Here I am, the night before I depart for Ecuador. I've just set-up Skype and my blog. I'm really excited to finally go...this has been a long time coming. I leave Miami at 5 and arrive in Quito (the capital) at 9. I will head straight for Azama (two hours North) to stay at Las Palmeras (http://www.laspalmerasinn.com/) for a few nights. The owner, Nik Milhouse, has been a great asset and a friend as I tried to plan this trip out.
From there, I have no idea. I know that I will do my best to see the BCS Championship Game and watch the Gators pummel the Sooners, but I don't know how much interest American college football generates in rural Ecuador. That's on January 8th. After that, hopefully I can find my first host family nearby. I called a few times before I left and even spoke with the family matriarch for a few minutes but something got lost in translation and I have no idea whether or not they know I'm coming.
To prepare for this trip to Ecuador where I'll be for approximately 6 months, I have started to grow a beard. Watch the video below and you can judge for yourself. A classmate of mine, Lori, suggested that I would "look more Ecuadorian" with a beard...
My packing list is pretty extensive, but some of the key essentials and highlights are the mini-laptop (pictured below), a sleeping bag (again pictured below), lots of books, and just in
case...a razor and some shaving cream.
Please feel free to write me at kambenson@gmail.com or just post on this site. My Skype name is kambenson. I have no idea at this point how often I will be online but I would love to hear updates from all of you as often as you can.
Lots of Love
Kent
sweet ecua-beard! im jealous
ReplyDeleteno doubt sky!
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