because walking isn't an option.

                Yet another reason to believe Harry Potter is more truth than fiction: the buses in Ecuador. The buses here remind me so much of the knight bus in the third Harry Potter book. The bus I took to school today had fuzzy, blue rearview mirrors and excellent 80’s music (think soft rock meets regeaton) and, I’m not sure why, but it seems that you always have to hurry on the bus. Not just put some pep in your step to catch the bus, but, jump-out-of-the-bus-at-your-stop-because-it-will-not-come-to-a-complete-stop. On each bus there is a man who calls out the stops and takes your money- he also hangs half way out the bus, trying to solicit business from the passerby. It really is like the Knight bus, with the money/yeller constantly shouting, “sigue, sigue, sigue no mas. Rapido!”  (continue, continue, keep going. Hurry up!) All this hurrying whilst the bus is being operated as though it is in a live action game of pin-ball. I equate it with surfing, which I’ve never actually done, the amount of balance needed to remain standing while the bus is in motion is quite a feat.  Granted, I have the balance of a one legged, fat man- but I try to hold my own. So that’s the bus. Despite all evidence to the contrary, it is completely inefficient and one of the most nerve-racking parts of my day.

                As if the bus weren’t enough, I have to take a trolley after the bus to get to Spanish school. I’ve been taking the trolley for the past two weeks, and it hasn’t been too bad. I wrote previously about our score keeping game, where every day we don’t get robbed the USA gets a point…. Well, today Ecuador got a half point; some old bitty slashed by book bag at some point during my commute.  Thank God, I still have my wallet and phone- I suppose I’m still pretty good at the game, since the thief wasn’t able to take anything. Yep, that’s my tale of an almost-armed robbery.  (Even cooler part of this story- my host mama, Lily walked with me to the tailor and I’m getting a sweet leather patch  to cover up the slash on the bag for $3. I am the height of Ecua cool.- it’s that not a huge exaggeration, I don’t know what is.)

                I’m sure I have other news, but the transportation stories will have to do for now. Flex-i-dor is the adventure of a life time. God is good, life is good, lovin’ livin’ it up in Quito!