Laura: Colada Morada
Last night we went back over to my host grandma’s brother’s house for colada morada – a traditional Ecuadorian beverage prepared with black corn flour and fruits like oranges, pineapple, blackberries,...
View ArticleLaura: Experiences of a Lifetime
I still remember it like it was yesterday, even if it was three and a half years ago already. Standing in the Taco Bell line in Fort Lauderdale with my mom and family friends… when it hit me. Spring...
View ArticleLaura: Family Time
The last weekend with my Quito host family {until the end of the program in December} was awesome. Saturday I followed them along on their errands – the bank, the supermarket, picking up Millie’s...
View ArticleLaura: Guinea Pig
I thought my days of eating guinea pig were over… that is, until dinner today. My host mom motioned for me this afternoon saying, “Ven, ven, hija!” {Come, come, daughter!}. All I knew is that I was...
View ArticleLaura: Bittersweet Surprises
Yesterday I went to a kick-butt, awesome aerobics class with my host mom. The music was rockin’ and although I struggled a couple times to follow the rhythms of everyone else, it was an absolute blast....
View ArticleLaura: Plaza de los Ponchos
I spent the day at “Plaza de los Ponchos” in Otavalo. I paid 25 cents for the 25-minute bus ride there and then I met up with a friend in my same program, Molly. Every day of the week there’s an...
View ArticleLaura: What I’m Learning
I’ve got a smile on my face that may stretch from here all the way to 3,200-some miles home… I love this place. I love that everyday brings a new adventure. I love that I’ve finally gotten to the point...
View ArticleLaura: Stickers are a Teacher’s Best Friend
I helped out the hired English teacher in the 6/7th grade level today (the grade levels are combined because they don’t have enough teachers)… I thought this was a good, fun activity: the kids cut out...
View ArticleLaura: A Weekend Roadtrip
I spent the weekend in Cuenca, in southern Ecuador! I took a bus on Friday afternoon from Cotacachi to Otavalo to Quito… met up there with my friends Colin and Katie, and then we took the overnight bus...
View ArticleLaura: Incan Ruins
Sunday afternoon we rode 2 hours and 15 minutes away to Ingapirca – the largest known Incan ruins in Ecuador. The most significant building is “The Temple of the Sun.” It’s shaped like an elliptical –...
View ArticleLaura: Lessons in Falling Apart
My experiences here are teaching me so much… especially in the falling apart it seems. Like yesterday, when right as we were leaving the school, the door of the “office” fell off. Really it’s just a...
View ArticleLaura: Thanksgiving in Ecuador
I can’t even describe how great it was to walk through the front gate of the apartment, up the cement stairs, knock on the door, and be greeted with huge hugs from my 13-year-old host sister and host...
View ArticleLaura: Mis Guayguays
Today was great. I taught the third level students {my favorites}. I think I decided that they’re my favorites because I know them the best and even when they don’t behave, they always come through for...
View ArticleLaura: The Clock Tower
I’ve had the day free to do whatever my little heart desires… so I went back to “Basílica del Voto Nacional” to go up to the top towers. The packed bus ride took two transits and nearly an hour, but...
View ArticleLaura: Different // Not the same
I’ve been avoiding thinking about it all day… even when I packed up all my stuff (it fit, just barely… I did the “sit on top of it to zip it up” trick), even when watching Sarita’s Christmas program...
View ArticleThoughts before Departure
Hello friends, family and general loved ones! If you are reading this, it means you probably know that I am, as of tomorrow, embarking on a 9 month study abroad adventure in Ecuador! My Spanish...
View Article¡Hola! from the land of the Equator!
I haven’t even been here for 24 hours yet, but many things have happened. At the moment I am sitting at the dining room table in my host family’s apartment. I am living with a mother and her two twin...
View Article10 Days In
This is, maybe, the most busy I have been in my entire life. There comes a point each day when my brain is literally overloaded, and I just have to lay in my bed and close my eyes and try and stop...
View ArticleThoughts from the First Last Week of Class
I’m sorry it has taken me so long to write again! I am wrapping up the last few days of this month’s class and it has been crazy! A 10-page paper and presentation due tomorrow, all in Spanish! But I...
View ArticleReflections at the End of 2 Months
Unfortunately, I got a terrible cold which has left me in bed for the past 4 days. Fortunately, all of that time laying around with not much to do has given me a good pause for refection – something I...
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