on my love for the grocery store and giving coca light another chance.

     I know I preached of my utter disdain for coca-light- but today I thought perhaps I'd give it another chance. Knowing that there is nothing quite as refreshing as a fountain soda, today I toke the plunge an ordered a coca-light at McDonalds. It wasn't great, it wasn't even very good, but better than the bottled version....moving on-
     The past few days have been uneventful, of course I've tried some new foods, had some humbling language experiences, but all in all I feel like I'm falling into a routine here.  Life is good and easy for the moment in Quito. In leiu of trying to string together the experiences of the past three days, please read these as though you're enjoying the CNN ticker during Anderson Cooper 360 (how I miss that man.)

• Thursday I met cute dog in the park, the owner was also pretty attractive. However, I too self conscious about my lack of language skills to approach said owner.
• Almost everyday now, I visit the market on my way home from school. Santa Maria, is a little like Walt's- homey, full of old ladies and overall makes me very happy. My roommates find this profoundly funny and love to mock my grocery addiction. In my defense, it's not just Santa Maria that I like, there is also an open market next door, where you can bargain and practice Spanish. I got some of the best bananas I've had for 40 cents from a woman with three teeth AND some apparently expensive flowers for $2 bucks. (pictures to come.) Fun fact, the first woman I tried to buy the flowers from got lil peeved when I tried to buy the same flowers for a dollar. So peeved, that she rolled her eyes and walked away from me. Awesome.
• Ecuadorian tamales are a touch on the nasty side. Slices of boiled egg and green olive in the side? No, gracias.
• Fiora Vanti Soda has been the pride of Ecuador since 1868. Comes in strawberry, pineapple and apple flavor, yummm.
• The other S.A.ers and I play a game everyday after we get off the trole. Current score- Ecuador 1, USA 9. That means one pick pocketing to 9 robbery-free rides. : ) 
• Today was the "Turkey Bowl" at Alliance Academy, some of the S.A.ers played. The Youth World team won, and all of us left with some totally great tan lines. I should say burn lines. : )
• After dinner tonight, we ran to the story for ice (for Sharon's sprained ankle from said Turkey Bowl.) Latin America isn't big on ice. Upside- store clerk was even cuter than the dog owner from the park. I can creep on this store from our living room window- excellente!
• Today I bought string to make friendship bracelets, it was 98 cents per skein (?). Just an FYI- it's 10 cents a pop in the States. En Serio?