my first days...

July 2
Arrived to find my bag missing. Not worried or even concerned until I realized I needed contact solution - and low and behold Sara had some for me to borrow! My host mama is warmth incarnate and I cannot believe how fortunate I am! I am sharing a room with a total sweetheart named Lisa. Tara and Anton, the heads of the program are in a word: delightful. All is great except I don't know enough Spanish. Oops.
July 3
Woke up to a delicious meal of fresh exotic fruit, coffee and rolls and marmalade that my host mama makes herself. (in case you were worried about my vegetation diet - she is a vegetarian also and so is Lisa. Yippee!!) then my host mama walked Lisa and I to our orientation (after a whole lot of confusion because I don't know if I mentioned, but I don't really speak Spanish well just yet.)
On the way to orientation (wearing the same clothes I wore the day before) I was hit by a car going less than 2 miles per hour. My host mama called the dude who was backing out of his driveway words I couldn't understand, but "imbicile" was definitely in there.
Our orientation was great. Churches, shopping for cheap beautiful jewelry, tours of the ciudad de quito, tour of a palace... Then to top it all off my roomie bought me a delicious beverage that tasted like the middle of warm blueberry pie. Que delisioso! We went back to where we started our day, this group of incredible people (joined by a love of new cultures and a desire to help others) and we watched a pride concert with four drag queens and a bunch of hilarious American music.
Today, besides losing my luggage and getting hit by a slow moving vehicle, I also almost got my wallet stolen. It was all quite surreal. Just before we got on the bus the first time, Tara gave us a safety lesson and we discussed that people will target us, etc. Etc. So we are o this crazy busy bus and this woman with nice clothes and jewelry was all saddled up next to me. We were riding for like 3 stops when I felt her hand slyly move between my bag and my waist - so I grabbed my zipper ever so slyly myself. When she has nonchalantly grabbed it I was already holding strong. She looked at me and I looked at her and we both smiled. In my mind her smile said, "you can't blame me for trying, gringa. It's nothing personal." In my mind my smile said, "I am not gonna judge. Who knows what I would be doing if I was in your place." honestly, I thought it was a beautiful moment.
Lisa, sara, Andrea and I all live super close, so we took a cab home and then Lisa and I had this amazing soup with cheese and then this amazing egg and potato dish I had to take a picture of. Our host mama is a great cook and I can't stop being part of the clean plate club. Good thing I am beginner fitting Monday.
Then, because my suitcase is still m.I.a., Lisa and I went out for a glass of wine at a place down the street. It was so fun - we definitely bonded and she is even cooler than I could have even hoped.
July 4
Happy Fourth of July from Ecuador! This place is beyond incredible. We went to look at our respective work sites today. I didn't realize remar is an all-girls home! So excited to learn from these girls who have seen more in their 3-15 years of life than I have in my lifetime. We went up the mountain to the outskirts of Quito and saw a little chica with a bag that I thought were smarties at first glance. Turns out they were chicken feet. Like ya do. Sara who is from chitown said she felt like she was on a set of a movie. She took the words out of my mouth. This much desolation my eyes have never seen. Never. But rather thAn want to change or fix anything here, I thank goodness I am getting this experience to see what the world really holds. i am gaining a better understanding of why people immigrate to America. And on the day of our independence. It's an amazing experience and suitcase or not, fluency or not - this is the best most eye-opening two days I have ever had.
Then we all met for lunch and Tara got a phone call that my suitcase had found its way to Quito! The whole table applauded. Again - couldn't ask for a better group of people. TarA took me to the airport where I had an important cultural lesson in waiting. Waiting. And waiting - don't worry. Just wait. I dug it.
I GOT MY SUITCASE!!!
Then we met up at a coffee shop and chatted and went our separate ways toss get a good night's sleep to prepare for our work and Spanish lessons tomorrow. Dinner was amazing and now I am about ready for bed. Trying to understand Spanish makes me super cansado.
Goodnight! Buenos noches!