Spoke too soon...

Of course I spoke too soon about my perfect Ecuadorian stomach...almost as soon as I arrived home from the internet cafe after writing the previous post, the toilet adventure started...I don´t think I have felt this bad in my entire life. I won't tell the details, just one piece of advice: when they tell you not to drink water, juices and milk if you are not sure they have been purified...BELIEVE THEM!
I honestly thought I was going to disappear down the drain as well, it was horrible, on top of it I think I had high fever and the start of a cold...now, it could be swine flu, but I honestly think it's just me being careless about water hygiene...i feel much better now, just a very bad cold, anyways I didn´t go to nursery yesterday and today and I am not too sure if I will go tomorrow, or maybe just half day, just to stay on the safe side.

Other news, a new girl arrived to the house, she is from Sweden and is 18 years old!! We are very different, not only for the age but also for the expectations we have from this trip, I am looking to be as much integrated to the country and its people, whereas she only wants to meet other travellers and visit the touristic hotspots. I try to help her out suggesting what things she could do but she doesn't seem that interested, she cannot speak any Spanish at all and maybe that's why, however she is taking lessons and she wants to stop them as she doesn't think she needs them so much...I tell her, how on earth is she going to communicate, most Ecuadorian people from lower backgrounds do not speak much English, but I don't think she is interested in communicating with locals at all...oh well, everyone looks for a different experience.

Yesterday I went to a local shopping centre, I was quite impressed, I think it's the nicest shopping mall I have ever seen, and they told me it's not one of the nicest...it was a completely different world in there, I could have really been anywhere in Europe! Modernization and globalisation...anyway, it was nice to feel a little bit like home for a while. Still, I bought my trainers in a local shop for 15 dollars, and they work perfectly :-)

PS, some thoughts about my packing list:
- I should have brought my trainers from home, it does not rain that much here and even though the hiking shoes are comfortable, trainers are always a must. Why did you advise me against it??? :)
- Thanks god for all the medicines I brought, very handy..however there are pharmacies everywhere here
- Those lightweight superthin superabsorbent towels for travellers are AMAZING!
- Glad I brought two types of coats (one light raincoat and a waterproof ski jacket) , weather can vary a lot down here..