Ecuador. Es un País muy linda!

Estoy aquí! And Ecuador is beautiful! I spent all of Thursday traveling and arrived in Cuenca yesterday morning. I’ve only been here two days but, it feels like home already. I came down with a group of eight girls and there are four others who have been here seven weeks already. I’ve already gotten to know a lot them really well; it’s been easy to clique since we are all here for the same reason. We live in the OSSO house with the Roseros family, who are really wonderful people, they are completely devoted to serve us however they can. Yesterday we did orientation, got a tour of the city, and just got settled in. Today we started work in the orphanages!

There are about seven orphanages that we work in, and we all split up and do different shifts at each. I was so happy to go straight to work. Our morning shifts start at seven and so with bread or fruit in hand we all piled into the van. The orphanage that I worked in today is really beautiful and is actually a historic site of Cuenca. It used to be a famous hotel and has a windmill in front and small gardens everywhere. As we went in, the kids started shouting and ran up and hugged the volunteers that they already knew with grins on their faces. There are three main groups of kids that we were working with today and the two older volunteers each took a group and a girl named Emily who came down with me and I took the other group. Emily and I are really the only two with Spanish experience and thank goodness we both did because with the group that we had we needed it! The children are about 2 to 5 years old and each group has about 7 kids and they are wonderful! We play with them and do educational activities and really just love them up as much as we can. Most of the kids just love you right off the bat and want you to do everything with them. I would read them a book and as soon as it was over they wanted me to read it again or I’d sing them a song and they’d make me sing it again. They love to show me what they can learn and will tell me the colors of everything. By the end they wouldn’t let me go, they wouldn’t let me put them down, they wouldn’t stop hugging me; it is no wonder that they win your heart so quickly. I am so glad that I am here. When we left for lunch I was completely exhausted but, felt fantastic.

This afternoon I had off with Chondra, a girl from Maine, while everyone else went back for another shift. I will admit that I was a little disappointed to have a break right away, I couldn’t wait to go back. Chondra and I went shopping and site seeing with our new knowledge of the city. Generally I am a very stingy shopper but, there is this great little tienda that has tons of beautiful jewelry, bags, sweaters, etc. that won me over today and I’m afraid I am going to spend all of my money there. The lady who owns the shop is really wonderfully sweet and loves the OSSO volunteers and gives us 10% off of the already cheap prices of everything we purchase. I think my favorite thing about the shop is her, she is so sweet and will tell me the history behind everything she’s selling. As great as the shop was it was really incredible just to explore this city. There are Cathedrals everywhere and the buildings are gorgeous to me. I can not get over the colors and stonework and murals. The horizon is lined with lush green mountains that can be seen from nearly anywhere in the city. I love Provo’s mountains but, I can already tell that am going to have a hard time coming home from this place.

One of the most fun surprises that I have had since I got here was how much Spanish I actually know. I understand almost everything and have been able to communicate with everyone so well. I can talk to the kids about everything and I have been able to understand the workers just fine. Getting around the city today was a breeze and I have been able to express just about everything that I have wanted to so far. It is bizarre to me how well I’ve been doing and how much I’ve picked up in a day. Two days ago I was terrified of Spanish but, I’ve never felt as comfortable with Spanish in my life as I do with it today. I definitely still have a ton to improve but, I have felt so good using the Spanish that I do know.

I have taken too much time writing already but I just wanted to say that I love you all and let you know how happy I am already to be here. These past two days have been so full of GOOD! I love you all and please keep me posted I want to know how you all are! Te quiero mucho!

Diana