Day 1 in Ecuador!

Hi y'all! This is Elea and Victoria writing you today's blog. We have all arrived safely in Quito, Ecuador and it feels like a dream. Our first day consisted of touring University San Francisco de Quito's campus and already starting our coursework. The campus is beautifully green full of classic architecture, students studying under the sun, and huge laboratories. We got to visit the zoology lab along with viewing all the departments. We were still adjusting to the new city, but luckily, we had a spanish class to prepare us for conversations with the locals with our teacher José David. The highlight of our day was the lecture on "Zoonosis: A Dynamic Network Among Different Animals" by Gabriel Trueba. It helped us create a deeper understanding of how both pathogens have co-evolved among humans throughout history.  Along with how and animals and humans dangerously transmit diseases back and forth through a "genetic flux". The lecture helped put zoonotic diseases in perspective for both pre-medicine and anthropology students. After our day of lecture, we got to see more of our small neighbor, Cumbaya. We cannot wait for how much this trip has in store for us. Goodnight for now! 

Signing off, Elea and Victoria.