Gary Finnerty's blog

Gary's blog: Country Feedback

Gary Finnerty — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:05:38 +0000

Well today is E-Day plus 38 and my trip to Ecuador is over. I'm writing this from Amsterdam airport during my 4 free hours before my last flight to Dublin and I've got alot of emotions going on now. Obviously and naturally I'm happy to be heading home but my experience in Ecuador has been incredible and amazing, something I shall never forget and will always treasure.

My last blog a week ago was just a few hours before I said goodbye to my host family. That day was extremely sad and as I previously said my time there was very special to me and the highlight of the trip without question. Then from Thursday til Sunday I was in the Amazon with one of the American groups which was a brilliant experience that was so much fun. On Monday both groups were in Quito for their last day together, but as each group has been together on their own the leader of each group wanted the groups seperate for ending activities. During my time in Ecauador I've been in both groups at different times so I couldn't just stick with one and therefore spent my Monday going from one group to the other. We all stayed up all night and morning talking and laughing away our last hours together. Sadly at 6am yesterday morning we checked out of our hostel and headed to the airport. The Americans had a flight at 8 but I didin't have mine til 4 in the afternoon which meant we had our parting in the check in area. Saying goodbye to 29 friends at once was extremely sad and emotional as they have become so meaningful to me they are like family. I've bonded so well with the people in both groups it was overwhelming seeing them as well as me choke up as we parted. I have really and truely been touched by them, some of the things they said to me during our finishing activities were causing lump in throat times. Then at are parting I was given some written cards that I wasn't allowed read til my flight between Panama and Amsterdam and after reading them they are going to be treasured. I'm glad to say I've seemed to have as big affect on them as they have on me, there was genuine tears and sadness at my going which I'm stunned by but I'm delighted by also. I will definitly be staying in touch and I know I'll be seeing alot of them in the near and far future.

I was asked yesterday what my favourite thing about my experience in Ecuador has been and my answer was simple, the people. The Ecuadorians, Americans and others too have made a great, well planned out programme with great activities into something that has become truely special, that has changed me and something that will never be forgotten. The people I've met on this trip will occupy a treasured part of my memories for the rest of my life. My host family and the host siblings of the Americans were fantastic to spend 3 and a half weeks with and I honestly miss them. I've already started e-mailing my host family so I think staying in touch with them is going to work out well and I hope in a few years with beter spanish I will return to them and Ecuador. I've already rambled on about the Americans alot but they have had an enormous affect on me. They've changed my view on Americans and where before I didn't want to travel to America, now I can't get there soon enough. They were genuine, warm-hearted, friendly people and it was a priviledge to have met them and I know for sure we'll be keeping in touch and our friendships will last.

My time in Ecuador has been wonderful in every possible way. I haven't had a single problem with logistics or people, the logistics went really smoothly and the people were fantastic. I can't possibly describe how great this trip has been for me. It seemed it was just suppose to happen they way it's all fallen together. I bought a Irish Times because of being involved in a quiz competition based on newspapers, my Dad unlike me read the holiday section and showed me a small article about travel scholarships, I checked it out on the EIL website, realised I needed to write the essay and application form that night as well as speeches for a debate that week but I did it, stayed up extremely late that Sunday night but got it finished and from there it all snow-balled into the best experience of my life. I want to thank EIL Ireland for firstly having these travel awards because these awards have the ability to change the world in a small way by changing peoples perceptions of the world. I know in my case I've made a impact on the Americans way of thinking, they've impacted me and our groups and the Ecuadorian host families have all changed each others views and opinions in some way. This is the result of the idea of intercultural living and I can't praise it enough.

Finally I want to thank EIL Ireland for choosing me for the award, I don't honestly believe I could've made anymore out of the experience because I've tried to make the most of every minute. I also want to mention that these blogs have been brilliant to do so thanks for the opportunity. A special thank you to Marian in EIL for looking after me so well before and during my trip, I'm sure we'll be in touch soon. Thanks to anyone who has followed my blogs, there will be one last one very soon that will have photos from the trip so take a look, they're pretty good. Take care, Gary.

Ps. All my blog's titles are R.E.M. songs, I recommend each of them but then again I'm bit of a fan.

Gary's Blog: Imitation of Life

Gary Finnerty — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:21:09 +0000

Today is E-Day plus 31 and I'm finding it hard to believe that I've been here for a month with only a week left. Today is also my last day here in Riobamba as after lunch I'm heading to Quito for a night before getting a flight tomorrow to the Amazon rainforest. You'd expect me to be happy and excited at the prospect of being in the Amazon (something I've always wanted to do) yet what I'm feeling at the moment is a sadness that I'm leaving my homestay. I've been here in Riobamba for nearly 4 weeks staying with a family and without doubt this part of the trip will be the highlight of my time in Ecuador when I think back in a years time.

But picking up from my last blog last Friday I went with the group on Nariz del Diablo. This was an amazing train journey that takes 3 hours and brings you through some spectacular countryside. It's also an increadible piece of engineering as it goes through some of the Andean mountains. It was a really early start but very worthwhile and thankfully I remembered my camera this time! Saturday we went to a few different markets in Riobamba which were an interesting experience but I think a little horrific at times for the vegetarians in the group, they got to see the before, after and consumption of animals in the space of a 100 very crowded yards. Saturday morning was our last group activity during the homestay.

On Sunday it was the farewell meal with all the group and their host families, It was held in a very nice leisure centre outside Riobamba. The actual meal was quite a sad one as it really began to hit home that soon we'd be leaving our host families. At the end of the meal each member of the group had to say a few words of thanks to our host families in Spanish and by the end it was a very sad room. But afterwards we got a soccer match going between the host families and a "Gringo" Dream Team that included myself, a couple yanks and 3 host brothers (Gringo is a North and South American word for North Americans travelling in South America). I'm delighted to say that the Gringo Dream Team were the victors 10-8. It was a happier end to the day.

Yesterday was my last full day in Riobamba so I stayed mainly with my host family but at 3 I met up with some friends from the American groups and host families to watch what was a huge game for Ecuadorians, Real Madrid against Liga de Quito (South American champions). In Europe these pre-season matches mean little yet here it was huge. The bar was really crowded and the people were fanatical following the match. Sadly Liga lost 4-2 but I enjoyed the atmosphere and it was a good way to say good bye to some of the Ecuadorians that I've played football with and hung around with while I was here. They've been friendly and been easy to bond with so it's sad to have to say goodbye. I haven't had to say a proper goodbye to my family yet (another 3 hours left!) but last night I brought them out for a really nice dinner as a small token of thanks for all they've done for me.

If everyone on this trip is honest, the most feared part of the whole experience is the homesaty. There's nothing as scary on this trip than staying with a bunch of strangers who speak a language you know little of (if any!) for nearly 4 weeks. Yet speaking at the end of the homestay I honestly know that the time spent here is the real highlight of the trip. The strangers become family who you share a bond with and will be a part of you for a very long time in your life. My family have been so friendly and accepting of me I'm depressed to be leaving to go the Amazon, something I thought I'd never say. I hope we'll be able to keep contact through e-mail and hopefully meet up again in the future. My time in Riobamba has been so much fun I will never forget it. Between staying with Luis, Andrea and Tomas, the activities with the 2 American groups be it organised day trips or just meeting up (with host siblings) in Riobamba to even the experience of my lousy attempts to teach the many taxi drivers in Riobamba a little bit about Ireland in my limited spanish. It's been brilliant. I could stay rambling on for a long time but sadly time is something I'm running out of in Ecuador. I'm heading out to my last lunch with my host family and after that I'll be heading to Quito with my group. Tomorrow we're getting a flight to the Amazon and I'm sure that´ll be incredible, but not the highlight of the trip. In the Amazon I won't have any internet so I'm sorry to those I haven't been able to get in touch with in the last few days but I'll get back in contact next Monday. Best wishes to friends, family, well-wishers and the folks in EIL. Gary.

Gary's blog: Fall On Me

Gary Finnerty — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:07:10 +0000

Well it's E-Day plus 25 today and I'm having an incredible time in Ecuador. Last Sunday my group and our host families met up for a soccer match in the evening on these astro-turf pitches I've been playing at for the last couple of weeks and it was a brilliant night. Firstly we got the full size pitch and so many people came we actually had a full game with 11 on 11 with spectators also. It was a great laugh and there was a huge difference in skill levels so it made for a very entertaining match. It was the best soccer night I've had in Riobamba so far.

On Tuesday I went back to Chimborazo with the second group of Americans and I found it just as good as the first time. It was the same hippy vans as before but there was no drama this time as the last week here has been sunny which has resulted in much less snow on Chimborazo. Less snow meant less hardship when it came to hiking but at 15,000ft going the short distance again took a silly amount of time given the perfect conditions. But when it came to the mountain biking it was easier as we were cycling around and down the mountain and every few feet lower the altitude is, the easier any exercise becomes. The day was also made brilliant by the good company I have in the American group, this one just as the first, are great to be a part of and I'm suprised how easy they are to get along with.

Today was personally a mixed day as we headed to a beautiful city halfway down between the mountains and the Amazon called Banos. Now today was a brilliant day but I messed up by forgetting the battery for my camera, I had charged it during the night especially for today but it was an early start and I somehow, to my huge annoyance, forget the battery....... Banos was brilliant though and I have a few Americans to thank for my day not being dragged down by the camera debacle. We got a tour bus around to all these waterfalls that Banos is famous for, one was particluarly amazing as we could go up through a tunnel to right behind the 100ft tall waterfall. The noise, speed and spray of this waterfall was amazing to behold, but being feet behind it getting drenched by a natural shower is an experience I won't forget in a hurry. Later in the day we got to go to these hot-springs, these 3 pools at different tempatures, cold, warm and very warm. I loved this, especially the warm ones because swimming in a warm outdoor pool with warm sunshine is not part of the Irish summer and since we had swimming gear with us for this Banos trip I got plenty of slagging from the yanks for my whiteness, especially at the pool. It was all a laugh though and I had a great day with them but I'm wrecked from the sheer lenght of the day. Tomorrow it get's better as I've a 5 o'clock get up time as the group is going to this spectacular train journey in the Andies called Nariz del Diablo. It's one of the highlights of Ecuador so I hope we get another good days weather.

Sadly my homestay is coming towards it's ending. Our farewell gathering is on Sunday and we leave on Wednesday morning for the Amazon. The homestay has been a wonderful experience in Riobamba for me. My family have been really great and it will be sad to leave. The days that the group hasn't been doing activities have never been boring. This week only Monday and Wednesday were free but there's been visits to markets and even a concert last night involving one of the Americans host dads. I'll fit in another blog before I leave Riobamba to find more words to describe the homestay experience. But for now, I'm wrecked and need to get home to bed for tomorrows early start. Best wishes to friends, family, well-wishers and the folks in EIL. Thanks a million for the comments and e-mails. Gary.

Gary's Blog: Half a World Away

Gary Finnerty — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:51:05 +0000

So it's E-Day plus 20 today and I'm already past the half way mark with only 2 weeks left. I say only 2 weeks because last night my host family and I were talking about how time has just flown by here in Ecuador. I've already been with the family for two weeks with only one more to go which we all found a depressing thought. I have to say I'm really enjoying this homestay and to be honest I was expecting to quite as much as I have. I can't hold full conversations using brilliant spanish because I just don't have it, but we manage to communicate very well with what limited spanish I do have and in 2 weeks I have improved somewhat. I don't think the spanish has been a problem at any point and we've bonded and communicated well.

I haven't blogged in a week and alot has happened since. This week began on a down as I was feeling sick Monday and missed the first day of community work but I recovered quickly and Tuesday I was back painting schools with the second American group I've teamed up since coming to Riobamba. As it was with the first group, we had a laugh painting and it was nice to be back amongst this group as I haven't been with them since they went to the Galapogas, which I'm told is brilliant.

On Wednesday I had my last ever activity with the group I came to Riobamba with. We went to these high altitude lakes (at about 14,000ft) called the Lakes of Ozogoche and they were fantastic, the landscape is very different and barren with no trees. It was a great day but really exhuasting. The journey there took 2 and a half hours each way (the scenery was breath taking though) and we ended up hiking for 5 and a half hours once we got there! So it was a long day but being with the group was such a great laugh as they're a wonderful group of people but that made it a bit sad for me as that group left for the Galapogas on Thursday and from there they'll head to the Amazon so I won't see them again til Quito, the day before we leave for home.

But there's no rest for the wicked and Thursday morning I was back helping to finish a school with the other group. It was a good feeling to finish my second stint of community work here in Riobamba, I'm delighted to be able give back a little. But it also got me thinking in a different way, about how in my short time in Ecuador I've done more painting, taken more taxi's and eaten more soups than I have previously done in my entire life in Ireland. I'm sure there's more to be added to that list but they're the odd ones that struck me most.

On Friday, after no real rest, I found myself facing the hike around the lakes again. Of course I didn't have to do it but it was definitely worth it as this time, with a days experience, I came better prepared. More appropriate clothes, food and most importantly, a fishing rod that I bought the previous evening after community work. This was because on Wednesday the guide was wondering why nobody had brought any rods given the lakes had trout introduced. Sadly I didn't catch anything yesterday but fishing at such an incredible location was worth the $8 the rod cost. So after another day of hiking (with fishing breaks) I was wrecked and today I've recharged the batteries a bit for soccer tomorrow evening. Sunday has evolved into soccer night between host families and us and I think it's been a great success, it'll be mainly new faces tomorrow with the other group gone but I've told everyone in the current group and I think it's going to be another great night.

I hope friends, family, well-wishers and people in EIL are all keeping well. A special shout out has to go to the tic-tac and the whippersnapper who survived the wash-out at Oxygen, for the first time in their lives they had to face getting mud on their clothes so all credit to them, I'm proud of them. Take care! Gary.

Gary's blog: Man on the Moon

Gary Finnerty — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:49:17 +0000

So today is E-Day plus 14. Two weeks in and I'm having a great time here in Ecuador. I'm still waiting for culture shock to hit in but it hasn't really so far, I'm enjoying Ecuador too much. Between having such a cool family, a great bunch of Americans and enjoying the different culture and way of life I don't see culture shock featuring in a big way anytime soon. Sometimes I miss things from home but being on the other side of the world experiencing such a different place is to me a brilliant experience that I'm trying to take the most out of while giving back sometime.

Last Thursday I finished community work with one of the American groups. It was one of the opportunities we get to give back to this community who have and still are giving us so much. It was hard work getting the school painted (took us an extra day) but it's obvious that it's a poor area and school so it was worth the effort. It was also a great experience group wise as it allowed us to get to know each other better and have a laugh while working. I really enjoyed the experience and will be doing it again tomorrow as I join up with the other group who have returned from the Galapogas.

On the Friday I went trekking and biking on Chimborazo which was amazing. The group met at 8 in the morning and travelled in 2 vans, I went in a little hippy van with 4 others. We had a laugh along the way as it was snowing lower down the mountain than expected meaning the poor little van couldn't make it to the first cabin we were heading to. Thankfully we hitched a ride with some English tourists. The first cabin was at 14,800 ft and the second at 15,000 ft. We trekked on foot from the first to second and the altitude was crazy, it took us 45 mins to walk that 200 vertical metres (approx 500 walking metres). It only took us 5 to come down. So at the highest cabin, I was further away from the earths core or closer to the moon than you would be on top of Everest. Anyway from the lower cabin we had a 20km bike to a small town called San Juan. It was fantastic. It was proper mountain biking on dirt tracks for half the journey which was brilliant fun and then the rest was a nice easy journey on roads with some incredible scenery along the way. After the cycle we were all pretty tired but our day wasn't over as that night we all went to a Reggaetone concert in Rio. It was a good night but I wouldn't say I'll ever count myself as a reggaetone fan, not really for me. But it was fun being out with the groups as it was the first time since Quito both groups were together.

Yesterday was more relaxed, I spent the morning and afternoon with my host family just relaxing and chatting which was very nice. In the night I met up with some of the yanks to celebrate a host brothers birthday. We've mixed with the host siblings very well here, the Ecuadorians are so friendly they've been brilliant to be around and we get along really well. We all had a great night anyway, I enjoyed it more than the concert.

Today was a real South American experience as my host family took me to a derby soccer match between the teams from Quito and Riobamba. The atmosphere was intense to put it mildy. Compared to matches in Ireland or England, there's so much more drumming and chanting between rival fans. Some of the Americans were with us too and I'm glad to say it was a really good game, the Quito team (who are South American champions) won 3-2 but it was a really close match. Some of the theatrics by players was hilarious though, they make Drogba look respectable when it comes to diving. I really enjoyed the whole experience.

Now after this blog I'm going off to play a soccer match with some of the yanks and their host families. We've booked the pitch myself and one of the Americans played on last week so it'll be a good game I hope. The altitude will be a killer again no doubt. Anyway I hope everyone who's following this is keeping well, thanks for keeping in contact it's appreciated. Gary.

Gary's blog: Nightswimming

Gary Finnerty — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:24:18 +0000

It's E-Day plus 10 today. Sounds like a long time but it's passed me by very quickly which is a bit scary but it reflects how good a time I'm having here. Picking up the story here from the last blog (sorry for the gap between them, wrote a blog 2 days ago but internet connection broke before I had fully finished and I lost it completely!) I joined up with the second group of Americans on the Thursday night as the group I was with have gone to the Galapogas islands. But the second group have also turned out to be a fantastic group. We left Quito Friday morning after talking about our fears and expectations for the homestay. The journey was much better than expected as we talked away any nerves until the last 5 minutes of the 4 hour journey, when suddenly the bus became very tense and quiet. But as we all knew deep down, our fears were misplaced and our host families have turned out to be brilliant.

My family is small compared to most with just 3 of them. The father Luis is a poet, the mother Andrea is a optician and their 3 year old son Tomas is a natural entertainer. They're a great family but are a very rare bunch of Ecuadorians given that they're vegetarians. But they've really looked after me well cooking me meat which is very nice of them. We get on well and the language barrier has been very funny at times as I often have to resort to hand gestures or speedy dictionary navigation to communicate. It's been good though as my family are very laid back and are very understanding about my lack of spanish. To be fair I find myself now being able to understand the majority of what they say but because of not previously studying spanish, I find it difficult to reply fully in spanish but I am improving slowly as I pick up words and phrases.

Although we're all spread out in Riobamba, our group has kept together very well since arriving. On the Saturday it was the 4th of July and one of the yanks birthday so we all went out to celebrate that night and everyone had a great time. It must be that these trips attract similar people but whatever the reason all the yanks have been sincere and friendly people who I really get along easily with. And since I get along with both groups they're both bringing me on any day excursions out of Riobamba, so I'll be hiking on Chimborazo twice and other things like that whereas the plan was just once with just one group. So I've got things really good in that regard and pretty much every regard on this trip. We started our community service yesterday painting a school and we have another two days of it to go (I'll have another 3 with the other group when they arrive). It's been hard work but we are all having a laugh and it's great to see a group get on so well.

Throughout the trip the friendliness of Ecuadorian people has been very apparent. The lastest example was last night when myself and a yank went into town to play soccer and we ended up getting to play a full match on an indoor astro turf pitch with a bunch of Ecuadorians. They were so cool about letting us play it was great. It was also the first time I really felt the altitude hit me. Because of being so much higher up (9000 ft!) there´s less oxygen which gives you a burning sensation in your lungs and you can feel light headed after the game. But it was a great game all the same.

Not too much else to include now. Apologies for the lenght but alot can happen in 5 days here as I'd guess it shows. I hope everyone is keeping well at home, in the family, friends and with the people in EIL. Thanks again for comments and e-mails, it's great to hear from people. Until next time, Gary.

Gary's blog: Supernatural superserious

Gary Finnerty — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:52:34 +0000

It's E-day plus 5 this evening and I'm trying to do this blog quickly as I'm in an internet cafe in Quito and will have to go catch our lift home soon. Monday night I joined up with the 28 strong group of Americans and have been staying with them in a hostel since. They're a great group, split into 2 groups of 14, full of friendly and sincere people, but they wouldn't be American without being loud sometimes! Since they're arrival my time is on a schedule and very group orientated with lots of team activities. I'm not a big fan of this type thing but the yanks are great so I'm having a good time. Today we were at the Equator which was really nice and this afternoon we came to Quito and visited this church which we were able to go to the it's highest steeples which were seriously high and scary. Quito has been great but it's time for the next part of the trip so I'm heading to my homestay in Riobamba tomorrow. I'l try write another longer blog there and get to my e-mail which I haven't had a chance to today. Hope everything is going well with anyone who's following the blogs, thanks for leaving comments and sending e-mails, it's great to hear from people back home or family.

Gary's blog: Electrolite

Gary Finnerty — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:26:06 +0000

Buenos tardes!

It's E-Day plus 2. I arrived yesterday at 8 am after a full day and night of travelling. Everything went perfectly travel wise, my flight was delayed in Dublin which allowed me to watch the Lions match at my gate (which I would've missed otherwise) in the airport but it didn't affect getting the next connection as I had 6 hours to spare in Amsterdam. Amsterdam was a great airport to come through, very laid back and easy to navigate through and from there the flight to Quito was long but went very smoothly so it was an excellent journey overall.

Yesterday jetlag was a bit of a problem as in order to get my body adjusted to the time difference I didn't let myself sleep during the morning or afternoon which left me tired but I got a good 13 hour sleep so I'm recovered today and adjusted to the time. The altitude here in Quito (9000 ft approx) isn't as bad as I was expecting, it's only noticable when you go up a load of stairs and notice you're out of breath which would never happen at home. Any of the people I've met here are extremely nice and friendly but I'm let down by my inability to speak spanish so I'm working on that now, just trying to use the little spanish I do know while also trying to learn as much as possible. It's not too bad here in Quito because alot of people have english but I'm heading to my host family in Riobamba on friday so I need to have some respectable spanish by then. The climate here is fantastic too, 20-25 'C nice sunshine and it's not cold or too warm. Just right.

Next blog will probably be Thursday after I visit the equator. Gary.

Ps. Titles of blog are songs by R.E.M. in case anyone is wondering.

Gary's Blog: The Great Beyond

Gary Finnerty — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:34:35 +0000

So it's the evening before E-day and I'm pretty much organised for tomorrow and all the travelling involved. The way I'm going is flying from Dublin to Amsterdam and then on to Ecuador with two stop-overs between Amsterdam and Quito. I'm very happy with the times as I've loads of time between connections so I've been lucky enough. Feeling excited and nervous at the same time about the trip. I've tried to get everything as organised as possible so I'm relatively relaxed and clear in mind about the trip but I'm expecting alot of unexpected things to come into the equation that'll I'll need to adapt to. I'm confident I'll get on grand and at this point I just want to get going because it's going to be an amazing experience.

Gary.