Cool.

Malaria pills kick ass. Well, they definitely have their side effects, like making your skin more susceptible to the sun, but if you're not a total whitie, you're good to go. I've been taking these pills, called Doxycyline, for just about a month now and will have to stop taking them on Thursday. The reason I like them first of all is because by taking them I will not get malaria (although I don't think I would've gotten malaria had I not taken them), and second of all because I have been having very intense, realistic dreams since the first day I took one them back at the end of March. I don't know why this is a side effect, or even how it could be a side effect, but it has been interesting to wake up and remember the crazy dreams that I have each night. Last night someone gave me a new cell phone. Two weeks ago I was back in Boise eating lunch with my high school girl friends at IHOP, but it wasn't IHOP, but I knew we were in the IHOP restaurant. I often remember my dreams without malaria prevention medication, but I feel like the dreams are just out of control wacko with Doxycyline.

I cut my hair!!! Oh, it felt so incredibly wonderful to chop off the bottom half of my poof ball. I went to this dinky little place around the corner from my house on Av. América and had Señor Suave cut my hair for $5.00, and it actually looks pretty good! I was feeling a little untrustworthy of the peluquerías here, but I may just cut my hair again in June before I come back to Boise!

There was traffic on Sunday, which is just not normal. On Sunday, Ecuadorians had until 5pm to go out and vote for their president (and their mayors and all that junk). They had 8 candidates to choose from, four of which actually saw any action in the polls. Rafael Correa got reelected and will lead the country for four more years.

Ecuador has had a history of instability in their political system, just like many South American countries. But it interesting to see that despite the corruption in the past, the people continue to support it today. Another candidate that ran was Lucio Gutiérrez, who in 2005 got removed from office by the people for his corruption. I do not understand how it was even legal for Gutiérrez to run in the race, let alone how he ended with 28% of the population following him. Another candidate was Alvaro Noboa, a banana plantation billionaire who made this election his 4th attempt at presidency. Many Ecuadorians nulled their ballots, or simply voted for the candidate that was "menos mal". Others voted for whoever was in second place previous to election day.

I don't know what to think about Correa. My host family, and the host families where my friends live all despise the man and probably voted for Gutiérrez and Noboa just because they didn't want Correa to win. Correa won 52% of the vote, and obviously that is a percentage that supports mostly the lower class. I think that although Correa himself may be corrupt, he has shown to be a steady leader for the past 2 years and if the lower class supports him, which is the majority of the population, I will support him. Yey for the indigenous people who's rights have been ignored since the Conquistadores!

I love Portugués. It is a beautiful language and I am very happy to be learning it. Plus, it's not too much different from Spanish!!! Ahhh.

Lame blog, whatever. You will all read it anyway.

I met an Ecuadorian! Wouldn't you like to know more?