A short update!

Hello!!

I have been staying quite busy teaching and having fun here! Some highlights/interesting bits from Ecuador:

As I’m sure many of you heard, there was quite a situation here on September 30. The police and military were protesting a new law that takes away some of their benefits, so they went on strike, set tire fires, threw tear gas, and closed major highways and the airport. The president of Peru even closed the borders. We got out of school early, but before that, I was in a class with fifth graders who had heard something was going on and were panicking and crying. I had no idea what was happening or what to tell them that they could understand. Cami and I went home and stayed home because it wasn’t safe to leave. At night, the police were trying to get the president from the hospital he was at (he was injured in the protest). Most of the police were back by the weekend, but it still wasn’t completely back to normal for a few days. It was quite an experience, and strangely, it didn’t feel very different for me, but we didn’t see any of the protest, and we stayed home.

Here are some pictures from an outdoor market and photograhpy at a beautiful big park:

              

Last weekend I went to Nanegal with Cami and some other friends. It was so wonderful. We went to a waterfall and climbed and swam in it. There were beautiful tropical plants everywhere! We stayed at a lovely resort and enjoyed relaxing and swimming and the warm weather! Here are some pictures:

And here is a picture of our living room (since I forgot it last time):

My students are still pretty cute. They like to make me little art projects and cards and give me hugs…and food.

My Spanish is improving, and I´m going to start taking classes to get even better. I can´t wait!

I’m missing fall and everything that comes with it: leaves changing, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and wearing warm clothes. But I am definitely not complaining about the steady 70 degree days.

Alright, bye for now!!