ANDES DANDY

“Thank you John. Well, we can definitively tell the viewers at home that we have no idea what the weather will be like today,… or tomorrow,… or generally any time in the future. What we can tell the viewers is that however they dress, by the end of the day, they will have regretted it at least three times! However, I can tell you what the weather is like at the moment. It’s cloudy with a slight chance of rain.” “Yes Oliver, but isn’t there always a slight chance of rain?” “Yes, all chances of rain are equal, but some chances are more equal than others!” A.D.

People told me that the arrival of the Virgin of El Cisne in Loja is a big thing. Pilgrims set off on the 15th of August and carry the statue 75 kilometers to the central park of Loja. At the end of the pilgrimage, Loja welcomes Mary with fireworks, a live orchestra and a priest who works the crowd like he is a commentator at a soccer game. “VIVA VIRGEN DEL CISNE! VIVA LOJA! VIVA…” In honor of the Virgin Mary, the city will have lots of events in the evening, until the end of November when the statue will be returned to El Cisne. The wooden statue of Mary was carved by Diego de Robles after the Virgin Mary appeared in the city of El Cisne in 1594. The fireworks, the orchestra and the overly energetic priest was amazingly entertaining and I wish, at least once in a life time, everyone could experience this. I’m looking forward to the programs that the city will host, and will keep you guys posted. A.D.

I’ve been here in Loja for exactly a week. On my second day of deliberately getting lost in the city, in order to find things and places I wouldn’t otherwise, I happened upon this small family-run restaurant. I was walked by it around noon, and suddenly I felt this urge to go in. So I walked back and went in. “Habla inglés?” (do you speak English) I asked. The grandmother of the family looked at one of the older boys, who looked about 19, and pointed at me. He was in the middle of his lunch, so he dried his mouth with a napkin, walked over to me and said, “Yes, I do. How can I help you?” As it turned out, he studied at the same institution that I will teach in, but he lives in a different city and he’s only here to visit some family and friends. He was my waiter for the rest of the meal. I returned a few days later, because I liked the place and the food, and he was assigned to me again. Today when I went back there, I was shown a table and instead of a menu, t

Yesterday I went to a go-away party for Stefany (my boss’ daughter, who is around my age) for she is leaving to France soon. The party was at their house about 45 kilometers away from Loja in a mesmerizing valley, with plants and birds I have never seen before. The guests started arriving around six in the evening and naturally the drinking started soon after that. Around eight o’clock the dancing started and I had to realize something. My dance moves don’t work with Latin music. My moves just didn’t go well with the rhythm and the beat of the music. So I had to come up with moves on the fly, which from an outside perspective must have been hilarious. Meanwhile my brain was going “maybe this? nahhh. Or this? Ooohhh that’s nice… no, wait,... they are staring at you. Abort! Abort! Try something different! Act cool for heaven’s sake!”  All in all, I had a great time, met some interesting people, and got some new moves to show off when I go back to Europe. A.D.

Loja, the city that looks like it was designed by a soviet architect, with his hipster nephew finishing the job after his uncle was fired for “drinking and planning”. The city in which old and rugged meets modern and comfortable multiple times on the same block. Where traffic-laws are mere suggestions and the only time anyone cares about them is if a cop is literally standing in the middle of the street. I got an “aww, el gringo” when I stood and waited for the light to turn green before crossing the road. And let me just say, yes, Germany’s policemen look fine, but these motorcycle cops in Loja would be any gay man’s dream. The people are wonderfully friendly and helpful, although they stare a little too much. The streets have a lively and energetic atmosphere, with cars buzzing around and pedestrians running across streets in a suicidal manner. In case anyone was worried, I’m fine. I’m settled into my temporary room at my boss’ house, where I can stay until I find my ow

The day I fly to Ecuador is less than a week away. I still have lots to do, such as buy two suitcases, get my criminal records translated to Spanish, and meet all my close friends before I head off to South-America for an entire year.  I'm still in the stage of "is this really happening?" , even though I've spent my last three months planning this trip. I felt like this before all my major trips. Like, maybe it’s all just a dream, and if it is, I shouldn’t get all hyped up about it. I felt like this when I went to Texas, to Detroit and when my father and I went to Amsterdam. I’ll miss Budapest, my family and friends, but I also know that this trip will help me grow up, and mature in ways that are unimaginable to me at this very moment. O.H