Yesterday Lisa and I committed to a volunteer project in a little village called San Jose de Mina, about two hours North West of Quito. We will be there for a few weeks doing a variety of work: Teaching English, Health Education, Computer Skills etc. ´Hopefully Lisa will be able to practice a bit of acupuncture as well.

We´re not sure what our communication status will be once we are there, but worse case it is not too far from the larger town of Otavalo where we already know they have internet cafes and phones for cheap international calls. Of course we may have to ride a horse to get there - Horseback riding rivals the bicycle for the preferred means of travel in this Village.

We are both excited to plant ourselves somewhere for a bit, cook our own food and get to know people a little better than just as tourists.

-Jim