Hello everyone at home!!

Well, this weekend was another crazy one (what a surprise!!). I went on a weekend trip to the town of ´Mindo´. This town is famous for its waterfalls and butterflies.

I rushed out of San Fernando on Saturday morning, and met up with a group of five guys and five girls from all over the world (mostly from Germany, and Switzerland). Our first activity when we got to Mindo was a three hour hike up a mountain to get to the most amazing waterfalls I have ever seen in my life. The mountain reminded me of a small rainforest, and the waterfalls had a few pools surrounding it. Absolutely breathtaking!!! We walked down the mountain to get ready for a party the town was having that night. It was the town´s 145th anniversary. Before the party we relaxed a the hostal (complete with hamocs!!) and sang, drank, and were merry!! We all went to find the party, and ended up at a karaoke bar first. Of course, all of us roudy ´gringos´ were the talk of the bar.

Some of the locals were not impressed at all at our roudy behavior, yet others seemed to be quite amused!!

We hung out there for about an hour, and at ten headed out to the center of the town. Here I danced pretty much all night!! It started raining at one point, but do you think these latin folks cleared out to go home? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! They kept dancing, and so did I. I´ve haven´t had this much fun in a long time!!!

The next day, a little under the weather if you know what I mean, we all got in a truck and went white watter tubbing!! This was AWSOME!! I was definitively terrified at first, but ended up loving it in the end!

The weekend was so great, but came Monday, and I had to put my serious work hat back on. My co-workers and I went to visit the mothers of the kids at the foundation, at the jail in Quito. Now, I was not expecting anything close to what I saw. This ´jail´ was quite run-down to put it mildly. Women were roaming the halls, and in regular street clothes. I was, of course, expecting something similar to the jails in the states (ignorant me!!). I was expecting men/women in orange jump suits, with 23 hour lock down. Here, some women had babies on one hip. I took a tour of this place, and peeked in one of the ´cells´ here. It was the size of a closet, and it was disgusting. Dirty, smelly, and worst of all three women had to share that space. Some, with their children! Agh!! Also, the prison system doesn´t feed the children, just their mothers. So when my kids go and visit their mothers in prison, they don´t get fed.

The mothers have to give their portions to their children. It was a very humbling experience, and now I understand a little bit more about the back round of these children, and the patience and care they need.

Anyway, I hope every one is doing great at home, and hope you will all write back!!!

Much love,
Muah!!
Heidi