First Post from Ecuador!

Buenos dias con todos!

So I just got settled into my town for the next 9 weeks! The view is amazing and the people are great! We stayed in Quito for a night where we got our shots and took a spanish interview test. Then Thursday we rode to Cayambe (a mountain city) and stayed there for 2 nights while we had more orientations and bonded as a group of Trainees. Yesterday we were assigned our language facilitator and host families.

There are 5 of us trainees in my town, about 30 minutes northeast of Cayambe in the Mountians. It is FREEZING at night but so incredibly beautiful. Right now, it is the festivles of Cayambe and the festivles of San Juan. So everyone is out dancing in the streets in traditional indigenous clothing. Also, there is a bull ring where we watched men try to fool the bulls with their red capes but luckily they didn´t kill the bulls in the end! I have also milked a cow and eaten enough new mystery foods that I´ll probably be sick for the next month!

Overall it is an amazing experience so far. I am getting the language FAST and making new friends and family easily. I´ve had a few ups and downs but in the 5 days I´ve been here, I´ve learned so much about myself that everything seems to equal out in the end!

I´m not allowed to give out my address or phone number publicly but if you would like to send me a letter or padded envelope package..... let me know! I´m ready for some snail mail! Hasta Luego!

The Night Before Jitters

So the official countdown has begun..... 12 hours!

Last weekend I had a wonderful BBQ with all of my closest friends and family, followed by the most bomb.com float trip! I got to visit my Dad and his family for 4 days in Joplin and have been relaxing for the last week. But yesterday started "crunch time"..... i.e time to actually start packing and shopping and running errands! I'm not sure how it all came together so easily and quickly but I'm packed and ready to go and my to-do list is completely checked off. That gives me just enough relaxation time to have my last junk food-junk TV night!

I thought about posting my packing list but it was outrageously long. Sooooo aside from clothing and toiletries, a few favorite I'm bringing are my Kindle (reading is fun), laptop, white noise maker, journals, mac n' cheese sauce, a years worth of Cosmo, and some special gifts from friends and family.

Next time I write, it will be from Ecuador!!!!! Hasta Luego!