Big Day

Hello everyone! I wanted to write to explain the latest thats going on down here. First, before I forget, I just want everyone to know that I am ok and all of the politics have settled down here. I will leave it at that, everything is ok!
I have big news. I just got a call from the United States embassy. Tomorrow at 1pm they are coming to visit ME. Along with the country director of Ecuador. They want to see what I am doing, what projects I am working on, who I am working with, etc. It is a big deal...and I am nervous to say the least. I am not sure why/how/when they picked me to visit, but here they come! I am looking forward to it, but have alot to prepare.
In other news....I found out last night that my host dad has been feeding me mysterious meats for 2 weeks. He knows I am not a huge MEAT fan, and thought he would "trick me into" liking meat. It did not work. Last night he told me that I have now eaten: donkey, cow tongue, chicken liver, cow heart, cow liver. Those are all of the ones that I know of. I am really really hoping that he has not fed me dog, but I really can't be sure that he hasn't. I could tell for 2 weeks that the meat tasted different, but I chose not to ask, and be polite. Well, bad idea. I now have quite the reportoire in my stomach.
On a brighter note, I am starting to really get into my work! This week we are giving sex ed charlas in the poor neighborhoods where we work. We have "hired" a doctor to help us, and she is the one in charge of the charlas. Yesterday, our first charla, did not go over well. The kids are ages 8-18, and really couldn't handle the information. She was too formal, and the kids did not grasp it. After the meeting, I mentioned to Sonando por un Cambio (my organization) that I am really interested in leading sex charlas. Sex eduacation is so lacking here, in every sense. Over 50 percent of the population is HIV positive, and kids starting at the age of 10 are getting preganant. Few know about condoms and other contraceptives, and I see this as a huge area to work in. SO- my organization is interested in having me lead this new sector of their work. I can't wait.
Not much else to say, I spent last weekend in a small pueblo called Las Mercedes. Another PCV lives there and we went to visit her town of 200. We found a beautiful river with a swimming hole and spent hours there. She lives in the middle of the jungle, it was beautiful. Monkeys, parrots,