Mariscal!

So right now, my housemates and our neighbor are in Mariscal at an internet cafe....this area is quite înteresting in that it is very modern and loud but very cool. Internet cafes are very popular here and I have realized that I am very spoiled by our wireless connection.
Yesterday a bunch of the girls in the program decided to go down to La Plaza Grande and we actually ended up getting lost because the trolle was not working because there was a MARATHON =) going on. It was really cool watching all these people run...I took a picture! We then ended up walking 5 miles (no lie) and saw La Basilica and a bunch of other cool cultural sites. It was nice walking and we ate lunch at this fusion chinese/ecuadorian place. My lunch cost 2 bucks...no lie. It was fabulous. We then took a different trolle and went back to the Spanish school to have orientation. My clinic schedule is as follows:
Week 1 - Walk-in Clinic at La Magdalena
Week 2 - Hospital Militar (Surgeria)
Week 3 - Hospital Espejo Eugenio (Emergencia)
Week 4 - La Maternidad
From the looks of the orientation...it is going to be intense because there is only one or two people per rotation....but I am happy because that means more attention! I start on Wednesday. For the first two weeks, it will be a combination of clases and clinic. Last night we ate dinner with our Host Ammachi around 7 and then spent a lot of time talking to her. She has a lot of stories to tell and she is really good about correcting our Spanish when we speak. She was a teacher for 52 years and she taught spanish and french. She then owned a daycare with her daughter but in 2000, she lost the daycare when the Ecuadorian economy started going down. The sucre was changed to the dollar and although it was to help stabilize the economy, a lot of people were negatively affected financially. So sad...but she is so strong and so loving. She always calls us her hijitas which means little daughters.
Today we had more orientation and walked around to all the hospitals. Getting around is often tough because the trolle system is confusing, but it is getting better and my spanish is flowing much better. I wish I had more stories to tell but we have not done anything super exciting as of yet. Everyone in the program is nice. We begin Spanish classes tomorrow and I have already started reading the grammar book...I know...nerdy...esto es mi. (this is me.) =)
Overall, Ecuador is a beautiful country. It is really like being in Bombay....my room is beautiful and at times, I feel very spoiled...which also could mean blessed. =)
I miss everyone...a lot.
Adios!
Praying for everyone!
Con amor,
-gina-