Game On

Hey all,

I´ve arrived in Ecuador and life is good. I just ate my first comida típica for lunch, so we´ll see how my stomach is feeling in about an hour. It was a tiny little place that looked like a garage, but the soup was good and I also had a delicious plato de pescado (fish) for $2. Everything is pretty cheap here, but then I remember that I´m also not getting paid so I guess it evens out...to a net loss, haha. So far so good, though.

A few things I´ve learned about Ecuador so far....

1. Toilet paper is scented and can not be thrown in the toilet, or it will result in a major plumbing disaster.
2. Red lights are optional. Don´t ever drive in Quito.
3. Sometimes marching bands roll through the streets in the evenings...AWESOME!
4. Dogs bark at all hours of the day and night and typically live on the roof.
5. At 9,000 feet, you get winded after climbing 5 flights of stairs. Like, really winded.

Even though it´s different, I´m really loving it so far. My fellow volunteers rule and orientation has already been a blast. Already, people call me Smaki. Tonight we will move to our Quito host families´houses, so it will be sad to be split up, but orientation will continue until almost the end of September. I am placed in an apartment complex where there are 2 other vols, so the first day of travel should be a bit less daunting. We´ve had basic health and safety and culture and time to acclimatize thus far, but will get into Spanish lessons and practice teaching very soon.

I guess that´s the basic story so far, but I´ll keep in touch. Thanks for the comments already...it´s awesome to read that stuff from far away.

XOXO - Sara