Today is my last day

Tuesday I went zip lining and survived!  It was so much fun!  I am so glad I did it they start you off small and gradually get higher and higher.  It was awesome!  The rest of the week I finished getting all of my souvenirs and hanging out with friends and family.  Thursday my host dad got really sick at lunch.  My mom and dad were searching through their pills to find one for him to take.  Then he took one and had to have another bite of the delicious chocolate cake.  It was hilarious.  My dad asked for less salad and rice and I asked for more salad and less meat.  It's great!  Well he has been really sick and yesterday he told me it was because I was leaving but who knows.  Friday I had my spanish final and I was done with classes.  After the test I bought my family a flower arrangement and a torta mojado!  So good.  My mom and I had lunch which was so filling and I went to get my last manicure!  For $3 I enjoyed everyone!  Last night I had a despedida with my group and some of the corrdinators.  I presented a speech to the group about each person and my personal experience.  Everyone loved it, it was quite emotional.  After our speeches Kim prepared a slideshow with baby pictures of everyone anf of course I was first so up on this huge screen is a fat naked baby sitting in a bathtub, oh well it was cute and funny.  It was nice to see everyone and then see everyone throughout the program.  It was a good meal as well and a good night.  I went home after to spend time with my family.  Woke up my last morning to the Maestro fixing the hot water hose or something.  I don't really know but there was a lot fo pounding and my mom came in and asked me what my plans were for today, of course they were going to be with her. Well time to go prepare for the rest of this sad day :(

I found another Angel

Last night was crazy!  I went to the group home and it was much better than what I expected for Ecuador.    After I went home for awhile and worked on some homework.  I decided to go to Casa de Mujer for the third time to see if I could find the guys shop.  I was starting to get paranoid that I had put a $20 deposit down and was unable to get my mom's gift.  The guy was open when I went in ans it was awesome.  He showed it to me and he did an excellent job!  I hope she likes it as much as I do or I guess I can always keep it for myself.  Then I thought I would stop in to the chocolate store and see if I could meet the family of the girl with prader-willi syndrome.  I was able to meet the mom immediately and her uncle.  We talked for about fifteen minutes and then I had to go get my backpack because I went to get the whole repaired.  The guy only charged me $1 to fix it and last time he charged me dad $2 guess I fit in more now lol.  Then I ran back to the chocolate store because the young girl and her dad were coming in.  I had no idea what I was going to be walking into.  I walked in and there was this beautiful young girl standing no more than 5ft tall and 200 pounds.  I knew that had to be her.  I immediately introduced myself and the mom and dad and young girl all talked with me for about 2 hours.  The young girl was so unique and yet she reminded me of Tyler so much!  This young girl just wants to fit in, in a culture that don't understand dissabilities and believe she is just obese.  The girl told me about her two friends she had but get this they are imaginary!  She goes to a "normal" high school because in Ecuador there is no special education.  The parents told me they are terminatoring her from school after this year, and all I could advice was I think that she should stay in school.  I struggled a lot last night because I understood what to tell them from my situation but they are living in a third world country where no Doctors have heard about this syndrome.  The fact that no Doctor in the whole country of Ecuador has heard of Prader-willi syndrome disgusts me.  The family told me there were four people diagnosed with Prader-willi syndrome in Ecuador, which one died at the age of 23 because there are no resources available.  This family went to Mexico six years ago to try and get a diagnosis.  The young girl is now on Generaltropin and only at 1.3 which I don't think is enough, but I do not know her situation.  The young girl begged for a normal life and to fit in.  She was begging for love and affection, she was sitting next to me and she would just stare at me and tell me how pretty I was, she also would rest her head on me and give me kisses and hugs.  This young girl made my heart ache.  I want to to whatever I can to help her and her family, which is difficult because I am only here until Saturday.  Her dad talked to me the most, it was hard talking to him because he wanted answers and wanted to know the secrets to success.  This family had lost all hope before meeting me and thought she would be another statistic with Prader-willi syndrome that dies at such a young age.  The dad would ask me what my family does about food a number of times. I told him cabinets and doors had to be locked and whatever my brother ate is what we ate because his health and life was more important.  This is where they struggle because they have a three year old who always wants pizza and snacks, but if the food is out the the girl wants food as well.  I think it was easier for me because I was only allowed the same portions as my brother so there was no drama.  That is how it was my whole life and I understand how difficult it must be for this family.  This young girl has broke through doors to get food and is always talking about food.  The family asked me what they should do and I replied with keeping her occupied and away from food.  It has to be difficult especially in a chocolate store buisness.  This girl also skin picks like my brother.  She would show me them all.  Her speech is difficult to understand but she writes absolutely beautifully.  She like to make these chains for cell phones or bookbags.  They are little angels and she gave me two of them.  She told me one was for my brother and the other for myself.  I told her thanks and asked her if she would like me to come in and we could play on my IPAD.  She was so excited she gave me the sweetest hug.  She now had a friend for the rest of her life.  This young girl has made an impact in my life.  The family gave me a box of chocolates as well.  They offered to take me home and stay for dinner, but I politely declined because it was my sister's birthday.  We exchanged emails and numbers.  I went home in tears and skyped my mom because I was not expecting to walk into a situation with someone asking me for help.  If this little girl has no hope what are the other two kids in this country doing?  They need hope, answers, love, and help!  I am willing to do my part and I emailed National when I got home.  This made me realize how lucky I am to have Tyler in my life and how lucky I am to live in a country that has answers, because I can not even begin to imagine the struggles this family has gone through.  This has changed my Studying Abroad experience tremendously.  I know believe I am in the wrong field for a major, why am I not going into something medical life genetics and majoring in Spanish as well?  There is such a  need out there it hurts me to know that there are families that are unable to get help.  Thanks, Jillian

The last week has come

Friday was a good day went for a run and then I had Spanish class.  After spanish we had a group meeting for cake for one of the girls Birthday's.  We had torta mojado which is this delicious chocolate cake that is drenched in chocolate.  After I went home for lunch, we had ceviche, which is not what I was hoping for.  I'll admit I have started to like shrimp a lot more than when I got her but it something about a soup being cold.  It reminds me of shrimp drenched in ketchup.  I was full from cake so I asked to save it for dinner.  After lunch I went to get my nails done again for 3 dollars!  So cheap and worth it.  After nails we had our last dance class.  It was a good dance class we learned dances to three or four different popular songs.  After dance class I went home for dinner, Yum ceviche was waiting for me.  I also got to have a cheese sandwhich.  After dinner I worked on homework and decided to go out for the last time in Ecuador with my friends.  We went to Gabbia and danced the whole night.  I had nothing to drink but one of my friends was doing a shot so I decided to do my first shot in Ecuador.  It was something cherry passion.  It tasted like cough syrup and I don't desire to do one of those again.  Saturday I woke up and was going to go for a run but my family wanted me to have breakfast with them and then go for a run, so I did.  I got back wrote another paper and my mom and I went to Lunch at Tutto Freddo.  We split a vegetarian pizza and got ice cream.  She talked to me about how much everyone in my family loves me and she mentioned my dad gets teary eyed when they talk about me leaving.  They said I was a calm student and didn't cause any problems, except I went through their ceiling and was sick for the first three weeks.  lol  She didn't mention any of those things.  I am really going to miss my family here just as much, they will always be in my heart as my momma says.  After I walked around the city with one of the girls and took pictures.  Of course we hit up happy hour and I got a screwdriver for $2.  Then I bought the Vow, which is not even out in the states until after I get home, so exciting!  Saturday night I watched that movie and balled.  Sunday morning my family all had breakfast together and we all did our own things.  Lunch was at three and my sister and brother n law came over to celebrate my sister's birthday and my despedida.  It was sad but the food was amazing.  Of course both desserts had nuts, so I got some chocolate wafer,  I guess my mom back home always makes something special for me, which I appreciate, it sucks watching everyone else eat their dessert in front of you.  After I took a little nap and went to meet Teresa's real family that lives in Cuenca.  They were so nice and funny.  I enjoyed talking with them.  They brought out pictures and everything.  They even served us all neopolitan ice cream, cheesecake with maracuya, sweet cinnamon sticks, and homemade potatoe chips.  It was a good night.  Monday mornign came way to fast and today has passed so quickly.  After Spanish I went home for lunch and took my bookbag to get fixed again.  Then I went to a nursing home to see what they were like in Ecuador, the one we went to was very nice.  I also bought Manjar for my family back home to try and to make alfores.  Well off to finish my last paper and work on Spanish chau! Feliz Cumpleanos to my sister Rosana :)

Reverse Cultural Shock

Monday was a normal day and nothing too exciting happened.  Tuesday I went for a run before class.  After lunch I met a group at CEDEI and we went to Eduardo Vega's studio and workshop.  It was so cool!  We got to see him himself and his workshop.  He had beautiful pieces, it was so hard for me no to buy something.  I really liked a lot of his things.  The view from his house is also amazing.  After everyone made their purchases, we went to Turi, the look out point of Cuenca.  It was gorgeous.  Then Doc showed us a German bakery.  Bad life decision.  I bought a mora filled bismark and some pinneaple danish thing.  After Teresa, Zoe, and I went to happy hour and walked home.  Wednesday, my mom made a potatoe soup and then our main course was like a hamburger patty but filled with onions and peppers and tasted more like meatloaf, with a spanish rice.  We even had dessert yesterday!  We had a chocolate vanilla moist cake with cream.  After lunch I took a three hour siesta.  It was needed!  Today I went out to the CEDEI school for kids and I observed speech pathology the whole day.  It was a blast!  It was also all in Spanish and I understood it all, I didn't want to leave.  I also found out the store the parents of a child with Prader-willi syndrome own.  Ironically it is Godika Chocolate Factory, how ironic, I only go there everyday.  So I went in after lunch and she was upstairs in the house, so I just told them I would return tomorrow and that they didn't need to call her.  I am really excited to meet this family and help them in anyway that I can!  So I bought a ice cream and left.  Then I had a meeting about reverse culture shock.  They taught us a lot of different skills and how people are going to react to us, and how we should handle situations.  Basically it is going to be difficult no matter what.  Then we hung around and went to Tiestos for dinner!  It was so good, I see why it is the best restaurant in Cuenca.  The chef came out and talked to us all.  First bread came out with like 12 different sauces.  Then the chef recommended 3 different kinds of beef with sauces.  We got two different kinds of juices, one naranjilla and the other was frutilla and maraculla.  Our meet came out, one was steak with a cheese and bacon and mushroom sauce, the other had no sauce and medium rare, and the last one was steak with a blue cheese sauce.  I normally don't eat steak but I managed to eat two steaks!  We also has a bazillion sides; a cucumber salad, couscous, motte, rice, mini potatoes, and a few other.  That wasn't enough for our group they all ordered dessert.  I could not eat them because they all had nuts, so the chef brings out one of his homemade chocolate ice creams and it was the best ice cream I have ever had, he apologized for the nuts and he gave it to me for free.  Needless to say I will never forget a man who gives me free homemade chocolate, fudge ice cream!  Time for bed Chau!

Less than two weeks?!

It is hard to believe that I have less than two weeks left in Cuenca.  Cuenca has been my home away from home for the past four months.  Well I registered for all my classes next semester.  Got in them all!  I will have only one class on Thuesdays and Thursdays and no classes on Fridays.  This will be good for work and observation hours.  Friday was Cuenca days so from Thursday night to Sunday night Cuenca is crazy!  It has been so much fun.  With only two weeks left its hard because you don't want to miss anything.  Friday morning I was told to sleep in by my mom so I did till 8.  I couldn't sleep in any longer.  Friday morning I met Erin and Teresa at CEDEI because we were going to Banos.  Banos is a town built on a valcano.  It was so bautiful is was only about a 30-40 minute ride on the public bus which only cost $0.25!  So worth it.  I was due for some relaxation as well as the other girls.  We walked around for a while to compare prices at different spas.  We found one that was absolutely beautiful.  It was like a resort from the states.  It reminded me a lot fo Arizona which I'm sure is why I enjoyed it so much.  I have never really done a spa day so I was glad I got to with my friends!  Check out where I went here... http://www.piedradeagua.com.ec/instalaciones  I did a package with the girls for $30.  First you change, then shower to rinse off, then sit in a sauna type thing with vicks smoke for fifteen minutes, then go to the red mud bath, which is good for skin, then you dry, wash off, and shower then you go to the blue mud bath and repeat.  After you sit in a hot pool for 10 minutes underground then you sit in the cold pool for 2 minutes.  By cold I mean freezing.  Then we went to the boxes.  The boxes are like a personal sauna, it was crazy!  After we had lunch.  We could have repeated the whole day but we were going to the soccer game at six.  I finally got to go to a soccer game!  It made me miss playing soccer.  I think I may have to play when I get back to Iowa.  Good workout.  Well before we went to happy hour I got two Vodka with limon drink for a $1.50 each.  Everyone else got a Pilsner grande but I'm allergic.  We arrived at the game and sat in the front row on the Cuenca side.  It was kinda boring at half time I was feeling my drink so Teresa and I went to get food.  Of course in line I met a guy named Alejandro, who happened to be a drummer for Loja, the team Cuenca was playing.  I guess it's a big deal for Cuenca fans to go in the other teams section but I payed the same price and I had a white jacket on, I blended right in!  He invited us over so I went to tell the other people and it ended up being Teresa, Erin, and I standing up next to the drummer on the bleachers.  I had so much fun!!! It was a blast.  Loja ended up winning so it was even better!  Well turns out the other three from our group were ready to go because they didn't win.  Unfortunately there are fights and it gets crazy so they don't let anyone from Loja out until Cuenca has left.  Well because we were three gringas and two of which were blonde they let us out.  Then Candy took us to an awesome hamburger restaurant.  the best hamburgers in Ecuador have ham on them with the burger.  This one had a special pinneapple sauce!  So good!  I have a feeling I will be using Jelly on everything when I get back home.  After, I went home because I was really tired.  I went straight to bed.  I had to wake up at 7 the next morning to be at CEDEI by 8am to go to Churute.  Yay the coast!  We were all hot because we had to wear pants becuase of mosquitos.  Well first we had a two hour boat ride through mangroves.  Yep we sat in a canoe and rode through this river and looked and trees.  Fun!  haha Well once we started scouting birds the whole group cheered up and we talked the rest of the trip.  My group is so different but yet we all get along so well!  Then we had our lunch and went for a 30 minute hike through the dry forest looking for monkeys.  I found the first ones mainly because I connect with animals. lol  We listened and watched these monkeys for awhile and went back on our trip.  We stopped and picked a cocoa bean off one of the trees and we ate the fruit of the cocoa bean!  It was so cool!  It tasted like a mango.  So you open up the shell and the meat of the small beans is what you suck off.  Then you roast the beans and you have chocolate!  So cool!  We went to a mini fruit market stand and bought fruit.  I bought two pinneapples for $1 each.  They were so good and juicy.  When we got back to Cuenca we went to Candy's house for a barbeque.  We had hotdogs, baked macaroni and cheese, pinneapple, and brownies.  It was so good.  We talked for awhile and we went back home.  I was exhausted again so I went straight to bed.  My family was out of town this weekend so I was home alone.  It was different, but I got to make an egg this morning for breakfast instead of just toast and fruit.  I cut my other pinneapple as well and enjoyed some of that.  I wrote a paper and watched the Iron Lady, terrific movie!  After I made easy mac for lunch since nothing else sounded better.  Then I met up with Zoe and Teresa to go visit some of the markets for Cuenca Day.  We got to see fireworks and different stands.  I bought cotton candy!  Yum!  It was spun and made right in front of me.  Then we headed back home.  My mom was waiting for me when I returned.  I missed my family!  It was so sad at dinner we were talking about how I only had two weeks left in Cuenca.  My dad said I couldn't leave and that I didn't pass and needed to take more classes.  I said I would take more spanish classes.  I am really going to miss my family the thought brings tears to my eyes.  My mom told me she is going to give me everyone's email and I have to keep in touch.  My mom said I am not aloud to leave without promising to stay in contact because they will always be my Ecuadorian family and family for four months.  No one can believe that it is almost over, especially me.  My family has been awesome and I'm not going to be able to leave them without crying.  I will never forget them and the experience they showed me.  Love, Jillian

Reality check

Monday was a normal day had Education and Spanish, and a group meeting.  For lunch my made like a macaroni and cheese potatoe soup and then we had little barbequed chicken legs and wings or ribs.  I don't really know but they only way to eat them was with your hands.  I was told to pick them up and not use my silverware and I had to.  It was quite the experience but they were really good!  Then I went back to class. After class we had handicrafts class.  I really enjoy crafts so I was excited!  We painted boxes and then we used recycled magazine articles and glued and painted them on the box.  Mine turned out quite interesting!  I have no idea what i am going to do with it, but i'll figure something out.  I went to get a chocolate bunny for easter from my favorite chocolate place and I paid $6 for a damn hollow bunny.  Here it was hollow it was gone faster than 6 seconds.  Oh well its a sign the chocolate ladies are cutting me off!  Then I went home and my mom was making We had tea and cookies for dinner!  How healthy.  This is what I have been struggling with this week!  Tuesday, my mom made fanesca for good friday and saved some for me.  It is a soup they eat on good friday here.  It has twelve grains for the 12 apostles and then it had fish or something for jesus.  It was really good my mom does not like a lot of salt or fishy flavor so she made her sauce and put it on fish and shrimp and put a scoop on top of the soup!  It was so good, I can't wait to make it for my mom back home.  Then my mom made steaks and rice and salad.  I was so full!!!!! It was just my mom and I home for lunch and it was hilarious, we got talking about congrejos which is red crabs.  I could not think of the word in english.  My mom thought it was red hawk but I think her pronunciation was just wrong.  She searched her cook books for a picture.  Found one and I remembered duh.  So the "b" sound in spanish is difficult.  It can sound like p, v, or b.  My mom said it all.  It was hilarious when she said crap and I laughed so much.  No no mommy crap is a bad word.  I told her it was similar to caca.  And she was so embarrassed.  Makes me think what I say to her lol.  So we finally got crab and we had a nice chat!  I love my mom!  After lunch I went shopping and got all of my souvenirs for people!  Then I had another handicrafts class, to finish our boxes.  Wednesday I had a spanish test,  I thought it was pretty easy.  I know I got messed up on a few verbs but they were silly mistakes.  Well I'm learning from them!  I went to lunch with the girls after.  We started at some hostel.  We all got empanadas and then ice cream but that didn't fill us up so we went and got hotdogs after!  I need an intervention!  After I had class and we talked about LGBTQ clubs, which is a hard subject for me to talk about.  This class makes me feel comfortable in voicing my opinions, because I shouldn't be judged. After class I picked up my ceramic pot.  Then two other girls and I went to happy hour.  $1.50 coctales!  I got vodka and lime.  It was good but I also got chocolate crepes.  What a combo.  Well the drink was good and didn't taste strong at all but it didn't take me a long time to feel it.  I had to get salchipapas in order to walk home because I needed to soak up the alcohol.  Well my dad greated me at the front door.  Of course I think he knows now that I had one drink.  My mom and sister were home and all ready to eat of course omg I was soo full.  Well of course my mom made the lentil filling, full of fiber soup and then she bought these huge, cheese filled empanadas.  What a day I have never ate so much.  I was winded form eating.  When we finished all the girls wanted to go out cuz a club was playing electronic music.  So I went out with them all.  I got home around 12:30 am.  At black their special was rum and coke so I got two rum and cokes with the other girls.  I have never had rum before, so I was feeling pretty confident.  Thursday, today I woke up early had breakfast with my dad and went to the migration of police to get a certification senso to leave the country.  After we went to a new cafe I found.  They are Americans who own this cafe and they have a discount for students and free WIFI and free refills on coffee.  Well I got a coffee and a cinnamon roll.  We had run into them another night as well and of course I'm the talker of the group so I needed to learn their life story.  We then went to find another girl and later we found mora cheescakes so we all got one.  So good and so healthy with fruit on lol.  I don't even want to know my weight.  We went shopping.  Finished my souvenirs and I found this really cool guys shop.  I bought a bracelet that is made out of a spoon and has a stone.  It reminded me of the spoon ring I have from my great grandma.  This place had stuff only from Ecuador so it was cool!  I ordered something to get costum made for my mom and I hope she likes it!  Later we went to an organic healthy smoothie place run by new americans in Ecuador!  It was so good.  Then I got mail at CEDEI.  I got an Easter card from my god-mother!  I really appreciate all the mail I am getting from her.  Well tonight I have to register for classes for next semester and possibly go to bed early! chau!

Playas!

Wednesday mom said we would have chocolate cake for dessert so instead of going with my friends, I went home.  Lunch was good but for dessert we got one pretzel stick with chocolate.  haha Gotta love mom.  Thursday morning at 5:30 we headed out to Playas!  We took a 3 hour bus ride to Guayaquil then got on a public bus from Guayaquil to Playas.   Everything worked out and when we arrived the weather was beautiful.  We went to our 9 person hotel room and changed into swimming suits and checked out the beach!  It was so nice outside.  It was kind of cloudy the first day and not many waves, so leave it up to me to think of something no toys?  There are always rocks, so we played catch with rocks!  Probably not such a smart idea but if someone were to get hurt it was going to be me.  Luckily, no injuries! It was about three o'clock so that meant the famous empanada shop was open!  I got a nepolitana empanada.  They have cheese, ham, oregano, and tomatoes, it is similar to a pizza.  We headed back to the beach and the sun was finally coming out.  Of course there had to be men in uniform nice white clean uniforms!  Men in uniform, why not be polite and say hi to everyone?  That was just me from our group though everyone else was scared or something.  Then we saw this guy taking pics of the "ocean" and we was wearing some nice tight swimming suit thing and a nice body to show it off.  So I waved to him, and the other girls with me got all embarrassed because sure enough he came over to talk to us.  Turns out he is a soldier and is 20 years old.  Yes! I keeping talking thinking I scored one but his friend who he calls Winnie the Pooh comes over and wants to take pictures.  We stand up and he is short!  So sad  :(  so much for that one.  Well we took pics and in the meantime we all had sand in our pants from sitting in the sand.  Well turned out to be an interesting afternoon and we headed back to shower before dinner.  We went to an interesting sandwhich shop.  I got a turkey sandwhich and iced tea!  So good!  Friday morning of course I was one of the first ones awake so I checked my email and hopefully I will be living in the international dorm next year with some other people!  Best news of the week!  Well everyone eventually woke up and we headed downstairs for breakfast.  We had eggs and toast.  We were shortly off to the beach.  Thursday was all sun and crazy waves!  It was a good day.  For lunch we went to another Empanda place and then back to the beach.  It was about 6 and we went to all the different little stores, most people bought a new dress.  I didn't see any I would ever wear besides on the beach so I saved my money.  We went to get dinner and we had empanadas again.  We showered and got ready to go to a discotecca.  It was fun!   I had to dance salsa with someone as old as my dad so that was awkward and then reggeaton came on so Laura and I were dancing when we got asked by brothers to dance.  So okay they looked more our age.  Well I was wrong.  She got the 25 year old brother and I got the yep 16 year old brother.  Well good thing was that he was tall, bad thing he has never danced really ever before.  He would ask me if we could dance like that, ha you just feel the music and dance.  He was nice and funny so I guess it was okay, I got to be his first gringa dancing partner!  Saturday rolled around and I was burnt and I used SPF 100 haha the sun is crazy here.  So we went to breakfast and got fruit juice and a sandwhich.  Went to the beach.  Saturday I got smart and wore my tankini.  The waves were hard and huge Saturday.  They knocked you down faster than you could stand up.  It was a good day to just enjoy the sun.  The sell watermellon and mangos with salt all over the beach so I got my fill of fruit.  For lunch, Kim and I went to this Jamaican restaurant and got the best hamburger I have ever had.  It had the meat and ham and cheese and tomatoe and lettuce and potatoe chips, so good.  The we had a natural homemade limonade!  Best $3 ever spent.  We decided to go back to the hotel to swim in the pool and relax in the air conditioning.  Good choice.  We showered and by 930 we were going to dinner.  We went to the sandwhich place again.  I had mango juice, turkey sandwhich and french fries!  There is a cookie on the coast called Alfores con manjar.  They are so good.  My mom is giving me a recipe and making them this week.  They are kind of like a sugar cookie with majar filling.  Manjar is like caramel and peanut butter but no nuts.  So good!  Sunday everyone cept for me slept in.  I woke up skyped my mom and Tyler and went to a bakery to meet a nice couple.  I figured I wouldn't get a chocolate bunny, so I got pinneapple upside down cake and chocolate milk!  They had Alfores for $.50 so I bought five of them as well.  They all slowly got up and we went to breakfast.  It was like 1130 so I had a chicken taco.  And we were off to the bus station and back to Cuenca.  When I got home I was greeted by my mom and sister.  They were just preparring my dinner.  My mom made her famous apple sauce kind of drink!  And we had really good meat, rice, and french fries.  For dessert we had 3 leche cake.  Its really good.  Last night I got to skype my mom and Reed and my friend Tyler.  I really miss them!  Well off to class, another 3 day week because of Cuenca days, Yay Parties!

Time flies

My eye is finally not swollen and I can put my contacts in!  What an interesting week.  Wednesday I had my education classes and spanish.  Spanish was a rough class because my teacher's mom died on Monday.  I felt really bad for her, becuase her mom lived with her and she talked about her a lot.  In the education classes we watched a movie about a class bringing awareness to racism and stereotypes.  The other class we talked about the philosophies of education.  Dr. R knew which theories I would fall into immediately and he was right for the most part.  I like a lot of structure, student discipline, portfolio assessments and there are personalities I have that fall into different categories.  For lunch I went with the girls.  They have done a weekly lunch every week but I just love my family and know the food would be good at home, so I haven't gone with them.  There is only 4 more Wednesdays left so I figured I should go with them.  We went to an authentic Ecuadorian restaurant.  We had a really good soup, then we had fried chicken, lentils, and rice.  Jugo de Pina and strawberries with sugar for dessert.  For $2 I thought it was a good meal!  After we went to a wooden market, which I will be returning to because it is so cool and a good idea for souvenirs.  Immediately I found these hand carved and designed pig salt and pepper shakers!  I had to get them!  They were perfect.  I don't know who will get those yet but I knew they would be perfect for someone.  I also bought these crayons that are made from a tree branch of Ecuador.  I have be waiting to get them for 1.50 or under but everywhere is 2.50 and more.  I finally found them for 1.50!  I was so excited.  After we went to get ice cream at a place very similar to Cold Stone.  They also have like 24 flavors of different alcohol flavors.  It was like a bar but with ice cream!  I got a banana split flavor.  I had real bananas and coconut in, so good!  Thursday I went out to the CEDEI school.  I loved the kindergartners and preschoolers!  It was awesome!  Thursday we also had a charla on Andean music.  It was very interesting all the different instruments they use and how they are made.  Friday I went for a run and was off to class.  Spanish class was very frustrating for me Friday because I wanted to move past the easy things and review more of the things I need when talking to my family.  Friday night we had dance class! After dance class we went to a little family restaurant it was like I was sitting in the kitchen at my great grandma's house.  We ordered a humita and seco de pollo.  So good!  So much food and only 2.50.  After we met up with the group that's here from Ohio University.  We went to a bar with them and then out to dance with them!  It was so much fun!  There was one guy I talked to most of the night about random things and of course baseball.  It was an early night I was home by 12.  Saturday morning we had ceramics class!  We hand waxed our pots and designed them.  I'm not kidding I had to use a rock to wax my bowl and then a utensil to design it.  I drew a flower in the inside of my little bowl.  After ceramics class my stomach was really upset again so I slept and read all day on Saturday.  My mom made me more cream of asparagus and mushroom soup with saltines and she left to go eat at the mall.  I was to sick to go.  Sunday we had horseback riding!  I was really excited until I saw my horse.  I looked bigger than my horse but I was willing to ride her.  The guide told me she doesn't like being kicked, she has a mind of her own, and she likes to keep her head down and pull the reins out of your hands.  Okay what could go wrong.  afterall I had my helmet ready.  I got on her with no problem and led her into the pen to go in circles. 
while  every other horse was waiting in the center for everyone. My horse had to walk I guess. She galloped into the pen and around in circles we went.  Well so enough we were off on our 2 and half hour trot.  My horse would go fast when I wanted her to slow and slow when I wanted her to go fast.  My horse took off.  She didn't like being in the back of the pack either and she would catch up if she started slowing down.  Also my horse just wanted to snack the whol ride.  Finally I let her have some grass.  Dr. R's horse was walking next to me and all of a sudden he jerked the reins or somethings and his horse turned its head, hit me and Almost knocked me off my horse.  Luckily my horse and I had this special connection and I grabbed around its neck and was hanging on for dear life.  In the meantime my horse started to get scared.  I was grabbing everything I could.  All I could think about was being dragged down the path with one leg hooked in the saddle and hanging upside down.  Thankfully that diddn't happen and I survived.  Later my horse had to catch up again and I think horses should have seatbelts on the saddles.  I was flying in the air off my saddle.  The girl behind me thought it was hilarious.  After horseback riding my horse got to eat as well as myself.  I had salchipapas, which is french fries and hotdogs, really good.  Then we milked cows.  I got to milk a cows utter.  That was interesting.  We headed back to Cuenca after that.  I finished homework and went to bed.  Monday morning I participated in equine therapy for the student with special needs.  It was really cool!  After we talked to the director about the special needs program in Ecuador and at the school.  As we were talking she knew a family who just found out their 10 year old daughter weighs 200 pounds has prader willi syndrome.  Lauri had never heard about it and they had to get a diagnosis in Mexico.  The family still thinks that it is just a mental problem.  I told her that my brother ahs that disability, told her some more information and she was going to do research.  I also told her I would like to meet the family and help out anyway I could.  I'm really excited especially when Lauri said that it would give the family hope that their daughter is okay and will be able to live!  I started to cry and I really hope the family agrees to meet me.  I wish I would have known about them sooner.  I went home and worked on homework.  My mom helped me with a little spanish and we had lunch.  Lunch was hilarious today becasue we had brocoli and only my mom and I eat it, but I don't think I have a choice.  After lunch I had spanish class.  After spanish I went home and relaxed.  I hope this week all works out because Wednesday night or Thursday I could possibly be going to the beach:) Chau amigos!