Fulbright: Ama La Vida @fulbrightecuador - Tumblr Blog

hi! this is totally random but I really want to apply for the Fulbright scholarship for teaching this year. I was just wondering about your experience with applying and receiving the scholarship and if there’s any information you can share with me about this topic?

Hi! No worries! The application process took me about 3-4 months to perfect my essays and ask for recommendations on time. It’s really not difficult just making sure you content relates to the Comission you want to show that your work aligns with host country!

CARNAVAL IN AMBATO (feb)

What can I say about Carnaval... from the colors to the people to dancing it felt so free! Most of the cohort came to my side of the country to celebrate and I was excited to share my new home with them in latacunga.

Julia and Charmaine stayed with me, while Amy and Marty stayed at a near by hotel in The city center. I made cookies and homemade icing. I felt so domestic!

After everyone arrived and settled in, we went to bed in the next day we headed to Ambato to see the infamous parade. We must’ve woken up a little late because the streets were full and the parade started. But we walked maybe like 5 miles to the end of the parade to catch it. It seemed like all the seats were full until we met a lady who graciously let us have seats for free! She told us how her family was from North Carolina and that she loves meeting Americans. She offered us her bathroom food drinks all out of the greatness/goodness of her heart.

Although I wanted to see the whole parade, The rest of the group got restless and hungry. So we left early to eat and meet up with the rest of the cohort. It was nice seeing everyone and catching up on everyone’s projects and jobs. This cohort is really starting to feel like a family.

Guess who went to a Quincenera? Me!

Marco and Anita took me to Marco’s niece birthday party! I offered to photograph! The cumplenera was so beautiful.

Marco and Anita made a toast that made me tear and gave her, her last doll as symbol of coming of age.

We danced all night, I don’t even think the college students back home could keep up this family!

#Youtube

Fulbright cohort trip to Mindo! (Jan.)

Things to bring on this trip!

Bug spray (Deet)

Hyper absorbent towel

Water shoes

NEVER WEAR SHORTS ...EVER

Hiking shoes

Bathing suit

Rain jacket

Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty

Montage of Tyra and Carmen’s adventure in Ecuador!

#Youtube

Mom Tyra and Carmen take Ecuador! (Jan.)

Places we visited:

Banos

Puerto López

Ambato

Quito

We met some fantastic people on the way like Kevin and Jamie! Jamie was our horse instructor while his son Kevin was a fantastic chef. They both lived in Banos a cloudforest in Ecuador!

We went ziplining in Banos where we met couple from Canada vacationing for six weeks. We got our zip lining on a deal after the travel/adventure agency tried to play us so we got an all inclusive adventure package that included zip lining and horseback riding.

Otavalo Trip! (With Alison and her family) Jan.

Month 3

In this month, I promised myself I would take more space. I typically will let things run its course to avoid friction, but I decided to make moves that make me happy. So, with that said, I moved out of my uncomfortable apartment on Christmas Day and into a fantastic new one! I was nervous and afraid to change, but at the end of the day, I didn’t like it there. And ended up in a better place for cheap!

In other news I’m super grateful to have a support system here! One of my co-workers turned family member took me to Otavalo with all of her family to celebrate her father’s birthday. I felt so included and loved. We went to the market, waterfall and lake!

My project is progressing students are really interested in my club. But as of late, I’ve been wanting to explore Afro-latinidad, every time I encounter a new person, they tell me that I look like I belong on the coast in Esmeraldas. Where I live currently there aren’t many afro-ecuadorians. I saw one Afro-Ecuadorian family a few Sundays ago, but that is it. This town is mostly Mestizos and Indigenous. I’m curious about the Afro-Ecuadorian community here, what are their sub-cultures, why do the majority of them live on the coast? If I could do another project, it would include Ecuadorian identities.

Between Christmas and New Years is such a reflective time. You think about what you went through in the past and the person you want to be in the future! These couple weeks I really poured into myself, reflecting on my senior year of college and how now, I live on my own in different country.

I like the person I am becoming. She is brave and unwavering.

In Ecuador, for New Years Ecuadorian make these paper mache dolls to burn it represent the past all the old you want burn before starting the new year! You burn on new year eve so you can enter with nothing but positivity! I spent New Years with my landlord and his family. He knocked on my door and told me to get dressed. We went to sushi restaurant that his friend owned and he had the space exclusively for his family! It was such a great way to know my neighbors.