The heart of Quito sur

You really can't underestimate Latin America. It doesn't look like what we in fully developed countries are most comfortable with. When you look...you see concrete cinderblock houses , rebar sticking out of every roof... waiting erect for the next level that seems to never come, unfriendly broken glass topped walls, garbage, dogs, and beautiful children everywhere.

Latin America is proof that sanitary lives are not necessarily the most fun. For example, I have had diarrhea for te past three days which gives no signs of stopping...but I have also had more fun and been more hungover than ever before in my life.

We went out dancing last Friday in El Pintado which is a sector in far south Quito. It was named for a group of indigenous peoples who used Achote, a beautiful red seed berry in their hair. I was the only gringo the whole night long...which has it's ups and downs. We drank some really new liquor with fruit served almost hot, oh yeah, along with tequila. So much dancing! Really fun, then the next morning we were ALL hung over, so what did we do? Go buy Pilsner brand bear, sit in the front yard under the powerlines and drink it on ice. Jhonny's brother Diego taught me how to dance Bachata in the dirt road in front of the house. A really nice kid. Along with a nap that was the entire Saturday. By Sunday we had almost all recovered (your favorite gringita was still a bit blaaaah) and we washed our clothes by hand in the back yard.

Here is a little trip to Lloa with the family to buy milk and cheese...

The sun has set, the frogs are out and my spot here, on a board and a brick on the bare earth (also ready for construction) is now a bit cold. Tomorrow I go to the field site for the first time with Oscar Rojas and other than having entirely too little clothing for the cold mountains I am ready. Next post will have picturs of my field site.....