Buses and Landslides and Monkeys… Oh My!

After our week in Puerto Quito, the whole group split up into smaller groups to accomplish our second week of technical training. Us 4 IT volunteers headed to San Juan Bosco to learn about computer stuff from Jungle Dave. The trip was great, but to give everyone a better idea of what all happened, I’m going to list the top 5 things we learned in order of importance.

Marcie’s Jungle Conocimientos:

5) Although 300 miles doesn’t sound like that long of a trip, it is. Especially when you’re driving in Ecuador. To get from Quito to Cuenca, which is a little more than 300 miles, it took us 12 hours. To get from Cuenca to San Juan Bosco, which is probably less than 100 miles, it took us 6 hours. When traveling by bus in Ecuador, make sure you have something to keep you entertained. Or at least enjoy Antonio Banderas movies, which is all they play on the bus.

4) Mudslides should be factored into every trip. And never underestimate the power of 50+ Ecuadorians when there’s a bus stuck in a ditch in the mud and it needs to be pushed out. Where there’s a will (and plenty of dead branches to lay on the road to provide some sort of traction) there’s a way.

3) Hot water is not something to be taken for granted. In our hostel in Cuenca, not only did we have hot water for a shower, but we also had a decent amount of pressure. It was the first hot shower I’ve had in 2 months. And probably the last one I’ll have until I visit the States.

2) Monkeys make great pets. Especially if the monkey is named Pepe and has been trained to ride on the back of a poodle named Gabiota. My only advice is to watch out for monkey poop.

1) Ecuador is the only place that I know of where you can be in the mountains in the morning, freezing cold, but after 4 hours of driving, either be at the beach or in the jungle. This country is absolutely beautiful. I’m very lucky to be living here for the next 2 years.