"The Crisis" and Living in Quito

Hey everyone! I hope things are going well in the states.

I am sure all of you heard about what happened about a week ago today in Ecuador, and what became a problem between Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. Colombia crossed into Ecuador and bombed where members of the FARC, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, were hiding. They killed about 20 people, including the second commander of the FARC army. Ecuador states Colombia had violated Ecuador's soverignty as Colombia did not alert Ecuadorian authorities of this attack. Hugh Chavez, president of Venezuela, agreed with Correa, Ecuador's president, and demanded something more than just an apology from Colombia, and so sent troops to the border of Colombia. Later that same week, Correa and Chavez accepted an apology from Colombia's president Uribe, and all was settled. With all this happening, were things any different for that week in Quito?

No. Although everyone was talking about it and expressing their opinions, as Quitenos (residents of Quito) like to talk politics, nothing seemed to be different at all. People continued to get up and go to work and go to school. Correa is very popular with most people, although conservatives would like to see him out of the presidency. Though nothing was different in Quito, it's interesting politically, as Colombia, currently under a conservative U.S. supported president, is situated between Ecuador and Venezuela, which are more socialist leaning presidents who maintain the same ideas.

Living in Quito
I've been living on my own in Quito now for more than 3 months. I usually spend 50-60 dollars a month on groceries.
Here is what is comes down to: Ecuador also uses the US dollar.
12 eggs: 1.40
Loaf of bread: 1.67
Bag of chifles (banana potato chips): .91
Half gallon of milk: .81
Bag of organic lettuce: .80
5 large potatoes: .40
2/3 lb. of fresh chese: 2.41
Half lb. of spaghetti: .41
10 bananas: .25
A whole pineapple: .80
I head of broccoli: .30

Fruit and vegetables are very cheap. There is a little fruit shop next to my house where a woman sells all types of fruit. The grocery store I go to offers a 25% discount every wednesday an all produce, and features an internationaly food isle, where you can find granola, Campbells soup, Hunts ketchup, Prego spaghetti sauce and ACT II popcorn, basically American food.
When eating out, you can usually find restaurants that offer almuerzos (lunches) which include soup, a main plate, juice and desert, a ton of food, from 1.25 to 2.50.
Taking the busy every day costs .25 cents each time, while a usual taxi ride will cost 2 to 3 dollars, the fare starting at .36 cents when you get in. That's pretty much it! No more pictures yet, but I recently decided I'm going to Machu Picchu in Peru for spring break (2 weeks) so check for update then!