Pichincha, Gold Mine, Birthday Party, and Rambo

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I finally got to see the peak of the volcano I live next to! See the pics!

We went to a gold mine for a class trip last week. This was definitely NOT a tourist gold mine. It was sketchy, but we had fun. I felt sorry for India because she had to walk in back of me in the tunnel - and I had beans for breakfast.

My friend Oscar turned 40 last week so his wife organized a surprise party for him. Birthday parties here are a little different than in the states. After the usual cake and singing, there are hours of singing while sitting in a big circle ( I did my rendition of Hey Jude ). Then there is dancing and dancing. I think my favorite part was when I walk into the kitchen and saw the piles of American food - real meat! Not the chewy, nasty, uncuttable slabs of… I don't know. I miss a good piece of meat.

😊

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Photos

View from my roof
see the plane?

View from my roof
need a cab?

First time!!!
I have lived here 4 months and have never seen the peak of the volcano I live next to due to the clouds.

Gold Mine in Pacto
No fear...

Gold Mine in Pacto
Showing how they pound the quartz veins and then pan the grains with water.

Jonah and the pig
My friends said I needed to meet some women.

Jonah and the pig
The pig denied me.

India and a Banana Fruit
India was demonstrating the proper way to seed the plants.

Oscar's Birthday Party
We had a surprise 4oth party for Oscar.

Oscar and Lori
They were married in September.

Rambo
There are always buckets of crabs in my kitchen. Weird.