Yes, I choose to title this post after a High School Musical song. And you can't judge me because it's relevent and it's catchy and Zac Efron is in it. So there.
My flight from Miami to Ecuador seemed to go on for far too long. First, I had to fill out the scary customs and passport check papers. I say scary because if you misinterpret what it's asking you and don't claim the right amounts/items or if you copy some passport information wrong, it can become a bigger ordeal than usual at the customs counter. And that is the last thing I ever want to happen to me, especially as an exchange student starting off in her new country. All I can say is, police-like authorities (when on-duty) make me very nervous and because of this I was meticulous with my papers, taking 45 minutes to complete them both. The dinner and drink cart came around an hour later and woke me up from an uncomfortable slumber. Airplane food is NOT tasty. The next hour dragged on as I tried to sleep and listen to music. With about an hour and a half remaining, I was getting antsy. The seatbelt sign had not been removed once, and at this point people got up anyways and formed a huge line for the bathroom. Now, I usually would hold my bladder and wait to go in the next airport because the airplane lavatories are gross and I don't like making the other people move for me, but there were 3 things wrong with waiting. 1) I didn't want to go at the airport and delay getting in the long line for customs and security when I knew my host family would be waiting. 2) There was still a full hour left in the flight. And 3) I had chugged a big bottle of water (the WHOLE thing) right before boarding the plane hours before. So by the time I stopped arguing with myself and decided to get it over with, there were 40 minutes left in the flight. I simply told the Cuban woman, "Necesito el bano" and asked the American if I could get past. After that lovely experience, I got back to my seat as the captain announced that electronics needed to be turned off for our descent. I put away my iPod and opened the shade of the small plane window to stare at the surrounding sky. Soon, land came into view, and mountains, and finally roadways and houses. The woman next to me was going crazy praising the lord as our view of the beautiful city of Guayaquil was closer. At first she was mumbling to herself, then she started to shout. Soon she had others on the plane chanting and clapping with her as the plane touched down at the Guayaquil airport. "Gracias Señor, Hallelujah!" It was a memorable way to arrive.
I am lucky that I met that woman from Machala at the Miami airport because she let me cut a whole room-length of the customs line to stand with her. I got through without hassle, and then went to baggage claim which was a mess. Luggage was everywhere- I mean, NO organization whatsoever. It was like a treasure hunt; all of my suitcases were spread out on different sides of two different carousels behind everyone else's (of course). I paid 2 dollars for a luggage cart to manuver all of my stuff, and by the time I had found all 3 suitcases, a huge disorganized pile of people had gathered by the entrance of the last section of security where they scan all the suitcases. I was exhausted, at the back of the "line" and sweating like crazy in my blazer. After waiting for another 25 minutes to get through the security, I found myself walking out the double doors into the airport lobby where many people were waiting to welcome friends and family. I continued forward, searching the crowd to my left for any sign of my host family. Then, I saw my host mom, and relief washed over me. I heard my name and looked forward to see my host dad ahead to my left, taking pictures with his phone as I continued to make my way through around the ropes and towards where I saw my host mom coming towards me. I stopped pushing my luggage and came around to greet them. My host mom, Lorgia, came up and hugged me, saying "Hola Megan!". Then my host sister, Gaby, came to me for a hug. She was holding a sign that said "Bienvenida Megan!". Lastly, my host dad, Jorge, came and hugged me. In that moment, all I could say was "hola" "gracias" and "si". Once they were sure I was all set, we started to make our way out of the airport while Gaby explained to me in English that we would be staying with her tonight and that she was going to take a taxi to her appartment with my luggage. Apparently, Jorge had recently been in an accident with their car and the temporary one is small. (Gaby speaks English because she went on exchange to the US five years ago). The ride to Gaby's was short, and I was thankful because I lacked the energy necessary to try and understand what my host parents- who don't speak English- were saying. I simple sat there, taking in my surroundings and answering questions the best I could if they asked.
When we arrived, Gaby was waiting at the door to the stairs with my stuff. We all took a bag and lugged it up the 3 flights of stairs to her appartment. I felt bad because boy were they heavy and I only ended up breaking into my carry-ons that night. Once we got the bags to my room, I asked for the wifi password so I could FaceTime with my parents and let them know that I made it and was doing well. After I talked with my parents, I went with my host family for dinner not too far away at one of the common little restauraunts that occupy the main streets. We had empanadas but I only ate one because my stomach was still uneasy from the nerves of the day. During dinner, there were fireworks nearby, and as cliche as this is, I couldn't help but think that they were a sign that my year will be amazing and spontaneous and beautiful. If I got fireworks on the first night, imagine the other things that could possibly happen to me over the next ten months! After dinner, we stopped at a pharmacy for Lorgia and then returned to the appartment. I was glad when they understood how tired I was and let me go right into my room for the night. I flopped down on the bed wanting to journal about my day, but had no energy to do so. I did, however, give thought to the fact that my exchange had officially started. I was in a different country, with a host family, eating new food, speaking a different language, and experiencing a different culture. I fell asleep feeling happy with the start of my new life in Ecuador.
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