WARNING! big waffle-ey update ahead. Wrote it Sat at 8am, still tipsy from a Mexican-themed discotheque night out.

Ok, the Galapagos Islands are most definitely magical. I have been waking up at 5.45am ready for work...naturally, without any alarms!?! Plus, I went for quite a heavy one last night, so I opened my eyes slowly after 4 hours sleep thinking 'here comes the pain!'....but nada! I feel fresh as a daisy. I don't ever want to leave!

Here on the island there is no schedule really, everything just works out without any planning or organisation...BIG culture shock for me. I have been asked to arrive at school at 7(ish) to help with 2 year 9 classes. So far I have done 3 lessons and my main purpose is to stand there at the start and be asked a series of questions by the kids, who find me extremely fascinating (with each answer comes a Spanish reply and a lot of laughter though) or I read English passages out loud, asking them to repeat important phrases.

I am trying to get a grip on Spanish, and I understand more and more of what is said, but speaking it is waaaay more difficult.

The food my 'island mother', Ariola, produces is amazing! I get 3 meals a day, so far nothing's the same. Each meal is something I have never had in my life and she consistently forces you to eat more, not a problem! She speaks no English so the girl who lives here also, another volunteer, translates between us. So during a meal me and Ariola can have a nice sarcastic conversation, as she is mental and just lies constantly to try and scare me. On the first day she put a box of wine in front of me and said 'breakfast!' in glee, I don't think she knows who she's dealing with....

Weather! It is always shorts and t-shirt weather. Although it is sooo sporadic! It could be clear and scorching hot, but suddenly clouds dash above us and it rains a bit. Well, not really rain, but the moisture takes it's own time to fall and it just feels like the air is wet (not a rain drop in sight) and you dry off instantly. I have not worn sunscreen at all (as I only brought a tiny bit) and my face, arms and neck are a nice colour. Need to do some proper sunbathing to catch the rest up.

Factoid: Everything smells of the sea, including the shower! It's a really nice smell though!

Mosquitos are my Amigo's! I just have a tiny nip on my elbow. Garlic tablets are the best deterrent. My housemate was bitten everywhere (including eyelid, which needed a hospital trip!) but now I've given her 1000mg odourless garlic tablets...she hasn't been bitten since.

I have met loads of people here during the evenings. I went out one night with some Australians. We had some german volunteers over for some rum, and then went out and met Canadians. And last night, friday, we met some Alaskans and Americans who totally got, and loved, my British humour (take the piss out of everything, especially myself).

On Sunday, when this other volunteer I live with leaves, I am going to
Be so screwed. No more conversation with Ariola, and no one to go out with and find new people with! I am going to feel pretty lonesome.

I put up some photos of my first few days on Facebook, I have some wicked videos but they won't upload till when I'm home. I am off to a few new islands on Sunday, should be interesting.

Asta l'uego! (or something like that)