Saludos de Ecuador!

We have had a wonderful few days here. Our time in Quito provided the foundation for our trip. Our group orientation took place in Parque Itchimbia, where we learned about the cosmology of the indigenous Andean peoples. Additionally, we walked through the park´s nature reserve where we were guided through some of the botany and herbology of Ecuador -- which included a sampling of leaves that help deflect lovesickness and whiten teeth!

During the evening we toured the Old City of Quito, which is home to the most extensive and well preserved district of Spanish colonial architecture in the Americas. But our tour was well beyond ordinary as our guide was arranged by Quito Eterno, a historical theatre group. They introduced us to a nun from the 1800s who took us to different sites and explained their significance and legend. The next day we visited, ´La Mitad del Mundo,´ an interactive museum devoted to the historical understanding and modern scientific significance of, ´the middle of the world'.

After a stunning ride through the mountains due north of Quito we arrived in our village, Panecillo. We have been in community for two full days and have already settled in happily. We were greeted at a town hall meeting by the town leadership committee and everyone else they could fit in the room! Panecillo is situated at the center of a valley surrounded by stunning mountains covered in verdant fields, providing an unwaveringly beautiful backdrop for our trip.

Currently, half the group is teaching English to children at a school just down the road and developing a framework to teach English to adults in the afternoons. Meanwhile, the rest of the group is getting down and dirty working on making water more readily available to the community. Specifically we are digging an enormous trench that follows the current piping. Our goal is to replace the tubing and increase water pressure so that those on the periphery of the community can reliably access potable water.

Though we have been here for less than one week, the trip has been pretty amazing so far. Everyone is in good health, with high spirits, and full of energy. And the adventures have only just begun!

Saludos!
Shereef and Sarah