Phylogenetics: Week 1

This week has been really busy between my phylogenetics class, volunteering at the hospital, the two IPSL classes, and my spanish class! I was definitely feeling overwhelmed and a little homesick during the week because I was just so busy.

What I needed was the weekend to cheer me up! My weekend started off on Friday night at one of the local bars. I met one of the doctors I work with for a cervesa! She is young, 26, and I love to talk to her about the differences in public health in Ecuador vs. the U.S.  She is chock full of information, and I plan on using her for my IPSL interview paper. I met her with two of my friends. What was also really cool is that one of my friends on the program is from Quito, and she is studying abroad in the Galápagos. Not quite as far as the trip from NY, but still pretty far! Catalina, the doctor, is also from Quito so they had a great time talking super fast in Spanish (I didn't understand much). The reason why Catalina is here is because all of the doctors here are required to do one year in the community for not much pay. Once they are fully done with their residency is when they do this. They go all over the country, and Catalina was lucky enough to come here! She left early because she had rounds the next day, but the party was just starting because it was my friend's birthday! Of course we had to do a tequila shot together. We ended up at the discotec where we danced the night away. I really just love dancing!

I didn't stay up too late on Friday night because I had to be up bright and early to go to the highlands for a charity soccer game on Saturday. It was so much fun! There was only one woman's team, and we had enough gringo power to beat them, so we are the new soccer champions! We got a trophy! I felt really bad because I think they practice together a lot, but it was really fun and exciting to win. After I got back and had lunch with my family, I decided to take a nap. When I woke up, it was 9 pm, and I decided that I should just go to bed for the rest of the night. Ergo, I got 14 hours of sleep last night! It was really nice because I have been getting up so early the rest of the week.

Today, my friend Rebecca comes to San Cristobal! I am really excited because her flight gets in soon. I am going to get my hands on some of the pictures from the game and our night out later.

Ciao, amigos!