ok. So its been a while since i last posted...sorry.

anyway, a lot of cool stuff happened, but ill try to be brief.

Two weekends ago we split up into groups to go on a day adventure. We had an option of a couple possible places to go, and the most popular destination was otavalo, the shopping mecca of South America. The urge to consume is strong with us Americans. I chose to go to a giant waterfall instead, and wasn´t dissapointed. It was a little touristy and busy, but we hiked up higher and saw some really cool views, as well as a more secluded waterfall that we frolicked in. a good day was had by all.

The next day about 9 of us went to these volcanic hotsprings WAYYYY out in the middle of nowhere. We paid a guy with a truck to drive us all the 2 and a half hour round trip, which was in and of itself incredible. On the way there, the mountains were shrouded in an eerie fog that sparayed us as we sat in the truck bed. In contrast, the way back was brilliantly clear as teh sun was low on teh horizon, and we got a view of Cayambe (the 20,000 foot beast) from the other side. sweet. The hotsprings were cool too. You´re supposed to get really hot, then get out and jump in teh icy cold mountain river, then repeat three times. If you do that once every year, you supposedly add 10 years to your life. Considering the average lifespan is 75 years, going one time should add about 49 days to my life. i plan on ejoying those days, too.

Anyway, so the reall meat of my post. I got my site assaignment! I just got back from my week long visit...forgive me if i don´t make sense, im a little tired from the 24 hour bus ride. So yeah, i´m way down south, almost in peru, and im in the jungle at an elevation of 900 meters on the eastern edge of the Andes. My site is totally bad ass. Super tranquillo. The weather is perfect, and there is so much plant life all around. People play soccer and volleyball everyday, and they are all pretty athletic, so playing with them is fun. Everyone is super nice, too. My home wasn´t ready yet, so i actually got to spend the week in the mayors house, which was cool.

I also spent a day hiking in the (semi) nearby podacarpus national park, which was really ugly. not. There were a bunch of different orchids in bloom, and tons of cool birds.

And my job is really cool to. Ill spend every monday through wednesday going up and down the river on a canoe spreading the good word of health to the villagers along the way. Theres two rivers, so ill alternate weeks. In the dry season, i have to get and and walk half way, so it will take another day. Then, i get back to my city of 1500 and work in the office for a day and prepare for the next week. I´m also going to teach english in the evenings when in in my village.

So yeah, it should be a pretty sweet two years. My only source of stress is that im going to run out of good books to read or music to listen to. If anyone feels like sending a book book my way or a burned cd (in audio or mp3 format) that would be much appreciated. As awesome as my site is, the only drawback is that its the most isolated of all the Peace Corps sites, so obtaining new liturature and music might be challenging.