Hi friends, family, and blog stalkers (no worries... I was/still am one, so all good). Life here in Ecuador is still looking pretty sweet. Although boring most days and technically, I haven’t done any “real work,” (as in charlas or the like) I do believe I’m doing a pretty good job of doing the “hanging on out" -- and that’s what I like. And to me, that’s where the “real” work lies - getting to know your people, and them getting them to know me. And even sometimes I incorporate serious issues in our hangouts, like the whole immigration/illegal migration problem that plagues many Ecuas ... so, all in a days work.

Also, I like to do things in a less formal, non-invasive, out of the box way. I hate charlas (talks/discussions)/workshops/whatever where someone just lectures for an 1 hr. Eww, can’t stand them. So I won’t do them. I just gotta work my magic here…in my own way. And that’s all you can do here: do whatever YOU can and then hope for the best.

There are three things that surprised me about living in the jungle. And I’m glad it did cuz if u don’t recall, when I found out my site was the jungle I cried horrible tears for hours on end…

1) people know how to dress in the jungle. Not like it’s really great – I mean, I’m talking Ecua fashion here … but it’s definitely a lot better than I thought [[shoulda gave more credit]]

2) My first weeks here, I’d walk the streets lonesome hoping people would talk to me (rather than the annoying silbars [whistles]/piropos [pick-up lines]). As I passed by all the houses competing with one another to play the loudest music on the block, I would always here american punk and rock blasting through the windows. I was sooo happy. And still am.

3) There are freakin’ bboys here in Ecuador! One of my best friends Jairo [below] and his buddies love break dancing and they are pretty good for as long as they’ve been doing it (only 1-3 months)

Which, on the subject, is why living here in Ecuador is going pretty good. I started to learn break dancing! My first day, this Tues, I was invited to practice with them. I was watching the boys break in this very old, wooden house (Jairo’s). I was standing in a corner and looked outside in the distance through the wooden windows. Through the window panes, all I could see was the jungle.

And it was amazing. Totally surreal. Totally insane.

On my left was the gorgeous Pan De Azucar mountain juxtaposed next to the bright blue sky behind. To my right was the jungle in it’s entirety. A rainbow of shades of green forming different trees and plants. I was like, “Wow! I’m in Ecuador. In SJB. Watching bboys break dance. People bboy in Ecuador. Dude, how cool is my life right now?!”

Yup, I thought those exact thoughts ☺

And the boys want me to break dance with them to some small village 3 hours away in 3 weeks. I’m pretty horrible so I don’t know why they asked me, but I’m trying. And I want to learn how to C-walk. Although it isn’t easy, it’s def easier than the gravity-defying tricks the boys have! So hopefully with practice I can do it!

And I’ve also started baking a lot. I love baking and cooking and im glad I can show my family I can cook, cuz apparently, I think they think I’m a lazy person who doesn’t know how to do anything.

Start scene: Thanksgiving and friends are over. Me and Howie bake banana/carrot cake. We’re sitting at the kitchen table when host dad comes home from a long days work.

Howie: “Quisiera torta?” (Would u like some cake?)

Host Dad: “Si!"

[[Host dad takes bite]]

Host Dad: “Mmmm. Hiciste eso?” (Yum, did u make this? –refering to only Howie)

Howie: “Si, Jennifer y yo hicimos eso.” (Yes. Jennifer and I, we made it)

Host Dad: [[looks at me in pure shock]] “Ella sabes??????” (she knows how to cook????????)

Howie: “Si. Ella puede cocinar y hornear” (Yes, she can cook and bake)

[[Host dad continues shocked face]]

Host Dad: “Dame leche.” (Give me milk.)

Oh, and yesterday I ate crab. In the jungle! My mayor dad brought them from Cuenca that morning and we were eating them by lunch. They were still alive when they arrived here! It was really good. Definitely makes me miss san diego, it’s wonderful seafood, and eating crab sandwiches with my mom or Kat at Pt. Loma Seafoods. **tear**

Oh, and thankgiving was really great here. Friends came over and we ate a 33 lb turkey. Mmmm! We hosted a dance that got 120 people from my town over! It was really fun.

[[below: me and howie eating amazing turkey and our own culinary delights!]]

Lastly, Miss Ecuador came to SJB. Her name is Luggina Cabeza and she’s really nice and tall! I have no freakin’ clue why the hell she traveled all the way out here to my little town [[huge mystery to all I’m sure]]…but she did. She is gorgeous and speaks good English! I was personally introduced to her since my dad is the mayor. So I talked to her in my jumbled Spanish until she goes, “Do you know English?” What a relief! I told her I felt bad cuz she had about the entire town ask for a picture with her. She goes, “Oh, it’s ok. I do it all the time…it’s my job!” What a great lady! I hope she wins Miss Universe!!!

[[below: martha, me, miss ecuador, my host dad/mayor]]

I would just like to say that anyone who remembers I’m from San Diego, my house is totally okay. If you didn’t know, there were huge fires that destroyed a huge part of the county of San Diego a few weeks ago (started Oct. 22). I believe there were abt 8 different fires all throughout the county. However, being here in Ecuador, it was really hard to get news on it.

What I do know is that one of the two most devastating fires this time around (the Witch fire) hit right around where I grew up, Rancho Bernardo. Luckily, I live south of the heart of RB (in Carmel Mountain Ranch). But unfortunately, I had a lot of high school friends and high school teachers who weren’t as lucky -- many people I knew or knew of lost their homes. It’s really hard to imagine what RB now looks like. I saw videos of the fire destroying neighborhoods that I used to frequent. However, the videos were all unclear: dark, filled with smoke and the distinct red of fire. But now, in the aftermath, I know it looks different in the daylight. From what my friends say and what I’ve gathered on things like facebook, it looks awful. Gorgeous houses burned to the ground, landmarks now gone (Battle Mountain I heard was destroyed), stores and restaurants toast, etc. etc.

Another set of fires destroyed San Diego 4 years almost to the date of these 2007 fires. I remember cuz we had a surprise bday party for my dad in 2003. And, again, these fires raged right on his bday this year. It’s kinda weird how that happened … happy birthday, again, right??

And I’ve heard of devastating stories.

A well-known San Diego news reporter for many, many years (10-15?) Larry Himmel has always been on the air giving his beloved county all the latest news ... You know what he did? He did a LIVE REPORT of his own gorgeous house in Rancho Santa Fe being burned down right in front of his very eyes: “Well, there’s the front yard where my kids used to play” … “oh, and there’s the garage” … Wow. Talk about heavy. [you can check his report on youtube.com by searching: “larry himmel, fires”]

It was my brother’s friend’s 21st bday. She was away at college and her parents were out of town. No one was home to save anything. So they lost everything. All on her 21st birthday.

Another girl I was a friend with in HS’s family thought that they’d be safe, since the fires last time didn’t go near their home. Her absolutely amazing house was totally burned down. All they have left now is 2 pillars (the old doorway), a completely untouched driveway (oh joy!), and two trees.

These people aren’t just random victims who lost everything, but people I knew and grew up with. How do you say, “I’m sorry” when your half a world’s away, but your house was spared? Or that they lost everything they’ve owned? Clothes and furniture can be replaced, but yearbooks? Photos? The things that really count?

Again, my dad’s home was spared. Although we were in the evacuation zone, the fires just barely missed my home, about 3-4 miles north. I guess some people can say that’s pretty far. But really, is it really? Winds can shift direction, fires can start out of nowhere; they are so unpredictable. As for my mom’s home down south in Chula Vista? It is fine as well.

And all of this happened while I was out here in another country -- a world’s away. Alone. Isolated. Missing family and friends. Missing actually having real friends and the ability of communication. Missing everything that I know. Missing the place I grew up that I was just learning was now going down in flames. I already wasn’t having the best week here. And then to hear that my San Diego was literally on fire? … ya, definitely topped off that week.

All I wanted to do was just jump plane and head back home. I haven’t cried since landing in site. But at that very moment, sitting at the internet, finding out about the fires raging my hometown while a million miles away, I found myself in tears. There are no words to describe that moment. Even ‘til now, it’s so hard to explain.

But don’t worry, I’m fine now and the fires have died down in SD.

But my heart still goes out to all my high school friends and teachers who lost their homes. And of course, to my beloved sunny, beautiful, picture-perfect San Diego. I hope to visit you someday real soon. I really miss you and everything American.

Halloween. One of the most important days to a volunteer here in Ecua. Most volunteers anticipatingly look forward to this “holiday” (not sure if it ranks up there with staples such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, but w/e, minor details – and esp. when ur out in another country, alone from family and friends, any reason to celebrate works). And this year was definitely no exception, esp. for my Omnibus!

See, we just got into site 2 months ago. We haven’t hung out as one big group in said months. 2 months. 2 whole months. 61 days. 61 longgg ass days. And esp. since we were in lockdown/punishment from previous Omnibus’ behavior (*ahem ahem*) during training (aka we never hung out together ever – which totally sucked, btw) we were all counting down the days like ridiculous! And esp. for me, out in the boonies of Ecuador where I haven’t seen one person in my omnibus in 61 days (ok ok, u got me. That’s minus 1.5 days with Shady in Cuenca, but that was barely a nub) … I have literally been counting down every damn day … pretty much since the second I left Quito. Dude, if u haven’t gotten it yet, this place is really, really far from anyone (let me remind you, the closest person in my Omn is 7 hours away **sigh**)

So, if you couldn’t tell, I was looking forward to this like crazy. And it was NOT a letdown! I’m not a real big partier/drinker anyways, I was just mostly looking forward to hanging out with Americans, my friends, my Omnibus, eating out, relaxing, talking in ENGLISH (dream come true!), and just basically having a good time. And it was the best 7 days of my life!!! It was sooo great and my friends here are wonderful, amazing people!!!

The Halloween party went well. I never dress up for Halloween, ever, and I don’t like spending money on an outfit I will wear once. So I looked at all the shit I had and made an outfit up. Luckily, Shady just came from the States and brought all the stuff my mom sent me to her mom’s house. See, my mom now distrusts the mail system here, since we believe someone stole a nice shirt from one of my packages (she was really, really pissed). So knowing that Shady was ok with bringing back shit, my mom must have gone hay wire, cuz Shady ended up bringing an entire suitcase that was later coyly named “Zabala’s luggage” since it only had my shit and no one else’s! Ok, so it was kind of a lot: 2 pairs of rain boots (they are sooo cute! – will post pics ASAP. And no, Janet, they don’t have cute kitten heels!!! ;) but I wish! hahahaha) and a bunch of other stuff, but w/e, all good!

For the party I ended up dressing up as Rhianna from her Umbrella video, mostly cuz I had no clue what to be and that’s all that Stephanie D. could think of. She offered me her leopard umbrella (how stylish!) to complete my outfit. However, accessories were too much for me, esp. after carrying a camera and wristlet – my wrist was tired – so I ended up leaving it my room. (side note: our hostel/party pad was a bit shanty … anyone who slept there would probably agree. Colombian, etc … )

Also, I was unluckily deemed money collector/door bitch for like 2 hours. It kinda sucked a lot, esp. when my crew would roll in every now and again, and I would yelp and scream, but couldn’t hang out with them until later. But w/e, it wasn’t that horrible and after, I just bounced back, walked in, hung out and danced with the best of them!!! Halloween was such a blast! And im sooo proud of my omnibus cuz we definitely represented … 35 people came! That’s out of 43 (we lost 2 to the States last month, Stacie and Sarah K) … so we falted only 8 people. EIGHT! In the entire ‘bus! Impressive, really! I soooo love my Omn, we are the best!!!!

The rest of the time I ended up staying and hanging out with my Omn. We just walked around town, took in the sights, took pics, talked, hung out, and just ate ate ate! Man, I’m sure I gained a ton of peso (weight) from all the goodies I scarfed down: pasta, sandwiches, bread with the best marmelade ever at 4 Manos!, chocolate fondue, milkshakes, the best fresh-squeezed OJ from the stinky meat-market, etc. etc. I am always in food heaven when I’m in Cuenca. Cuz out here in the Jungle, I eat whatever the maid cooks, which isn’t horrible, but I mean, c’mon, I’d rather eat this stuff!

But unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, huh? Everyone had to say their sad goodbyes (and I hate goodbyes). And I was one of the last people to leave (like usual), so I saw most people trickle out back to their sites. Sad, sad times. It was like the scene when Roberto and I were the last to leave Quito after swearing-in: definitely considered one of the worst days of our lives. But u know what, I still can’t believe that was over 2 months ago! I can’t believe I’ve been in-site for 2 months! It’s really crazy to see how fast time goes by. And to think I’ve been in Ecua for almost 5 months. Woah, mind-boggling, really!!!

It was definitely a bittersweet reunion. On the one hand, it’s so much fun when we are all together having a good time, hanging out, chilling, and being normal … but at the same time, we all know that we eventually have to leave to go back to our sites (again, it isn’t necessarily horrible to all, it’s just nice to have friends again, talk in English, and just relax without being the weird outsider). And as for me, I’d rather have those sweet, precious days together than nothing at all :)

P.s. Roberto, if u’re reading this, I’m still waiting for it to be all sweet … one day, babe. one day ... love and miss u tons! :)

so i semi-forgot to write about the whole weight thing and what it means in ecuador. obviously, in the US, weight is such a taboo subject. people get all huffy and puffy when asked/talked/brought up/commented on the subject of weight (and with good reason, too. im totally a victim of this, as i said i do NOT like to talk abt my weight as im sure a bunch of ppl can agree with me)

on the other hand, here is ecuador weight/how much you weigh/how you look is totally embraced. i dont know if everyone embraces this concept here, but i guess the majority of the culture does (more on that below).

see, if someone call you "gordita" (fat) here, it apparently means ¨damnnn girl .... looking good! check you out ... " personally, i dont see this translation, but here, the underlying meaning is "wow! that chick is being feed." (yes, i question this rationalization, as well). i guess it means that whoever is feeding you is OBVIOUSLY doing a good job ... since here in ecuador, food is connected with love. so if you are getting fat(ter), that means someone is feeding you, which translates to your family/friends/whoever feeds you obviously loves you immensely. CLEARLY ... i mean, they dont just share food with anybody, right? they share it with people they truly, really care about. and if ur getting fat, well congrats! you have just been accepted into the community! cause to celebrate, right?!?!

however, if you are "flaca,"(skinny) that is NOT good. this means that whoever is feeding you is NOT doing a good job. they are not taking care of you, and it could possibly be seen as "starving" (loosely used) you ...

so there you go. that is the rationalization of weight here in ecuador. i dont see it. i dont know if u dont either ... guess its up to interpretation to the eye of the beholder.

and i would like to add, again, that this past week someone told me i was getting gordita ("estas gordita ahorita!"). funny, cuz im actually losing weight. but whatever. the point is, he told me like it was no big deal, just like it is to most people here. however, i was little peeved only b/c the person who told me this has the hugest potbelly in the world. "porky" is a nickname used by others ... that gives you some sort of idea of his size, right? now, why would a person of obvious stature tell a girl who is not really fat, fat?

i just dont know.

oh, and last thing. i said above that most people here embrace weight and love being fat. cuz apparently, the guys here looovvvvveeee girls with extra curves and love handles. (hmmmm, ok). anyways, ive had conversations with a few pcvs and we´ve seen that there are some people who are called fat here that do NOT like it. one day a friend of mine told me he was at some family party and his little host girl cousin was being called gordita in front of the entire family, everyone laughing and chimming in abt her weight. he said he looked over at her and remembers seeing her face, "she was NOT laughing nor smiling." (hmmm ... now, why would that be?!?! boggles the mind, right?) She was just sitting there, taking it all.

yes. words really do hurt. but what can be done?

no, no, no! this is not a mirage. it is true. u are now seeing a double dose of yours truly. :) not so sure what happened, but magically my usb travel drive works again! ... or, at least, it works on this particular computer. and hey, im not complaining. i thought i was going to have to do magic spells and loud prayers and chants to the computer/jungle/internet Gods to get this thing working again, but alas, no. that might have to be saved for another day ... ok, so here i go:

hola friends! I know, I know. I’m super sorry for this long awaited next post ... it’s been over a month. Woah, right? Well, the truth is, I’ve been somewhat busy here. Actually, that’s a complete lie. I have not been busy. I have been doing nothing here. Absolutely nothing. But don’t worry! That’s what we are “supposed” to do -- integrate into our communities and "hang on out" as the motto for our 1st couple months in-site is, even up to a year. Hey, I’m just following PC’s suggestion! (And I’m not complaining about it cuz I agree). The reasoning in that is so we can gain the trust and confidence of our communities, as well as get them to know us as people, and not weird, slightly odd gring@s (that’s the “dignified” term used for foreigners here). But JD told me no matter what we do, we will always be considered the crazy gring@. Sigh.

So by nothing, I do really mean, literally, nothing: hanging out, walking my 2.5 streets, and trying to talk and converse with the locals here passed the lame "hello" or “buen@s _____” – but it's still so hard, esp. when u're still trying to grasp the language! So for u wondering, yes, I still suck at Spanish. And yes, I hope to get better! Cuz u know, communication is kinda important and all. U know, just that …

But everyone here in my town is nice. They already know abt PC b/c they've had 4 volunteers here for the last 8 yrs! But I'm the first one from the program Urban Youth and Families (Y&F). Ya, ain’t that funny? I thought I signed up for “Urban” youth -- I guess I was slightly mistaken! Didn’t know Urban could be considered a small jungle town of 1000. JK … I’m totally just the “lucky” exception. HA! But I’m still working on getting used to living in a small town (more on that later) ...

Anyways, Y& F is basically working with jovenes (youth) to “better” (loosely used) their futures: i.e. teach abt sex education (pregnancy at 16 is a somewhat common reality :/), HIV/AIDS, encourage them in school so they can go to college and get a degree to do something in life, tutor, help in English classes, etc. I think that’s my “work” here, but things always change in ways we don’t expect, so vamos a ver (we will see).

Also, I’m the first girl they've had in 5 years. Great, another reason why the piropos are up the wazoo! So if u girls visit, be ready for those lovely whistles and piropos (pick-up lines) I’ve warned u all about – it’s still super annoying to hear every time I walk around (even just to buy a coke at the corner store). But alas, that’s life here. Honestly, you can be an old, fat lady and people will still give you hoots and hollers! I even get ‘em from kids no more than 5 yrs. old – dear God, kids that young should NOT be doing those kinds of things! Luckily, tho, the amounts I hear daily have slowly been residing!!! Although there’s the occasional ones, the general lameness has toned down a LOT. Maybe me ignoring their silbars all the time have nudged a little brain cell signifying that me, gring@s, and possibly their own kind don’t really like that shit. At least ojala (I hope).

Oh, and from my last blog, I said that I was stared double time since I'm "chinita”. What I falta-ed (forgot) to say (since my blog was getting too long) was that looking “chinita” but being Filipino, living here, and then correcting them whenever they say that is a cool way to share and inform them of other parts of the world, since most of them have never heard of many of these places. You know, give ‘em a little lesson in world geography and all since I’m a living, breathing descendent of that previously “unknown” species. (side note: thanks Theresa for pointing that out! J Miss u and see u at Halloween?!?!).

But I still think it sucks sometimes when they call u lame names, which are somehow thought of as “terms of endearment.” See, that’s what they call ‘em here: “terms of endearment”. Uhhh, ok. They just flat out comment on things and call ‘em out like they see it: feo (ugly), pretty, fat, w/e. It totally doesn’t matter if it’s (what I, and possibly the rest of the world) considers rude. For example, they call fat people “gordita” (fatso, fatty). Clearly they know they are fat, as most people who are fat know that they are fat. There is no need to re-point that out like they didn’t know, right?

But I know, this kind of name-calling happens basically all over the world. Here is definitely no exception; it’s more of a common occurrence, possibly (and most likely) cultural. They definitely don’t think of it as an insult or being mean – just something that’s distinct about that person. Gordita (fat), negr@ (someone who’s dark-skinned, not necessarily black but darker than the rest), flac@ (skinny), etc. But I’m sorry. Personally, I can’t help but feel offended if someone calls me “fat,” esp. when I already know I am. Yes … thanks, buddy, for pointing that out for me. No, it’s not like I noticed that extra pudge around my belly. But thanks, man! Thanks for sharing that for the whole world to see and now stare at my tummy. You know? I don’t need YOU to tell me that. But I guess they like being called (mean) names here? I’m not really sure but w/e. That’s what they do here and that’s prolly how it’s gonna be.

And on top of fat being a “term of endearment,” people here don’t have the same mindset as we do in the States about weight. Personally, I don’t like to talk about it. Even if I were the skinniest person in the world, I’d still wouldn’t say a lick. Here, it’s different. For example, one of the very first convos I ever had here was about my weight. I was strolling my town with a guy who works for my host mom when he just flat out asked me how much I weighed as if he had just asked me about some miniscule thing, such as how the weather was. I immediately told him “Woah! In the States you never ask a person what their weight is, esp. a girl!” He was like, “really? I’m 140 lbs.” I was like, dude. Then he kept on going: “It’s not a big deal here. You aren’t fat. How much do you weigh? Why are you so secretive?”

And another time I was at a friend’s dad’s doctor’s office. There was a scaler and I was curious as to how much I now weighed. However, the scale was in kg and not in lbs and I didn’t know the conversions. He was like, “oh, I can do it for you!” Um ok, no thanks. Then a few moments later, I was showing him my pics of Ecua since arriving. After a few moments, he just blurted out, “wow, you used to be gordita! You lost a lot of weight, esp. in ur face. Now you’re flaca (skinny)! Very flaca!” Again, it was said as if he just asked me how I was doing that day. But in my mind, all I could think of is “Thanks man, thanks a lot for pointing that out for me like I didn’t know.” I know he didn’t say it to be mean. Just pointing out what he saw, but really? Is that necessary?

Yes, one can argue that they are just stating facts – things that are obvious. But I mean, aren’t there universal lines that people know not to cross that span all cultures? Moments when people know when to just keep their mouths shut and not say anything? Common respect … common decency, right? (Are those the right words? I can’t think of them right now) But I guess that’s just how the world work, esp. here, huh?

hi friends! so i have blogs lined up and all, but my usb travel drive is not opening my files up when i go to the internet here (fyi, i write em on my laptop, save em, and then open them up on these computers). but alas, dont u all worry -- im here. im alive. im breathing and kicking. and im doing perfectly fine -- just missing all u guys back home and all the good food back in the States. But other than that? im A-OK! i just gotta figure out how im going to get my files from my laptop to these computers.

oh, and if ure wondering why im going to the interent place and not on my wireless ... its cuz the wireless here is down. see, wireless in the jungle is totally too good to be true! so, im not exactaly sure why, and the internet guy tried to explain to me what happened (all in spanish) ... thus, i dont really know what he said. something about how something (pole?) fell down, equipos (teams) are coming to try and fix it in "ya mismo" (sometime in the near/distant/possible future, basically whenever they feel like it), blah blah blah. the upside? the only real, certain thing that i DID understand was that the wireless wont be ready for about a month (surprise, surprise) ... well, i guess that really is a downside, huh? ughhhhh.

ps just thought u guys would like to know, even when i did have my wireless here, it was always tricky to get. I live on the 2nd floor, but id have to trek upstairs to the 3rd floor, put my laptop on the very right side corner of my home to get signal, and then stand the entire time im online. no, no. luckily i dont need to put foil on my head nor stand with one leg out and one arm up, but it still sucks to peruse the interent standing up the entire time. it is not fun, it gets tiring, and sometimes it even hurts. so if u really want to know, thats another reason why the blogs have been slacking. my bad. im weak. sigh.

but hopefully the next blog will be up soon. fingers crossed!!!! :) miss and love u all

Gosh, it is always so awkward and weird to walk my town … of 2 streets. I mean, ya, I’m the new kid rolling in - the token gringa. Yup, got that memo. But jeez, on top of that I’m the first "chinita" they have ever met! -- which basically means i get double the stares *sigh* (ok, so I know I’m not Chinese, but these people don’t know that. And even if they did, as I try to explain to them where the Philippines is and all, they usually just revert back to their original thought: “chinita!” :/ Ugh.)

For example, my friend Katie’s host dad in Cayambe. Each and every time I’d come over to their house he’d say “Chinita!” And then she’d remind him, “no she’s Filipina … from the Philippines. Another different country (over there)!” But the convo would always end with him saying, “no, she’s from china.” Anyways, it had been a few weeks into Cayambe with this same conversation. One day my friend Roberto, a native Mexican, was over. I thought maybe Katie’s dad didn’t get it cuz me and Katie aren’t that great in Spanish (although really, it isn’t that hard to say “the Philippines is a different country than X” – pretty basic and all, but whatever). Surely with a native Spanish speaker alongside, Roberto could now explain to him I wasn’t Chinese, right???? Ya, nooooooooooo – spoke way too soon.

See, they were talking for awhile about who knows what when they finally stumbled on the topic of me and my “Chinese-ness”. It was all in Spanish so I only got bits and pieces of the convo and could only drop in a line or two, but basically what her dad kept repeating to me was that “somewhere in my family line someone married a Chinese/Japanese/Korean/etc.” With the help of Roberto, I kept telling him, “no, NO ONE in my family (bloodline) married anyone of those nationalities. No Chinese/Japanese/Korean/etc. They ALL married Filipinos -- just filipinos!” But he kept insisting (like i was wrong?!), “No, no. Somewhere in your family line, 5th or 6th generation, someone married one.” This kept going on for a couple minutes when i finally exclaimed, “ok, I think I know MY family history better than you do, buddy. And they only married Filipinos.” You’d think that woulda worked, right? Unfortunately, no. It ended with me being super pissed and him repeating: “no, no, no … 5th or 6th generation someone did … 5th or 6th generation …” Okkkk buddy, sure.

So, small town life, aye? Ya, it still weirds me out everyday. There is no autononimity. Everyone knows everyone. Everyone sees everyone. Everyone is related to everyone (oh wait, maybe that’s just my town …) Don’t people always try and leave small towns? Oh great, I just signed up to live in one for 2 years! Ahhhh! Well, I guess I’ll learn what it’s like to live in a small town and not from a huge city like San Diego. Talk about a change of character, environment, and lifestyle. Ok, getting ready for this (fingers are tightly crossed) … or do even people prepare for things like this? Maybe people just jump into it and hope for the best. I’m sure it’ll be fine – I’ll make it work. That’s kind of all I can do right?

But it’s such a nightmare! They all just stare or whistle and/or shout words in either broken English (but really, it’s just “hello” “hey” “bye” “I love you” or any variations of these) or God knows what in Spanish. It is soooo uncomfortable. All I want to do is walk to Point B (i.e. internet, corner store, whatever) and each time I leave my home I dread it. I mean, yes, I have to integrate into my community and I’m sure in a few days/weeks/months/etc it will get better … but darn it, at this very moment in time it is sooo ... weird and uncomfortable.

Luckily, for the most part, my town is really nice and all. But I mean, to randomly say hi to people on the street is a little freaking weird, right? If I was them, I’d probably think I was weird too! Who randomly says hi and starts up conversations? It totally isn’t as easy as you’d think. Like if I said hi to someone in the streets of San Diego they’d think I was crazy! Or try that in a tough city like New York! Remember Borat? When he was trying to make friends on the subway or on the mean streets of NY? Ya, not a good response … people started cussing at him or running away for dear life! People just mind their own lives. Don’t ask questions. Don’t look. Just a one-way street.

But here it is completely opposite: I HAVE to say hi. I have to start up random convos. I have to do it. If I don’t, people might think I’m some rude American and I definitely don’t want that. In a language I haven’t mastered yet, it’s soo hard when I can’t have a real conversation passed hello. I mean, my Spanish isn’t that horrible but it’s still not that great either. I pretty much look and sound like a retarded 2nd grader with no personality -- no wit nor spunk. Not like I think I have much in English, but in Spanish, it’s barely non-existent. ☹ I guess only time will tell.

Well, I finally did it. After almost 3 months in Ecuador, it happened. What u may ask? I ate cuye (guinea pig), the local delicacy Ecuador is known for. And it came as a surprise. I think most people are told beforehand or consciously know that they are/will be eating cuye. Me, on the other hand, I was not given any fair warning.

What happened? Basically, it was my first day here. It was mid-afternoon and I was sitting in my room putting away all my possessions for the next 2 years (all which fit in 3 bags --- so sad). My host dad comes in and asks me if I want to go on a viaje (trip). Didn’t really know where (he pointed “finca alla”, which is “the jungle over there (somewhere)”). So I’m like, “Ok sure -- be a good daughter and go.” So I do. I wore my jeans and my white/purple striped flats. As I put on my flats, I even asked my dad if it was ok to wear them. He said “sure!” Uhhh, ok. Bad call. We are driven up to this embankment where we get dropped off in the middle of the jungle. First bad sign ahead: I look around and everyone is wearing those (ugly) black rain boots. Yup, shoulda known ... thats when we start trekking the muddy, mucky road. And it’s not normal, dry dirty brown mud. It’s like, goopy, red-tinted, sink-as-u-step-in-it mud. So yes, my flats are no longer white anymore. Ugh :(

Anyways, after we traverse the jungle for a bit, we start heading back home in the car. I thought, “Yay! Time to go home! Good first day Jenn, u did something here!” … umm, no -- spoke way too soon. All of a sudden we stop in the middle of nowhere, get out of the car, and I’m lead thru more mud and high grass to stumble upon some random house (ok, so it’s my uncle’s, but it really is in the middle of nowhere). I start to look around and that’s when I see it: ladies sitting around a make-shift fire, twirling and roasting meat on a stick. Upon closer inspection, however, I soon realized that the meat twirling about was neither the normal beef nor chicken, but rather the dreaded cuye. The ladies were sitting about the fire, talking about random nothings, while spinning the cuye above the fire pit, just like people roasting smores on a Saturday night beach bonfire (oh San Diego, how I miss thee) -- such a normal, everyday thing to them. But for me, not so much.

At first I thought, “oh wow! Those dead cuyes twirling over there are dinner for these people. Yay for them!” … but I quickly realized that over 20 minutes had passed and clearly we weren’t leaving any time soon. That’s when it hit: that cuye was actually going to be MY dinner. And it was. Luckily, the lady serving me must have known I was an amateur cuye eater, slightly weary of sticking that animal into my body (or maybe cuz I just looked so full from the first entrée – a huge bowl of soup with a ginormous piece of chicken leg AND thigh – dear God people, how much can u eat?!?!) cuz she gave me like ¼ of a guinea pig, while everyone else was treated to one whole guinea to themselves! Now don’t get me wrong, I knew that living in Ecuador and esp. in the campo and the jungle that I’d eventually eat cuye. But I didn’t know nor think it would be that quick! First day here! -- welcome to the Jungle!

So, what’s the verdict? Guinea pig isn’t horrible. And it pretty much tastes like chicken. I did smother it with a bunch of ahi (mmm, I love ahi! It’s this great concoction served with pretty much every meal. It varies from people to location, but it’s basically garlic-y, cayenne-ish salsa that tastes great on everything!)! But I did eat some cuye au natural and yes, it wasn’t bad either.

So, guinea pigs are really small animals -- I swear there’s barely any meat to eat. All that effort for what? I don’t really know, but the people down here really love this stuff!!! “Muy rico” they all say as they suck on ever last bit and sliver of the small guinea body on their plate. The best part for most people? The crunchy guinea pig skin, which they just love to devour, alongside the crunchy cuye toes. Don’t worry, I haven’t stepped that boundary yet. I’m not that ready to eat those little guinea paws -- maybe in the future. I got two years. But as for now, no thanks!

I wish I had pictures to show u of my first guinea eating experience. But like I said, I didn’t know I was going to be eating it so I didn’t bring my camera. No worries, there’s always next time (I’m sure of it)!

And I would just like to say that making it to my site was one of the scariest rides of my life! The bus ride down to Cuenca was fine (minus the tears rolling down my face when I passed both Lynnsey and John’s sites -- sigh). The only bugger? The bus ride was just sooo damn long (10.5 hours ---argh!). But I have to admit it was a pretty gorgeous ride as I whisked thru the Pan-American Highway. It made me realize how diverse this country is. I was trucking thru rolling greensides (kind of like Ireland … lol) and thought, “wow! Just a few hours north is the coast and a few hours east is the jungle – all completely different environments and ambiances.” It really is incredible how small, but completely diverse this country is.

Anyways, I had to stay down in Cuenca to wait for my host dad to pick me up cuz he was coming in from Guayaquil. I thought it’d be best to get a ride home from him since it would be both direct and with my computer and all my luggage, I felt better than putting it below on a somewhat shady bus. Thing is, we were going to be driving home thru the night. I was a bit weary about this, just because that ride can be a tad scary during the day, how much more during the night? Suspicions were correct as I quickly realized that it’s abt 1 million times freakier at night. :/

We left Cuenca about 8:30 pm. Dave told me I’d prolly get home around 1:30 am. Oh joy, a nice long 5 hour ride. Thru the jungle. In the dark. With windy, curvy roads taunting imminent death as we pass with each turn. Just great! So the chofer starts driving and 1 hr in, I don’t know what happens but we switch drivers (great, he’s tired already?!?! It’s only 9:30 pm! I don’t want to fly off the side of the road due to sleepyness). So we drive and drive thru the mountains and then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, it gets foggy. Man, I was totally freaked. The fog was sooo thick and dense that sometimes we could barely see 3 steps ahead of us. I honestly saw my life ending a good couple times. I even contemplated that I should either 1) try and fall asleep so that if we did fall off the side of the road, I’d be asleep and wouldn’t feel the pain or 2) if I should stay awake to know exactly when and what was going to happen to me. Oh man, what a toss-up that was. But alas, we made it. In 4 hours. And in one piece. With all my luggage in tow. So yes, I made it to my site alive and well! Always reason to rejoice! :)

Ok, that’s it for now. I’m out. Much love from the middle of the world, in the jungles of Ecua ...

xxx

I definitely didn’t think that leaving was going to be this hard. From the day I signed in for the PC, I knew that I’d be going to Ecuador, I’d have training for 2.5 months, and then I’d leave and live in my site by myself for 2 years. But to actually be here, in this moment, is definitely harder than I thought it was going to be.

see, we just had our swearing-in ceremony a few days ago, making us official and all. it's kinda weird. kinda bittersweet. kinda ... i don't know. its just sooo surreal. it's just weird to think that only after 2.5 months of knowing these other 44 people in my Omnibus 98 (!!!) I’d have a hard time saying goodbye. But it is. Just months before these people were strangers to me; random people from all over the States, from all different walks of life, some even living in places I’ve never even heard of.

But now they aren’t random people to me. They are my friends, my support, and some of the most amazing and fun people I’ve ever met. Granted, most of us have hung out with each other almost 24/7, placed in a new county, experiencing the same things together, at the same time. It’s kind of like 1st year of college. But now it’s such a short, more intense period of time. And that’s why I think it’s so hard for me. People quickly become ur (best) friends, the people u confide in, and the support u need during these changing times -- I guess they kind of have to be.

That’s why those last days in Quito were pretty horrible. I couldn’t talk; I couldn’t look at people – I felt like a blob just floating thru time. Sunday night when we were hanging out in the Mariscal was probably the hardest, saddest day. That’s when I realized the majority of my Omnibus was leaving that night. I just sat on a stoop, blindly looking at nothing – no words, just blank expressions. It’s not like I’m depressed or anything, cuz I’m not. It was just the realization that holy crap, I’m really do this. I’m really going to be leaving these 44 people and will be living on my own without these people around me like before. And to top it off, I am going to be living in one of the most remote sites in all of Ecuador. And the worst part? The closest person in my actual Omnibus (group) is 5 hours away! Some have people only ½, 1, maybe 2 hours away. Mine? Five! Ahhhh, sometimes I wonder why they even put me here. But again, I really, really believe that everything happens for a reason and I was put here for a reason. I have that little voice inside of me telling me that every day. I know with time all these feelings will pass, and I will miss my friends less (but I still love u guys always!!!) as I make new ones here and in my Cuenca cluster, but at this moment in time, it is still hard and it still sucks. So, anyone reading this from my Omnibus: I really, really freaking miss u guys! And I can’t wait for Halloween and/or Thanksgiving (u all better come out here!!!) – def counting down the days ‘til our grand reunion!!! :) no joke.

Big love and hugs out here xxx

ps. happy birthday to my sister kristine. i miss u tons and glad u got outta peru alright. i hope u ate some sushi, (good) mexican food (lucky bastard!), and shopped with mom. u better come on out here and visit me!!!

I forgot to say the day before the cultural trip, my host family had this huge family BBQ at my house. We had just spent a boring, boring day in Ayora learning about Community Banks – dear God, 3.5 hours about Community Banks??? Ahhhhh, what a nightmare! (ok, so I know it’s important and all, but I’m pretty sure my jungle town of 1000 doesn’t want to start a community bank. And plus stats don’t lie, only like 1% of community banks lie in the oriente – why was I even tortuously there???). Anyways, the day quickly got better when a bunch of us decided to go over to the Hookah place in Cayambe after. We just chilled out for hours on end and it was soo much fun!!!! :)

So me and Howie left about 7 to go home and tell our parents that we were going to stay out longer at the hookah bar. But when we got to my house, there was the huge BBQ with the meats enticing us to stay – the smell alone was incredible. And hello?! who can resist 5 kinds of meat?!?!?! Yes, that’s right folks, I said 5 different kinds of meat!!!!! It was, by far, the best and most delicious meal that we’ve ever had in Ecuador. We had BBQ grilled: chicken, beef, pork ribs, AND 2 kinds of sausage. Plus (clean) salad, coke (my daily staple), choclo (corn), the maracuyo (passionfruit) jello-type dessert that was pretty much amazing, among other tantalizing delights. And all this atop the 4th floor of my apartment building, with a gorgeous, sweeping view of both Cayambe and the distant Tabacundo and Quito? Hell ya, one of the best days ever!

And to end this blog, I’d like to say that I now do believe my Ecua mom never wants me to do laundry ever again. Why do u ask? Cuz I freaking flooded the kitchen!!!! So I guess I’m quite the lucky one with a washing machine and not a pila/rock/fuerte arm muscles/brush/tons of time on my hand dedicated to washing my stinky clothes. But I do have to say, the washing machine here in my home is not like one from the States; it’s kinda old school – but w/e, beggars can’t be choosers. Anyways, so me and Howie decided to do laundry last weekend. I had two loads (ok, so my laundry was building up) I finished washing the first load and was ready to do the next. I was filling up the machine with water as was told to do so. My Ecua mom says that when it gets to this line (points to about ¼ from the top) I needed to stop the water from flowing. But the brilliant duo decides to go outside and hang their first load up, completely forgetting about the quickly filling-with-water washing machine inside.

Remember, no dryers here. We all hang our clothes from metal wires on the tops of our houses. It’s actually the best on a windy day when u see all ur unmentionables flying like flags in the air for all to see, hoping that the dingy little clothes hanger secures ur clothes and doesn’t let them fly thru the dirty streets of Cayambe.

Anyways, we start hanging our clothes outside on the patio deck. This takes effort and time … and for us amateurs, it took us about 15 minutes. I know, u’re like, “good job Jenn! Ur not making ur mom do ur laundry! U’re being a good host girl! Yay!!!” – riggghhttt … that is, until I got back inside the house only to see my host mom mopping up dirty laundry water from the kitchen floor, legs half-covered in the watery mess. Yup, u guessed it right -- we totally forgot to turn off the water! Opps. Ecua mom was doing other things around the house (and thought 2 smart Americans could remember to do a simple task of turning off the faucet) + us amateurs hanging our clothes outside for 15 minutes = you do the math --> NOT GOOD. We felt absolutely horrible. So we helped her mop the rest of the nasty water up and tried to make a peace offering. We went to the Mercado to make a homemade, warm apple crisp (complete with melting vanilla ice cream – but unfortunately, it wasn’t vanilla bean ice cream. damnnn). I’m not exactly sure if it worked, but the entire family liked the apple crisp, so mission accomplished! I think we scored some brownie points.

But I still don’t think she’ll even let me touch the washing machine, much less even look at that contraption. Eeeep!

xxx

Hello friends! I am now in week 9 of training. Just next week is left and then we will all be swearing-in as real-life Peace Corps volunteers and not just lame aspirantes/trainees/newbies/wannabes/fill-in-the-blank.

MARK THE DATE: Friday, August 31, 2007!!!

I know none of u will be here (unless, of course, u want to board plane headed straight to Quito, but I highly doubt that). So I guess that leaves us with Plan B: keep me in ur thoughts on that very special day in the life of me and my fellow PC trainees – really, some of the best people I’ve ever met!!! (minus u, oh faithful blog readers, who make my day reading this, even tho I don’t really know if anyone actually does cuz no one leaves me comments, but that’s ok. I’ll go on pretending people do to lessen the boring nights here).

So basically I’ve been thinking a lot about just how long I haven’t set foot on American soil. Or that I haven’t seen my family or friends in forever. Or that I’ve been living in Ecuador for over 2 months. It’s Weird. Exciting. Different. I just don’t know how to explain it. I just keep thinking about how insane my life is at this moment. I just love looking at the map of the world. The world is so big and I’m just one person in it. I look at the map and think, my God, there are so many places in the world. And I’ve seen, oh u know, just about .0001% of it. So many cultures. Lives. People. There is so much LIFE out there. I just want to travel the world and see it all. I know, I know. That’s like everyone’s dream, but I don’t know. I’d just love to be able to just take a bird’s eye view of the world. Pretend like I’m a ghost and just watch people live their lives day to day. Observe. See. Learn. Appreciate. We are all so different, but at the same time, not really. I don’t know how attainable this dream of mine is, but it’s out there and I’m hoping to grab it someday.

Then I just look at how far San Diego is from Ecuador. And how far the States in general is. And then I just keep looking at all these people who live in Ecuador. My host family. Random people on the street. The guy selling sunglasses at the esquina. The bus drivers I pass every day. Everyone. Anyone. I keep thinking about their lives here in Ecuador. And my (old) life in the States. And of my family and friends in the States. I love to see how they live just like us everyday, just in a different country, culture, place, environment. Like, I know if I wasn’t living here seeing this happen, all these people would still be here living their life. I just have the fortunate opportunity to see it happen. And I know I’m pretty lucky to have this chance. Not many people do, and I count my lucky stars every damn night for this. I know sometimes I may complain, or think it’s hard to live here so far away from everything I am used to, but at the end of the day I always am in awe just how amazing life is.

And um, hello! I just can’t get over how fast time flies! I remember it was actually this time last year when I decided I really wanted to join the PC. August 29, I do believe. Dear God. A year ago I was dreaming of PC and wondering if I was actually going to go thru with applying. And then once in process, wondering day after day where the hell I was going to be sent (Honduras, please?!) And now look at me. I am already 2 months in my 27 months of service here in Ecuador. My word, mind boggling, really! I do love the line of Ferris Bueller: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don´t stop to look around once in awhile, it may pass you by.¨ Really, one of my favorite quotes of all time.

Anyways, enough of the jibber jabber. I just came back from my last cultural/technical trip. The Y&F program split into 3 different groups: Machala/Guayaquil, Riobamba/Cuenca, and Guayaquil/St. Elena. I went on the latter. Pretty much everyone I’ve talked to said they all had an equally wonderful time on their viaje. I know I did! I had an amazing trip with a bunch of freakin amazing people. I don’t know what I’d do without some of these people. Sounds lame, but I’m totally serious.

We first went to Guayaquil and then to the province of St. Elena. Both are coastal cities, so it was a nice weather change from cold as hell Cayambe. Guayaquil is the biggest city in Ecuador, although it is not the capital. It also has a reputation for being scary as hell. My group was really lucky as no one got 1) robbed 2) mugged 3) lost and/or 4) flew off the side of a mountain during the typical night bus rides (although there definitely were a couple of close calls – nighttime buses are always touch and go; u just fall asleep and hope u land in ur desired destination in one piece with all ur luggage still intact). Yay, points for my peeps! It’s very exciting, we all can brave the mean streets of Guayaquil. Oh, and I surprised myself cuz I actually really liked Guayaquil; it was a sorta version of New York City, except NYC is a smorgasboard of different people and cultures, and for the most part, minus the random gringos (usually they’re just PCV’s) roaming the streets giving charlas or eating ice cream and/or cake after every meal, it is just a sea of semi-dark skin colored Ecuadorians. Not like i particurally like living in NYC, Guayaquil had that same constant, upbeat atmosphere that NYC embodies.

Santa Elena province was pretty sweet. Altho we had a tsunami warning given to us b/c of the earthquake in Peru. We didn´t listen and went to the beach anyways (it was later retracted and all, but whatever -- we like to live life on the edge!) We stayed in La Libertad for a few nights. We did a lot of “shopping” (said with accent) and eating fatty mall food. Dear God, we ate so much fast food on this trip. Weird thing is tho, I just weighed myself after a month and I lost another 4 lbs! Woooooooooo. The last night there, I had KFC. It was horrible. I bought the crunchy chicken and ate ALL of the fat-filled crunchy chicken skin. Disgusting (but it was pretty damn good, ahhhhh!!!!) We also went to nearby Salinas, which is a ritzy-type touristy beach town. It was gorgeous. And I ate some bomb garlic lobster for $10. I was running low on dough. Allison can attest to that. But it was worth every damn penny. Then we visited my pal Han’s site that is right on the beach (the old site of my trainer, Clare) ... literally, footsteps away. It’s gorgeous as well and there are some people who live there that are pretty much amazing. There is a lot of good work there, which is always inspiring to see.

Anyways, I will write more about my trip later. So yes, all in all, my last viaje was so much fun and I’ll forever remember the good times. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It’s pretty apparent that Ecuadorians, and most likely all of Central and South America, have an obsession with salt and sugar. I’ll never understand this fascination. Really now people, not the best combination of condiments to add to the already fat-filled food that takes up your normal, dietary habits.

Sugar. I don’t know why, but they do love that stuff here. A typical cup of coffee or chocolate milk (which is already filled with tons of sugar in the mix they use anyways, but that’s besides the point) has, at a minimum, 10 cucharitas (spoonfuls) of sugar added to it. Even little kids here like at least 3 chucharitas in their drinks. And most people drink at least one glass of said drink each day (but with a likely average of 3-4 cups). The amount you consume in one drink probably lasts the average American’s week worth of sugar. Woah now people. Really?

The next problem? Salt. Not only did this same exact conversation happen in Cayambe, but when I visited SJB as well! Now ok, when it actually crosses cross-cultural diverse regions, such as the sierra (mountains) and the polar opposite, the oriente (the jungle) … u know there’s something going on.

So one day for dinner in Cayambe, my host mom cooked me two hard-boiled eggs. As I was finishing cracking and de-shelling my egg, I was just about to take a bite when my host dad started heading towards the cupboard. He asks, “Quieres sal?” (Do you want salt?) And not thinking anything of it, I said, “No gracias” (No thanks). Next thing I know, his eyes got as big as bugs and I swear life just ended. “No, sal?!?!?!?!?!” he exclaims in the most shocked voice EVER, like I was crazy. Then in unison, my host dad, mom, and sister look at me with the most confused expression. I honestly thought I had just committed a murder! It’s an egg people. Just an itty, bitty egg. Then one day for breakfast in SJB the same damn thing happened to me. It was like a routine. Again, I had just finished de-shelling my egg and mid-bite they asked me if I wanted salt. I should have known, but like before, I said no. And again, the world felt like it had just come to an end with the most shocked faces I’ve ever seen surrounding me. It was pretty funny. I even laughed a little inside.

Oh, and another tidbit abt my site. They kill animals. With their bare hands. Really. On Wed they killed 2 chickens for lunch and one rabbit (we breed rabbits as pets – to eat, that is) for dinner. I took pictures (not of them killing them, cuz I can’t watch that, but of them plucking the feathers off the dead chickens). And another night, we killed a couple of fishes from the corner pond for dinner. Dave says that after living out in the jungle for a month, I’ll probably be able to kill these animals myself. Um, I’m pretty sure I know myself and I’m pretty sure that’s a big hell no. I don’t think I could ever kill an animal, unless, of course, they’re about to attack and/or kill me. That’s a totally different story.

So pretty much that day they killed those chickens I almost became a vegetarian. They had just cooked up the chickens and were serving it. I just looked at the chicken meat on my plate and almost puked. I was like, “omg, this thing was just alive.” It tasted so … I don’t know … fresh (???), like a different kind of chicken taste I wasn’t used to. It kinda freaked me out. But after a minute, I quickly realized that I really couldn’t become a vegetarian in a place like this. They eat rabbit, lamb, cuy (guinea pigs), etc. like it’s chicken. There’s definitely no place for a veggie here.

And they kill all small animals, such as cockroaches and spiders, with their bare hands! It’s insane. My host dad was talking to me one night in my room and I was like, “um, I’m scared of spiders, like that one on my wall over there. Can u kill it?” I thought, like a normal person, he was going to get a shoe or at the very least, some tissue paper to kill it. Oh no no no. I was wrong. He just sauntered up to my wall, moved his hand up and just smooshed it. Bare handed and all. Woah. The next day, I was helping clean out this cabinet in the kitchen. I took something from the top and a spider jumped down on my hand. I screamed aloud and this guy who works in my house came over to see my commotion. I pointed and he pretty much laughed in my face at how “small” the spider was (it wasn’t THAT small, it was totally average black spider size). So like my host dad, he just took his hand and just smooshed it against the wall like it was nothing. A few moments later, we moved the cabinet and behind it were about 5 cockroaches of varying sizes crawling on the wall. My host mom was there and I pointed in horror. She did the whole, “oh, these small things?!?!” (small?? what??) and then proceeded to just smoosh them all, one by one, with her bare hands.

OMG.

What is going to happen to me after two years in the jungle????????????

I tried to stay in Quito as long as possible, but had to eventually return to Cayambe, aka lockdown. Ugh, back here again. But yay, we only have 4 more weeks of training! And 1 is another tech trip and the last week we are in Quito. So really, it’s just only 2 weeks. Cause to celebrate, yahhhh buddy!

So ya, I’m back from my site and Cuenca. Man, I’m really excited that Cuenca is my hub town. That place is pretty damn rad. I’m the only one in my entire Omnibus (45 ppl!!!) that has Cuenca as their cluster … it’s pretty sweet! When I was hanging out there, I met a bunch of PCVs. We hung out and all, which was tight. They are all really nice and I can tell this will be a ton of fun! I also ate a shitload of yummy food. I also went to a dance/event to support the prevention of Domestic Violence b/c there are a couple of volunteers who help out with that shelter. They had some really good cake (maracuyo, or passion fruit) and dancing. It was very cultural and I’m glad I went (I originally wasn’t going to cuz I was tired from the 5.5 hr bus ride, but I was like, might as well go cuz I’m here in Cuenca anyways. Good call!)

I guess I can talk a little more about my site visit. I forgot to say that on the way their with Dave, as we were going up the mountain there is something I like to call “the bus shuffle”. Since the roads in the mountains are mostly one way (aka enough to just barely fit one bus, much less two), when a bus is coming from the opposite direction, the two buses either 1) has to wait to let the other bus go by or 2) if there is enough room on the road, the buses try and squeeze by each other, hoping the one closest to the side of the mountain will not fall off. Anyways, as we were doing our bus shuffle, Dave told me that the bus company we were on was “the safe one.” The other company we were shuffling with (I forgot the name) had “lost 4 buses in the last 2 years.” I was like, “what do u mean they ‘lost’ 4 buses?” Then he gave me that look and I knew what he meant (as in, they fell off the side of the mountain to sudden death). Yikes. Then when we got to the top of the mountain, the bus driver decided it was the perfect time to change the music (and not watch the road)! There, ahead only a few feet, was a cliff, ready to take another victim. I was like, “oh great. We are going to die right now.” Then Dave was like, “Well, if we are going to die, might as well die to a good beat.” Lol, it was kinda sota funny.

On my bus ride, I decided it was a good time to make some goals for my 2 years out in the jungle. Here they are (more to come, I’m sure):

1) to like animals (esp. spiders aka my new best friends here, dogs, and bugs)

2) to like hiking/camping, probably out in the wilderness for days

3) to not get sick (Dave said when he went to visit the indigenous Shuar community, he got cholera from the chicha he had to drink. Oh, if I forgot to mention, chicha is the nasty drink that the indigenous people make using their own fermented spit. And if they offer it to u (which they will), u have to drink it. If not, u will offend them and they will mostly like hate u, or at the least, shun u from their community (never good)

4) To always remember to do my saludos (say hi, bye, good morning/day/evening, etc) to every single person, every damn time I pass them by (which means I can say Buen@s _____ to the same person a minimum of 10 times in one day). If not, u could be considered the rude American, and I don’t want that.

5) To always remember to disculpe myself (politely excuse myself) whenever I want to leave a room/dinner table/or anytime, really.

Weirds of the week:

*in my site, I saw mayonesa chips. Ok, so it’s typical here in Ecuador that with a bag of chips a complimentary packet of either ketchup or mayo comes with it (so that u can top ur chip off,as if the chip needed anymore fat to it) … but no. Here in SJB I saw a bag of mayonesa FLAVORED chips. U know, like Doritos has Nacho Cheese flavored chips. These were mayo flavored. Ewwww.

*in Cuenca at the Supermaxi (u know a city here in Ecuador is a city if they have Supermaxi, the huge department-like grocery store, similar to a Target, but only sells food), they had microwaveable chicharron. Kinda like microwaveable popcorn, but instead, it’s microwaveable fried pork rinds. Lovely.

*I saw someone wearing the denim suit, but this time, it was to the EXTREME (I think this travesty happened in Cuenca). She not only was wearing mismatched denim colored jacket and cropped, mid-calf ruffled (ewww!!!!) jeans, but she completed her outfit with ugly denim boots!!! Ahhhhhhhh. I knew I should have taken a picture. Damnit! I didn’t think a denim suit could get any worse. Oh, but it just did.

so i am here in my site in the jungle and it's really gorgeous out here. i am surrounded by millions and millions of trees, animals, and rolling green mountainside. there is a river that runs alongside my house, which is pretty much my own pool. and the jungle? ya, it's pretty much my backyard. insane huh!

the bus ride from cuenca to my site wasn't too horrible. well, a 5 hour bus ride thru the rickety mountains would be cake after that 10-12 hour bus ride from quito. luckily i did take that night bus so i slept pretty much the whole way. i was just tired the entire next day. i'm sure by the 3rd time i do this i will be used to it ...

so yes, cuenca is only a mere 5 hours away. of course, that is dependent upon ur driver (fast or slow) or if u get stuck behind a pack of mules or the like. but don't worry visitors! those 5 hours will fly by with anticipation of seeing me, jennifer zabala, living out her life in the jungles of ecuador. what a sight that will be!!! lol ... the bus ride mazes u thru the ANDES mountains. we basically climb up just to descend back down to the Amazon Basin (AKA the oriente, or the jungle). it is a rickety, slow, windy ride. very bumpy as well. with tons of death-defying drops just a few feet from my window seat! and it feels just like the movie Motorcycle Diaries. u see indigenous women walking up the mountain with a flock of llamas following her, carrying impossible loads of food, clothes, even children strapped to their backs! me and my pcv compadre "jungle dave" saw this lady in cuenca with the hugest calves i have ever seen! they were prolly bigger than my head and his head combined!

i actually just trekked the jungle yesterday. there is no one around except a bunch of trees and animals. i've read there are thousands of species of animals here. some are even only found in ecuador or the jungle in general. it's weird to think about this all. i mean, traveling through the ANDES mountains .... living the Amazon Basin ... i've read this all in books in middle school and now i'm living in it and traveling amongst it. INSANE, really.

so in my house, there aren´t many windows. my room has two. but my kitchen and bathroom?! there aren't any! so bugs and animals can just fly in and out at their leisure. and since the bathroom doesn't have windows, that means the shower doesn't either. it is a wall hits abt mid-neck. then it is just open air. for the most part, no one can see. but i'm sure if someone tried to climb a hill out in the distance they can see a naked person. but i don't think anyone here would do that. oh oh oh!!! i also have my own room. WITH A LOCK! that i can ACTUALLY USE!!! and no annoying little kids to russle thru my stuff. finally!!!! it´s very exciting stuff, really! but i guess i don't even have to close my door. they say no one will touch or steal my stuff. "tranquil" they say. word of the century to describe ´lil ol sjb.

and my town is so damn small. we have like, 2 main streets. 2 kinda-sorta bars. no discotecas (dance clubs). ahhhhhh!!!! i will have to remedy that for sure! dude, i'm from san diego where there are abt a trillion ppl. altho i did live in a suburb ... it's soo different. this is like small town girl to the extent! and it's pretty boring also. it's even worse than boring-town-ecuador AKA cayambe. shit man, this sucks! i went to sleep like at 9 pm. a record for me here in ecuador. gosh, i better makes some friends or i will go crazy!

well, i am here in cuenca right now. been here since sunday morning. i did take that 11 pm bus ride from quito to cuenca. ya, it was pretty horrible. i was so tired yesterday. i kept taking naps all throughout the day. totally wiped me out!

anyways, i am just abt to leave to go to my site in like 30 minutes. woooooo. excited. stoked. scared.

i guess we´ll see!

Omg. So just this past Tuesday (24th) was Site Announcement Day. We’ve been pretty much been waiting for this moment ever since we signed up for PC and esp. since we touched ground here in Ecuador way back when (June 20th -- holy shit)!

So ladies and gents, I am going to be living in the province of Morona Santiago, a place with 1500 inhabitants (up to 3000 if you include the greater surrounding area). I’m going to be near Cuenca (abt 4-6 hours from SJB, it´s closer on the map, but i guess the roads to my site are pretty jungley), which is supposed to be one of the bombest cities in all of Ecuador!!!! (my boss’s boss said that Cuenca will be my hub city where I get to do pretty much everything I can’t in my site -- now that, in itself, is cause to celebrate!!!) It’s also pretty close (couple hours) to the Peruvian border in the south east of Ecuador.

So basically there were only 3 Amazon (jungle) sites of the 21 in my program, Urban Youth and Families (so is “jungle” urban now??? still slightly confused …). And just my luck I´m one of the 3!) There are two in the same city, and then there's me -- all by myself (and by myself I mean, the only volunteer from my Omnibus). I’m super stoked cuz two of my really good friends here, Shady and Ry are only a couple hours away!

So at first I was kinda pissed/scared/confused/unsure/insert explicit word here/insert any word, really here/ at why the hell they would send a suburban born-and-raised-in-San Diego-all-her-life girl to the jungle. Cuz let’s be honest here guys, I am NOT the outdoorsy type (right Julia?!). I hate bugs. I hate critters. I hate spiders. I hate mosquitoes … um, pretty much all types of animals. I even hate dogs (sad, but true – sorry shell). And must I remind u that in those 2 hours I didn’t have repellant on in Mindo I got 70 bites on my legs! And really, I’m up for a challenge in life and new perspectives and all, but really, could u have picked something a little less 180 from me???

Like seriously, I am the LAST person in the world that belongs in the Amazon. Really guys, let’s get real. That’s why I was so confused. Anyone who even slightly knows anything remotely about me knows that I don’t do jungle. But i guess that just means i get to go to Cuenca so i can find some cute galoshes and/or boots now!

So basically the entire day of the Site Announcement (tues) post 10:10 am, all I did was either cry quietly inside, cry physically on the outside, or just get teary eyed every time I even thought of the jungle. And when I was done crying, I cried a little more. On the bus ride home. On the walk home. When I called my sis Melissa. When I called Julia. When I couldn’t get ahold of shell cuz she didn’t answer the 800 phone calls I made her. When I walked home alone from the phone cabina in the dark after making all those sad phone calls (no worries, it’s like 2 secs from my house). When I read the papers describing my site. And then after all that, when I went to bed I cried for another 3 hours straight until I fell asleep… really guys, one of the worst days of my life.

But now, for some reason, I haven’t shed a tear. And yesterday I didn’t either. I felt good all day (ok ok, so I’m human and freaked out for a few minutes cuz I have to wear bug repellent 24/7 and basically mosquitoes really just love me and my dang “sweet blood.” I’m almost positive I will be covered head-to-toe in bites now.) And I’m sure tomorrow I will have mixed feeling. And the next day180 from that. But as of right now, I think the initial shock that I’m going to the jungle is wearing off and now I’m realizing, holy shit! this is pretty rad!!!!

So weird. Tuesday no one could’ve even talked to me without bursting into tears. I don’t know what the change in me is. But I am a huge, huge, huge, HUGE believer that things happen for a reason. So once I put that into perspective and just had time to process what is happening to me, I don’t know. Things just change. And now it’s really exciting! We get to visit our sites this weekend for one whole week! PC tells us that this is probably the worst week of our 2 years here. Fingers crossed it won’t be for me.

To be honest guys, I don’t really know what I’m going to do here. When my counterpart came to Cayambe last week to present this site (at this point in time we didn’t know where we were going yet), I barely listened to her presentation b/c really, who woulda thought jenn zabala would go to the jungle!!!! So I wrote like, 2 things down about this site. I guess some people felt bad for me cuz I kept crying, so they kept trying to tell me good things about this site. A lot of people said she said we have wireless internet (still questioning this tho – cuz again, wasn’t paying attn). And that it’s absolutely absolutely gorgeous!!! I also don’t know how jungle it’s going to be or how much I have to rough it, but there’s a guy who is extending for another year who has lived in my site for 2 years already and they call him “Jungle Dave.” So I guess that gives us all some sort of perspective, huh! Again, don’t know much abt him cuz I wasn’t listening, but I do know he will be here with me my entire first year. So clearly this guy likes this site, so that def made me feel better.

I will write more about my site and what I will be doing later, since this is hella long. But just for my mom, to ease the worries, this site has had no cases of security issues at all to a volunteer in the last year and they LOOVVEEE jungle dave … so yay!

So that’s that. I am going to the JUNGLE. And don’t u worry, I will DEF post pics up of my site after I visit it this weekend. And HELL YES all you folks are more than welcome here! Come come come (pleaseeeee)! Thanks HOTT STUFF and my sis for telling me you would visit, cuz that helped me realize I was lame for thinking otherwise :) -- yaaaaaaaaaa buddy!

Dude, I haven’t written in my blog for awhile and a lot has definitely happened. Oops, my bad! I’m really lazy/internet can be really damn slow …

I turned 23 here in Ecuador 2 weeks ago. It was the first time I have ever celebrated my birthday away from home. It is definitely one of the craziest nights of my life … one for the books, for sure …

Anyways, it was really nice that my host family had a little get together party for me. It sucks because PC changed their rules so many of my friends from other CBT sites couldn’t come b/c they can’t leave their sites at night. So it was only my homies from Cayambe who came. We started around 7 and then at about 10, we left to go to a salsa bar called Vital. I didn’t really like the salsa bar cuz I don’t like dancing salsa, but it was fun, for the most part. The Katie’s and I left around 12:15 to go home. When I got home, my mom came into my room and told me Sonja had called to ask questions about a friend at 1 am … = not good.

So the next day we had to leave super early at 7:30 am to go on our cultural/tech trip (I was leaving for Santo Domingo/Mindo). Next thing I know, I’m getting scolded for “being out of site” and “clearly” breaking rules … ummm, I didn’t. I read the rules the night before to make sure we wouldn’t get in trouble, but for some reason, they said we “clearly violated” the out of site rule … so I pretty much thought for the entire 4 day trip that I was going to be sent home b/c I celebrated my 23rd birthday (omg … wow, I know, Jenn is soooooo rebellious) .... Obviously, since I’m still here, I didn’t get sent home, but it was all really so lame.

My favorite things from my bday:

*piernas up!

*creeper, omg …

*”omg. what the hell is happening?” the entire time

*”I want some damn cake!”

*”ewww, he’s shady”

*chillin’ outside in the random restaurant

*losing my earrings …

*that is totally lover’s lane …

*”auxileme!” on the stairs

*”por que? … I don’t understand”

When I think about it, my bday night is just one big question mark. Like I know it happened, but it was sooo long ago I feel like it didn’t. All I gotta say is that I’m glad I didn’t. But I wish I could talk cuz it just feels … unclosed (2 weeks … who knows how much longer). Oh ya, and I miss my damn earrings! Ahhhh, craziest night ever!!!

Anyways, Santo Domingo and Mindo were really cool. I liked santo domingo b/c we visited the Tsachilas. They are a small, indigenous group that have communites throughout Ecuador, but there are only abt 4000 of them left. I think I saw a documentary of them on National Geographic. They are the group who dye their hair red with achiote and live out in the woods. It was really cool to stay in their community overnight. We had a “cultural exchange” where they did their tribal stuff and dances while we sang our lame American songs. It was soooo sad. Lol.

Mindo is absolutely gorgeous. But damn, do they have little mosquitos that bite. My legs got TORN UP. It is sooo nasty looking right now. I got about 70 bites combined on both legs and now they are scarring. I’m kinda pissed. It’s so gross. Someone told us to bring shorts b/c of the weather. BAD CALL. Everyone who wore shorts all got bitten up like crazy. Damn. Other than that, mindo was soo cute, but really touristy. We had some damn good pizza there too, but sooo fucking slow. It took almost 1 hour for our pizza. Seriously? 1 hour??? For pizza? It was sooooo lame. Oh ya, and we also went on a 3.5 hour hike up in the mountains of Mindo to a waterfall. It was really gorgeous and I’m glad I went. The terrain wasn’t too horrible, but a couple of times it was a little rough … lol. Jenn roughing it, ya right!

My favorite highlights from the trip:

“Can I put my legs b/w your crouch?”

“The most important thing I brought … ” and “I love my naked body” at 6:30 am in the morning

The camineta ride to the Tsachilas place (I thought I was going to die … esp. my v)

Seeing KFC on the way to St. Domingo

Hanging in the hammocks at night rocked.

Paper-thing walls in the hotel in Mindo

The entire time we hung out at the pool (Quito talk, pee in the pool, Ryan pushed in, etc)

Hubcap next to the ancient medicine at the Tsachilas place … lol

Dancing along side the Tsachilas (we think they made us do the awkward dances just to make fun of us tourist/Americans)

Meusuya = my Tscahila name

Rooster and donkey wake-up calls at 5 am in the morning

The toilet that was going to die … ughhh

For the most part the cultural trip was great. We saw some actual PC volunteers in their sites and that was pretty cool. And getting to know a lot about my friends here was really fun. Afterwards I had to go to Quito for my tooth. I passed by the monument for the “Middle of the World” tourist site so that was cool. When u guys come to visit me, I will surely take u there!

Oh, and big news … we find out our sites for the next 2 years this Tuesday. Ahhh, it’s kinda crazy to know that I will finally know what part of Ecuador I will be living in. I can’t wait! We are either coast, sierra, and the amazon. I am hoping for coast or sierra. I guess we will wait and see!!! People are going crazy over this, but I’m trying not to think about it b/c really, I can’t do anything about picking my site. It’s up to the hands of our program coordinator, Cris, so fingers crossed guys!!!

And btw, I absolutely love all my friends here in the PC. For the most part, the 45 aspirantes here are all so damn amazing and I love them all. And esp. I love the Urban Youth and Families group. God damn they rock!!! And it was soo cute, our co-trainer Clare made carrot and chocolate cake for the people who are born in July, which included me! It was sooo nice. Me and Jessi almost shed a tear today it was sooo sweet! Oh and we also got treated to coffee b/c my group won some game. I forgot cause it was like 3 weeks ago. Anyways, it was really fun hanging out and eating these bomb hamburgers. And on our walk home, we took a pic right in front of Cayambe (the volcano) and it was absolutely gorgeous. Great times today J

So Cayambe and Ecuador, in general, are known for having tons of ferias, or parties. And apparently, this is feria season until august. How perfect. That’s exactally how long I’m going to be here in Cayambe! Woooo. I already got a taste of some of the all-town parties and they are just insane!A few days ago, I think on Thursday night, they were celebrating San Pedro, who is a really important guy here. At night, EVERYONE from town and in surrounding areas came to Cayambe. There was also another street party in Tabacundo, about 5-10 min drive from here, where a couple of other friends live and they said their party was equally crazy.At my street fair I went with my host family. Oh ya, that consist of my mom Lorena, my dad Nelson, and their two daughters Kelly and Diana, who are really cute and BOTH have green/blue eyes. Oh, and Diana totally looks white. Actually, tons of people here look white. I ask my parents if they are Americans and they say no. So I guess it’s just the mestizo population I’m looking at. No complaints, there are tons of fitters here!Anyways, that street party I went to was insane. Soooo many people, pretty much the whole town. They had 3 castillos placed in different spots around parque central. These castillos are pretty much hand-made fire-weapons of death. Ok, ok, just kidding. But seriously, I’m pretty sure those things are dangerous on many, many levels. I wish I brought my digital cam or recorder, but that night would have been easy to have a pickpocket, so I just brought the disposable. My friend Katie H. brought her digital, so once she posts those, I will steal them and put them here. Seriously, this place is insane.Those castillos are about 2 stories high, and have about 4 levels, all which are handmade on this rickety, unsafe, structure. They have cute little innocent things hanging from all 4 sides that go all the way to the top, such as dolls or horses. And u think, oh wow, they are sooo cute. But no, they are in disguise b/c instead of being just an adorned figure, they are secretly, or not so secretly, loaded with fireworks. So what happens is the castillo structure twirls around from the bottom (I later found out a cute little 10 year old boy was the one who moved it from bottom – how brave! He literally has fireworks falling on him so I’m surprised he didn’t get hurt). Each level has a round of fireworks that shoot out at the crowd, which start at about 5 feet away! I was about 30 feet from the structure and it was still terrifying. The fireworks either shoot up into the sky and fall down at people, or they just directly shoot at people. It really is a surprise. You never know where it will land, hence the mighty suspence of death looming overhead. Ok, so I don’t think anyone actually got hurt (I don’t know how, fireworks are shooting AT the crowd) but I didn’t see any ambulances or any yelps of pain from anyone, so I guess all is well. It’s really funny cuz my friend Allison went with her family and she said that they left early cuz “even they were scared.” Great, when an Ecuadorian family is scared themselves, I’m sure that is never a good sign. Lol.So that was that party. Wow. No words for that. Just insane. But I’m glad I went and experienced that. Ohhhh, and then the next day, Friday, they had a feria on the street at 5:15 am, in the morning. I was awoken to a band playing in the street and gun shoots in the air (or at least, I hope it was in the air) I was sooo freaked out cuz I thought I was gonna die. I do believe most peole would agree that morning gunshots in the air is not a fun way to wake up. murrrr

Btw, I really love my town and I LOVE my girls here, Katie H. and Katie S. It was funny at first cuz my group consisted of Katie H., Katie S., Jennifer P., and me. So we had the two Katie’s and the two Jenn’s. But Jenn P. decided to go home on Monday for family sickness problem. She really, really wanted to stay here but it just isn’t the right time in her life right now. She hopes to do it again in a few years, and I hope she gets that chance cuz she is great and we miss her dearly!!!! :/ So Katie S. knows this guy David who works for her mom at their store. He invited us out on Friday night to a karaoke bar (we didn’t sing) and then to a discoteca. I’ve been craving dancing so it was really fun to finally go out! David is friends with this guy named Miguel (who was really nice and picked me up so I didn’t have to walk at night when the streets are dangerous). I met up with the Katie’s at the bar where I met Miguel’s friends Christian, Sebastian, Felipe, and Alex. Felipe speaks really good English cuz he lived in Minnesota (no idea why) for 3 years and Christian is pretty good as well. We just hung out and had a good time. Sebastian invited us to his place for a party the next night (yesterday). So we went and it was really fun. No of us brought our cameras and we are super bummed about it, but we know have mental pictures of the night burned into our brains. *click click* The night was really fun and it was good to just hang out. Ryan from the other Cayambe barrio came with us and I’m soo glad cuz Ryan is great! We just hung out and a had a few of the special drink mix they had their. David said Sebastian had 60 L of alcohol. Wtf. Oh, and he had like a DJ, a band playing, and like a sponsor or something. uhhh, loaded?! We also met a cousin of Kelly, our PCMO here. Who knows what was in the jungle juice of of a mix ... it didn’t taste great, but do they ever? Outside their was dancing and that was fun also. It was such a gorgeous night outside with a incredible midnight blue sky illuminated by the perfect full moon. Good times, for sure!!! *The foxtrot– hahaha Ryan!

*“btw guys, if u didn’t notice, we are in Ecuador!” – me to everyone, even Christian, a friend who acutally is Ecuadorian

*Christian calling me china, then japanese, then just stopped! cuz he knew he was going into racist territory --hahaha. (and katie h. wanting a vid at that exact moment!)

*driving to Sebastian’s and me and Katie in the back sitting perfectly against one another in the most comfortable position ever!

*hoods up! :)

*almost losing BURT. but katie found him on the floor --- then ending up on the floor ...*some guy coming up to me thinking I was drunk dancing when I was NOT drunk: “this is me normal” but he did have good English, so there´s a plus

Oh, and we are all paranoid that whenever we walk into places, they change whatever they are playing and put American stuff on. I swear, it has happened to us sooooo many times! When I went to the street ball game last week, they were totally playing reaggaeton. Once I got there, no joke in like 2 minutes, the Black Eye Peas cd was playing non-stop. At the bar Katie H. said that they had some random thing on and when they walked in, they changed it to Jackass. And at the internet café a few days ago, we went in and all of a sudden that stupid song by James Blunt (ughhhhhh) started playing.

Saturday June 23

Yesterday, the Y&F program had to write a letter to ourselves so we can read it in 6 months. Our leaders suggest putting some money in it as a nice surprise, so I put $15. That sucker better come in handy, lol. I know it will. I just wrote that I hope I’m happy and if I’m not, count my lucky stars b/c this country is amazing and I should just realized I have an incredible opportunity just in life and I should just keep truckin’ along. I put some pedals of the flowers when we arrived and the note that was attached. Good conversations last night with a bunch of people downstairs. I bought some Latin Spirit (some sort of version of alcohol, apparently those who drank it said it tasted like sunscreen). It was flavored Coco, but I had probably just a sip. I left it up there cuz I was planning on coming back b/c we were looking for speakers for a reggaeton dance party, but I just ended up sitting downstairs talking with Greg, Maggie, Kristen, Allison #1, John, Brooke, and Crystal. I don’t know where all this partying PC is known for, but with this tight schedule they have us on, and with the need to integrate into our communities and host parents, I have no clue. I guess we’ll see when we all come back together in the big groups next Friday. Today we had a few meetings/Spanish lessons before heading off to Cayambe to do a scavenger hunt/search around town. It was nice to do that b/c it is the area that I’m going to be living in, but for the rest, it was just a fun game to see the town and get some fruits and vegetables. We came back first and “won” the game. When everyone came back, we all put the fruits and veggies on a table and were able to try them out. That was really cool since there are sooo many things out there that I’ve never tried. Lunch was good, except for the mosca (little fly/bug) in my soup. After that, I stopped eating it …Then b/w 1:45-2 all the groups left for our homestays. We will be with this family for the next 10 weeks. I was getting a little sad today to realize that today before we left for our CBT sites, this would most likely be the last time we’ll all be together 24/7. I’ve spent almost 6 full days with most people, and 7 with the west coasters. This is crazy. I will totally miss them like crazy. I already am. And I know that’s not why I’m here, but they all are all a great support system b/c I know that we are all going thru the same emotions and processes and everything at the same time all together. One person may think something one time and another not for a few days, but overall, I know these people most likely have the same fears, anxieties, excitements, etc that I feel. It’s like 1st year of college all over again when we all hung out literally 3 weeks in a row 24/7 (until we sorta realized we are actually in college and had MT’s and all). It’s like when u know some much about so many people in such a limited amount of time, it’s hard to just all of a sudden be like, “good luck! Hope to see u sometime, maybe.” U know, how sad. I hope to keep in touch with many, since I’ve made some pretty darn good friends here I think. Anyways, my host family is great and they have an amazing view of the city since we are on the 3rd floor. Goregous. Stunning. Amazing. This place is incredible and now I can see why. I love Central/South America. This is where it’s at. They have two girls, 8 and 2 and they are absolutely adorable. They surprised me with a gift: a traditional Ecuadorian bag (complete with amazing colors and design) and a scarf. I have to go search for the perfect gift cuz that was just too sweet.I saw Michelle in the market today when my family and I went to go get food to make lasanga. It was really nice to see a fresh face in the sea of Ecuadorians. Her family looks amazing and they have 4 kids who are all soo adorable! Que lindos! Oh, and seriously, trying to speak Spanish when ur not so bueno is tiring!!! I have to keep thinking on how to answer questions, or even just understand what anyone is saying. Kinda overwhelming. And I just feel bad for my family b/c they keep asking questions and all, and sometimes, I have no idea what they are saying. I understand a word here or there, but by the time I realize what that one word is, I completely miss the entire sentence. I really need to practice my Spanish … oh, and btw, I got placed into the language group principio alto, which basically means the people who suck at Spanish. Hey, at least I’m at the top of that level, I guess. I just need to jump to Intermido- baja and then intermedio –medio and I’m good to serve in PC. There are so many people who are great speakers already! Many avanzados (not me) – goshhh, how do they do it? Ok, today was an overall good day. And I am finally happy that I don’t have to live out of a suitcase anymore, or for at least the next 10 weeks. I’m tired of carrying all my stuff, plus the other stuff PC gives us. They gave us another 3 books and a ton of papers today. Such a mass influx of papers … ahhhhhh.

This weekend is for family time and possible rest and relax ... I think my host family is taking me to octavalo. They are supposed to have an amazing market place soI´m super excited. Eeeee. Sometimes I can´t believe I´m here in Ecuador! I have to pinch myself or just look around and realize that holy crap!, I´m sooo far from home and I´m living in freakin´South America. This is crazy but I´m absolutely loving it!!! xxxxxxx

Thurs, June 21 Today was another long day. We had breakfast, walked over to the PC office in Quito, and had many papers given to us and lots of things to fill up. What a bummer. We are loaded with a bunch of crap (and by crap, I mean really important stuff …) We not only have a shit load of stuff to carry but they also gave us a huge ass medical kit that we all have to carry and this book “When there is no doctor”. Basically, it’s a book abt what to do when ur alone and u need medical help. That book is freakin’ sick. Nasty as heck. After reading a section, I can now perform/help assist in delivery a baby, complete with detailed pictures … nasty. Seriously. It’s like the part in Knocked Up, but worse. Puke puke puke. We also had lovely shots given to us. I needed Hep A #2, Yellow fever, rabies, and typhoid. I got 3 of the 4 today (minus any follow up shots). Hep A f-n sucked. that damn shot hurt soo much!!! She gave it to me last. Once I started bleeding, she started to rub and push on my sore spot – ahhhh! I was about to scream bloody murder!!! Oh well, at least I won’t get Hep A, huh?! After a bunch of other informative info sessions and a great great great lunch with a panel session after, we headed to Cayambe. We arrived at 6:30 pm and barely had time to visit around the city cuz we had to eat dinner at 7 pm “sharp”. Some of us walked to look for phones, but the lines were too long and we had to be back, so I just decided to call the states tomorrow. At dinner I found out that Kendra (finishing up her second year in august) lives in Escondido and knows tons of teachers from RB high! Mr. Gofreddo is her dad! So she knows Mr. Parinello and Don Jones/Profe Lecakes (from track). Small world!!! She lives like 15 min away from me. I leave SD and she returns lol!!! I also sat with all the faciliators and they area really nice and funny! So that was cool to force myself to talk/listen to them in their Spanish. After, we watching a really boring, predicable movie. Now I’m in my bed ready to fall asleep. I got a double room, but I’m the only one in it b/c I’m the end of the alphabet and got jipped with no roomie. Although now im not complaing cuz I have twice the room as a single with one less person!!! Woooooo.Highlights: Patrick Swazye in the lame movie – can never take that guy seriously (omg, right, Hannah?! Best part, him chasing the guy in the streets, falling, then rolling around in the dirt) Upon arrival at the cayambe house, hearing “women, can I ask u a ?. can we Boom Boom …” just as we were heading off the bus – hilarious Listening to ghetto reaggeton on the bus as well as old classics like gangster’s paradise sang in Spanish!

omg, so today was when we left Miami to go to Quito, Ecuador!!! we put our baggage down at 11 (in 30 min), check out by 12:30, leave shortly thereafter, and then head to the airport. We all packed up and left the posh Miami Crown Airport Hotel, with some damn sweet comfy beds. What I would give to just send that down to Ecuador. The night before was a bit crazy since it was Cleveland’s bday, the last night together, AND Ann and I plus Cleveland and John share a connecting doorway, so we just opened them both up and it was great. There are some really good people out there. I am very excited to be around these people cuz I knew there were others with similar mindsets and goals (I think, or at least, hope for). Good times there, like that one time when Alicia claims she’s all hard, but ran away when the security guard came to our door. Hahaha, just kidding, I love u. it’s just tooooo funny!!! Getting to the airport was crazy. It is only a few minutes’ drive from our Hotel, but we still took a huge ass bus. The poor bus driver had to take out ALL of our luggage from our bus and none of us could help him! Each person has about 80 lbs of stuff so times that by 46 and u got hella! I felt soooo bad and he was majorly sweating when he came back. Soooo sad! Then we went to the airport and filed in a single file line of about 28 ppl. Sooo hilarious. We all looked like a trail of ants walking thru the airport. Once we got to the ticket booth, some people were having problems with luggage cuz they packed too much. Unfortuantely, Edith was one of them as she had 97 lbs!! They wouldn’t let her on with that. So she had to distribute her stuff among many of the volunteers … she put some of her stuff into my luggage. My baggage was really good. I only weighed in at 36 lbs and 23 lbs. Not too bad. Acutally, I’m one of the people with the least amt of stuff. Sometimes I think it’s good (cuz this shit sucks to carry) and sometimes I think it’s bad b/c I don’t have a lot of clothes here and it sucks. I miss my denim jeans like crazy … booooo. There were two flights to Quito for Omnibus 98. I think I wrote previously that my group used to be about 30 ppl, but I guess spaced opened up and there were 47 PCT’s! S I was on the second flight of volunteers leaving at 5:25, arriving at 8:40. The other flight was leaving a little earlier at 3:40 arriving at 6:40. At first I was bummed b/c that meant they could fly into Quito with light outside (I hear it’s absolutely gorgeous flying in!) but upon later talking to the early group, it really didn’t matter cuz it was dark so they couldn’t see either. Since it was dark, the city lights were twinkling and it was absolutely gorgeous. Since I had the aisle seat (boooo – not by choice, PC picked it for me) I had to look over two whole people to just barely see the city lights, but the city down below looked amazing. The guy I sat next to was really nice. He was an Ecuadorian visitng from Canada. His tix cost him over 1000. Mine (paid for by PC) was about 540. Eeeep, thank god I didn’t have to pay that. And btw, little kids should NOT be in first class. What useless waste of money!!! We arrived and had to go thru customs and all that stuff. Since we are on PC passports, I still have my other passport. I like getting my stamps so I asked the customs’ lady to stamp my other passport (really, it was actually a computerized stamp) and she was like, u better not use that or u’re gonna be in trouble. Lol Getting baggage was crazy. Tons of bags everyone. For a good while me and Hannah thought our baggage was lost/stolen, but there was a whole truckload of bags still waiting to be put on baggage claim, so eventually we got it. In small groups we all walked out. I was pushing the cart that had Hannah and my luggage and it was really heavy. Also, I was wearing flats that easily slip on tile-ish floor so I was sliding as I was pushing it. lol. When we walked thru there were hella Ecuadorians waiting for their families. And obviously, we are Americans so they were all staring at us. Me and Hannah felt like celebrities. I’m sure everyone else did too. Hahaha just when we got out of the lobby that’s where the PC people were waiting, ready to scream and cheer for us. I’ve read they do things like that, so I was expecting it. I really wanted to video record it, but I felt it might be too flashy to bust out the recorder. So I didn’t; it’ll just be forever ingrained in my head that moment. They gave us flowers with cute little pieces of advice or quotes on it. Mine said something like “noting says PC like raggaeton at 3 am or kids knocking at ur door”. Ohhh sooo true! It’s like Honduras. I am very excited to be here in Ecuador. This country is absolutely gorgeous and amazing, btw!!! After we just got onto the bus and left to go to our hostel. It is really cute. We arrived and met with the first group. Had a small snack (the airplane had food – I ate lasagna) and a brief meeting and then just hung out til 1130. I was wiped out and ready for bed for sure!!!! Highlights:*tongue flick - freakin´ disgusting!!!

Highlights: "she left early. and i won" - at the bar *”the haiku ppl, the haiku” – my response when people would ask ridiculous questions when clearly we have to wait until we are in-country to know *jon’s phone call at 3 am in the morning thinking it’s a “secret PC mission” *Hannahs all-u-need-for-a-pick-up-line is: Bud Light and a pool *jon’s belt in my bag after that exercise – brightest, reddest face ever! *”I am going to die” quote *ET-ing = ET, the movie?! Lol *pool

the first night here with everyone was really great! everyone here is nice and really fun. i can't wait for all the good times and drinking (not like i'm a big drinker -- cuz i'm notttt (i'm always DD) but i can see myself socially drinking a lot, esp. since it's a very cultural pastime in ecua!!!

i can tell this will all be really fun! eeeeeeee

there are supposed to be 47 people going to ecuador in this omnibus 98. 3 married couples (only two showed up today), abt 5 guys (nate thinks a guy already decided to not come b/c he was supposed to have a roomate and the guy never showed up), and about a gazillion girls. the ratio, man, the ratio ... lucky guys, huh!

ATTENTION: if u are looking for some mighty fine ladies and a big statistical ratio where u are likely to, u know ..., this is where u gotta be. seriously.

but the overall PC ratio is about 59% women, 41% men. i guess i'm in the LUCKY pc group (ya right) where it's about 99% women, 1% men. wooo. oh, and apparently Parmer, our staging guy, said that abt 20 of us are going to be married to ecuadorians by the end of the 2 years. omg, what? that is like 1/2 our group. we all just looked down and avoided eye contact. hahahaha --- but i guess it'll be fun to predict who they all are going to be ...

some highlights:

"i don't have any, but weapons" -someone on protecting themselves when in ecua

getting stoked on eating "crispy guinea pig toes"

the busser who kept dropping things left and right(3!!) -- first day?? (ryan talking about giving him an extra tip but shunning his face - lol)

robert having to chug his beer b/c it was foaming from the drop

nate's "brick" digital camera that can be used as a sling-shot weapon, if needed

the mojitos!!! -- my first real, original, famous mojito from miami!!! and it was mighty tasty

ryan's (jason) mayo volcano on top of his chicken dinner

that tv show with the crazy adventure guy

figuring out how to get everyone to versailles restaurant (very gooodd) in the huge van (finally settled on 14 ppl)

nate cat-calling "peace corps" and "ecuador" to the group who ended up walking

getting the atm card with the instructions with it

the women's "awwww" complex

jon knocking on my door, half naked b/c he got locked out of the sauna and me on the adventure of fetching security (twice)

all this and it's just the first night! these ppl all seem soo much fun! and i just can't wait until i touch down in ecuador. ahhhhhhh

sooo, i've always thought that LAX was the worst airport in the whole wide world. ohhh no no noooo. today proved otherwise. so where u may ask did this happen new revelation happen??? at the Miami Int'l airport. the shittiest airport in the world. this place sucks sooooo much. all the passengers on my plane waited over 1 1/2 for our baggage to finally come through. absolutely ridiculous. AND, this is after we were delayed for 30 minutes taking off of dallas AND upon arrival, waited another 20 min for a gate to open up so we could finally get off that damn airplane.

wtf.

no no, seriously, wtf.

so i arrived at the hotel (miami crown plaza) at 10:50 pm; i was supposed to arrive in at 7:35 pm. right. good job shitty airlines. ughhh. but the hotel is sooo posh. i'm going to look around and meet other volunteers since my roomate is MIA. lates!

mmm ... ok, so i guess i leave in abt 1 week ... really it's 9 days. uhhh, ok.

my last day at nordstrom is next fri. sadddd. i'm really gonna miss working there with my fav. peeps, esp. jessi :( we went to the beach yesterday!!! it was fun, but dude, oceanside is freakin' farrrrrr!!!

now these next few days i gotta tie up lose ends and actually pack. omggg. what the heck am i going to do. i've bought clothes and shoes these last couple days for no reason -- i'm leaving. i def did not need that pair of shoes i bought yesterday (one of my millions pairs of flats) and i'm thinking about buying some shirts -- why??? totally NOT necessary! really. and the whole deal on packing for 2 years. i'm an overpacker. i know i'm going to bring completely unnecessary stuff like too much clothes and too many shoes, but i can't help it. i'm weak. :/

last night i saw loan, alan, and jesley to catch up. very cool to see them before i leave. wow, they are all going to optometry school and it's sooo dang exciting. i'm very proud ... eeeeee! they'll be legit doctors soon. woahhh!!

other than that? i've got nothing. not freakin' out yet, altho it is getting kinda weird to know i'll be hitting land in another country in about, oh u know, 1 1/2 weeks. ummmmm, what! super excited, super stoked! and also, not trying to think abt it too much or then i'll just freak myself out ...

i'm going to buy my new digital camera and a hand-held camera recorder soon!!! and omg, my laptop is like semi-broken. like, the charging part of my computer (not the acutal charger) is messed up, so apple took it to figure out what's wrong. they told me abt 7-10 days. uhh, i was going to leave in 11 days! gosh, i better have my laptop back before i leave or i'll be super pissed. booooooooo