The Last Few Days...

So today Leah and I went to La Mitdad del Mundo because she had never been before. I thought the second time was really stupid and wish that I wouldn't have gone. We also got on the wrong bus coming back and ended up in the center of Quito, which is WAY far from where we intended to be. But by some grace of god, we happened to see a bus headed to our neighborhood- so it turned out alright.

CIMAS has now officially moved buildings...and the new place is SO amazing. It is US quality...it has stonework on the walls and big HUGE glass windows, it's amazing. Unfortunately, it is in a neighborhood that is pretty dangerous and really dirty. So we aren't really allowed off the property, and luckily the bus picks up and drops off right at the doorway. Also, there is only one bus that goes there in the morning, and the first morning my mom and I waited for 35 minutes for it.

Since CIMAS is new, it didn't really shock me that there was no electricity on Thursday. But then I got home and found out that there was none at my house either, because the city had turned off all the electricity. Turns out that almost 98% of Quito´s electricity comes from hydroelectric power, and there has been NO rainfall since I got here. So since there is no water in the rivers, there is no water to flow over the dams, and so to conserve energy, the government shuts off all electricity in different neighborhoods from 11AM to 5PM. Luckily for whatever reason you don't need electricity to get water, but still!!! Each morning on the news they announce what neighborhoods will be shut off and it is EVERYTHING in the neighborhood, even stores. But despite the lack of all power, no one seems to mind, and shops stay open. It's bizarre.

I bought my first bootleg movies yesterday, and then remembered that I have no TV to watch them on...and my computer is at CIMAS. So when we had no power, I basically sat and (literally) read the dictionary. How sad.

Tomorrow Leah and I are going to Latacunga for a daytrip because they are having the Mamá Negra festivals. It should be entertaining...we'll see. And hopefully on Sunday morning we can all get together and make breakfast again, because that was the deal last weekend and it was SO much better than the breakfasts that our family gives us.

I think that's all I have for now, but don't forget to get me your email if you want the picture link, because my fam has tried it and it definitely works.

Love to all!