trying to catch up.

The first saturday I went out was perfect. i went to a friends house and he invited the twenty some americans to his house as well. Since it was his birthday he invited about the same if not more ecuadorian friends as well. most of our time we spent talking, mingling, and drinking.....like any other party. Sam(20yr old frat boy who is very group oriented:) then gathered everyone in the living room and we played thumper. it was super entertaining with so many people. in the end three people decided to call it a tie and we headed out to a bar. But we were so many people that we couldnt enter so we got money togther bought refreshments and went back to the house. Put on some music and hung out. I convinced a guy to teach me how to salsa, merengue, and another dance which is what they do most often but i forget the name. It was a great feeling to make friends with true ecuadorians. something which i feel is going to be difficult but not for the reasons i previously believed. More so because all the people in the GAIAS program get along therefor we all hang out and since it is comfortable we dont ever seperate. This is bittersweet. when in a forgien place all alone it is nice to have the familiar and its a great safety mechanism for going out (safety in numbers) but i came to learn spanish, to learn the culture and to know people from ecuador...which proves difficult to do when surrounded by americans with our own traditions all speaking english. So even though i am beyond thrilled to have this group i cant help but feel we will also be a hinderence to eachother.