So I can honestly say, I can't believe that it has almost been two months since I left home. This year is already flying by. I don't write all that often because during the week I have the same schudual. School, school, and more school, but atleast now I finally really enjoy going. In the past two weeks I did get to do some pretty cool things though.
Two weeks ago my camera broke at school. I was extremely upset. I did not want to be here in Ecuador without a camera, but I do not have that kind of money to buy a new one. My host parents being as generous as they are bought me a new one as an early birthday present. I wasn't expecting that, but I have to say I am so truely grateful and lucky to have such caring and generous parents. They help me with all my problems from school, to family, and even everything in between. I watch them work and see how devoted they are to their work, and it only makes me want to achieve my goals that much more. I aspire to be like those people.
This past weekend was a three day weekend because of Guayaquils Independance, so my family and I went to another towned named Machala. It was a 4 hour long drive, which wouldn't be bad if the roads were finished and not 85% rocks. Machala is on the ocean so it was also the first time I have seen the Pacific here. It is stunning and really beautiful. We stayed at the Hotel Oro Verde (a resort in Ecuador). It was really nice to experience something so different. My family took me all over the city and had me try new foods like ceviche and crab. I can't lie though, I throughly enjoyed all of the new foods. We also got to spend time as a family and watch the Ecuador vs. Uruaguay game. I never used to like football, but I really get into the games here. By the end of the weekend though I was really happy to go home and I still find myself loving Loja the most. It just suits me so well and is so clean and just has the homey feeling to it. I just can't help but love my city.
I also realised I do not talk about my friends specifically here. I am friends with everyone in my class. We are a pretty tight nit group. However, I also have friends I hang out with more often. My best friends are Ana Maria (who is also my cousin here), Valeria, Karol, and Erika. They are all so pretty and so much fun. They let me know what is going on and what I need to do. They make me feel right at home. It's funny how quickly I have bonded with them. For guys my best friends are Blacky and Andres. I can talk to them about anything and we help each other out with problems and just like to have fun. I also love Diego, Pedro, Fabian, Borrego, Daniel and Jose, but they aren't people who I go to when I have problems. I love to go to parties with my friends and spend time with all of them. They are all so different, but have such wonderful personalities.
My spanish is really improving. I practically understand everything that people say to me now! Which helps me so much more. I can also guess what words mean now because of the context. I feel accomplished, but I want to keep working and really be good. I can even roll my R's now which I never could before. I must say this experience has already given me so much and it's only just begining. It's funny because I find myself happy to wake up for school and happy just being here. Something I never looked forward to in school.
People say that this is a third world country, and many don't understand why I would want to live here, but trust me, if you visited this place you would see why I love it so much. These people have such big hearts, and are really wonderful.
I am so happy with my choice to live here and it has really opened my eyes to how people outside of the USA really live, and that not everyone in a third world country lives in complete poverty. I guess I really learned a lot about prejudices. I have also learned a lot about myself and learned to have better values and really keep to my morals. The change in pace here is so nice. I find myself really happy, and really growing, but in a very positive way. Well for now that's all. I will write after my Manabi trip this weekend. Feel free to e-mail me.
Two weeks ago my camera broke at school. I was extremely upset. I did not want to be here in Ecuador without a camera, but I do not have that kind of money to buy a new one. My host parents being as generous as they are bought me a new one as an early birthday present. I wasn't expecting that, but I have to say I am so truely grateful and lucky to have such caring and generous parents. They help me with all my problems from school, to family, and even everything in between. I watch them work and see how devoted they are to their work, and it only makes me want to achieve my goals that much more. I aspire to be like those people.
This past weekend was a three day weekend because of Guayaquils Independance, so my family and I went to another towned named Machala. It was a 4 hour long drive, which wouldn't be bad if the roads were finished and not 85% rocks. Machala is on the ocean so it was also the first time I have seen the Pacific here. It is stunning and really beautiful. We stayed at the Hotel Oro Verde (a resort in Ecuador). It was really nice to experience something so different. My family took me all over the city and had me try new foods like ceviche and crab. I can't lie though, I throughly enjoyed all of the new foods. We also got to spend time as a family and watch the Ecuador vs. Uruaguay game. I never used to like football, but I really get into the games here. By the end of the weekend though I was really happy to go home and I still find myself loving Loja the most. It just suits me so well and is so clean and just has the homey feeling to it. I just can't help but love my city.
I also realised I do not talk about my friends specifically here. I am friends with everyone in my class. We are a pretty tight nit group. However, I also have friends I hang out with more often. My best friends are Ana Maria (who is also my cousin here), Valeria, Karol, and Erika. They are all so pretty and so much fun. They let me know what is going on and what I need to do. They make me feel right at home. It's funny how quickly I have bonded with them. For guys my best friends are Blacky and Andres. I can talk to them about anything and we help each other out with problems and just like to have fun. I also love Diego, Pedro, Fabian, Borrego, Daniel and Jose, but they aren't people who I go to when I have problems. I love to go to parties with my friends and spend time with all of them. They are all so different, but have such wonderful personalities.
My spanish is really improving. I practically understand everything that people say to me now! Which helps me so much more. I can also guess what words mean now because of the context. I feel accomplished, but I want to keep working and really be good. I can even roll my R's now which I never could before. I must say this experience has already given me so much and it's only just begining. It's funny because I find myself happy to wake up for school and happy just being here. Something I never looked forward to in school.
People say that this is a third world country, and many don't understand why I would want to live here, but trust me, if you visited this place you would see why I love it so much. These people have such big hearts, and are really wonderful.
I am so happy with my choice to live here and it has really opened my eyes to how people outside of the USA really live, and that not everyone in a third world country lives in complete poverty. I guess I really learned a lot about prejudices. I have also learned a lot about myself and learned to have better values and really keep to my morals. The change in pace here is so nice. I find myself really happy, and really growing, but in a very positive way. Well for now that's all. I will write after my Manabi trip this weekend. Feel free to e-mail me.
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