the first month

WHere to begin? Time here seems to move differently; the days have crawled by but I still feel surprised that Ive been at my site for a full month! What have I been doing this whole time? Peace Corps wants us to wait until re-connect in four months before begining any projects, but I have been working in the local schools here 5 days a week teaching English primarily, but also about the enviroment. I actually work in three seperate towns...on monday and thursday I have a 45 minute communte (a.k.a morning walk on the beach) to the schools inthe nearby town. I prefer working with the elementary school kids because I dont feel like my Spanish is good enough to teach concepts at a high school level; I nearly panicked when the director of the school asked me to teach the class about virus mutation when a teacher was late to school one day. Theres no way. Evidently my smile and nod approach when I dont understand something is much more effective than I imagined! Apart from that Ive just had meetings with the people in the community (including USAID with whom I am supposed to also be working). Im hoping to start the CAT tools interview with the community next week. Honestly Im still trying to figure everything out here.
At the high school we are in the process of begining a school garden. It began quickly (and accidently) when I mentioned to a teacher howI thought it would be a good idea to have a school garden. By the afternoon she had the kids out in the school yard cutting down weeds. I was surprised at how enthusiastic she was about the project...unfortunatly nothing has happened since as work keeps getting postponed for one reason or another (and I only work there 2 days a week). Ataining seeds is a bit of a problem, there are none to be found in PL. Oh! and Ive never gardened before.
A few weeks ago I discovered an English book exchange in PL which was very exciting considering that I only brought 1 book with me, albeit a long one (but Ive long since finished it). The owners there told me about some of the local research projects on whales, mantas, and sea turtles. I would LOVE to be a part of that, but Im not sure its very pc. I STILL have not been surfing... but the Swedish ex-volunteer and current business investor that currently lives here has said that he will lend me his board when he leaves in the begining of June. yea! I also might have found an apartment for me to move into when I leave the family Im living with currently in 2 months. I cant wait to cook for myself.
Apparently mothers day is a huge deal here. Not only did the kids make presents for there moms in class, but the schools were closed on friday, there were aprreciation ceremonies in all of the schools, and there was an actual comunity fiesta with cervesa (beer) where they chose a reina (beauty queen). Ecuadorians seem to use almost every opportunity to evaluate the beaty of the local girls in a beauty pagent of some sort...sometimes with professional photographs, bikini competitions, and talent performances.
I love getting phone calls from you! I miss you all so much! still havnt gotten the package mom and dad!
Love, Jess