Well, it appears the last time I had something to say was just
about a month ago! Can you imagine! Anyway, a lot of things have happened in
this past month:
The last Wednesday in January, I changed host families. I love the
family I'm with; my mom works all the time--or so it appears, and my dad works
downstairs, so he isn't far away. My host brother is graduating tomorrow, so
has been a bit busy with finals and such, but I'm sure that after he graduates,
things will be a lot easier in his life. I also have an unofficial host
brother--the other exchange student. Though he moved out, he spends A LOT of
time here. I really like it here because I have freedom as well as the fact I'm
in the center of the city. The family is really sweet and cares a lot about us;
it's amazing.
I went to Cafe Color Tierra the 7th, and was amazed by the beauty
the city can hold. I cannot imagine such a place anywhere else in the world. We
climbed around 7 waterfalls, and took a million pictures in doing so, and I
can't wait to go back!
I spent a week in Portoviejo with Diana Dueñas, a girl who came to
Medford (my town) last year on exchange. I loved it, and was able to spend a
lot of time with her lovely family. We went to a million different beaches for
Carnival, and on the first night, they sprayed a foam in my eyes and I had to
take out my contacts. I couldn't see for the rest of the week. However, who
needs to see when you are having the time of your life? I also made my dad's
Famous Healthy Apple Pie. It was soooo yummy and amazing to have a taste from
home. We did a number of things--went to the movies, biked, or well, walked, up
a mountain, got eaten by mosquitoes through our...my...clothing,
cleaned, walked, shopped... Just about everything that one can do in a week!
On Saturday, the 16th, I lost my dog who has been in my heart
since we took her home from the SPCA to foster. She has been in my life since I
can remember--I have very few memories before her coming home with us. I was 12
when we moved to OR from MI, and a man offered to "take her off our hands
on such a long move," but my mother would never allow that. She made the
journey sitting to the left of me and continued to follow my mom around like
the faithful little darling she was. When I came on exchange, my mom asked me,
"You know she won't be here when you get back, right?" I replied,
"I know." However, the knowledge of that does not make the news of
her getting cancer any easier. Nor does it make the feeling any easier when she
is put to sleep so she doesn't suffer. I am thankful for Fidel, our little dog
here, for calming me down, and my host family for listening to me get my
sadness out.
I applied for my return date, and am sad to say that I will only
be spending 11 months, 4 days in Ecuador. My return date was put in for July
27th, but I still don't have my itinerary, and that means that it could vary a
few days.
The Galapagos trip is coming up--only a month away! I cannot wait!
(Well, yes I can because of the above paragraph!)
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