Es Ecuador!

***6/3/12

OKAY! SO I'm officially in Ecuador, and today is my second day! Yesterday was a pretty decent day. I'm going to post what I wrote yesterday at the bottom of this post so that you can read about my flight info if you want to.





The house I'm staying at is beautiful, and the family is so wonderful. I never realized how elegant houses are in America with all of our fancy trinkets and decorations... yet houses without those things are just as beautiful. The house that I'm in didn't have a door for my room or the bathroom for the first day, which was a little bit awkward, but then they put in doors for me, and I was more than grateful for that. It's so much of an honor to be there that it's almost embarrassing, if that makes sense! I don't want anyone to think that they have to make these big accomodations for me, but I'm so grateful that they are willing to.

So it's been quite a ride already. So much has happened, good and bad! I've already been learning a LOT of Spanish and the past few days I have spoken only in Spanish! I have been able to understand more in conversation, as well as most of the church service. The weather has been nice, the people have been amazing, and it's been a lot of fun!

However, there have been hard times, as well. I've still felt a bit sick, so I have only been able to eat like one solid meal a day- with some light food inbetween. Yesterday Santiago took me to Quito, which is the big city about 40 minutes from CalaCali, and it was really abrumadora (overwhelming)! I could barely breathe being so close to so many people, and I had to take a lot of breaks! My health has not been in the most amazing shape, but I've been doing okay regardless! Definitely keep me in your prayers for that!

Yesterday I was able to go to the house of a mutual friend of Santiago and I for his birthday, and it was awesome. We laughed a lot and had dinner and cake there (but I didn't really eat). It was a lot of fun!

Today we went to church and then to Santiago's for lunch. I had breakfast in my house (yes, it is now officially "mi casa"), and I was able to talk with my host mom and her husband. They have four children, who are precious, and a few dogs, as well. They also have annoying roosters (which I mentioned in the earlier post), but either way, I love it here! Lunch was at Santiago's with my favorite gringa, Madeline, and other interns from El Refugio (the camp I worked at in January when I first came to Ecuador). Again, I didn't really eat anything, but Santiago cooked chicken, rice, and papas fritas (like french fries but they taste more like potatoes than french fries!). :)

Now I'm just hanging out at Santiago's house until he has class in the camp. Tomorrow we will hopefully finally get an Ecuadorian phone for me since my phone doesn't work here (read bottom for explanation).

So it's been pretty good as of right now! One thing Santiago (and some others) continue to say when I realize the differences of the culture is: "Es Ecuador!", which means "It's Ecuador!". It's a continual reminder for me that I just have to embrace this culture that isn't my own and enjoy the differences.

Thanks for all of your prayers, and please continue to pray for strength for me!

****6/2/12

¡Hola, everyone! So yesterday was my ridiculously long travel day that started with a night of no sleep! I have been sick with anxiety since about the beginning of April, and since the day of my trip to Ecuador, it only worsened. So the Thursday night before my travels, I was very sick and could barely pack. I just kept praying, and God definitely gave me the strength to get all of my things together! My father and I left around 7:30am for Newark airport, and of course we stopped at Dunkin to get a free doughnut! =)

Sorry that this post may get boring because it’s all about flight info, but I figured I’d let you all know anyway, in case you’re curious! Basically, all of my flights went really well. I was not charged for bringing my guitar (even though I had two checked bags and two carry-ons already), and I met some really wonderful people. I met a family in Newark that watched my stuff when I wanted to get up and eat something, and I got to know them a little bit during the hour wait for boarding. The workers in security were the nicest I have ever seen, too! And I took some anti-nausea medicine and Tums to help with the airplane sickness that I sometimes get.

During the first flight to Miami (which was three hours), I (coincidentally) sat next to a couple that spoke Spanish, so I talked to them for a bit. Once the plane took off, I was already asleep, and I slept pretty much the whole time!

One of the things I had anxiety about the most was trying to navigate four airports and get on three flights all by myself. I’ve never even taken a bus or train by myself! But fortunately, it went REALLY well!! I found everything, and everything went smoothly! During the second flight, I sat next to a mother and her four-year-old child, who was so cute. She wanted to sit on my lap and play “tag” and talk to me. It was wonderful. The flight was about two hours, and I was so confused because of the time difference. I arrived in Panama at about 7:30, thinking it was 8:30 and I was going to miss my next flight!

The layover went by extremely quick, but at this point, I started to get cranky. My internet was not working in the airport, and my phone was not working, even though I supposedly activated it. I was constantly being asked questions by people and airport employees, but they spoke Spanish so fast that it was hard to keep up. I was tired, hot, and hungry, and the frustration of not hearing them clearly made it so bad that I was ready to cry before boarding the next plane. However, I finally got internet access with the help of a nice Hispanic man. Through my friend, I was able to get in contact with my dad, who called Verizon, who THEN informed me that (they lied to me!) my phone is not compatible overseas. So, I’m going to buy an Ecuadorian phone today, and Verizon is going to reimburse me for it thankfully!

The flight to Panama ran longer than expected, and I had to stand in the customs line for at least 40 minutes. However, I sat next to two very nice on the flight who helped me with getting my guitar in and out of the plane, filling out my customs form, and knowing where to go when we landed in Quito, Ecuador.

Once going through customs, I was extremely overwhelmed. I had to pay for a cart for my two suitcases, guitar, laptop, and backpack, and at this point, my entire body was sore from standing so long and carrying so much weight on my shoulders. My eyes were heavy, as it was almost one in the morning when I finally saw my friend, Santiago, and I had gotten no consistent amounts of sleep for an entire day. However, Santiago comforted me and took my bags while I tried to catch my breath! It was cold last night, so it felt wonderful when I finally stepped out of the airport. It took a few minutes for Santiago and his friend to figure out a way to fit all of my luggage in a small car, but finally they did it, and it was about an hour drive to CalaCali from Quito. I arrived at the house that I’m staying at around almost two in the morning and stayed up talking for a bit with Santiago before he left to go home.

This morning I awoke to hearing the little kids playing in the house that I’m staying in. My room currently does not have a door, so the sounds of children laughing and a Spanish program on TV were my wake-up call. Oh, and not to mention that there are really annoying roosters that always make noises early in the morning! As of right now, I’m lying in bed still and waiting for Santiago to come get me. We’re apparently going to see some places today, get some food, and buy my phone!

So as you can see, God put plenty of helpful, wonderful people on my path. Thank God I’m outgoing also and can easily ask for help… even in Spanish! I felt accomplished when I was able to ask questions and understand things that were going in with my flights and all. It was a good feeling. I’m thoroughly content with the fact that my first traveling experience on my own was a successful one, thanks to God!

When I’m asked about why I’m here in Ecuador for two months, I’m not quite sure how to answer. Somehow I was pulled back here. Maybe it was the llamas or speaking in Spanish, but the first day I came to Ecuador, I knew I wanted to come back. After two months, and after finding out I was not able to stay in two different houses that offered originally, God gave me the opportunity to stay with the cook at the camp I worked at, along with her wonderful family! I’m not sure how many kids she has yet, but I know there are a few! Hearing their laughter and high-pitched Spanish-speaking voices this morning melted my heart, and I can’t wait to officially meet them today.

I do not know much about my schedule yet, but I’m allowing God to use me in whatever ways possible here! Today is my first official day out of two months in this beautiful country, and my excitement is finally catching up to me once again!

Please keep me in your prayers and I search for more opportunities for this summer and as I adjust to a culture that isn’t my own!

¡GRACIAS, DIOS!