I saw cuy.

You know what I love about Cuenca? That I can call up people that I don't even know or have met only once and travel to incredible mountainous lands with them and have a wonderful time. [Alyss I hope you're reading this] Yesterday my cousin's friend María Jose took me with her to Gualaceo, a small town maybe 30 mins from Cuenca. We went with her fiance Gustavo and his brother Leo. Gualaceo is know for its hornado (roasted meat) and chancho (pork) specifically. Though they had just about every kind of meat. And I don't just mean cut up meat, I mean carcasses hanging from the ceilings. Yes, there were the infamous cuy too. Poor little guys. But I learned they don't just give you the animal on the stick and then tell you to take a bite- they cut it up first. Also Gualaceo has un montón de shoe stores! And they're cheap. But alas, I bought none. It rained the whole time we were there. I also got to try cangil, basically a popcorn ball glued together with sugar. Leo and I are in the pic with it above. He said he looks feo in photos but he probably won't see this anyway. Later María Jose got me some rosero, which is a thick drink made from mote with chunks of fruit in it. At first it tasted like some kind of thick medicine, but you get used to it. :) This really was the first time I've used my camera since being here. I've been trying to avoid looking like a tourist at all cost. But with this complexion it's inevitable. The colors of the town did look pretty awesome after it rained though.

Ok, more observations. The movie theaters here are tiny and are cheap. $4.25 for an 8:30pm movie. We saw El Principe de Persia last night, and I fell asleep in the middle of it. But understood it all in Spanish! Also they couldn't let us in until the previous movie ended because there was only one theater per movie that's playing. Can't get in an hour before like we can at home. AND all the movies are American movies. Just like the mall plays American songs too.

Also the malls in Cuenca are pretty much spotless. We were at Millenium two days ago, and went back again today for lunch. The floors are so clean and sparkling and shiny. You could see your face in them. Everything looks brand new. In the public bathrooms you have to grab the TP before you go in the stall- there is only one dispenser. What happens if I go in the stall, then realize I don't have enough??? I don't know what I would do.

We witnessed a death today. A poor gallina (hen) attempted to cross the road, trying to fulfill her lifelong dream of a carefree life outside the city walls. She began to cross the street. We dodged her, then looked behind us only to see a cloud of plumas all over the street. Today her bright hopes for the future were crushed to pieces. Literally. We talked about this in the car for like the next half hour after it happened. Let us pause for a moment of silence to remember her bravery.

In the hipermercados o supermercados, there are specific gates through which you enter and exit. And they don't let you bring bags with you- if you have a large purse or bag from a different store, you have to check it. There are guards everywhere- all over the store.

Yesterday before Gualaceo, the entire family was over for lunch. The two married daughters, Valeria and Cristina, came over with their husbands and kids. One of the grandkids/nieces, Flabia (7) brought over her Barbies- Bella (Belle) and La Bella Dormiciente (Sleeping Beauty) among others. It was fun to have a full house.

Bueno. Tomorrow I start meeting with the students, lending my knowledge of American culture and my perfect use of English. What little knowledge I have, haha. I may not be completely street smart, but at least I'm a true gringa [sadly]. We'll see how this goes.