So nearly 3 months have gone by. How time flies when you are enjoying yourself! It's been a great 3 months. I have to say that it is gong to be difficult to condense even the last month down. I certainly never expected to go to a funeral, experience a tremor, lose yet more belongings, etc., but that's life in Ecuador for you. If this intrigues you read on or just hit the exit button!

The teaching is going really well. I love it! Mind you the prep is hard work but the $274.67 I earned in the first month was probably the most rewarding salary I have earned in a long time. So far so good in terms of feedback from the school and my students although I can't help feeling I am winging it most of the time. In particular the finer points of English grammar. My students had to describe me for some work they were doing on appearances. They said I was a perfect teacher and that I was smart, beautiful, dynamic, kind full of energy, happy, sincere, cheerful, kind and generous. But apparanetly I am also crazy, tall and fat so I guess you can't win them all!

Had various trips out of Cuenca. We had a day in Cajas one of the national parks that is really close to Cuenca. It was pretty spectacular and we had a great walk around one of the lakes that was until we decided to take a detour. This entailed us having to cross a stream and then scramble up the side of a hill clinging to the pampas grass whilst being attacked by these pesky little spikey plants that were dotted over the hillside. Despite our adventures we eventually made it back to the refuge.

We have been to see one of Ecuador's icons. A singer called Mercedes Sosa or the toad as we christened her. She was so fat she had to be helped onto the stage and remained seated throughout the concert. Mind you she was about 90. The crowd loved her but the most exciting part for us was when the woman in front of us barfed all down the steps due to the amount of alcohol she had consumed. It certainly was a crowd pleaser! Needless to say we made a rapid retreat at this point.

I have even been to a funeral. Our Dueña's father died and we were sort of expected to go to the funeral. Mind you they didn't hang about with the arrangements. He died late on the Thursday night and the funeral took place the next day. The whole thing was quite bizarre from the curator who assisted the priest at the mass dressed in jeans and a rasta t-shirt to the husband of our Dueña taking a video of his wife doing the reading. We had to follow the coffin down the street for a couple of blocks but at least we managed to escape the actual burial.

Yet more sagas with my belongings. When you go into some shops you have to hand over your bag in exchange for a tag to stop you shoplifting. When I returned the hijo de puto (I will let you work out what that means!) had given my bag to someone else. Needless to say I was far from impressed. I lost all my school books, my teaching materials as well as my students exam papers and homework. It has been a lot of hassle but at least I didn´t lose my camera, passport, etc., and they have refunded half the amount I lost. I am going to the police tomorrow to report it so lets see if that triggers any further payment.

I am now living in my new 'apartment'. I love the location but our Dueña can be a bit trying at times. Despite us renting the whole place she treats it like an extension of her own home and comes and goes as she pleases. We are though right in the heart of the city down by the bars and the restaurants, the river and the parks so it is perfect. I have started to go to aerobics in the park which is fun and for only 30 cents its a bargain. It is a bit of a free for all though when you have to do floor work and if you don't manage to grab a mat you end up with a strip of cardboard. These Ecuadorian women certainly don't take any prisoners where aerobics mats are concerned and they push and shove like nobody's business. When it is step aerobics you have to get there early becuase if your late you end up having to step onto a milk crate!

Early November saw the 'Las Fiestas de Cuenca' which was a lot of fun. We also had 3 days off work! Not only was there a serious party for 3 days but we had great weather. Everyone really got into the party spirit and all the squares were turned into music venues. The music was great and everyone handed out lots of shots of alcohol and we danced all night! Happy, happy days!

Even been to see Cuenca play football. It was a bit amateurish but it was a good game especially as they beat Quito. Mind you watching their goalie was a bit like watching David James when he used to play for England. He was a dreadful fumbler and we got very nervous towards the end but ultimately Cuenca triumphed. The crowd were all very friendly but not sure some of the Yanks we were with appreciated the finer points of etiquette on the terraces which necessitated someone yelling "sit down Gringo" much to all the Brits amusement.

Experienced my first tremor. It hit 6.7 and lasted for about 50 seconds so it was quite exciting. Having said that it did not interrupt our vino tinto and nothing should get in the way of a girls glass of wine! No one was hurt but a couple of buildings fell down but so far our apartment is still standing.

Last week we headed south to a place called Saraguro. It was like heading back in time despite it only being 4 hours away on the bus. It was a small agricultural town and most of the people there dress in black. There seems to be a difference of opinion as to why but it seemed to relate to them being in mourning for one of the last Inca's. Mind you I bet they never have a wardrobe crisis and have to dress to impress. On Sunday they had this amazing market where everyone goes to sell their livestock. We got very excited at the prospect of being able to buy a pig for $40 or a horse for about $180. In case you are starting to panic at this point we managed to resist it.

Just one more week to go then I am off to Bolivia for a well earned rest!