¡Nosotros estamos muy felizes!

Adam and I are doing very well so far! So much to share but not enough time!!

In summary, we spent a day in Quito getting our first vaccinations of rabies and yellow fever. Then we went to a town that is about 45 minutes outside of Quito (I think). It is absolutely beautiful here! It is in the mountain area known as the sierra, and is quite green and tranquil.

Poster in the PC office...if only they had more coffee in Ecuador...Lol

Some of the volunteers breakfasting before we met our host families

Our host family is absolutely wonderful. Their home is very comfortable and we feel blessed to be staying with them. They run an organic farm so we have an endless supply of fresh veggies and fruits (to complement the rice and potatoes). Our host mom, Magi, is an AMAZING cook. Our host dad, Edwin, is so great with us- he spends about an hour or so each night talking with us. He speaks slowly and clearly so that we can learn, and he teaches us new words, like chivo (goat). They have two of the cutest little girls ever (aside from my sobrinas), Pacha and Micaela.

In terms of how training is going, the larger group of 45 was broken down into groups of 4-5 and placed in different communities that are up to an hour by bus from the central town. We were grouped based on languaged level. After my language interview, I was placed in intermedio-bajo and Adam was placed in intermedio-medio. Because we get to stay together, I am with some of the intermedio-medio folks. The other two aspirantes (PC trainees) are Tiffany and Tom (not a couple). Tiffany was the gal we met in Mobile. They are both totally fun and great. Hopefully we won´t be sick of each other after 9 weeks!!

We do language training in our community. It is convenient because it is at our host family´s house!! The rest of the training is in a different community, so we have to take two busses to get there. The first bus ride is 22 cents, and the second bus ride is 16 cents, just to give you an idea of costs. It takes us about an hour to get there.

Training is a bit tiring because it is from 8 to about 5, and then we add an hour each way to travel. I think the altitude makes us super tired so we are still adjusting. 9 hours of sleep a night is not enough!! Our technical training is interesting and we do a lot of dynamicas (ice breakers) to help us prepare for when we go out to our sites and use them at our talks. So far we have done some of the standards, like the human knot. But it is new for some folks...like Adam. Lol.

Yesterday we took a trip to Mascarilla, which is an Afro-Ecuadorian community in Ecuador. It was really interesting but also very hot! We got to learn about the culture there, as well as see some of the beautiful scenery, watch an indoor soccer game, and play with the kids in the streets. Aside from walking for hours in the blistering heat and getting bitten by a bajillion mosquitos, I would say it was a great trip.

Masks from Mascarilla

Making our own masks from clay

4 of the 6 boys in our training group- John, Rob, Tom and Adam

Some of the native plants in the Mascarilla area

Our hike through the ¨gardens¨ to get to the river

It feels like a jungle out there!!

And we made it to the river after an hour! I´m glad I wore shoes because some folks had flip flops on! Btw, this is fellow aspirante Jessica

Learning about composting

Jennifer trying her hand at mixing compost

Cute kids from Mascarilla...the little girl in yellow is a booby pincher though...so women have to watch out! I learned that from playing with her...ouch!