Hi!

Hi friends and family!

I'll be updating this blog while I study abroad in Quito, Ecuador! I leave this Saturday, August 16, and will be there through mid-February. I'm studying at the Universidad de San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) and staying with an Ecuadorian family. I'll be taking trips to the Galapagos Islands, different parts of Ecuador, the rainforest, and hopefully Peru. I'll update this at the start of each week, probably Sunday or Monday.

Quito is the capital of Ecuador and is located in the mountains. Usually temperatures range from 50-70 each day, it's generally sunny, and is right near the equator (lots of sunscreen). USFQ is actually located in Cumbaya, which is about 1/2 hour away in a valley. Right now, the classes I'm signed up for include Volcanology (study of volcanoes, not an alien race), Rural Sociology, Spanish, Ecuadorian Government, and Basic Drawing.

Okay, for any of my family members who are tech-challenged, you can comment on any of my posts by clicking on the word 'comments' under each post. You don't have to be a member of Blogspot to comment, just write whatever you want in the box, click 'name', and type your name in. I'll also be checking my email: k06lp01@kzoo.edu.

Anything I'm forgetting when packing? Look for an update early next week!

Lisa