Welcome to the Fam

This weekend I finally met my host family.  Waiting for them to pick me up was one of the most stressful/nervewracking experiences.  It all proved to be for nothing though, because this weekend was great.  In my family there are two parents (I have yet to meet the mom though because she is in Tokyo), and three brothers (one of which I won't get to meet because he is studying in England).  The oldest brother is a little bit older than me, and has an American girlfriend, which is nice because I think she understands better than anyone how I feel.  All of them have been really nice, welcoming, and patient with me and my horrible spanish.
I have spent most of my time this weekend with my oldest brother, his girlfriend, and their friends.  Friday I went to a bonfire. Saturday I went o Quito to the March of the Zombies- there was 300 people dressed up as zombies walking the streets of the capital.  It was weird-really weird, but a good time nonetheless.  Later on Saturday we went to an outdoor concert of sorts.  We walked down this huge, steep hill that led to an open area where there was a church.  A stage and vendors had been set up, and there was a band playing, and all kinds of food being sold.  There was a ton of people, and a ton of liquor.  I have quickly learned that fiestas and alcohol go hand in hand in Ecuador.  There were crazy fireworks set off from what almost looked like scaffolding that had been handmade and decorated.  It was like nothing I have ever experienced before, probably because in the US public intoxication is not allowed and laws against unsafe pyrotechnics exist.
I ended the weekend with a barbeque last night at my older brother's friends house.  I have really appreciated him taking me around this weekend to hang out.  It's overwhelming at times because its hard to understand a lot of what is going on, especially when everyone is using slang and talking at once, but I think I'll catch on eventually. 

After an eventful weekend, today started class- I have Spanish class from 8 to 1 Monday through Friday.  It's not nearly as bad as it sounds.  We have 2 "pausas" which are essentially snack times to break up the day.  There are four people including myself in my class.  We are in a room that is about the size of a closet in what I think is some sort of church.  Never before have I had as much incentive as I do now in a class- how well I am going to be able to communicate with everyone in this country depends on how much effort I put in.  If only there was this much incentive for all classes in college.


So everything so far as been "tranquilo" as the people  here like to say.  There has been no need for the snake bite kit, pocket knife, bug catcher, or small pharmacy that I brought.  My only complaint is that it's cold- not cold like middle-of-the-winter-in-Maine cold, but not as hot as one would think the equator would be.  I'm still working on getting pictures and video up, but they should be ready soon!