Finally!

Ecuador blog 6/17/10
We arrived last night in Quito, Ecuador. Stepping off the plane on to the tarmac for that anticipated first deep breath of new world, I was surprised by the lack of satisfaction. Quito rests some 9,000 feet above sea level and needless to say my 75 lbs of checked luggage, carry on, and guitar left me short of breath. Plowing through security with the greatest of ease, facilitated by the in-country staff, all sixty eight of us were split onto two separate charter buses. One designated for the Youth and Family program and the other for the Community Health volunteers.
Upon arriving at our hostel we were split into rooms with four people in each. Though it has the title of Hostel, it far surpasses the average expectation. With a spacious dining room, game room (the pool table only has six balls though, can’t have everything I suppose), beautiful tile flooring complimented nicely by the open air courtyard separating all the rooms.
We were fed a traditional dish before calling it an early night.

6/18/10
7am breakfast consisting of toast, scrambled eggs, jam and fresh cheese whose animal origins remain unknown, but speculatively delicious.
We boarded the buses full of good food and excitement. Our destination was the Peace Corps headquarters for a full day of information, immunization shots (I only needed a rabies boosters, others suffered a worse fait of up to five shots), program information, mug shots (so the staff could identify us). Oh, and how could I forget our surprise Spanish oral placement test! ( I think I did well!)
The local and foreign staff are some of the most kind and welcoming people I have had the pleasure of meeting! I am really excited to begin our work here and get done with the next few days filled paper work and information sessions!
Ciao for now!
Tristan

Saturday June 19th, 2010
We departed Quito to head to our separate host families located in Cayambe ( a smaller city about an hour and a half north by bus). The scenery outside the bus was breathtaking; cliffs and valleys and colorful homes. The previous night we were placed into groups of 4-5 based on language skills and scattered about the area to live host families (one trainee per host family). I have a decent grasp of the Spanish language and was still very nervous to be thrown off of bus into a culture where English isn’t spoken and told, “see you Monday for class” which of course, was said in Spanish.
My host parents however, put my mind at ease. Jose and Carlota could not be nicer people and have been hosting Peace Corps. (Cuerpo de paz) trainees for years. Their house is connected to the back of the shop where the kitchen and living room reside. The living quarters are up a spiral staircase.
I do not consider myself a tall person by any means. However here, I worry about hitting my head on low ceilings and my feet stick off the end of the bed (Alex would be in real trouble!)
My host brother who is 21 was very enthusiastic about my arrival (as was the rest of the family). After a very filling lunch of soup, rice, papas fritas (Freedom fries), chicken and some veggies we headed out the Fiesta de Rosas. One of the town’s main exports is, and has been flowers. So every year they have a big festival which includes parades of people dancing and a few on horseback. Some of these cabelleros had vodka bottles in hand and made it apparent that it was not the first of the day and it was only 1pm. The atmosphere was fun, loud and full of Cayambe pride.
Rain is a frequent thing in Cayambe and it does not seem to bother people, merely inconvenience them. After the parade we headed to a “rally” with “carros.” So I thought maybe they mean rally cars, but no I had to be mistaken, how could that redneck stuff make it down here?
It has, and it is awesome! We watched ATVs, trucks, motorcycles and at one point a lose cow speed around the muddy dirt track for a few hours. Then it was back home for another filling meal and bed time. İ Buenas noches!

Sunday June 20th, 2010
We to start, today royally kicked ass. I set my alarm for 7am thinking that would be sufficient, it wasn’t. At 6:37 am I awoke the sounds of Spanish rock blasting from below and it was time to start the day. Grabbed my camera and a quick swig of what I hoped was boiled water in the jug on the table and we were off.
Myself, my two host brothers and Jose climbed into his truck and headed off into the hills to a secluded, fenced in dirt futbol field. The field was up a long winding hill about a mile and half. At the bottom a bunch of guys just hopped in the truck (much like in Africa) and up we went. I later found out that they were some of the rival team’s players, but no animosity was shown.
The game was very entertaining and taken very seriously. However, I had trouble holding back laughs when the occasional dog would take a nap on the field or chase a stray candy wrapper around. Some of the dogs were so revved up about the game they felt the need to procreate on the sidelines. The game ended in a tie, which I thought was good since it started off with them losing 2-0, but they wanted the win.
When we got home around 11am we ate breakfast. Then suddenly Carlota grabs here jacket and says “vamos!” So naturally I say “un momento,” run and grab my camera. I find out in the packed car, seat belts available and unused, we were heading to the races.
Yesterday’s races were fun, but I did not want to watch dune buggies again for another four hours with 30 other personas. But today was Sunday, which in Cayambe means “race day.” It was like being at a Nascar™ tailgate. We backed the two pickups right against the barbed wire fence intended to hold back spectators. And the next thing I know I see three beefed up off road trucks barreling down the track at full throttle through thick mud and flinging it everywhere, including my pants and jacket. Heaven. Apparently Cayambe is Spanish for “middle of Tennesse.”
During the race we all shared a couple of beers. It is tradition to have only one cup amongst friends. One person pours the drink, passes it to someone who drinks the small glass of beer and then flings the foam left in the cup on the ground and passes it back. (screw grammar it’s a blog)
Some of the trucks got stuck in the gargantuan mud pits and relied on the ingenuity of the fans to set them free (all attempts failed). What proved most effective and entertaining was the back-ho. I felt bad for the driver as he tried to drag the stuck racers our, he was receiving contradicting instructions from about fifty different fans and drivers who were convinced they knew better.
They say pictures are worth a thousand words. I just wrote 223 on the subject and barely scratched the awesomeness that is Ecuadorian off road racing.
Tomorrow is the first day of our intense Spanish tutoring. I am excited to see my fellow group members and hear their stories of their first few days.