Fellowship Update from Alex Katona

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Hey everyone!

Here's an update regarding my life in Ecuador supported by the DTRW Fellowship.

First off, there are three things you need to know about Ecuador: reggaeton music, diesel buses, and cheap beer.

Life has been good this past month. I have figured out, for the most part, the bus routes which have been my biggest difficulty yet. They make absolutely no sense to me, nor is there any place where you can get bus route information. But they're cheap as hell and highly amusing.

Work has been going well—I LOVE the people I'm working with. They're so great and from all over the world. Sarah is the girl I am working closely with and she's from Alaska. We get along really well and laugh at ourselves throughout the day.

In terms of work, I have managed to make a path for myself given my previous experiences and interests. Basically, I am working on finding international markets for Kallari's jewelry and chocolate. Another duty is to host workshops with the indigenous communities that are part of Kallari. They live in the Napo region of Ecuador, about a 6-hour bus ride from Quito. Sarah and I went there about 2 weeks ago. However our bus got stuck in the mud on the way back! Hopefully our next trip in October goes better—I'll keep you posted.

There's so much more to tell! Here are some highlights of my trip thus far:

• Peeing behind a bus with Sarah and another random lady on our way to the jungle.
• Crossing a river in a wooden canoe with a drunken Kichwa man... I really thought we were going in the water.
• Getting hit on by a man who was peeing on a car tire in the middle of the day.
• Playing in a soccer game with one of the Kichwa communities.
• Attending a graduation party in one of the Kichwa communities and drinking their sugar cane liquor and dancing to their traditional music.
• Celebrating my 23rd birthday with my new friends and cousins.
• Bathing in Rio Talag with one of the cutest Kichwa kids ever.

That's all for now—I hope everyone is doing great…please keep me updated about your adventures on the message board—I want to hear everything!

More about Alex’s Fellowship: ◊ Alex Katona meets Colleen Kinder ◊ Update and photos from Alex in Ecuador - 10/05 ◊ Update and photos from Alex in Ecuador - 11/05 ◊ Update and photos from Alex in Ecuador - 12/05