Hola Ecuador

Well, we got into Ecuador around 11 on Friday night. We didn't LEAVE the airport until after 1 due to some unexpected slow downs. Our planeactually left Atlanta an hour late anyways because there was a lady on our flight from Mexico, and they said she needed to be medically cleared by a doctor before she could come. (Swine flu!) So far, I am unaware of coming in contact with any swine flu...so so far so good.

Yesterday we went and toured the hospitals, ate my first real empanada, and saw some monkeys at a park. Last night we had to find some food close by, and it was kinda late. So we
ended up at the KFC just around the corner. Hah...not too exotic, but there's some restrictions of what we can and can't eat,so our options were extra narrowed down. Turns out they serve their chicken with rice and lentils, which were actually pretty good! But I'm planning on that being my last American food the rest of the trip!

So there are 18 of us in the group and we just stick out A LOT...especially in matching white shirts and scrubs...and lots of blonds. Yesterday we had to go to the grocery store, and as we were walking down an isle a little kid sitting in a grocery cart was trying to get our attention and said, "Hola. Hola. Hola....Hola otra vez...Hola!" Very cute! Sarah, one of the girls I'm rooming with found these things called "Bon Bons" and she almost keeled over in the store because she was so excited about them. Turns out they are DELICIOUS! Also, the yogurt here is just as tasty.

Today we went to an LDS church just a few blocks away from us. The people there were so
friendly and happy to have us! I could understand most of, well the general ideas of the lessons and stuff! Most of the day after that was spent catching up on sleep and then walking down on the Malecon, a walkway by the waterway...just a couple blocks from us. We pass a lot of vendors of balloons, popcorn, suckers, and popsicles on the way. On the Malecon, there are tons of families and TONS of COUPLES -like no other. Kids ride on miniature trains, and artists paint caricatures, families play on the jungle gyms, and clowns sell balloons....a lot going on!

Well, Ecuador is great so far! I'm really glad and grateful I'm here. It's something I've wanted to do for a very long time...so I know it has to be great!