Soy una Cuencana!

I write to you from the computer lab of the university at which I am currently studying, CEDEI, an acronym for Center for Interamerican studies. I am currently enrolled in two courses: Spanish Grammar and Syntax which meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for two hours and Service Learning Theory, a class which focuses upon community development technique, service learning, cultural competence, and social justice through social programming. Accompanied by this class will be an internship, ideally involving women and children however, my professor noted that there is greater need in child care and orphananges. I will not bee place in my volunteership until next week. Because my arrival was delayed into Cuenca I was not able to attend class on Wednesday, therfore tomorrow will mark the first day of my studies. I suspect that I will have quite a bit of catching up to do--although I am not too terribly concerned. I really enjoy all of the faculty and staff that work here at CEDEI, they are so great in helping to adjust quickly yet smoothly. The facilities are quite modern and class sizes incredibly small. I have four students in each of my classes. This is largely related to the size of our own group being only 13, ten women, and three men. There will not be another group of international students studying here until March. I really enjoy all of my group members and had the pleasure of going out with them last night at a popular cafe called Eucalyptus. I took a cab to return home for 1.00! I feel incredibly safe. My home is equipped with a gorgeous and sweet German Shepard (named Whiskey), one locked gate, two entry doors, and an alarm system. I live in a very safe neighborhod as most host families do. Speaking of host families, I have the absolute delight of living with Rebekah (mama), Jacinto (papa), Leonor (the maid), and their son Francisco who is 27. They have two other sons who are married so no longer live with them. Santiago, the middle son and his wife Vivian join us for lunch everyday and Pedro, the oldest son lives in Guayaquil with his wife and daughter. My mama and papa are SO, SO kind, loving, and accomodating. They consistently greet me with a hug and a kiss on the cheek and are inquisitive as to my life in the States. My papa is an economist, previoulsy owned two car dealerships: Toyota and Mitsubishi (spelling questionable), but currently sells and distributes restaurant supplies, crystal, and silver from his home with his son, Francisco. They have a beautiful home, quite large for Ecuadorian standards. I have a bedroom to myself, with a double bed, my own television, bathroom, and patio that overlook my neighborhood. My family has problem keeping me stuffed. I will never go hungry here. They, as a family do not care for Guinea pig so I am pleased to report that I don't anticpate trying it--at least in my home. I live 15 minutes from school by foot. You walk everywhere, it's great! I posted photos on my blog of the inside of my home and captions of street dynamics in Cuenca.
This weekend (Sunday) we are taking a day trip to Incaprica, a site of an Incan ruin, two hours north of Cuenca.