Ramblings..

Hmm.. so much to say and the days keep running together. This past Saturday I went to a futbol game with my sister, her friend, and her cousin. Of course, I misinterpreted this as we were going to play soccer, and I was all pumped to play in the park, but watching Ecuador's best soccer team was also amazing. The games here are insane. La Liga played against a Peruvian team and ended up beating them 5/0. I've never seen fans like this before. It seemed like all of Ecuador was there. Everyone wears white and is drinking large glasses of pilsner and throughout the whole game there are synchronized chants. I mean the whole game people are standing and singing in unison. Everyone is climbing the fences and jumping up and down- even though there is barbed wire on the fences- and white mist/powder stuff is spraying everyone. Plus fireworks are going off and they through this white paper rolls at everyone to catch so the people can throw it in the air and onto the fields like streamers. All the fans are die hard, it might even put some chicago teams to shame.

Although I've been having a blast, I still haven't gotten used to the food here, and my stomach is pretty sensitive. I wasn't feeling so great on Sunday, and especially when I'm sick I just want my friends and family around. But my family here def. helped me feel better. I think being outside is medicine enough for me.. I spent all morning outside and took a walk with my sister to this valley where the whole town is spread out before you, and then we headed to the pool. I keep saying this to everyone that asks, but sometimes being here trips me up because I will be doing the most normal things like going swimming or walking home from school then I'll look up and the backdrop is the mountains.. and it still amazes me every day. It was fun to see the goofy side of my mom, and she was def. loopy that day at the pool. Me, Vanessa, and her were swimming and she was splashing around looking like a little kid. Then we laid down by the pool to read, but that didn't last long because and all the wildlife, the background noises of all the little kids playing, the breeze, and my Mom's humming put me to sleep. I don't think I've been that relaxed in weeks. We had a little bit of excitement when the car battery died. However, my host dad came in about 5 minutes to save the day. I was excited that I got to help a little bit from when my real dad taught me how to jump a car, but they were even more thrilled that I remembered the spanish word for jumper cable. Its so funny, they treat me like I am a newborn doing everything for the first time. The littlest things make them proud. Yesterday I wrote them a quick note to tell them I was going running and I'd be back soon- It's been hanging on the refrigerator for weeks now.. Speaking of weeks, tomorrow is my one month Ecuador anniversary! I'm being kicked out of the computer lab right now by the police.. I don't know why.. adios