Canoa, what tomorrow brings...

I got back from a trip to the beach this morning... God, I'm a broken record, aren't I? Canoa, a beach just barely on the Northern coast, was my third and final beach stop in Ecuador. It is a small beach which is quite a trek: a 7 hour bus ride, boat ride across a river, and another local bus, but it was worth it to go to a small, non-tourist-infested town. A group of sixteen of us went, mostly exchange students and a few Ecuadorians, and stayed in a hostel with views of the beach (and the sound of the waves) right from our rooms! It was amazing. There was also free breakfast and happy hour included in the price... what more can you ask for? I want to be back lying in a hammock and sipping a Caipirinha. I also did a fair amount of homework on the beach... in bed... in my hammock... trying to be responsible!

We had today off from school for Dia de los Muertos, which I actually didn't celebrate... oh well. I am more concerned with the events of tomorrow, namely the US election. It seems impossible for McCain to win (right?) I spend hours every day (well, every day I am in Quito) reading news, everything from the probability of electoral college votes to John McCain's military and scandalous past; Palin's $150,000 wardrobe and why Arizona is surprisingly not a safe 10 votes for McCain. I will be inconsolable if Obama does not win tomorrow. (Hi Uncle Jimmy... no offense, but McCain is a mess.)

There has been more school work here than many students expected, with the common thought that studying abroad is an easy ride. Maybe it is just the classes I picked, or the fact that I am constantly traveling (after the 16th I will have 6 straight weekends of being gone from Quito, often leaving Thursday night and coming back Sunday night or Monday morning, after a draining night bus). I don't regret it though, because there are so many places I want to see here, and sadly I don't like Quito. Me parece dirty and dangerous, and I know that is mostly because I have been blessed with growing up in a beautiful (well, to us locals!) and safe city, but the adjustment has been hard, and I really like getting out to the country and seeing other parts. Although I do have a long list of things I still need to see and do in Quito before I leave (in less than 50 days! Strange...)

Beloit also put out its class schedule last Thursday, so I have been trying to figure that out. As of now I think I am taking Nicaragua in Transition, Economic Development, Women's Health, Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean and Claude Levi-Strauss at 100 (YES GUYS I KNOW IT'S 5 but the last one is only .5 credit, and it's with Rob LaFleur, who is amazing, and will therefore be more of a treat than a chore). Although I'm not sure because there are a TON of appealing classes, and I am trying how to balance them between my IR and Health majors. And the Duffy Partnership is looking for Spanish-speaking students for internships, so I am looking into that as well, but then I KNOW I would have to drop a class...

Also, hi Mom. I saw the typo I made with "it's" in my last entry, but decided not to change it because my wireless is a pain, but thanks for pointing it out! I am an editor after all.

Cross your fingers for tomorrow, guys... don't plan your black wardrobe yet.
LIVE YOUR VALUES. LOVE YOUR COUNTRY. MAKE HISTORY - VOTE OBAMA.