our first post from Ariana, our great Woman of the World, from her new post in the Peace Corps in Ecuador is here!

"Hola! Just wanted to send a quick email to let you know that I am safe and sound here in Ecuador. I got here on Wednesday night and just about immediately loved the country. The people are super friendly and nice, and don´t laugh at my attempts to speak Spanish. When we got off the plane, there was a crowd waiting for our flight and everyone just waved at us. THen the current Peace Corps volunteers greeted us with cheers and flowers. It was a little overwhelming as all these people were yelling at me and taking my luggage and I was a little confused. Also, I immediately embarassed myself when greeting one of the staff. She kissed one of my cheeks and I thought I was in France for some reason and tried to kiss her other cheek, and she said, no un beso!

"Anyway, I really like our group. THere are 35 of us, and everyone is about my age. THere is one married couple, 3 returned peace corps volunteers, and i think the oldest person is about 35. THere are a bunch of san diegans, some midwesterns, and most importantly, 2 other Wilco fans. I really like them and they are going to be my friends =) One of them is even going to be at my site for the next 10 weeks (we are split into groups of 4-5 for community based training). Also, there is another girl who is half-Asian (Japanese), a herpetologist (she likes snakes and lizards), from San Diego, and she also has a boyfriend back home. THere are 4 other girls who also have boyfriends back home, so that´s nice.

"I am pretty excited about being here. I am almost too excited to type, so sorry if this message isn´t very eloquent. Oh, and they said that during training, mail call is a big deal, like in the military, so please send me many letters!

"I have gotten over my shyness and nervousness, and I have been trying out my Spanish around Cayambe (a town north of QUito where we are doing group training). Usually I try to say something and then another volunteer has to rescue me, but I have been figuring stuff out, and I have been helpful to other, shyer volunteers. And I am getting most of what is being said to me in Spanish. Oh, and we took our language placemetn tests yesterday and I am the novice level, but I am advanced novice, which i think is pretty accurate. THe facilitator told me that I have good vocabulary and good pronunciation, but i need to work on my verb tenses. That is not surprising. I have to reach intermediate intermediate level but the end of training, so that is only two levels, so it shouldn´t be too bad. My language instructor doesn´t speak much English, so I won´t be able to cheat during class.

"Anyway, I am doing well. I do have my moments of apprehension when I wonder what am I doing here, but then I meet more people, or talk to another volunteer, or see more of the beautiful countryside, and i remember how lucky I am to be here, and I am so eager to share this country with the rest of you!

"Lastly, I think I might get a cell phone, depending on my site. Some of the other volunteers have them, and it sounds like a good deal. Just $30 for the phone, and then I buy cards to make international calls. No monthly fees, and I can take incoming calls for free. So buy some phone cards!

"Okay, I have to go back for dinner. THe internet cafes are really cheap, only $.50 for an hour! SOme of the other volunteers just came in, and one got water dumped on him. IT is a carnaval tradition here. Hopefully that won´t happen to me!

"Adios,
Ariana"