By popular demand, I have started the infamous blog. I suppose this may be easier than emailing everyone, but feel free to email me because I love getting mail :)

In response to the burning question on everyone's minds (especially Leah and Jen's), we have not been able to flush our toilet paper at all since we arrived in Ecuador. We throw it in a trash can conveniently located beside the toilet. Gross, huh? Amazingly enough, it didn't take too long to get used to. Just wait until I come back. Hopefully I can break that habit as easily as I picked it up ;)

I think tomorrow we are going to a hotel that has a wonderful view of the volcano that is supposed to erupt any day now. How exciting is that?! We were told that if it does erupt, we are completely safe because the lava would flow in the opposite direction. The only problems that we might encounter as a result of the eruption would be traffic ones. So I'll be sure to let you know what happens!

On Sunday, we journey to Cuenca finally. I think we will be spending more than 6 hours on the bus to get there- whew, long time. I'm kind of nervous about meeting my host family, but, as I told some of you, a girl that stayed with them over winter break said I have nothing to worry about and that they are wonderful.

At any rate, I need to shower and get all my stuff packed for tomorrow. We have to be ready by 730. Yikes.

p.s. It has been in the 60's and 70's here. My nose, cheeks, and the back part of my neck (it's really only on the right side of the back of my neck-- looks EXTREMELY funny and is mildly painful) are burned. I forgot to bring sunscreen :) Oops. I'm gonna have the weirdest tan for Leah's wedding. Lo siento :)

p.p.s. The Hotel Quito has a casino, and that's where everyone decided to go tonight. I got a delicious sandwich there. Most everyone in the group was gambling because a. it's really cheap and b. you get free drinks if you gamble. So after my sandwich, I went with Kate and Allison (two girls in my group) to cash in 50 cents for a token to play electronic poker. Yes, I, Ali Banda, gambled. Rebel, I know. I did NOT, however, get my free drink(s), so I'm not a complete heathen ;) In case you were curious, it was a penny poker machine, and I did decent but just played until my credits were all used up.