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Future Spaghetti – Off-Campus Research

JennifercastroBy No Comments5 Mins Read
Future Spaghetti – Off-Campus Research


“It’s all one huge spaghetti noodle of a month,” I stated.

My pal Laura Kate and I had been sitting by the river, speaking about how our unbiased examine initiatives had been going. At three weeks into the month-long challenge, we had been on the level the place it was time to start out placing all of the items collectively. As we did so, we had been coming to phrases with the methods our initiatives weren’t going precisely as we needed. Laura Kate informed me she was working to simply accept that her challenge isn’t going to end in a big analysis discovering. However, she stated, she’s realizing that’s okay. She stated that doing this challenge has acquired her considering lots about what she’ll be doing sooner or later. Though she nonetheless doesn’t have a transparent reply to that query, right here she’s studying extra about herself and how much work she’s most suited to. 

I agreed. Being right here in Villaflora had additionally been turning my thoughts to the longer term. Like my Laura Kate, a part of that has been because of my challenge itself, which has sparked ponderings about what my work after school will appear to be. Added to that’s the truth that, in contrast to in Quito, I even have a variety of selection right here about what my life exterior of labor/faculty seems to be like: the place I am going, what I do, and the way I spend my time. Right here, I’m now not a pupil in a programmed group schedule, however dwell a life extra much like a younger grownup skilled (with some notable exceptions, in fact). Additionally seemingly contributing to my future-focused ponderings are textual content conversations with mates again dwelling who’re seniors who’re graduating. I’m realizing that’s going to be me in a 12 months. This “future” isn’t that distant. 

For all of those causes, I’ve discovered myself holding up numerous points of my life right here and questioning how they could evaluate to my future life. To prepare my ideas a bit, I made some lists 🙂

Most likely received’t do:

Get my meals ready and delivered to me on daily basis

Be pulled throughout a river in a little bit pulley cart

See random canines stroll previous my kitchen window

Hear the banging of rain on a tin roof

Journey on the again of a bike

Sleep beneath a mosquito web

A meal on a table shows soup, boiled egg, cheese, chicken, rice, and a large container of liquid. The soup has a white bowl and appears to be made of broth with white beans. A clear bowl holds a halved boiled egg and cubes of cheese. Another clear bowl holds chicken pieces layered over rice. A large plastic container holding a light brown liquid stands to the left. A spoon rests on top of a white napkin on the right and is angled downward. All of the food sits on a light-colored tablecloth decorated with a floral print.
Fanesca, a practice soup eaten throughout Holy Week
The landscape photograph captures a serene, dimly lit scene featuring a river cascading through a lush, tropical forest. The water is swift and frothy, rushing over rocks of varying sizes that line the riverbed. A dense collection of greenery, including tall grasses and verdant bushes, carpets the riverbanks, contrasting with the cooler tones of the water. In the background, suspended over the river, is a zip line structure, composed of a simple metal frame and cables stretched tautly across the water. The metal frame suggests a point of departure or arrival for those using the zip line. Above and beyond the river and forest, a few small buildings with warmly lit windows are visible, perched higher up on the hillside, adding a touch of human presence to the natural landscape. In the foreground, a wooden post and part of a fence, set slightly off-center, provide a sense of enclosure and perspective. Rocks are scattered around the base of the post, some partially submerged in a small pool of water. A single fern frond adds texture and detail to the bottom of the composition. The overall ambiance of the photograph is peaceful, suggesting a secluded and natural setting.
The terabita. When go go to my host household, I trip over the river on this seat!
An eye-level interior shot depicts a bed in a modest room, completely draped with a light blue mosquito net. The net is fixed to the wall at two points above the bed and falls dramatically, fully covering the mattress and bed frame. The bed, constructed of wood, features a mattress covered with fabric. A patterned sheet is partially visible beneath the mattress, adding a touch of color. Next to the bed, a small wooden side table holds a notebook and pen. The room itself is simple, with walls made of concrete blocks. The wall behind the bed is adorned with a small framed picture and a hook. A window, situated to the right of the bed, is framed by a patterned, reddish-orange curtain. The natural light streaming through the window illuminates the interior, and a glimpse of the outdoors is visible. The ceiling is made of corrugated metal sheets, suggesting a basic and functional structure. The floor is covered with a dark rug, adding a bit of contrast to the mostly light-colored room. The overall impression is one of practicality and simplicity, with a focus on functionality over aesthetics.
There’s no hazard of malaria right here, however numerous bugs you don’t need in your face as you sleep

May do:

Put on discipline garments on daily basis

Unwind sitting subsequent to a river

Hearken to audiobooks whereas I work

Throw my fruit peels within the yard

Stay in a small home on my own

Play with my neighbors’ little children

Eat large quantities of rice

The landscape shot shows a lush, overgrown field marked by various elements, from a small wooden structure to rows of banana trees. In the forefront, a modest, weathered wooden shed with slats for walls and a rusted metal roof sits to the left. A weathered pole is planted to the right of the shed, and a blue canister sits on the corner of the structure. The foreground is also marked by a cluster of rocks at the bottom and a patch of damp earth covered with green moss and sparse grass. The midground teems with dense, tall grasses, obscuring the earth and creating a wild, unkempt feel. In the background, parallel rows of banana trees stand tall, their large, green leaves adding to the overall verdant atmosphere of the scene. Additional trees, stretching to the horizon, fill the gaps between the banana trees, and the scene is set under a clear blue sky, suggesting a sunny day. The angle of the overhead shot, combined with the variety of elements, gives the image depth and richness.
My yard
A cheerful young woman stands at the edge of a rushing stream amidst a lush, verdant forest. She wears a light turquoise long-sleeved shirt and dark gray cargo pants, and brown rubber boots, suggesting she's prepared for outdoor exploration. On her head, she sports a gray baseball cap with a logo on the front. Her smiling face reflects the joy of being in nature. The stream, which takes up a large portion of the scene, is characterized by cascading water flowing over dark, mossy rocks, creating a dynamic texture of movement and sound. The water is turbulent, foamy white, and contrasts with the solid, dark rock bed. Behind the woman, a dense, healthy forest thrives. The canopy is thick, with layers of green foliage interspersed with white flowering plants, adding depth and visual complexity to the natural setting. The trees and plants are overgrown, seeming to spillover the edge of the waterway. The overcast sky contributes to the soft, diffuse lighting, which evenly illuminates the scene and minimizes harsh shadows.
Area garments and rain boots on a regular basis 🙂
A long shot of a shallow river rushing through a rocky, wooded, mountainous area provides a natural, scenic view. The water flows from the far background, through the rocks, and toward the viewer. The cold, churning water is white and grey. The rocks consist of a wide range of sizes, from small to quite large. The most prominent boulder is a large, rounded one in the mid-ground, almost the color of unbaked bread. Trees and smaller foliage grow alongside either bank, creating a canopy overhead. The leafy shrubbery is mostly differing shades of green. In the background, distant mountains are visible between the trees beneath a cloudy sky.
I nonetheless can’t recover from how stunning the river is!

Hope I do:

Spend minimal period of time in buying malls (right here, zero!)

Journey principally by strolling

Hear birdsong out my window

Go to mattress on time and get good sleep

Decelerate to take pleasure in duties like washing dishes

Eat meals grown domestically

Spend time in group facilities

Have a superb pal to debrief my day with

A detailed, eye-level, and wide shot captures a kitchen sink area in front of a window, filled with light and various objects. The stainless-steel sink is at the center, with a shiny faucet rising from it. On the left side of the sink, there is a brown wooden plate, a green container, and a dark red scrub pad. To the right, a blue container rests beside the sink. The sink itself has an orange towel slightly overlapping a blue towel on the lower side. Above the sink, the backsplash is decorated with a tiled pattern featuring kitchen-related images like teapots, cups, and bowls of food. The window above the splashback has a black metal grill frame with decorative swirling details. It looks outward to a lush, green outdoor scene consisting of trees and foliage. Cooking utensils, including a blue ladle and a grater, hang above the sink, adding a sense of domesticity to the setting.
Birdsong and passing canines are my leisure as I wash dishes
Captured under the glow of artificial lights, an outdoor soccer game unfolds on a dirt field enclosed by a corrugated metal roof that creates a cavernous space. Several participants are actively engaged in the game, their figures animated in motion against the backdrop of the arena. The field's perimeter is defined by a bamboo fence along one side and a high black mesh net along the other, acting as a barrier to contain the play. Two structural poles stand prominently in the foreground, bearing the signs of age and use, with a thick rope tied to one, adding a rustic touch to the scene. To the side, a makeshift bench constructed from concrete blocks offers seating for spectators, while a simple wooden table on a metal stand provides a place for equipment. The players wear casual attire, their clothing ranging from athletic shirts to shorts, indicating a relaxed and informal setting. Illuminating the scene are two bright lamps suspended from the roof, casting long shadows and accentuating the texture of the dirt field. The composition of the photograph, with its interplay of action and stillness, light and shadow, creates a dynamic sense of energy and camaraderie in this outdoor sports environment.
Indoor soccer within the cancha
A woman sits in a hammock holding kittens on a covered porch. She has a happy expression. Her red-brown hair is slightly damp. She wears a patterned, short-sleeved shirt. The hammock is striped with white and brown and covered by a gray blanket. Two fluffy gray and white kittens lie beside the woman on the hammock. The porch has a concrete floor. On the floor is a black electrical box with wires. A black plastic patio chair is to the right of the hammock. Behind the chair, a black motorcycle leans on its kickstand. Laundry hangs from the ceiling. A wooden building is behind the netting behind the chair, and plants with dark red blooms are on the far side of the building.
Laura Kate and Ralph the cat chilling on Laura Kate’s porch

Hope I do (that I don’t do right here):

Be part of a Jesus-following group (in-person)

Spend time with my family and friends (in-person)

Have coworkers/ don’t work fully alone (in-person…. do you sense a theme? 🙂

Do work that’s extra related for my neighbors 

Have entry to a library (bodily books!)

Cook dinner

My guess is that you simply get a way of the most important themes. What I really like most about Villa Flora is the attractive nature, the peaceable tempo of life, and the neat alternatives I do have to attach with the group. However, I’m additionally wishing for a life the place I spend much less time connecting with folks by means of know-how and have relationships with my neighbors in additional long-term, significant methods.

(We’re calling that Ecuador lesson #9 by the way in which.)

“However Megan, what concerning the spaghetti noodle factor you had been speaking about?” 

Ah sure, I ought to most likely clarify that. 

On the finish of our dialog by the river, after Laura Kate and I had every shared a little bit of our reflections on our time in Villaflora up to now, I attempted to sum up how the month felt to me. I landed on “one huge spaghetti noodle of a month,” which is to say, an experiment. My household makes use of the phrase “spaghetti noodle” to explain an thought that you simply’re testing out, drawing from the previous adage about throwing spaghetti towards the wall to see if it has been cooked sufficient to stay. Residing in Villaflora has felt, in a manner, like test-driving a life. Which noodles will truly stick? Who is aware of. However, the expertise has definitely acquired me questioning what the longer term goes to appear to be! 

¡Hasta Luego!

-Megan



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