First Week in Otavalo

The hot springs at Papallacta were wonderful. The water is heated from the volcanoes surrounding the area, and the people collect the runoff water funneling them into the hotspring baths (more like hot tubs). The tubs are built with volcanic rock. The water and minerals are supposed to be great for your skin. The spa here is famous, so everyone got a massage. I had a very relaxing neck & back massage.

Hot springs at Papallacta

When our bus pulled into the University of Otavalo last Sunday, I started to panic. WHAT did I get myself into? How was I going to survive in a house where nobody speaks English? Well, the first night my shower was cold and I was woken up at 4:00 am by ten barking puppies. Yes, ten. However, they are SO adorable and fun to play with:

My two favorite German Shepherd puppies

My family is very nice - Their names are Julio and Acacia. They have two sons who live in Quito: One of them is a doctor, married, and has one daughter. The other is in law school, and he is taking his LSATs this weekend! 

My host mom is constantly telling me to eat more, and makes me fresh fruit juice from her garden every morning - delicious! My favorite is guanabana. (She taught me how to correctly use the hot water in the shower!) Every night at dinner my host dad makes me get out my Spanish work from class that day, and then quizzes me on the words I wrote next to in English. Yesterday I decided to try not writing anything on my paper in English to see if I would be quizzed on any words...He quizzed me on all of them instead.

  

This is a Guanabana 

My first day of teaching was this week! So far, everything is going well and I love my students. They are very attentive and eager to learn. Sometimes they forget my name so they just call me "Teacher." We are teaching Basic First Aid to our students. The first day, we surprised them with a skit where I had a bloody nose, and my teaching partner had to take care of me. I must say I am a fabulous actress - all the kids were laughing with (at?) me. 

 

So far, I am having a wonderful time here in Ecuador! This weekend we are hiking a local volcano (a 4 hour hike!), going horseback riding, shopping in the market, and planning lessons for next week! We only get internet at the university, so bear with me as I try to keep up with my blog! 

Hasta luego!