, but everyone is still keeping an eye on things. Schools remained closed today (though that didn't effect me personally, as I have Fridays off), but they reopen on Monday. It seems that things are returning to normal. Information has been inconsistent at best, so it's hard to know exactly what did go on, but we are all safe. I hope I don't scare anybody, just thought you all should know.
On a much lighter note, the other exchange students and I went out and made our own fun today! We decided to meet up for lunch along the major road through the neighborhood where 2 of the 3 of us live. I was almost certain that I knew how to get to Amanda's house, but those of you who are aware of my sense of direction will already be giggling. Yes, of course I went the wrong way. Several times. And then couldn't call her. And we ended up having to go all the way back to my house to use that phone to tell her we were on the way and to please please please just meet us along the main road. So, over an hour after we originally planned to meet up, we finally did! (I wonder if I could have a microchip compass and GPS installed in my right earlobe?) We went to lunch at a place called Rachy's, right across the street from my block. It was great! (But no, that does NOT mean anyone can start calling me "Rachey" - it is still an abomination of a nickname.) Everything tasted like it had been grilled outside over a hardwood fire (and I just had rice with lentils, and a sort of bean soup)! It was delicious. Then we dropped off Amanda at her house - I can get there now! - and Lucas and I walked over to the San Marino mall. Needless to say, my feet are DONE walking for today. We wanted to see a movie that opened today called Prometeo Deportado (literally, Deported Prometheus). It's an Ecuadorian film years in the making. The story is centered around a group of Ecuadorians whose passports are confiscated and who are then sequestered in a sealed waiting room for the remainder of the movie. Parts were quite funny, with the uniquely Ecuadorian personalities and humor; other parts were sad because of the plight of this group of immigrants who had done nothing wrong; other parts were downright terrifying when the "society" takes a Lord-of-the-Flies turn. It is a fascinating movie, and a shocking but intriguing modern view of all humanity from a distinctly Ecuadorian perspective. If you have a chance to rent or borrow it, do it! It was outstanding.
Well, it's been a crazy couple of days, and I have a test and a presentation to prepare for next week, so other updates will follow, just not tonight! :) All my love to everyone out there, and stay out of the streets!
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