Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!  This isn’t exactly a wildly celebrated holiday in Ecuador, but I shared stories about Saint Patrick and American Saint Patrick’s Day traditions with my Ecuadorian family.  I also cooked a dinner that consisted almost entirely of potatoes.  I made baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato scones, and later, potato candy.  When I realized that I had made an all-potato dinner, I laughed and half-apologized, mentioning that I’d never made so many potatoes all at once.  To my surprise, though, rather than thinking it was silly that I’d made so many potatoes for dinner, my family was thrilled!  They kept commenting on how amazing it was that one could make so many different things with potatoes!  Well, I’m glad something I made was a success…I’d forgotten how much I like potato scones…

Highlights from this Week:

• Monday – Happy 100^th Anniversary of Girl Scouting!  Although I didn’t really notice the celebration here, apparently, it was pretty big in the United States.
• Tuesday-Friday – Obviously, this isn’t exactly a highlight, but I’ve been really sick the past few days.  The highlight, then, is probably that I learned a lot about the Ecuadorian medical system, gained a bunch of new medical words in Spanish, and got to know many of the doctors and nurses at the university clinic.  I’m now at the point where I can walk into the clinic by myself instead of having to be pushed in a wheelchair, but everyone says, “hola,” and asks how I’m doing.  I’ve been told getting sick here is a “cultural experience,” but I still really hope I don’t have to go through that again.
• Saturday – Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!  I wore green today and told my family stories about Saint Patrick and the traditions we have with Saint Patrick’s Day in the United States, especially in my (very Irish) family.  Éirinn go Brách!  Ireland be Saved!

Random Notes:

• If you’re in the University of Illinois program and have María as a program director, you should know that she’s amazing at getting things done.  When I needed to go to the clinic and have attention right away, she always got it for me.  She helped me understand what the doctor said and just made sure I was taken care of as soon as possible.  In addition, if you need a ride to the clinic or the hospital, she has a car and will either pick you up herself or send her son to come get you (he’s very nice and, like María, speaks English quite well).
• Saint Patrick’s Day is really only celebrated by gringos and a few Irish-American-themed bars and restaurants here.  This does not mean you shouldn’t wear green and wish people a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day.
• People don’t drink cold beverages in the Ecuadorian Sierra, just on the Coast.  So, if you want something cold, you’ll need to put it in the refrigerator yourself to prove to your family that, when you say you’d like something cold, you’re not kidding!
• Being sick is really hard in a foreign country, but trust me, you’ll get through it.  Yes, you’ll be homesick (most people are when they’re sick) and, yes, you’ll discover everything about the local culture that drives you crazy that you didn’t really notice when you were well, but trust me, you’ll get through it.  Just keep going to the doctor and believing that you’ll get better.  Keep talking to friends who understand what you’re going through (either because they’ve been sick, too, or just because they’re from your culture) and just, well, keep going.  You will get better.  You’ll see.