I finally do something interesting...

And then I stop blogging. Seriously?

After months of planning, saving, and worrying, I have finally arrived in Quito, Ecuador. I have so much I want to write about! The actual city and how beautiful it is, the people I've met here, the culture, and most importantly MY NINOS!! Please excuse the lack of tildas/accents in my use of Espanol. I'm not that good at using my Mac, as much as I love her.

Ok I'll start with the less important (though quite amazing) details of my experience so far, so that the rest of my writing can be about my kids. But just to give you a preview, I love them more than words can say.

To sum up the city of Quito, I'll tell you the first 10 things that come to my mind that I have learned/seen/loved so far:
1. Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way. In fact, most cars speed up when they see you crossing.
2. Don't smile at people, especially men. I can't help it though!
3. Ecuadorians are really good bad drivers.
4. People here dress very nicely. I felt extremely underdressed on my trip to the grocery store in jeans, a sweatshirt, and my Vans.
5. The fresh pan (bread) smells INCREDIBLE when you walk by los Panederias. My gluten intolerance does not like this.
6. Movies are only $1.50. I'm not sure how I'm going to be accepted back into the states with the 20 movies I've already purchased...
7. Taxi drivers rip off American girls. Grr...
8. We're not allowed to flush paper products down the toilet. Yes, that includes toilet paper. Ew.
9. The rolling hills are breathtaking, and even though it's pollution that makes the sun shine the way it does in the morning, I still can't believe that what I'm seeing is real.
10. Uka and tuna-rolled-in-mashed-potatoes are the best dishes ever created.

The people we're staying with here are incredible. Their names are Angel and Jenny, and they have 3 kids. I still don't know them very well because of a slight language barrier/I'm too timid. From the way they welcomed us and have helped us feel at home, I know they are just plain good people. We don't see them much because they live up on the third floor in their separate apartment. Usually we just see them they come and go.

The house is really different than what I imagined. There is a nice kitchen, an eating area with a huge table that fits us all very nicely, and a family room with comfortable couches where we can watch movies or read (by the way, they've formed quite the library here). The upstairs is where all the volunteers stay. My roommate's name is Bethany, and we've become great friends. There's no one like that girl, I hope I can be like her when I grow up. All the other girls are really sweet and have been so welcoming. Unfortunately some of them leave in less than 3 weeks, so I gotta hurry up and befriend. I'll miss them!

We went on a tour of Quito this Friday, which was a TON of fun. We took a van over to a lookout that is apparently where the Road to el Dorado was. Then we went to the Basilica, which was breathtaking. I walked in and almost cried it was so beautiful. 500 stairs and 7 ladders later, we had climbed to the top of the highest tower in the cathedral. It was quite a workout, but definitely worth it. From there we could see the Panecillo, the huge statue of an angel that looks over Quito. I love that statue. We can see it from the orphanage and every time I see it looking down on us I think about how much our Heavenly Father loves those kids.

My favorite part of our Quito tour was the Artesian. The girls told me to only come with a certain amount of money or else I would go nuts. Boy were they right...There is so much amazing stuff there! I'm not so good at bargaining yet, but I think I'm learning the techniques. Apparently bargaining is expected, but some random vendors will be set on their prices, as I discovered during the following conversation:

Olivia: Cuanto cuesta?
Vendor: $2.00.
Olivia: Cincuenta.
Vendor: mmm...no. $2.00.
Olivia: Un dolar.
Vendor: No, $2.00.
(Olivia, shut your mouth!)
Olivia: $1.50.
Vendor: $2.00.
Olivia: Ok.

Like I said, I'm getting the hang of it. It's definitely something that takes practice. Luckily I've got a lot of shopping to do so I'll be a pro in no time.

So that's Quito! I love it here, and I've been so happy since the second I walked off the plane. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be here. It's a beautiful city and I've already learned so much about their unique culture. I can't wait to learn even more :).