Welcome to Ecuador.

It was really great to spend a night in Toronto with some of the other Intercordians. They´re all really great people. After our long trip, we finally arrived in Quito where we´re welcomed by our supervisor from FRI which is the organization Intercordia is partnered with here in Ecuador. We spent 2 days in a hostal in Quito where we had an orientation to prepare us for the program. I really enjoyed getting to know the other Intercordians doing the program here in Ecuador.

Last Thursday we were brought to our host families. We all live within 30min to an hour away from each other. I was the first one to get off the van. My host parents are super sweet, always making sure I´m well. I have two host brother, they´re both really great although we´re shy at the beginning. I have really interesting conversations with my host families and it´s really nice to learn from them about Ecuador. I have my own room but the house is very small. They have the basic necessities. No hot water but they have a kind of stove which they heat water with. I started my work placement last Friday. The kids are extremely cute. The day care is simple but well decorated an homy. When I got there the first day, one of the kids said ¨Ah, ya viene la gringita!¨, which  means ¨Ah, the foreign girl has arrived!¨. They use the word gringa to describe anyone who´s foreing, but the little girl called me gringita which means like small or cute foreigner! It was really cute. I mostly help the one women taking care of about 15-20 kids.There´s usually someone esle there to cook for the kids. It´s a lot of work though, the kids take up a lot of your energy! But anyways, I finish volunteering around one so I´ve started working at the hopital in Cayambe during the afternoons with Janice (another Intercordian). It´s very interesting work and sometimes a bit disturbing but I should get used to it.

During the first few days I was here, I felt pretty homesick and I was pretty shocked to be living in a completely different environment than what I´m used to. It´s a constant challenge to try to accustom myself to the different language, culture and values. But now it´s gotten much better. I feel less homesick and I´m actually starting to get used to this.

I hope everyone is well at home. If you´re reading this please leave a small comment so I know I´m not writing to no one! Chao, besooos!