First week in Ecuador...

I finally figured out how to update this thing!!!!!!! Spanish keyboards and computer screens full of Spanish text are still new to me, so please be patient...

Anyway...es increible...I'm in Ecuador!!!!!! It feels like I've been here a year and it has been barely one week. I've met some incredible people and have experienced some amazing things in the past 7 days. It's hard to believe. There are around 60 of us in this training group and we're located in the Sierra region (mountains!) for training. It's like a different world. So beautiful! I'm already getting a tan (ok, well I'm burning...but I'll turn tan soon enough!!). There are some incredible people here and I found out today that my Spanish level is the highest  of the Intermediate group (middle group) which is great. We have to be in the middle Intermediate group to be recommended to be sworn in, so I'm ahead of the game! Good news!

I'm living with a host family for the first 3 months, then will move with another host family when training is over for at least 3 more months. The family is GREAT! They are so funny and are teaching me a lot. They don't know any English really, except my host brothers and sisters are studying it/were studying it in high school and college so they know a little bit. We actually help each other with Spanish and English homework! lol It's SO much Spanish - especially during the training days (4.5 hours of it, sometimes) - but we're all learning a lot, I think.

I have 2 host sisters and a host brother. :) They're all sort of around my age which is great! We've had a lot of fun so far and my host mama cooks the BEST Ecuadorian food!!! No guinea pig yet (my vegetarian soul thanks you, host mama!) but I HAVE had a bite of pork, beef, and shrimp. One bite of each! I probably won't have to eat any more than that during training because she is very cognizant of vegetarianism and keeping me happy. I'm really lucky. Everything it pretty laid back in the household and I'm fitting in quite well, I think. It's definitely a different world...

I'm not sure how much I'll be getting on facebook because it's sort of annoying and stressful. It really is. I just can't keep up with everyone and I over-analyze everything on there, so I'm planning on keeping my distance. If you want my e-mail address to contact me, let me know. And feel free to read my blogs, obviously...

I hope to post pictures soon (probably to facebook - ugh) so be watching out for those. I'm really busy with homework, training, studying Spanish and tech training, etc. And I'm trying to make my way around the community without making too much of a fool of myself (I got lost this week - terrifying!!! but I'm ok!!) so that will keep me occupied. I feel great and have not been sick yet (knock on wood). I'll also be getting a phone this Saturday so keep an eye out for random numbers calling you (haha)! ;) I probably won't make too many random phone calls, but you never know. ;)

I hope everyone is doing well!!! Please know I think about many of you every single day. A couple random things: I forgot to pack Q-tips and apparently I can only buy them at the farmacia (pharmacy)...interesting! Apparently I say really funny random things to my host family that they get a kick out of. They LOVE saying Shadow's name and talking about him all the time. :) And my host fam thinks it's hilarious that I have a dog back home named Pepperoni. LOL Good stuff. More blog updates soon...and no facebook anytime soon...

With MUCH Ecuadorian love,
Sarah