Feliz Domingo

Hola amigos...
I have not been writing much because I don´t have much new to say as of yet. I will write today to say that all is well, I am surviving, and every day is getting easier and easier. Although I am amidst barking dogs, scurrying guinnea pigs, and I am the whitest person in this town, I am starting to feel like this is ¨home.¨
Lets see...this past week has been really busy. We have Spanish class from 8am to 5pm every day. Although I am in a pretty easy Spanish class, it is helpful because I am realizing how much I have forgotten. Two days a week we take a bus to a town called Ayora (16 cents each way..) where we meet up with the other 60 Peace Corps volunteers for technical training. I never knew seeing fellow Americans could feel so good. We pretty much laugh all day about the crazy things that our families do/weird food we have been eating, etc. I think I got pretty lucky, some friends of mine have been eating pig intenstines, waking up at 5am to milk cows, and are so high up in the mountains that they literally freeze every night. As for me- I am a city girl, and am quite content with it!
This whole month is a month of parties in Cayambe. They are celebrating ¨San Pedro,¨which I have yet to figure out what it is. But- every day is a party, parade, killing of the bulls, or some other celebration.
Yesterday was quite a day. I went with my family to a RODEO. Now, I have never been to a rodeo...and I was really shocked. We arrived at a stadium full of 200 or more horses, with their cowboys, ready to begin the show. After about an hour, they let out the first bull (el toro). Two cowboys began chasing the toro around the rink. Every now and then the bull would stop, and face the horse. Then it would charge at the horse and cowboy, who would then proceed to run as fast as they could away from the bull. My whole body was shaking watching this, because these bulls were SO STRONG and fast, and just one hit from the horns of the bull could kill both the horse and cowboy (gaucho). And, to our luck, that happened! I watched a huge bull strike a horse from the side, and all of the intestines of the horse fell out. The horse continued to run, with its intenstines falling out. The horse ended up dying. I was really sad..
After the show, I went with a bunch of other Peace Corps volunteers to a bar to watch the World Cup (la copa mundial). After a couple beers, I looked out the window and saw two bicyclists approaching the bar. I did a double take and turns out it was Seth and his brother! Randomly, they happened to be in the same town, at the same bar, on the same day as I was. (for Jeanie and Eliza).
Anyway- today I am supposed to be playing in a soccer game with some local girls in town. They invited me to join their team...I am a bit scared because I have a feeling they play really well! I´ll let you know how that goes.
Thats all for now. I miss everyone mucho mucho and love you!
Mia

Guinnea Pigs in Cayambe

Hola mis queridos amigos,

Here is my first entry since being in Ecuador. Today is the first time I have time to sit down and process everything that is happening around me. I am a bit rushed for time but will do my best to explain where I am these days!

I am in a town called Cayambe. It is an hour and a half from Ecuador´s capital, Quito, and is a city in the mountains at about 9,000 feet. Needless to say, I am quite dizzy and the altitude is intense. Our Peace Corps group of 68 Americans arrived here yesterday, and immediately split apart and went to our homestays where will will be for the next two months. Since I dont have much time at the moment, let me briefly tell you about this truck.

I, and four other Americans, piled into the back of a truck upon arriving in Cayambe. One by one we were dropped off at our new homes. This was probably one of the scariest things I have ever done, being dropped at the door and told, ¨goodbye! goodluck!¨ My family is very very nice, they are so nice they even prepared GUINNEA PIG for me today...I am one lucky girl.

Upon arrival yesterday, I was taken out back where they keep their chickens, bunnies, corn field, and guinnea pigs. I was admiring how cute all of their animales were, when they picked up the guinnea pigs and told me it was time to kill them.

I was lucky enough to not have to watch the actual death of the poor little guys, but soon after they were brought into the kitchen, thrown into boiling water, then we sat and watched la mama y el papa pluck the hair from the guinnea piggies. I was....shocked.

I declined the offer to eat them, but I have a feeling I will at some point. It will be inevetible, as it is the national food! Yum yum........

Anyway- all is well. I must say I am experiencing quite the culture shock today. But- I know that this is all part of the process and things will get better.

I love and miss everyone very much. Please email me when you can!

Besos grandes,

Mia

Spanish word of the day: el cuy-guinnea pig

Adios Seattle

Leaving my beautiful city in 5 days for Washington D.C., then I will be off to Quito, Ecuador two days after that. Just wanted to practice getting used to writing in a blog, never done this before, but thanks to my more technologically advanced friends I was able to set this up.

I really look forward to hearing from all my friends and family while living in Ecuador. So- send me emails, packages, letters, or better, just come on down to visit! Its not that far!! (I'm not joking.)

Much love to everyone and I'll keep you posted on my whereabouts.

Besos! "Kisses!"