Saturday, July 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Unexpected.
Right now, I should be in Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires, mingling with the few students who arrived on the same American Airlines flight from Miami, waiting another hour or two for the rest to show up. I should be loaded down with two backpacks and a small rolling suitcase; three months worth of shampoo, toothpaste and hand sanitizer; dark circles under my eyes from a 16 hour travel day and that slight feeling of anxiety in my stomach that one could mistake as the effects of airplane food.
But, I'm not. I'm sitting at the breakfast table at my parents' house in Raleigh, replying to never-ending official school e-mails, trying not to start crying again.
I'm not going to Argentina this semester anymore. I've deferred to the Fall and will be there from August to December.
A friend told me to say, "that the truth is a very long, boring, needlessly complex, bureaucratic, kafka-esque saga, which, although has an incredible main character, ultimately is not worth your time or energy listening to it all, kind of like the 6 series of Lost."
But really, it is. To get straight to it: it just isn't the right timing. God made that very clear, even if it is the most difficult decision I've ever made. I know, hope, that it will be the right one and that this time away from school will be a great time for growing and learning and being.
On that note, I'm currently looking for internships that have a Spanish element to them. I've planned a trip to Acadia National Park in Maine with my momma in late July, after the summer sessions have ended. I'm also intending on spending a good amount of time in Asheville because, after all, Asheville and Argentina have the same number of letters and both start with A.
I covet your prayers during this time of trying to understand why my life seems to have fallen apart.
But, I'm not. I'm sitting at the breakfast table at my parents' house in Raleigh, replying to never-ending official school e-mails, trying not to start crying again.
I'm not going to Argentina this semester anymore. I've deferred to the Fall and will be there from August to December.
A friend told me to say, "that the truth is a very long, boring, needlessly complex, bureaucratic, kafka-esque saga, which, although has an incredible main character, ultimately is not worth your time or energy listening to it all, kind of like the 6 series of Lost."
But really, it is. To get straight to it: it just isn't the right timing. God made that very clear, even if it is the most difficult decision I've ever made. I know, hope, that it will be the right one and that this time away from school will be a great time for growing and learning and being.
On that note, I'm currently looking for internships that have a Spanish element to them. I've planned a trip to Acadia National Park in Maine with my momma in late July, after the summer sessions have ended. I'm also intending on spending a good amount of time in Asheville because, after all, Asheville and Argentina have the same number of letters and both start with A.
I covet your prayers during this time of trying to understand why my life seems to have fallen apart.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your mercy, turn to me. Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. Draw near to my soul, redeem me.
Psalm 69: 13-18a
Thursday, February 3, 2011
BUENOS AIRES
Argentina.
3 1/2 months. Class in BA, Trips to Patagonia and the North, Independent Study.
Complete. Cultural. Immersion.
This isn't just Spanish class anymore. This is a different life for a semester that I'm about to jump into head first with my limbs flailing and trying to catch all the assignments, my ears straining to understand the new accents surrounding me. It's terrifying and stressful but exhilarating and what I've been anticipating for years.
The countdown: 25 days. The work and shopping and packing and studying that must be done in these 25 days is overwhelming and though I try hard not to, I have let the mass of reading and memorizing stress me enough to almost regretting this trip. I've gotten to the point that I know a few all-nighters will be necessary to finish this work at this point, but it's worth it. Utterly and completely worth it.
I'm going to study social movements and human rights, two topics that Argentina has a large history dealing with. Because of this, I've been closely watching the events unfold in Egypt. Everything happening there is such an interesting situation that no one really knows how it will turn out. What is it exactly?
Journalist Blake Hounshell asked on my favorite international blog: "Are we witnessing a revolution, a soft military coup, or a failed uprising?"
It excites me to think I get to spend an entire semester studying social movements. To move socially. What a concept. Weeks like this one in Egypt will be the definitions of generations and will freckle history continually unless we arrive at a 1984-esque world where moving socially shouldn't even be considered. Hopefully that will never happen.
So I sit here in Caribou, donned in bright red lipstick, one of the Egyptian scarves my sister brought me from her month there and a barely containable apprehension of these next 25 days until I arrive in Buenos Aires to exchange my Black Thai Latte with Maté, English with Spanish and American life with Argentine adventures.
3 1/2 months. Class in BA, Trips to Patagonia and the North, Independent Study.
Complete. Cultural. Immersion.
This isn't just Spanish class anymore. This is a different life for a semester that I'm about to jump into head first with my limbs flailing and trying to catch all the assignments, my ears straining to understand the new accents surrounding me. It's terrifying and stressful but exhilarating and what I've been anticipating for years.
The countdown: 25 days. The work and shopping and packing and studying that must be done in these 25 days is overwhelming and though I try hard not to, I have let the mass of reading and memorizing stress me enough to almost regretting this trip. I've gotten to the point that I know a few all-nighters will be necessary to finish this work at this point, but it's worth it. Utterly and completely worth it.
I'm going to study social movements and human rights, two topics that Argentina has a large history dealing with. Because of this, I've been closely watching the events unfold in Egypt. Everything happening there is such an interesting situation that no one really knows how it will turn out. What is it exactly?
Journalist Blake Hounshell asked on my favorite international blog: "Are we witnessing a revolution, a soft military coup, or a failed uprising?"
It excites me to think I get to spend an entire semester studying social movements. To move socially. What a concept. Weeks like this one in Egypt will be the definitions of generations and will freckle history continually unless we arrive at a 1984-esque world where moving socially shouldn't even be considered. Hopefully that will never happen.
So I sit here in Caribou, donned in bright red lipstick, one of the Egyptian scarves my sister brought me from her month there and a barely containable apprehension of these next 25 days until I arrive in Buenos Aires to exchange my Black Thai Latte with Maté, English with Spanish and American life with Argentine adventures.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Bacterias and Explanations
I meant to catch up on all the posts circling my brain from the past week and a half on Tuesday night. I meant to e-mail people I hadn't e-mailed in a while on Tuesday night. I meant to eat my salami and cheese sandwich and talk to other fellow hostal dwellers and breathe the cool, deep air of Quito...and cigarette smoke.
I meant to do a lot of things on Tuesday night.
But instead, I spent the night rushing to the bathroom, throwing up absolutely everywhere. Literally, everywhere. I vomited until I didn't think I could vomit anymore...and then I threw up again. And again. And again.
The drama that ensued when my Cuencan family found out I was sick can hardly be described. I was talking on the phone with mom, while she skyped with Dorothy and the family, while Chio was talking to the hostal on the phone and the hostal workers were talking to me. There was mentioning of an ambulance, of Dorothy coming to get me, but in the end a doctor was sent, courtesy of one of Chio's cousins in Quito. After hearing the account of my past couple days, trip to the jungle, eating of unusual foods, and pushing all around and into my stomach, he told me, in mixed Spanish-English medical jargon that I had acute gastroenteritis from a bacteria in my stomach. He wrote out a recipe of prescriptions, telling me that I could travel back to the states in the morning if and only if I started the medicine immediately.
He also mentioned I shouldn't go to a pharmacy alone, since Quito is not a safe place for anyone, especially a gringa, at night.
So, wonderful. I'm horribly sick, alone in a foreign country, with only $50 cash. I have a flight at 8:30 a.m. and I can't keep my insides in.
Let's just say, I've had better days.
But thankfully, help came in the form of Chio's other cousins, Maria and Fernando. They picked me up at 1:30 am from the hostal, bought my medicine for me, and took me back to their house to sleep better and start my prescriptions. They found me a cheaper cab ride to the airport, and, 12 hours, two more embarrassing stomach removals, and five wheelchair rides later, I was in Raleigh.
And now, sitting on the couch, re-hydrated from an IV and the slow drinking of blue gatorade, but slowly wasting away from not being able, or allowed, to eat anything, I am going to try to fill you in on the final week and a half of my Ecuadorian adventure.
But first, I'm going to sleep.
I meant to do a lot of things on Tuesday night.
But instead, I spent the night rushing to the bathroom, throwing up absolutely everywhere. Literally, everywhere. I vomited until I didn't think I could vomit anymore...and then I threw up again. And again. And again.
The drama that ensued when my Cuencan family found out I was sick can hardly be described. I was talking on the phone with mom, while she skyped with Dorothy and the family, while Chio was talking to the hostal on the phone and the hostal workers were talking to me. There was mentioning of an ambulance, of Dorothy coming to get me, but in the end a doctor was sent, courtesy of one of Chio's cousins in Quito. After hearing the account of my past couple days, trip to the jungle, eating of unusual foods, and pushing all around and into my stomach, he told me, in mixed Spanish-English medical jargon that I had acute gastroenteritis from a bacteria in my stomach. He wrote out a recipe of prescriptions, telling me that I could travel back to the states in the morning if and only if I started the medicine immediately.
He also mentioned I shouldn't go to a pharmacy alone, since Quito is not a safe place for anyone, especially a gringa, at night.
So, wonderful. I'm horribly sick, alone in a foreign country, with only $50 cash. I have a flight at 8:30 a.m. and I can't keep my insides in.
Let's just say, I've had better days.
But thankfully, help came in the form of Chio's other cousins, Maria and Fernando. They picked me up at 1:30 am from the hostal, bought my medicine for me, and took me back to their house to sleep better and start my prescriptions. They found me a cheaper cab ride to the airport, and, 12 hours, two more embarrassing stomach removals, and five wheelchair rides later, I was in Raleigh.
And now, sitting on the couch, re-hydrated from an IV and the slow drinking of blue gatorade, but slowly wasting away from not being able, or allowed, to eat anything, I am going to try to fill you in on the final week and a half of my Ecuadorian adventure.
But first, I'm going to sleep.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Gualaceo y Chordeleg
It was raining and a little chilly when we all piled in the car for Gualaceo on Sunday. But by the time we were going through the toll check point and buying aplanchados and melchochas (sweet, pastry-like cakes and sugar cane candy) to snack on in the car, the sun was out and it was perfect weather. Especially perfect for shopping.
The small town was buzzing with festivities for Patron Santiago, their patron saint and the "indoor" food market was so busy, we had to move like vultures to find an open table. Mona, the pro that she is, brought me with her to get the food. What did we have? Fresh, like, they pulled it off the pig with their hands and put it on our plate fresh, hornado, morcilla, papas, llapingachos, sancochos, y aplanchados (pork, sausage intestine with rice and vegetables, fries, cheese potato cakes, stewed pork, and sweet tortillas) for almuerzo. Ricissimo!
We walked through and around the cute, pedestrian-friendly town and admired the old architecture, the cobbled streets, and the beautiful cathedral. Finding the car again, we drove the few kilometers up to Chordeleg and admired the beautiful mountains and country houses. Dorothy translated that a lot of European and American people have decided to retire here, and so the property value has sky-rocketed. I definitely would have lived there. Fue precioso!
Chordeleg was any woman's with some bit of taste dream. Silver and gold handmade jewelry shops with one-of-a-kind pieces with only-in-Chordeleg prices. As we walked the shop-lined square, gazing into every store, peering into the window, and even trying (and buying) some of the gorgeous aretes, anillas, y collares, I couldn't help but notice the family we were and how beautiful of a day it was.
After several hours of delayed stepping around the park, we drove down to Chio's aunt's house to spend a little time. La quinta was a beautiful, old estate of a house complete with an overgrown sugar cane field, cows, river, and cock fighting pit. I truly fell in love with it, especially after I met Valentine, the 2-day-old calf that I made friends with. I kept thinking how much my parents would love this place, wondering if the family would ever sell, even imagining bringing my family there far in the future.
Ok, so a little much, but this place was beautiful.
After stopping in town to buy pan y helado de leche, we made our way back to Quito and Dorothy and I proceeded to eat canguil con pepas de sambo (popcorn with roasted pumpkin seeds) and watch a bootleg copy of Sherlock Holmes.
It really was the perfect day.
The small town was buzzing with festivities for Patron Santiago, their patron saint and the "indoor" food market was so busy, we had to move like vultures to find an open table. Mona, the pro that she is, brought me with her to get the food. What did we have? Fresh, like, they pulled it off the pig with their hands and put it on our plate fresh, hornado, morcilla, papas, llapingachos, sancochos, y aplanchados (pork, sausage intestine with rice and vegetables, fries, cheese potato cakes, stewed pork, and sweet tortillas) for almuerzo. Ricissimo!
We walked through and around the cute, pedestrian-friendly town and admired the old architecture, the cobbled streets, and the beautiful cathedral. Finding the car again, we drove the few kilometers up to Chordeleg and admired the beautiful mountains and country houses. Dorothy translated that a lot of European and American people have decided to retire here, and so the property value has sky-rocketed. I definitely would have lived there. Fue precioso!
Chordeleg was any woman's with some bit of taste dream. Silver and gold handmade jewelry shops with one-of-a-kind pieces with only-in-Chordeleg prices. As we walked the shop-lined square, gazing into every store, peering into the window, and even trying (and buying) some of the gorgeous aretes, anillas, y collares, I couldn't help but notice the family we were and how beautiful of a day it was.
After several hours of delayed stepping around the park, we drove down to Chio's aunt's house to spend a little time. La quinta was a beautiful, old estate of a house complete with an overgrown sugar cane field, cows, river, and cock fighting pit. I truly fell in love with it, especially after I met Valentine, the 2-day-old calf that I made friends with. I kept thinking how much my parents would love this place, wondering if the family would ever sell, even imagining bringing my family there far in the future.
Ok, so a little much, but this place was beautiful.
After stopping in town to buy pan y helado de leche, we made our way back to Quito and Dorothy and I proceeded to eat canguil con pepas de sambo (popcorn with roasted pumpkin seeds) and watch a bootleg copy of Sherlock Holmes.
It really was the perfect day.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Chuchaki, enferma, o este tiempo del mes?
I'm sorry it has been so long since I have posted. It has been a combination of being busy and being too tired and a little sick to do it lately.
It has been an interesting week, filled with a lot of somethings but not much of anything. On Tuesday, we went to talk to this guy who owns Yoko, the nicest club in Cuenca, and set it up for me to sing at the club. It was all very exciting and kind of quick before I realized what I had just gotten myself into. Truthfully, I think everyone else was a little more excited than I was; thus a reason for it not happening. The night they wanted me to sing is the same night we had planned on going to the jungle, so I am no longer singing.
I do feel bad for cancelling, but I never actually asked to do it, nor do I actually sing the type of music they wanted me to: American pop, aka Katy Perry, Kesha, and the like. I know I sound a little selfish, I don't mean to, but I can sing anywhere...I can't go to the jungle anywhere.
Eeeh, rereading that made me cringe a bit. I promise I am not that selfish, and I really do appreciate it. This is just a big, expensive trip that I want to actually DO things on.
That's something that is going to change this week. We are going to DO things. We have kind of just been chilling, with everyone qualifying it as my vacation so I should just relax. But I don't want to relax. I can relax in Raleigh. I am in ECUADOR (as Mary Cate puts it) and I should have ADVENTURE!
Now, the past two days I haven't been up for much. After La Mesa on Wednesday (a popular salsa club only open one night a week with the strongest drinks in town), I was a little chuchaki and then just sick (thanks, Mother Nature). We went to the Banos though, which were really great. Los Banos are these pools of natural hot spring water that you just kind of lay in. They are extremely calcium rich and really hot (40 degrees Celcius = 104 degrees Fahrenheit) so they make your skin smooth. It is a lot like a spa, but more affordable and less...quiet.
Today, we considered going to the Cajas for a day of hiking, pero llueve y hace frio (but it's raining and cold), so we walked up to El Banco Central to see the inside cultural exhibit while it was still free. (Earlier in the week, Dorothy and I ran and walked around the Inca ruins and gardens.)
Later I think we are going shopping at the open air and hippie markets near Tom's flat. Of course, I have to go with Mona in order to get the native, fair price, since I'm a gringita.
Manyana (Domingo): Gualaceo para ir de compras
La Semana Proxima: Cajas, Incapirca, Museos de arte, y Las Macas!!!
It has been an interesting week, filled with a lot of somethings but not much of anything. On Tuesday, we went to talk to this guy who owns Yoko, the nicest club in Cuenca, and set it up for me to sing at the club. It was all very exciting and kind of quick before I realized what I had just gotten myself into. Truthfully, I think everyone else was a little more excited than I was; thus a reason for it not happening. The night they wanted me to sing is the same night we had planned on going to the jungle, so I am no longer singing.
I do feel bad for cancelling, but I never actually asked to do it, nor do I actually sing the type of music they wanted me to: American pop, aka Katy Perry, Kesha, and the like. I know I sound a little selfish, I don't mean to, but I can sing anywhere...I can't go to the jungle anywhere.
Eeeh, rereading that made me cringe a bit. I promise I am not that selfish, and I really do appreciate it. This is just a big, expensive trip that I want to actually DO things on.
That's something that is going to change this week. We are going to DO things. We have kind of just been chilling, with everyone qualifying it as my vacation so I should just relax. But I don't want to relax. I can relax in Raleigh. I am in ECUADOR (as Mary Cate puts it) and I should have ADVENTURE!
Now, the past two days I haven't been up for much. After La Mesa on Wednesday (a popular salsa club only open one night a week with the strongest drinks in town), I was a little chuchaki and then just sick (thanks, Mother Nature). We went to the Banos though, which were really great. Los Banos are these pools of natural hot spring water that you just kind of lay in. They are extremely calcium rich and really hot (40 degrees Celcius = 104 degrees Fahrenheit) so they make your skin smooth. It is a lot like a spa, but more affordable and less...quiet.
Today, we considered going to the Cajas for a day of hiking, pero llueve y hace frio (but it's raining and cold), so we walked up to El Banco Central to see the inside cultural exhibit while it was still free. (Earlier in the week, Dorothy and I ran and walked around the Inca ruins and gardens.)
Later I think we are going shopping at the open air and hippie markets near Tom's flat. Of course, I have to go with Mona in order to get the native, fair price, since I'm a gringita.
Manyana (Domingo): Gualaceo para ir de compras
La Semana Proxima: Cajas, Incapirca, Museos de arte, y Las Macas!!!
Monday, July 19, 2010
El Fin de Semana y Lunes
So, Dorothy is at work, and I have an hour until I have to be ready to go to Baile Rapido with Maria, so I am going to try to catch up on everything that has been going on.
After our late night out on Friday, Dorothy had to get up and go to work at 9 (pobre cita!) but I slept in. Since I missed breakfast with the family, Mona made me eggs with chicken and I had the usual pan, jugo, y cafe. But then I just kind of sat around the house, got on my computer, read some from my book that I am horribly behind in.
That is something that is actually pretty funny. I brought a ton of books down here with me with the intention of taking time everyday to read a little, but so far, that has not been the case. Maybe it will change though, we'll see.
Once Dorothy got home from an apparently very busy morning at work, we had Ecuador-style lasagna with sopa de tomate and fresh avacado. And for postre, pear with chocolate, coconut, and a custard-like substance. Mmm, can you tell that eating is a really important thing here? But truly, almuerzo is the time of day that we eat a lot and talk just as much. So far we have had some very interesting conversations and I am very thankful I have my mother's gift of being able to understand most everything someone says, whether I know the language well or not.
Yesterday at almuerzo, we discussed the differences between the US and Ecuador in regards to opportunity and help availability for mentally handicapped people. Mona talked about some family members who have autistic children and how difficult it is here for them. They are very sweet (muy dulce) but so much to handle, especially when it comes to school and growing up like other kids. There is just not a lot of help here for parents with children like this. I found it really interesting because I have been so used to special ed programs at school. Even at Camp Tekoa, I had a camper in my day camp group that had some mental illness and had his own "special buddy" and so much attention. There is nothing like that in Ecuador.
Anyway, after almuerzo and a long siesta (since Louly hadn't gotten a lot of sleep the previous night), we were in a bit of a funk, somewhat mad at the change of plans from Dorothy's friends (Oscar, Aguila, Choco, Diego, Juan Pa, etc.). (We were supposed to go to la quinta that day, but it didn't work out, and they didn't really tell us this until is was pretty late in the day. And thus the German chicas who were going to join us were also pretty angry with us, even though we had nothing to do with it.) But Tom's mum, Claire, had arrived that morning and we had been invited to dinner and whatever else we wanted to do after that with Tom's mum and crew. So, we went to dinner at a place downtown that I cannot remember the name of and Dorothy and I had crepes with bananas, chocolate, and cream.
MUCH better mood after that.
But then the night got a little crazy with changes of plans and frustrated people. We all eventually ended up at Zo, another dance club, in different groups but had a pretty good time, I think. I just remember being pretty tired and being ready for a few nights off from partying. I did meet one of Oscar's friends, Hernan, who is a futbol player for Cuenca and danced with him some. He might be getting us tickets for the next Cuenca home game, which would be awesome.
Sunday is Dorothy's day off, so we had breakfast together and then went on a run/walk that I almost died on. Not only have I not run since April and Dorothy is a major half-marathon-ista, we are also at a very high altitude here in the Cajas Mountains, so it took about three minutes for me to have some difficulties breathing. But it was okay because Louly is the best and let me walk a good amount.
We made it back for almuerzo and a short siesta, and then both took showers and just kind of relaxed a bit. Last night we went to the mall (yep, there's a mall, with a food court, and an apple store, and a "princess" shop) and had ice cream from Tutto Freddo and went to el cine to watch Robin Hood, since that was the only one in English. We ran into one of D's friends, Mericio and he tagged along. I snuck a fruit salad and a coca-cola light into the movie, as is my custom, and then got sick on popcorn. I'll never learn.
When we got home, Mona had some of our left-over popcorn, and we ate some zebra cake from a birthday party she and Maria had gone to on Saturday. It was a great end of a chill day.
But today! Today has been wonderful! After breakfast and some internet time, D and I walked to downtown to the hat factory and I bought an Ecuadorian hat! It was the easiest decision I have made in long time. And it is beautiful; purple, black, and with so much character. I love it.
Mom, Tim, and Ryan...you all owe Dorothy money.
After our late night out on Friday, Dorothy had to get up and go to work at 9 (pobre cita!) but I slept in. Since I missed breakfast with the family, Mona made me eggs with chicken and I had the usual pan, jugo, y cafe. But then I just kind of sat around the house, got on my computer, read some from my book that I am horribly behind in.
That is something that is actually pretty funny. I brought a ton of books down here with me with the intention of taking time everyday to read a little, but so far, that has not been the case. Maybe it will change though, we'll see.
Once Dorothy got home from an apparently very busy morning at work, we had Ecuador-style lasagna with sopa de tomate and fresh avacado. And for postre, pear with chocolate, coconut, and a custard-like substance. Mmm, can you tell that eating is a really important thing here? But truly, almuerzo is the time of day that we eat a lot and talk just as much. So far we have had some very interesting conversations and I am very thankful I have my mother's gift of being able to understand most everything someone says, whether I know the language well or not.
Yesterday at almuerzo, we discussed the differences between the US and Ecuador in regards to opportunity and help availability for mentally handicapped people. Mona talked about some family members who have autistic children and how difficult it is here for them. They are very sweet (muy dulce) but so much to handle, especially when it comes to school and growing up like other kids. There is just not a lot of help here for parents with children like this. I found it really interesting because I have been so used to special ed programs at school. Even at Camp Tekoa, I had a camper in my day camp group that had some mental illness and had his own "special buddy" and so much attention. There is nothing like that in Ecuador.
Anyway, after almuerzo and a long siesta (since Louly hadn't gotten a lot of sleep the previous night), we were in a bit of a funk, somewhat mad at the change of plans from Dorothy's friends (Oscar, Aguila, Choco, Diego, Juan Pa, etc.). (We were supposed to go to la quinta that day, but it didn't work out, and they didn't really tell us this until is was pretty late in the day. And thus the German chicas who were going to join us were also pretty angry with us, even though we had nothing to do with it.) But Tom's mum, Claire, had arrived that morning and we had been invited to dinner and whatever else we wanted to do after that with Tom's mum and crew. So, we went to dinner at a place downtown that I cannot remember the name of and Dorothy and I had crepes with bananas, chocolate, and cream.
MUCH better mood after that.
But then the night got a little crazy with changes of plans and frustrated people. We all eventually ended up at Zo, another dance club, in different groups but had a pretty good time, I think. I just remember being pretty tired and being ready for a few nights off from partying. I did meet one of Oscar's friends, Hernan, who is a futbol player for Cuenca and danced with him some. He might be getting us tickets for the next Cuenca home game, which would be awesome.
Sunday is Dorothy's day off, so we had breakfast together and then went on a run/walk that I almost died on. Not only have I not run since April and Dorothy is a major half-marathon-ista, we are also at a very high altitude here in the Cajas Mountains, so it took about three minutes for me to have some difficulties breathing. But it was okay because Louly is the best and let me walk a good amount.
We made it back for almuerzo and a short siesta, and then both took showers and just kind of relaxed a bit. Last night we went to the mall (yep, there's a mall, with a food court, and an apple store, and a "princess" shop) and had ice cream from Tutto Freddo and went to el cine to watch Robin Hood, since that was the only one in English. We ran into one of D's friends, Mericio and he tagged along. I snuck a fruit salad and a coca-cola light into the movie, as is my custom, and then got sick on popcorn. I'll never learn.
When we got home, Mona had some of our left-over popcorn, and we ate some zebra cake from a birthday party she and Maria had gone to on Saturday. It was a great end of a chill day.
But today! Today has been wonderful! After breakfast and some internet time, D and I walked to downtown to the hat factory and I bought an Ecuadorian hat! It was the easiest decision I have made in long time. And it is beautiful; purple, black, and with so much character. I love it.
Mom, Tim, and Ryan...you all owe Dorothy money.
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