taken from an email to my gran:

Speaking of Thanksgiving, last year was quite spectacular. I had a great time. (Not) Surprisingly, Thanksgiving, or as my host mom says (fankgivins) is basically unheard of in Ecuador, but Kalamazoo foots the bill for a "pot luck" type of event to be hosted in quito each year. I will be making the pies, there is no decision in that matter. My Intergrative Research Cultural Project (ICRP) was at an investment banking firm where I felt like i was being babysat with nothing to do, could not understand what was going on in meetings, and was required to bring my laptop. One will get robbed, at gunpoint or less, for a laptop in Quito. I changed my ICRP to teaching 7th grade english and cheerleading at the public school by my house. Even thought the school does not quite apply to my future directly, I am speaking more spanish, spending nothing on transportation, and enjoying myself way more...This is my first weekend in Quito in the last month! I had class trips to Cotopaxi and Tunruahua (two highly active volcanoes), a 5 star retreat to the jungle with Kalamazoo, and to a coastal pueblo, Crucita to see different geological formations.... My body does not coroporate with food in ecuador. We have been having rolling blackouts from 4-5 hours a day that could last from next week til March. Welcome to 21st century socailism. 30% of the countries electricity is powered by a hydroplant, and the river waters are low, so no electricity. The popularity rating of the president went fomr 88% in June to about 44% now. Not to good Rafel Corerra.