Update from the cloud forest

Well, I've been in this town called Peñaherrera in the Intag cloud forest region for 2 weeks now.  It's been a bit bumpy, running into some obstacles with my project, but overall it's going pretty well.  Quite an experience.  Peñaherrera is a small community, with a school and high school, a few general stores, a church, and a little radio station for the region.  People here are really nice and helpful.  Being in the middle of the cloud forest, and at the beginning of the rainier season here, it rains almost every single day here.  You can pretty much count on rainy afternoons, although today is a rare almost rain-free day!  Yesterday was gorgeous in the morning, and a few friends and I went to the thermal pools nearby.  It is a little difficult to get around.  My friend Corey lives in a town called Apuela, which is about a 20 minute drive or hour walk.  I have been going there the past couple of weekends, there is a little more going on there.  There are buses back up here, but kind of sporadic, and i end up asking all over town to try to find out when the next one will be.  Despite the traveling difficulties, I actually get wifi in the park up here!  No cell phone service, but that hasn't been too much of a problem.  Very different experience here as far as communication, transportation, and concept of time here than in the US!  Sometimes I ask people when the next bus will come, and the response "ahora mismo" (literally, right now) can encompass a range of times.  Sometimes ahora mismo means the bus is coming right now, sometimes it means it will come in 2 hours.  Difficult to plan, but things are working out for the most part.

For my project I am trying to evaluate some reforestation projects here.  An organization here called DECOIN (Defensa Ecológica y Conservación de Intag) has helped support these community-run reforestation efforts in reserves protecting water sources.  Deforestation here is a big problem due to agriculture and cattle pasture especially.  Loss of vegetation can cause a lot of issues with the water cycle, leading to decreasing quantity and quality of the water sources.  My project is part of a continuing study - a few other students from this program in the past have come and done a similar study.  I was looking forward to the project, but it hasn't been going that smoothly.  I had to get to 5 different reserves, and none of the people I needed to find there have a telephone.  Tons of walking, but I have been getting used to it.  The field work itself isn't enjoyable and there is a lot of Excel work which is not my favorite, but I try to remember that I'm in the Andes and it's still amazing, despite the difficulties I am having.  I am learning a lot!  3 more data collecting days, then working on data analysis and paper writing.
I will try to write more about some experiences I have had here and more about what it is like, but I should get back to work at the moment.  And shower, it's been a few days.  I do get somewhat warm showers here!  Overall, things are going pretty well, although I may have parasites again.  But could be worse!  Just wanted to write a little update about where I am/what I'm up to.
I am looking forward to getting back to Quito in about a week and a half and Maine in a month, but it is a very neat experience to be here for a few weeks!
Hasta luego!  Happy Thanksgiving :)

El volcán Cotocachi, on a relatively clear day

That town on the right is Peñherrera!

Back to Intag

I'm in Otavalo right now, making the trip back to the Intag cloud forest.  I'll be there until the beginning of December, working on a reforestation project.  Living with a family in a small town called Peñaherrera.  Don't know much more than that so it will definitely be interesting!  Looking forward to working on my Spanish.  Brought the guitar that I bought in Quito recently!  My friend and I went to a little shop near our school - the guitars are made right there, and we talked a lot to Fausto, who has been making guitars there for 40 years.  He was so great, he even accompanied me home on the bus after I bought my guitar!  So nice.

Here's a few photos from some flower plantations we visited and from a trip to Baños.

Political march in Quito