the most dangerous fun i've ever had

the last several weeks have been a roller coster. language training just ended yesterday and today we received our site assignments. i couldn't be happier. i got everything i wanted (minus the fact that i'm going to have to take malaria medication). i'm going to a town of roughly 1000 people in the transitional zone between the sierra and the coast.  only 1 1/2 to 2 hours outside of quito, so good news for all that plan on coming to visit.  my project is focused on reforestation and native tree nursery creation, plus i've been told there is great need for agricultural work as well! 

today has been one of the strangest ever, because i know more about my future today than i have for the last 25 months. it's a mix of excitement, anticipation, satisfaction, tranquility and just the tiniest bit of disappointment because i'm going to be quite far from the best friends i have made in the program.  

we leave for our first site visits the day after tomorrow, where i will not only see where i'll be living for the next two years, but also meet my counterpart and new host family that i will live with for the first three months.  wow! 

in other news, i have the grossest bruise on my left shin, from playing soccer a week ago. it started out as a regular bruise and then swelled up to roughly the size of a lemon.  initially the swelling went down and i just had the most psychedelic bruising i've ever seen, but now the swelling is back and is rather uncomfortable. the doctor thinks i may need an x-ray but is holding off for now.