Drop Off

Today we woke up and ate with the majority of our group in our hostel. We spent ime getting to know names and faces. After breakfast we had some boring orientation safety and cultural awareness lectures. We set our minds on autopilot as the topics became more dry. Then out of no where we were given our first assignment: the drop off. Essentially what happened was we were given 10 dollars, a business card with the address of our hostel and a photocopy of our passport and then were told to get on a certain bus and not to get off of it for 20 minutes. Then once off the bus find lunch, explore, start a conversation with a local about environmental problems in Quito, buy a pair of rubber boots for our time in the amazon and make it back to our hostel in 4 hours. We had no map, no idea where we were or where we were going, no idea of how the bus network works, and we had to do all of it on a budget.

What I learned: buses do not start or stop when you get on or off, they will slow down and then you jump. Also food is extremely affordable. My lunch (a bowl of soup, rice, chicken, a salad, juice and a potato dish- $2)

We have almost all fully adjusted to the altitude, however we still have trouble sleeping (waking up and feeling as though you have just run 5 miles. My roommate got up and tried to drink some water and last night and fainted in the bathroom)

We have one more day of orientation tomorrow, more academic rather than cultural, including spanish placement.

But all in all, life is good: no stomach parasites (yet), I am happy, healthy and safe. Much love to my friends and family. I miss you all

Arrival

I made it. I have arrived without incident. No other news.

Where I'm Gonna Be....

August 29th- Arrive in Quito (still have no place to sleep for this night)

August 30th-September 5th- Program official start date. Orientation in Quito. Includes one day at Yanacocha Mountain Forest Reserve (10,500 ft)

September 5th-12th- Excursion to La Florida Cloud Forest with Rural Homestay

September 13th-27- Classes in Quito Begin. Comparative Ecology. Field Research. Intensive Spanish. Extended Homestay begins. One day at Páramo (12000 ft)

September 28th-October 5th- Excursion to the Amazon Basin at Tiputini Biodiversity Station.

October 6th-19th- Continued classes and homestay in Quito. Short Excursion the Páramo Highland Station (12000 ft)

October 20th-27th- Excursion to Los Galápagos

October 28th- November 6th- Conclusion of classes in Quito and extended homestay

November 7-December 5th- Independent Study Project. Unknown location.

December 6th-11th- Oral Presentations and Program conclusion.

December 12th- End of Program.

December 12th-18th- Independent Travel

December 19th- Return to Minnesota