Mi familia y Los Bancos

Buenas noches-

This is probably the longest I've ever gone without internet access! Thanks for the comments and emails! Where I left off... I met my family last Wednesday, and they are great. The family consists of Oswaldo, Cecilia and their two kids Fabian and Alexandra. Alexandra is working on her thesis in architecture and teaches online classes to indigenous people who don't have access to schools, while Fabian studies music at a University in Quito. They are pretty religious and consider themselves Pentecostal, although I went to church with Alexandra today and it was considered more of an interdemoninational (sp?) church. They are very welcoming and anxious to help me with my Spanish, which is great.

The group of students I am with took a trip this weekend to a pueblo about 2 1/2 hours away from Quito (with 2 staff members from our school). The drive was absolutely beautiful and went through the mountains on crazy winding roads that barely fit 2 passing vehicles. There was a rainbow that we literally drove through, it was a little kid's dream....well, mine too I guess. La hosteleria where we stayed was gorgeous..pictures to follow. We had the place to ourselves-- and we were literally in the clouds. On Friday we hiked to a waterfall and swam in the pool of water underneath. It was an amazing experience! I think we all forgot that we are here to study development and live simply...but nonetheless it was a relaxing weekend in a beautiful place.

There aren't many Americans in Ecuador, so we get stared at wherever we are. Although...the internet cafe where I currently am is in a part of town called Gringolandia..haha- but I did learn from my host sister that gringo isn't actually a derrogatory term but just used for all white people...hmm....

Yo deseo que todo esta bien en los Estados Unidos!