And So It Begins...

For the first time in my life I am completely out of my element, and I love it! Two days, and what feels like a lifetime, ago I arrived in Quito. Having landed pretty late Thursday night, Friday was a nice relaxed day. The "old girls" (the girls that came in July and are half way through their "adventure") got up and made a yummy breakfast for us. After that we had an orientation that briefed us on the house we were living in, and more importantly the orphanages. After the 3 hours of learning, tryin not to nod off, the other girls returned from their shifts. Oh and p.s. the new "group" that I came down consisted of me and another girl, who is awesome. So after orientation we finally got to get out of the house! Quito is incredible. It's amazing how it grows on you. There are definitely the more ghetto parts, but there are for sure some gorgeous architecture except for the most part you can't see them due to the high cement fences topped by electric barbed wire, and/or broken glass. We went to this outdoor market, called the Artisan where there are scarves, purses, hammocks (dunno why) other trinckets, and lots of bartering!! it still blows my mind that I am in South America, but it is definitely starting to sink in with the little things. For example, ONLY bottled water, no flushing toilet paper etc. down the toilets, buzzing in 3 doors & gates before letting someone in, and no cell phones :) interestingly enough when I first got here, walking out from the airport to the car and seeing some of what I would consider run down areas, and thinking what the heck am I doing here. Even after just two days I'm already coming to love this city.