'It is recommended that you don't travel there when the volcano is in eruption.'

Where do I begin?

USFQ is amazing. It is in Cumbaya, a town about 20 minutes from Quito by crazy bus ride. The campus is gorgeous, very green with this beautiful pond in the middle and nice architecture. I had orientation on Tuesday, where I met a lot of international students and sat through some talks about obvious safety and health precautions. There was a school-sponsored party for us Tuesday night in a touristy restaurant/bar district called La Mariscal at a bar, which was a lot of fun. I got home late and slept in til 11, when I got up and went... to class? What? That wasn't part of the deal!

My first class was Model United Nations, which I just chose to take after hearing the professor speak at orientation. It was really stressful because when I went to add it online, I dropped my one poli sci class to add MUN because it said there was no wait list- yet then it put me on one! So when I tried to add my original class, it put me on la lista de espera also... I was told to just go and ask to be added to the class, and when I nervously approached the prof and said ¨Soy en la lista de...¨ he cut me off and said in English, it's okay, people usually drop the class when they see how much work it is going to be. The class is actually in English (my only one out of 5, which will probably be a relief).

Then I went to Economia Internacional, where I usually got the jist of what the professor was saying but definitely not all the time, and wondered if my one econ class has prepared me for a 400-level... en Espanol. We were put into groups and asked... what we would do if we were stranded on an island like Tom Hanks? What? I was so confused (yes I got the Cast Away reference). I didn' understand the reference to international econ... something about what our natural instincts are. Eh.

I was so overwhelmed by the class that I didn't realize a girl I knew was also in it! I swear I didn't see her. We went across the street to a bar/restaurant and hung out with some students from Ecuador, which was great. I like meeting local people (and trying to speak Spanish...)

I went home on the bus and there was a party for my host sister's birthday last night, where I got to meet about thirty family members! Whew. They have a really big family and all live in Quito. Then I passed out so I could rush to school this morning, unsure of when I had class, but I was an hour and a half early (better than being an hour and a half late). I am nervous for 4.5 hours straight of Spanish class (3 classes, different subjects but taught in Spanish. I'm not actually taking a Spanish language class here, but I am taking a lit class).

I am going to grab breakfast and try to figure out where these classes are. I hope everyone studying abroad is having a great time and those who are reading are keeping Beloit crazy. I know my address! But am not going to post it here as at least Facebook is somewhat privacy-protected... we like to believe. If we are not facebook friends and you would like my address, please email me at kballinger@gmail.com.

Also, all the notebooks here have boxes. How weird is that? Like graph paper. For every class. I hate it. I am determined to find a real notebook.

Hasta luego,
Kim