One month left in Ecuador...

Trying my best to avoid excessive countdowns, but since I haven´t been home in close to a year, it is a very exciting time to know that I will be coming home soon to see family and friends. The part that is difficult that I didn´t ever imagine before was what I would be leaving. I have made friends in Quito, both Ecuadorian and American, created a familia with the niños and my host parents that I have been living with for the past year. While I am very excited to be home, perhaps it is bittersweet. It is with this that the one month mark has left me with a sense of taking advantage of everything I love about Ecuador and making the most of the rest of my time. Since the last time I´ve written, I´ve visited Baños and jumped off a bridge with 3 of my close friends that arrived here to volunteer in March. I celebrated the equivalent of Labor Day Weekend at the beach in Atacames. I´ve visited Cesar and David´s preschool to watch their family day performances. I´m currently planning to head to Ambato to celebrate my friend from high school´s bday. I´m also going to be running-jogging-slugging along in a 15K in June. When I go to think back about the time I´ve spent in Ecuador this year, I´m sure I will have nothing but fond memories of the people and places.

Feliz Dia de la Maestra! :)

My Intermediate class after our fiesta for dia de la maestra...

Some of my favorite students from the morning Basic 2 class...
Fellow SECAP ¨Profe¨s...

Oh I´m Part of the Magic, Alright

Therese always told us to never turn down an invitation from anyone in Ecuador. You never know what could happen. I´ve had my share of ¨kidnappings¨ and ¨darring vueltas (i.e. going in circles)¨ during my time in Ecuador and breakfasts that last till 7PM, but I very rarely regret taking invites from students and friends while here. I´ve gotten to visit tiny pueblitos in the North, I´ve eaten typical food at students´ homes and most recently, I´ve gone to a magic show at the University with my friend Rachael and her student, Mauro. When Rachael asked me to tag along, I didn´t know what to think. Magic shows can either be really cool or really hokey. We arrived a little late to the Politecnica´s auditorium, where we joined close to 200 students taking a break between finals and thesis writing. Some of the jokes were difficult to understand and untranslatable without ruining the punch line but every time the Magician from Argentina came around looking for volunteers, Mauro hinted to not make eye contact and we wouldnt get chosen...but alas, the magician was looking for an assistant who he described would be ideally ¨chiquitita¨ and thus my magic career began walking on a man who was hypnotized and laying on a bed of nails. Thought you all might enjoying seeing the photo!