A full moon is shining down on Quito tonight, and we are perched high above the city, watching the lights twinkle.  Team Ecuador 2012 finds itself in an exceptional spot tonight, staying as guests of our in country contact, Sarah Dettman!  A bonfire is crackling, s'mores are being rapidly consumed, and the laughter is infectious.  Our third full day here in Ecuador is coming to a close, and I'm happy to report it was a productive one!  

The first two days were an orientation extravaganza!  We began our journey with name games, ice-breakers and an Ecuador trivia game at a local park.  We then visited a glorious folkloric dance performance and visited some ornate churches in historic Quito, around Plaza Independencia and Plaza de San Francisco.  There was a lot going on in Quito on Sunday especially…the city was uber alive, with lots of folks enjoying the music and culture that surrounded us! We enjoyed our first “Almuerzo” (set, fixed price lunch) and did a scavenger hunt in a local plaza…which challenged our students to ask for directions and speak Spanish! We then climbed the Basilica, an incredible example of neo-gothic architecture offering sweeping views of the city and it’s surrounding mountain regions.  We cooked our first meal as a group Sunday night---delicious pasta and salad prepared by Isaac, Emma, Emily, Julia and Mickey! 

Monday was a busy one too! We visited the Pichincha volcano on the Teleferico gondola and hiked a bit around the top of the 14,000 foot peak! Here, we experienced more gorgeous views of the Ecuadorian landscape! It was breathtaking! On Monday we also visited……….

………THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD! (La Mitad del mundo!)  We all took turns putting one foot on each hemisphere and did several experiments on the line that divides our fine planet (does water in a drain go straight down? can you balance an egg on a nail on the equator?) We’ll be happy to share what we learned when we return, just ask 

Today was the highly anticipated day of meeting up with our Liceo del Valle international school counterparts for a waterfall excursion and a friendship camp planning session!  Upon arriving at the school, we discovered a large group waiting for us--a bit larger than we expected, but we were up for the challenge.  After a few quick games, we were well on our way to integrating the two groups into a cohesive unit.  The hike to the waterfall (Cascadas de Pita) was substantial!  We passed through a verdant canyon, crossing a couple of streams, and keeping our eyes peeled for hummingbirds.  A massive waterfall greeted us, and our adventurous group wasted no time--gingerly sampling the icy cold waters.  Refreshing, to say the least.  Sarah and her lovely family had prepared a fantastic barbeque lunch for us, complete with grilled choclo (corn), hamburgers, hotdogs, and some mighty tasty veggie patties.  The planning session commenced, and the 30+ students joined forces, sharing ideas on how to make a stellar camp for Ecuadorian youngsters.  After much deliberation, we came away with a solid plan for the Friendship Camp, including elements of theater, art, dance, sports, and even some English instruction!   

Tomorrow we are off to El Oriente--------THE JUNGLE! We are looking forward to experiencing more of Ecuador’s bio-diversity and natural beauty before returning to Quito on Monday to begin our Homestays and friendship camp!