Well, the trip is about a third of the way over. So scary how fast it´s gone. Tonight, around 11pm, we will board a bus destined to our second volunteering location, the Northern Coast of Quito. We´ll be staying in the village of Caimito, near Esmereldas and Atacamas.

So far, the trip has been fantastic; everyone here is having an amazing time. While volunteering we´ve come to value the “work hard” part of the saying, while in Quito we´ve come to value the “play hard” portion. It´s hard to sum up the past three weeks in a single bog post, though. So, I figured I would spend some time on this lazy Sunday to share some stories, bits of wisdom, and probably too vague references to events that have transpired on the trip.

To start out, I guess I´ll talk about our group dynamics. I met Helena, Jennie, Rosie, and Laura (UK, UK,UK, and Canada respectfully) in the Houston Airport, where we got to know each other briefly by listing every single way that North America is different from England (namely that what I would call pants in the US would be called trousers in England and what they would call pants in England I would call underwear in the US). We also bonded over a shared appreciation of the Sky Mall magazine on the flight. Once we met up with Ben and Andie, both from the US, in Quito the group was complete. We heard about Ben and Andie´s nearly-epic 45 minute fright as they realized that were in Ecuador and couldn´t remember where the hostel was, or even what it looked like.

Showing off the guns before work with our newly sleaveless T´s.

Showing off the guns before work with our newly sleaveless T´s.

For the next week or so our conversations pretty much consisted of discussions about why the USA is the best country in the world, how it is ridiculous for Andie to have not seen Top Gun, and why Fran, our interim group leader from Australia, is super-bomb.

Moving on to the bits of wisdom portion of this posting, I figure that a bulleted list of important information with be both convenient and informative:

  • Pedestrians-in no way, shape, or form-have the right of way in Ecuador.
  • After about a week of eating rice and plantains, chocolate and ice cream are the go-to topics of conversation.
  • The word “proper” is another word for “very” in England. E.g. I put on a proper good outfit and left for the club.
  • The word “fit” is another world for “smoking-hot” in England. E.g. That girl´s super fit.
  • When folding tocilla leaves, check for ants´nests, spiders, and endangered snails.
  • The phrase “ra, ra, ra” is common in Australia and means “etc.”
  • When riding in the back of pickup trucks, keep and eye open for low-hanging branches.
  • DEET is effective, but not full-proof.
  • It is important to close your mouth when receiving a spiritual cleansing, for ginger-infused liquids are often spit on your face.
  • Kevin and Frederico, two kids from Búa, are mischievous, sneaky kids with high-pitched laughs. Certain precautions should be taken when their laugh is heard.
  • Quito is the second-highest capital in the world.

Unfortunately, I´ve run out of time before I could get to a story (have a photo instead!). More to come next weekend.

Enjoying some riding in Baños.

Enjoying some riding in Baños.

Sera Mehoy (good morning in the language of the T´Sachilla),

Alán