So you CAN stand in two places at once!!

Hola amigos y familia!!
I am spending the weekend in Quito with my friend Jess, the other teaching coordinator. We needed to buy some things and had to get out of the jungle to do so. I enjoy my job, but its always nice to escape for a little bit.
Friday was one of the longest days of my life. Jess and I taught at a school that has a grand total of 8 students...they were really well behaved, the lessons went great, and minus the fact that the kids were eating bugs for lunch--im not kidding, apparently they are currently in season--it went really well. We get in our car to drive into town to catch the bus to Quito, and not surprisingly, the car wouldnt start. We tried all of the tricks that we´ve learned...by May I will be a fantastic mechanic...but nothing worked. Nick, our boss, suggested that we take the car battery to the oil company located nearby...the closest people to us. We hoped that they could recharge the battery for us. I dont know how many of you have ever carried a car battery before...for over 30 minutes, and up a hill...but i do NOT reccomend it. It was boiling hot, we were already exhausted from a week of teaching, and the battery was, if i have to guess, approximately one million pounds. We finally made it to the oil company, and the very nice men gave us cold water, cookies, and a mechanic! He drove us...and the battery, which did NOT need to be carried at all...back to the car. So 3 and a half hours after the car wouldnt start, covered in battery acid, sweat, and mud, we were on our way! We made it to Quito after a 4 and a half hour bus ride, for half of which we were shoved in a tiny seat behind the driver. It was an adventure, to say the least.
Then yesterday was really nice. We did the obligatory trip to Mitad del Mundo, or literally translated, the Center of the World. ie the equator, hence the name of this country. It was totally cheesy but we got into the spirit of things, took silly pictures, and jumped around from one hemisphere to the next. Lots of fun and hilarity. Spent the rest of the day relaxing, walking around, eating some YUMMY indian food, and shopping a bit. It was so nice having some girl time. Heading back to the house in about an hour to gear up for another full week of teaching.

Our program is currently at 8 schools, yet we are down to Jess, myself, and one volunteer invovled in the teaching program. So we teach every day, Monday through Friday, and usually on our own. We are really short on volunteers and money, which is rough...im going to start fundraising soon so get excited!!! yayyyyy fundraising!! If anyone wants to come spend some time living and working here with us, let me know. Its tiring but really rewarding and fun, and they really could use the help.

Im going to post pictures soon, and i´ll explain more about what im doing and what my days are like. Just some quick notes now though--I survived my first tarantula sighting, and then the next day, a baby tarantula. They really are fuzzy and about the size of my hand. Really good times. I live with two dogs and a cat, and im in love with living with dogs again. Theyre fantastic company and make a great addition to my home. When I arrived at the house there were 10 volunteers, and now were down to 4. Later this week it will be 5, and then hopefully short term volunteers will be coming in soon. The brits and aussies have left and now we americans have taken over, and its much quieter. Nice to clean up after and cook for less people, but we miss having all of the boys around. What else what else? The weather has been pretty good, im switching rooms soon so jess and i will have our own space and i can finally unpack my bags, and i have clean laundry waiting for me in back in Puyo so i´m thrilled about that.
Again, I will be starting some fundraising campaigns soon so please be on the lookout. I know you´re all excited about that. And as soon as I can, i´ll get up some pictures.
Anything interesting going on in the world? I wouldnt know...

besos y mucho amor!