Not too much to report this week, but I am starting to feel kind of settled in Ambato, which is a good thing. Last weekend I took a short trip to Banos with a few friends, which was relaxing. Jess and I took a "chiva" tour of the many waterfalls in that area. A chiva is a typical bus where you can sit inside or on top of the bus and they play music...really fun! We got to hike down a very steep path to a gorgeous waterfall. Jess has the better picture of that location, but I am posting a picture of a different waterfall. Notice that cable car flying across the gorge. It's hard to see, but that tiny little orange thing...yeah, we fit 8 people in that and flung ourselves over the river to get closer to that waterfall. I was slightly terrified but it turned out to be a great experience! And I lived! Always a plus.
I came back Saturday morning to spend time with my family and get some work done, then went out on Saturday night with all 3 of my host sisters and some of their friends. Once we all got ready to go, we met downstairs and realized that we were all wearing the exact same thing...haha!! Check out the picture below. You can see my 3 host sisters (Alicia, Ruth, and Andrea) and Alicia and Andrea's husbands (Raul and Jason). The only one not wearing jeans and a black shirt is Emily, my host neice, who is Raul and Andrea's daughter. She's really cute and fun to play with even though my vocabulary is a little but lacking to speak to a 3-year old. (Sad, I know haha) On Saturday night I also met a friend of my sister who teaches salsa, so I'm considering starting lessons...I think it's only $2.50 for an hour lesson every week. Awesome!
Today is a big soccer game between Ecuador and Venezuela, so I cancelled my evening class. Before you get all wound up (mom) and start to think that I'm slacking with my teaching, this option is much more practical here in Ecuador. It's easy enough to make up the hours by having them complete a project and no one would come to class anyway, so it would just be a waste of my time as well! My director warned us the first day that this would happen, so I'm just gonna roll with it. With this time free, I am going to watch the soccer game until 9 and then head over to another vol's house who gets CNN in English to watch the presidential debate. I feel pretty out of touch with the latest US politics, so this should be a good chance to catch up and just hang out with friends. I did send my absentee ballot in this week, though! Go Obama!
I'm kind of brain-dead today so I will have to write a more entertaining post another day. Hope everyone in the states is enjoying the change of seasons...I think that's one of the very few things that I genuinely miss living here in Ecuador. If anyone has any beautiful fall foliage pics, send them my way! Ciao for now.
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3 comments:
Hi!!!
I've been lousy about corresponding but your posts are amazing. I ADORE the haircut and it sounds like your life is so much fun.
I quit law school so I too can start having more fun! :)
I miss you a whole lot. Email me your address...I'm still dying to mail you stuff.
Love and blessings,
Maggie
Your family looks so welcoming....you finally have the sisters you never had the pleasure of having:)
Your hair looks even more blonde than before. Did your Quito brothers promise to keep your roots from showing? You'll have to go to the Lindsey Reardon look, which actually would be really cute on you. I just love that word cute:)
I read about Banos and definitely want to have that on our itinerary when Dad and I visit. I'd like to do some white water rafting, which I understand is easily accessible. Class III please!
If we were going to plan our trip based on the best weather, when should we come? I think we'll probably stay mostly in the mountain area, unless you want to have a little holiday at the shore.
You still never answered my question....did you actually eat the cuy?
Miss you....lots.
Mom
You and your ninja team are cool! And you'll come back to the USA trained in salsa dancing and night-clubbing so you just might qualify for Paris Hilton's best friend contest at some point in your career. If your parents come to visit, definitely send them out on that cable car! Without a doubt everyone is jealous of your adventures near the equator. Keep bloggin'!
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