Manana, voy a comprar a una vaca.

What a week! I can’ t believe I’ve already been in country almost ten days. It seems unreal that I am even here, after talking about it for ten months. It was a fun first week and I learned quite a bit! Thursday was our second official day of program training and we learned about the emergency action plan as well. No restaurantes were open for lunch, so Jamie, Nicole and I were resourceful and bought a loaf of bread with some lunch meat. Que inteligentes! The cheetos were probably the best part of the day, no lie. On Wednesday night, I got to help my madre make empanadas. She said I had to learn and then do it myself, all alone, the next night. Thank goodness she was kidding! I helped shape the dough into circles so my sister Catalina could put the mixture inside – the first ones we made had onions, egg, and other veggies and the second ones had a piece of orito (the small banana). They were amazing. Although Caty did make fun of my inability to make circles, instead, mine were oval-shaped pieces of dough. Oh well, they tasted fantastic. Friday morning, we had to be in town at 7:15 so we could travel to una finca de one of the host families. The farm was amazing – it is an organic farm and so there is no waste. We learned about elevated seed beds, compost, green houses, tree grafting, worm beds, and cuy. We even saw a cuy be killed at the end. I am definitely going to have a worm bed at my site – I hate worms but the idea of them making the soil so useful is extremely interesting. We traveled back to our town, exhausted from a day in the campo, but excited because I got to wear my brand spankin’ new yellow rubber boots! Jamie and I were very noticeable among all the green. Saturday, we went into town to get some pizza and cervezas. The girls decided to actually look like females, and I learned my lesson not to wear brand new shoes on a day with alot of walking! We found a pizza place and it was good - not as good as papa john's, dominoes, italian village, etc etc etc. Then we bought some Ecuadorian Pilsener. Again, not as good as Magic Hat, Corona, Bud Light, PBR, etc. We passed the afternoon conversing and tomando, and left around 7. Jamie and I headed home where my madre already had food on the table. My host dad, brother, sister-in law and niece were there as well. I went to bed early after watching another episode of Flight of the Conchords on my (ben's) iPod. Ben Hilton - you would find that show funny. You and Ryan. Anyways, today is el dia de las mujeres and my host dad took us into town for ice cream! He also bought me a beer at the super market and handed it to me outside, so I was the gringa carrying a bottle of Pilsener to the car. Jaja. I took a short nap because (no offense to Slice or Lipford) 'In Defense of Global Capitalism' isn't the most excited book to re-read. Or even to read for the first time. I am seriously regretting not bringing the fourth installment of Twilight down here. I need to borrow some books muy pronto! I woke up, and we ate cuy (guinea pig). It was a little salty, but I enjoyed it. (Sorry to any child who has one as a pet). Now here I am in the internet cafe, using wireless high up in the Andes Mountains! Nicole and John, other gringos are here too. Interested to see what we learn this week! -SK