hello my dear friends. . .
so i have just arrived back from my crazy orientation, which has exposed me to
so many things so far. Everything is just beautiful here. . .Mountains surround
everything and the weather is absolutely perfect everyday. I have to say that
things have been a bit rough so far, but my program is going to be amazing and
i have met some very inspiring people. It{s a very odd feeling to walk through
a city and be the only North American around, but i think that it puts many
things into perspective. I don{t really know what to say, because i haven{t
even begun to process anything, but I will begin writing more often.

I{m going to meet with my new family today and live in a town as the exchange
student that everyone makes fun of, but hopefully they will like me! my program
encourages us to only hang out with our families and attempt to make ecuadorian
connections, so the past week has been like kindergarten. everyone spoke
english all the time. we{ll see. . . Last night i went to sutra, a funky bar,
and drank hot sangria and margaritas. and i have been learning how to salsa!
Yet, it{s really strange. . .i can{t have male friends here. they all think
that because i am nice that i want something from them. machismo is a really
wierd concept, and i have not quite accepted it yet. Monday morning i begin my
spanish classes for 5 hours a day for 4 weeks!!! But i also have a spanish
seminar on indigenous groups and shamanism and crazy holistsic healing. Also, I
think that I am going to be shadowing a shaman in the rainforest for my 4 week
independent study. so all this will be interesting. I miss you guys so much and
think about you all the time, but i have my pictures and i show them to
everyone! Anyway, i{m going to go eat, because they feed us here every 2 hours
and they are deeply offended if you don{t finish everything on your plate! But
it is very yummy. Anyway, love you guys.

please send me the address list as an email because i can{t open it!

lys- I{m so sorry about your friend. Keep strong. i love you

Love,
laura