One week down

Hi all! By now I've been down here for a full week, and what an incredible week it has been! Every day after classes I've gone out with my group of friends to explore a different part of Quito. We've done so much already it's difficult to image how much we will have seen and done in six months. I get the feeling that even after classes start, this is just going to continue to feel like one huge vacation. The plants are amazing, the city is fun and interesting, and as one of my friends says, the university is like a resort.

I've finally gotten around to starting up a web album for everyone to check out. The address is:

http://picasaweb.google.com/JoeyKilmer/

Pretty simple. I've uploaded pictures from my first few days here. Yesterday we had a big lunch at the house of a woman who's in charge of the program. I took many good pictures of her plants and other things, and as soon as I get my hands on my camera again (I left it at a friend's house last night), I'll upload them.

Tidbit: In Quito, the buses don't have coin receptacles like they do in the US. The buses here always run by two people: one to drive the bus and the other to collect money from people. Sometimes you give him money as you're leaving, and sometimes when you get on, and sometimes he'll walk down the aisle and collect your money while you're sitting. Also if you're on a bus in Quito and you're stopped at a red light, chances are a street vendor will walk on to your bus and go up and down the aisle trying to sell something like newspapers, candy, snacks, and other things. Right before the light turns green, he hops off the bus and goes back to trying to sell things on the street or find another bus to go on.