Me encanta el Ecuador

So all of you who are holding your breath can stop..i made it! I arrived at the Airport in Quito Saturday night to find crouds and crouds of people holding signs with names on it. I think it is a very common time for foriegners to be arriving to start school. Tania saw me go outside and chased me down with a huge sign that said ´Courtny Paulson´I went home with Leonor, mi Mami ecuatoriana and my new sister, Christina. The house is very close to the center of Quito which is quite helpful. I live one block from an internet cafe..where i am now, a huge mall and a big park. Cristina and Maria de los angels are both very nice and I really enjoy spending time with them. Leonor, the mom has 9 brothers and sisters so there is family EVERYWHERE! Lets see, that night I ate dinner, unpacked and went to bed..nothing too exciting.

The first day, Sunday Christina and I woke up early so that we could take a bus into Cumbaba, where my university is. i have to take 2 buses to get there..but they only cost 25 cents so its not that bad. I have several landmarkes to help me remember where to get on and off at different times..total it takes about 40 mins. Ecuadorian traffic has No rules and the buses hardly stop long enough for you to get on and off..closing the doors is out of the question. on every street corner are women selling oranges or kids juggling. Sometimes sailsmen come onto the busses and present some product..Christina says to always say, ´no gracias´. The school is BEAUTIFUL. Very safe, overlooking mountains and easy to get around. We looking around for a bit then returned home..peices of advice every once and awhile. Christina speaks English very well but we have decided to speak only spanish while I am here.

I´m getting really tired..so i´m going to put a few highlights and go back and tell stories about them later..remind me if i forget!

Mass with the family on Sunday
Family reunion that night
Orientation today...new ecuadorian friends...that are wonderful- i already have a phone and we´ve been texting all day. It was nice not to ride the bus home alone! One boy in particular, Leonardo, had studied abroud the year before in the US and was so helpful and understanding of my confusion. A few of us went to lunch at the ´best´local resturant and he took the bus home with me. It was so funny all the mistakes i was making and the misundersatnding...heres a few

I asked where the gym was (like for playing basketball)..´Donde esta el gymnacio´and he was shocked thinking that a girl my size lifted weights..

I got vasillos mixed up for pasillas...one is a modern pop group the other tradicional indigenous ecuadorian music..i started singing my favorite song and he just laughed and understood my mistake.

..and many more

I hit a sudden wave of tiredness..but i promise to write more later!! xoxoxo