Week thus far...

So, this has been a pretty normal week...no trekking through the Andes, no climbing down waterfalls, etc, etc.  Clinic, class, clinic, class.  I really like working at the Seguridad Social Clinic here in Quito.  It's in the Centro Historico, the oldest and most historic part of Quito.  I've been helping a lot with wisdom teeth removal this week, in addition to viewing a lot of endodontic procedures, and observing the pediatric dentist (which I love!).  The people at the clinic are so great to me, and it makes it that much easier to get over the language barrier and really just learn.  I'm supposed to observe from 7-11, but the patient stream usually ends about 10:30, so the dentists have been taking me around the Centro Historico and out to lunch!  I have discovered my favorite postre (dessert) in Quito...quimbolitas!  They are a type of sweet tamale with raisins.  Since the dentists usually pick my lunch for me, I ended up eating pig skin ceviche (cold soup) yesterday;  it was so, so good, except for the bits of pig skin.  I ended up giving them to Dr. Ortiz after he noticed me picking around them :)

Also, last night we decided to be cultural and go to Teatro Sucre to see a play.  We didn't really know what was showing, but we ended up seeing a show about two clowns who were homeless.  It was an interesting mix of humor and sadness...I'm not really sure about how I felt about it, but I'm glad I experienced some sort of artistic culture from Ecuador (specifically, Guayaquil).  I'm hoping next week to attend the Ecuadorian Ballet, which I've heard was so great!  Tomorrow, some of my amigas and I are going to a town about two and a half hours away called Otavalo.  Otavalo is famous for having the largest market in Ecuador, so let me know if you want a souvenir!  We're staying there until Saturday night, coming back to Quito, then leaving Sunday morning for a nearby town called Mindo.  This is a town in the cloud forest, so we'll planning on going ziplining!  It'll be the perfect end to a hard week's work.

Class at El Parque Carolina

Estatua del Plaza Independencia

Un abrazo fuerte,
Courtney