After a short plane ride spent catching up on my world news, we arrived in Quito and were taken to our brightly colored hostel. We checked out the local market and then some of us went for a run to acclimate ourselves to the high altitude, in anticipation for Macchu Picchu. Apparently altitude sickness can keep you from sleeping, who knew. The next day we went to the offices of our partner in Ecuador, Yanapuma. They gave us an overview of the country and the specific community we´re spending this month in, Bua. We also had a short Spanish lesson and were taken to the city´s basilica, completed in the late 80s. We climbed steep ladders up one of the towers, for an amazing view of the city, which is about 50 kilometers long.
The next morning, we got on a bus for what would be the most beautiful drive of my life thus far. Ecuador is the most biodiverse country in the world, do largely to the fact that it has one of the greatest differences in altitude over a short distance. The dream of a cross South America road trip is forming in my mind...
We arrived in Santo Domingo and piled into the back of a truck for the ride to Bua. We arrived at the cultural center, a stick structure in the center of the rainforest, to be welcomed by the president of ShinoPi (the cultural organization), Alfonso. We were taken to see the ecological toilet like the ones we have begun to built and for a hike around the land. Then they dropped us at our host families homes.
I'm staying with the Loches, parents with a daughter Milena (7) and son Jesus (5). The kids have started warming up to me, even if I don't have much to say as I play with them.
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There is a ton more to say but I don't have any more time at this internet cafe in Santo Domingo. I am healthy and happy and constantly thinking, so no worries.
3 comments:
I cannot wait until you go to Vietnam. Maybe by then I will have something to send you, uhm if you don't want to sit through like an hour and a half's worth of reading I can maybe send you like some parts? I have like an hour exactly so I am way over halfway done. South America sounds real sick, remember your marlaria pills and I'd say something else that just popped into my head as funny advice but I don't know who else is reading this. I will let you know also if Hillary wins in November, in case you don't get CNN in where ever you are at that point.
hahaha. <3
Sto facendo pratica del mio inglese, ma solo nella lettura. Quanto alla scrittura, scriverò in italiano: non sarei capace di esprimere bene in inglese quello che penso, mi dispiace per molti frequentatori di questo blog che non comprenderanno.
Sia Paola che io leggiamo regolarmente con interesse ed emozione questo bel diario, immaginiamo con piacere Renée che attraversa, con il suo entusiasmo, questa nuova bellissima fase della sua vita e siamo ammirati per il suo coraggio e la sua determinazione. E anche orgogliosi di questa opportunità unica che la nostra "figlia americana" si è conquistata.
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