Teigan,

Your Nov. 5 pictures are awesome! I especially like the two from Canete. The one of the town looks like it could be an Edward Hopper painting. Everything looks to be set up well for you, except that you won't be in the mountains, which I know you will miss. The desert is nice, though, and you will learn to appreciate its stark beauty.

You will be close to Pisco, however, so that I can visit the real thing when I come to visit.

Sorry to hear about the theft of your phone - my backpack got stolen about 3 weeks into my program in Ecuador, which had my camera and my journal in it among other things. The backpack itself, in addition to many of the items inside, was valuable enough to the thief to make it worth it. Physical items can be replaced. The things that store memories like the film in the camera with photos I had taken and my journal writings were the hardest loss.

Congratulations on your language exam, Teigan! I know that this was a big test for you. It is funny that everyone in our family will be able to understand Spanish but me soon. Probably now. I no longer have you as an alibi (Hey, Teigan can't speak much Spanish either!) This old brain will need to learn some more of that language. It was easier when I was 24, but I also had more time then.

I looked at the pictures. The rabbit looks gross, but then you have gutted a ten-point buck. It was already dead, though.

Things are going well here. Karen is still into her iPhone. She is downloading ring tones as part of a four-step process that she needs to perform. She is quite proud of that. The best present that I ever got her. She now has the song that Sheriff John started is show with, "Laugh and be Happy," as her main ring-tone. I get a lttle irritated when she turns on her flashing light with the phone while I am going to sleep. She does it to tease me.

Hallon seems to be making friends at the University. I work out with her every Thursday at the gym. We lift weights and do 10 minutes on the ellipticals. That is all we can stand. Djuna is doing interesting research. She seems to be happy about her decisions regaring graduate school.

Bye ofr now!

Ask if they eat cuy (guinea pig) there. In Ecuador it is a delicacy. It might be more common in the Andean regions of Peru.

Hey Teigan!

I just read your journal, and it sounds like things are going great for you. We came back from Greece on Sunday. Went to visit Ioannis' tomb, and spent time with the Vardolakis. It was sad, thinking about how the family will cope. I missed class for one week. Hopefully, my students will understand.

I was in Seattle earier last week, working on the "save the Salmon" project. We got some good work done.

Hallon is having a good time at the U of MN.

I just noticed this message board! I will use this now that I know about it. I'm keeping up with every post, thanks for taking the time to document your adventures!

What your doing is amazing! I am so proud of you and wish you the best experience of your life! Godspeed- Bonnie