Bienvenidos!

Buenas Tardes Family and Friends!

I am here! The five of us living in Monte Sinai just completed our 5th(ish) day of orientation and earned our very first nap time- which I have selflessly sacrificed for all of you. (Actually I had to DRAG myself out of bed after a 90 minute nap. The heat really sucks the energy out of you South of the Ecuador).
We had the privilege of spending our fist four days with the out-going Monte Sinai volunteers, who spent their second year in Ecuador building community in Monte Sinai. We have gone from house to house meeting all of our neighbors, drinking cola at each one. To everyone, we are the ¨new gringos¨ in the neighborhood. The neighbors had grown to love Amy, Danny, Tracy, and Caroline (The pioneers of this site) dearly - so these visits were bitter sweet, saying goodbyes and hellos at the same time. I am ecstatic to move in.
These next two weeks, however will be spend in orientation at the retreat houses in Duran. Every day we take new bus routes to the various work paces around Duran and Guayaquil.  Since our trusty Mt. Sinai experts left, we are supposed to know the bus system.  I think most of you know that this is no small feat for me -- coming from the boonies of South Dakota. 
 
More about our neighbors in Mt. Sinai (because I am super excited about them).  We live just down the road from the San Felipe School, where Marita will be teaching kindergarten through 2nd grade.  This school was founded by Colombian nuns, who are hilarious.  Our first day, they welcomed us with a feast -- squash soup, chicken, rice, vegetables, and cola.  Cola is the drink of choice here, so I may be coming home with a few cavities.  They topped the meal off with rum ice cream over lime jello squares.  So, yes Dad.  I am getting my ice cream fix every once in a while.  By the way, the nuns´names are Lucelli, Mayra, and Paula.  I am trying to learn names as quickly as possible so I can initiate my Spanish conversations with gusto.  (I think I give the impression of knowing Spanish when I first meet people...  They quickly find out that I am absolutely lost after the initial salutations).  Wellington (one of our guards) assured me that I will be understanding most conversations in two months.  That is 60 days of having little idea of what is going on around me.  Humbling. 
 
Many of the neighbors have extended invitations to teach us how to cook Ecuadorian cuisine.  I have a feeling there will be plenty of cola involved.  We also met Felix and Laura - a sweet couple in their fifties who live right down the block from us.  Laura has been cooking for the construction workers at our houses.  She will probably want to continue cooking for us.  We have yet to explain to her that our naive Gringo stomachs need to adjust before diving into home cooking.  I need to practice that speech before going off on my own.  :)
 
Monica and her four kids live about 3 blocks away.  Valeria is her oldest (16yrs) and seems super interested in American culture.  Apparently Monica and Valeria are expecting daily visits from us.  Down the road from Monica, live Nelli and Luciella.  Nelli is 60 years old, with 10 kids (although she has given birth to 16 kids in her home) and has more than 40 grandchildren.  She about fell off her chair when Aaron asked if she could name them all.  haha.  I was actually wondering the same thing.  Nelli´s daughter is 27 and single -- waiting to meet a man who truly respects her.  Most of the women we have met have kids by their early 20´s.  Luciella also cuts hair and does nails for $1.50.  Yes Aimee, I may have to break down and get my nails done a couple of times this year.  Nelli is surprisingly blatant, and I am guessing has an incredible life story. 
 
Marina lives across the road from the nuns -- we met two of her 9 children - Sandra and Antonio, along with Antonio´s wife, Anna, and daughter, Allison (2 yrs. old).  Marian´s family lives all over Mt. Sinai.  They come from a campo up in the mountains.  Marina is also expecting daily visits.  She told us that Danny helped build her house, and cooks with her everyday.  That´s another thing.  Ecuadorians tend to exaggerate.  Apparently Danny put 3 nails into her wall one day and helped prepare one meal.  Expectations are high around here. 
 
One last neighbor to tell you about before you fall asleep.  MariJuana lives around the corner from Marina.  MariJuana is a member of one of the indigenous families in the neighborhood.  (These families often come from campos up in the mountains).  We are getting the feeling that there are underlying prejudices against the indigenous families.  More to come on that once I actually understand the language.
 
Oh yes, my work site!  Hogar de Cristo is a 20 minute bus ride from my house.  I lucked out with only having to take one bus to work and one home.  Also the 3 buses that pass by our house all pass by my work.  Pretty hard to get lost. 
 
Hopar de Cristo is the largest nonprofit in South America.  I am working at a brand new sight in the health clinic (Which does not exactly exist yet).  As a Jesuit program (YAY!), they focus on providing the basic rights to women and children in the poorest neighborhoods along the Coast.  The complex is huge - bustling with women going to micro financing classes, women´s empowerment groups, a food basket program, a high school, and health clinic.  More to come on my placement as I find out more info.
 
Mom is dying to hear about the food.   Just as disclaimer for Mom and Tracy -- I AM taking my vitamins.  During orientation, we are living extremely simply.  Bread, bananas, and instant coffee for breakfast.  Tuna fish sandwiches for lunch, and a cooking lessons with Diana, Ricardo, and Aide for supper.  Lentils and eggs are going to be the main source of protein -- cooked with veggies and a TON of salt.  We have also had tortillas de papas (mashed potatoes formed into patties with cheese stuffed in the middle, fried in egg and oil).  For every meal, we also have fried plantains and some sort of fruit.  The fruit is incredible down here!  Banana´s and mandarins are the hot items, lots of pineapple and watermelon too!  I am definitely in fruit heaven.  We buy our food meal by meal.  There are small stores lining the streets with fresh bread and the basic necessities.  Refrigerators are not especially cold down here, so we will try to keep down the critters and microbes by eating fresh.  Speaking of critters and microbes, the water truck comes by every now and then to fill up our cistern.  Aaron and I have guesstimated our cistern to be about 10 feet deep...  We have to clean it every 6 weeks if we want to stay considerably healthy this year.  The cistern cleaning will be a good community bonding experience.  And a dirty job for anyone who decides to misbehave.  :)
 
One more thing, and I better wrap this up.  The incoming volunteer group is incredibly musical!  We have daily jam sessions with multiple guitars, a mandolin, harmonica, and Brendan even brought a trumpet.  Eric, I bet you are jealous right now.  We had one hilarious night of Bb blues, using a bowl as a plunger mute.  (Thanks Cat for disclosing various parts of my musical past to Kipp). 
 
I think of my family and friends in the states often.  It is such a privilege to be here in Ecuador -- I thank every single one of you for your love and support.  Shoot me an email sometime -- I always appreciate updates on your lives as well!
 
PS.  Grandma -- the nuns have a couple of unused garden beds, but no time to tackle a gardening project.  They are super excited about the seeds that you sent.
 
Dad -- I learned a joke in Spanish that you might find funny.  But it is much better in person.