Arrived, safe and sound! After a very long day of travel we have arrived in Ecuador. I have met almost all 20 of the college interns from William and Mary, Franklin and Marshall, Duke, Dayton, Miami of Ohio, Indiana, and Carolina girls. They are all very nice and likable and I am not at all worried about having good friends to explore with this summer.
Last night we all rode in a bus to our hostel in Guayquil. The air was sticky, the shower was cold, but the country is fantastic. It feels incredible to be in a place that is completely different. This morning we were served breakfast by three women that ran the hostel—french toast with bananas and strawberries. The courtyard had birds, monkeys, and turtles.
We rode a 4 hour bus ride through the mountains, up 5,000 km and then back down part of it. The views were spectacular. Once in Cuenca we arrived at our hostel which is phenomenal. It is run by two native French people and attracts a young multi-ethnic crowd to stay overnight or just enjoy the restaurant and bar area. After a yummy meal and fresh mango juice we went to the Spanish school where we will spend our days for the next two weeks. We had coffee in mugs (a daily treat and surprise—Ecuadorians love coffee and it’s everywhere) and discussed issues of safety and went over basic Spanish. The time here will be intensive Spanish training from 8-12 M-F for the next two weeks. I should improve greatly. Next we explored the city, hung at the hostel, then ate at a great local spot. Tomorrow we will meet our host families and begin our stay with them.
Oh man. I LOVE this country, the people, and the program. It is a much more sustainable lifestyle than the other times I have gone abroad and it allows me to see what it would actually be like living abroad. I am excited to see what my host family is like and how this intensive internship environment is. I love you all and miss you!
I love following your travels and can't wait to see some pics! Good luck in Spanish class.
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