September 6, 2008

What a great day!

First yesterday: being my free day I spent the morning reading and chill—axing. I spent some time working on the site locator form that I have to fill out for the Peace Corps (more safety stuff). When I become bored of being lazy, I went out for a long run. It was great and I managed to go for a very long time. Only problem was that it was mid-day and suddenly went from cloudy and overcast to extremely hot. By the time I got back to the house I was pretty overheated.
Once I cooled down I took a bus to the shopping center (el shopping) and tried out the free wifi. I was hoping to be able to load pictures but the connection was very slow and frustrating. After a few hours, Jess and Chrissy stopped by and we went to the supermarket there. It was great! Just like a grocery store in the States with a ton of American food. I won’t lie; I got a little teary-eyed and homesick.

In the evening, my family took me to the nearby university to show me where they work. They have a little concession stand and sell gum, cigarettes, paper, drinks, snacks, etc. It was fun to hang out there and see people around my age. It is so hard to tell peoples age around here. Most people my age are married and have several kids and that can really age someone fast.
Today I had several skype dates, but when I went to the internet café, they informed that the internet wasn’t functioning. I then tried several other places in town and they weren’t open. Finally, I found one café with slow internet. It was frustrating, but I have to remember that I am in a developing country.

I was supposed to meet Guadalupe to paint signs for the park we are fixing up with the youth, but as I arrived she sent me a text saying to meet in the afternoon. I then decided to sit in the central park passed several pleasant hours reading.

In the afternoon, Guadalupe, several youth, and I painted boards of wood with messages like “Care for the flowers” and “Don’t throw trash on the ground.” Once we finished I decided to go for a run. I wasn’t feeling very motivated and didn’t think I would go very far. Near what I thought would be the end, however, I got I second wind and ended up running for 1 hour 20 minutes, my longest time yet. I was very proud of myself!

Around dinnertime, I went out to buy some food and stopped buy to visit with two older ladies in the community. They are always out selling yummy empanadas and give me some for free! We were talking and the invited me for dinner the next day. My first dinner invite!!

After I ate the family took me to a party in the next town. It was the father’s brother’s birthday so it was a big family shindig. It was soooo much fun!!! Probably the best time yet here in Ecuador. They placed music and we danced and drank all night. Not to brag, but I was the life of the party! They thought I was hilarious with my American dance moves. I’m pretty good and copying people so someone would do a dance move and I would try to copy it and they would all scream with laughter. One of our PC trainers once said that part of our job as Peace Corps volunteers is to serve as a source of amusement for the host country nationals. I certainly fulfilled that part of my duty tonight!.