some pictures (that belong to other people) and not necessarily described in the right order, (i cant tell where they will go!): josh, me and jed after winning a game against ecuadorians. me at the cascada de peguche. my mom, me, ellie and her mom (who is my mom's aunt). me eating PIE for the first time, with a brand new ($2) scarf and lovely camille (and her new panama hat).



pollo campero: kfc's competition here in ecuador (yes, kfc has made its way here). so you order some popcorn chicken and fries to go, awesome and delicious, right? right but when you open up the little baggy with condiments and you find ketchup, mayonnaise (just as popular as ketchup with the same things you use ketchup for), a napkin and cheap plastic gloves for your convenience.

the buses really fascinate me. if you ride one for at least 20 minutes someone is bound to hop on and makes a speech about cds, dvds, or vitamins they want you to buy off them. once a musician jumped on and played a couple songs on guitar and then went around with his hands out looking for some appreciation in the form of money. he's the only person i've given money to. these vendors or many assortments don't have to pay to get on the bus, either.

young boys will follow you down a block trying to convince you to get your shoes shined by them, even if you are wearing sneakers, saying how dirty they are and how they need to be cleaned. young girls sit on corners with their moms selling lollipops to cigarettes to phone cards. they all have dirty faces.

everyday i notice more and more political graffitti, some as simple as SI or NO. and even if itn't directly about the constitution, it still seems to have a position on the matter, now that i understand the underlying politics to a certain extent.

it rains almost everyday but it never pours.

bad ceviche can make you hallucinate.

basketball is a no contact sport in ecuador.

today the doctor gave a shot in a female patient's rear. he explained to me how to find the right spot to do that in (thumb at the hip bone, spread fingers diagonally inward and that's about right).

lots of women lack iron (hierro).