Ubre. You know you want it

Today, finally, the lab was open. The strike isn’t completely worked out and classes have yet to resume but we are able to continue our work. The whole experience has been eye opening to say the least. Public universities in the US don’t just randomly shutdown for over a week but then again university employees in the US don’t have rock bottom salaries that often get disbursed up to two weeks late. I’ve had several people question me as to why I didn’t go to a private university to carry out my project (lots of money and no strikes). The real reason is I tried and they didn’t show interest but now that I’m down here I have a better reason. I firmly believe everyone should have access to education and without the Central University thousands of students who can’t afford the pricier private institutions wouldn’t be able to continue in their studies. UCE is the underdog of the large Quito Universities and yet the more I get to know the people there, individuals who truly live for others, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

In the lab we continue to work on the Onchocerciasis project (for more information see the post entitled “A meeting with Dr. G”).

For lunch Theo and I headed to his second favorite restaurant where I’ve joined him twice previously and been impressed both times. I usually eat with Theo as all native Ecuadorians eat around 2pm, while the two of us are usually famished by 12:30. At the restaurant we were offered chicken or ubre. Now, I’ve never heard of ubre in my life but Theo went for it and I was tired of chicken so I did too. It was served in a rich peanut sauce so the visual inspection was worthless. It had a very… odd texture, to say the least. Kind of like the whole thing was halfway between meat and gristle. However, the sauce was good, I was hungry, and so I ate it all (clean plate club all the way). Upon returning to the lab we asked Tatty what ubre was, her answer: “cow udder.” Oh baby, I think that may be the only ubre I’ll ever eat. Ignorance really can be bliss.



(Tatiana, or Taty as everyone at the lab calls her)




(Theo, a Swiss national, is in Ecuador for two years with his family as a missionary of sorts, one who just happens to work in a lab!)


Hope you’re all well and don’t be afraid to write:)