My Homestay

This morning at 9am promptly, I was picked up in a BMW from Postada de Maple (hostel) and driven to la casa de la familia Andrade-Lugmania in Granada Centeno part of Quito. Their garage and front entrance to the house reminds me of my family Prates' house in Sao Paulo. The house is very nice, with two salas, many tvs, typical middle-class South American style kitchen, staircase and furniture. I feel very comfortable and blessed to live here.

My mama is Rosa, a kind face and great laugh. She has said "tranquila" to me often so far, which is a good sign. She says she's 70 but looks 60. She takes a walk every morning from 6-7 for her health. Rosa has been a homemaker with her 4 hijos. I met one of her sons, who drove the beemer. He seemed very cool and nice. I think he is one of her older sons, with a family of his own, living either above or below us. Two of Rosa's older sons and their families live either above or below us! Andres, 30, and Mariceli, 23 live with Rosa and me. We have two awesome dogs! A retriever whose name I think is Aiskel, and a white poodle. They bark a lot with the other neighborhood dogs.

I haven't met Mariceli nor Andres yet, and I am very excited to meet them! Andres didn't get up until 1:30. Partying Saturday night? He works in finance and plays the guitar, saw it on the couch. Mariceli works in administration, will study in Washington D.C. in the near future, and does yoga and Tai Chi!!! And she's a vegetarian! I'm going to like her.

I got sick for the first time today, right after lunch. I hope it was just a one-time thing. Maybe unwashed strawberries in the amazing mora and strawberry juice? If so, it was totally worth it.

Start classes tomorrow! Oh, I have grammer homework to do!! Que horrible.

LATER: 8:00pm Just had a grilled cheese, more of that amazing jugo, coffee and a pear for dinner mmmmm. Lunch is a big, main meal in Spain as well as here, while breakfast and dinner are snacks. Me likey. Rosa gave me permission to come in the kitchen whenever and eat whatever, sweet! And I can drink coffee/eat a pear in my room. She just went grocery shopping and I can see how health-consciously the family eats!!! My family could not get any better! Two siblings slightly older than me, two dogs, liberty of the kitchen, tons of whole wheat, yogurt, fruit and veggies!!! And they eat peanut butter, which is strange to eat here.
I met Andres and Araceli. Both seem like really interesting, friendly people. Can't wait to spend more time with them. Andres was playing his guitar as I ate. Araceli just got back from Cotacaxi, for a visit I think. Two of Andres' friends are here too, working on school work together. I think they're a couple. They were rather rude and snobby, the woman putting her hand over her mouth to talk about me, and staring at me a lot as I ate my sandwich. But whatever! Probably never see them again and I like my hermana y hermano. Ok, still haven't done that grammer, so shower then that.