Travels

Manabi Paseo a la Playa (Beach!)
Two weeks ago, all the exchange student started a 5 day trip to the beach. It took 10 hours to get there (in a country the size of Colorado, and starting from the middle) because the roads go up and down, as opposed to straight, due to the mountains. The drive was hermosisimo! (So beautiful) We were winding through the lush green mountains, overlooking a rushing river below, in a tiny valley. Occasionally, we would see the source of that river-- huge waterfalls flowing down the mountains. It was absolutely majestic. The first day after we had arrived, we were in a parade for some celebration of Puerto Viejo. It was pretty fun. There were 2 barneys and a pageant queen that had a tiara probably a foot and a half high, if I had to estimate. It was the most dangerous looking accessory I have ever seen. After the parade, we headed to the beach for some pretty terrible seafood, and then had about 2 hours to chill. Unfortunately, they were charging to use the restrooms, so I couldn't change into my suit and ended up just kind of splashing my feet around. It was kind of depressing, honestly. I find it hard to connect with the other exchange students because we just don't see things the same way or have the same reasons for being here. I started isolating myself and not trying as hard to be social...and then I felt lonely.
Imagine that...isolation making a person feel alone...
But I continued. the next day, we arrived at the other beach in Puerto Lopez. It was gorgeous! Completely surrounded by mountains, not a person in sight, fishing boats on the horizon, huge waves, and caves to texplore in the distance. There were hermit crabs running around and all sorts of crustaceans. I picked up about 10 perfect sandollars, all but 1 of which broke in my backpack.
I spent almost the entire day, walking or sitting alone. I felt like crying. I just kept praying I would meet someone I could relate to, someone I could tell my deeper thoughts, someone who would understand me and share similar values. A couple people asked if I was ok as they were walking by. I lied and told them I was fine, almost instantaneously welling up with tears. I felt guilty not being absolutely ecstatic at the most beautiful beach I've ever been to. But one of the things I've been learning here is that the things you think are going to be so cool or so exciting and adventurous--are only so when they're shared. Life is meant to be shared.
It's meant to be done together.

I have literally seen more natural beauty in my 2 months here in Ecuador than I have seen in my entire life, yet it's incredibly hard for me to appreciate all of it. And I'm usually one to sit in awe with my jaw open at a cool looking tree or sunset.
My family (in the States) took me on a graduation trip to Eureka Springs for 3 days back in June. If you've seen any of my pictures, Ecuador blows Eureka Springs out of the water. Yet I feel like I saw more beauty, appreciated nature more, and enjoyed my time more in Eureka Springs than I have here. And it was 3 days in Arkansas!!! Now I realize the difference is that I was with my family, surrounded by the people I love and that love me. It's interesting to me that even the nature, views, and adventures of Ecuador that are 10 times better than Eureka Springs couldn't make up or compensate for the lack of my family.
It's about people.

But back to the beach, we ate dinner after my depressing day, and a girl I hadn't seen before sat down at the table I was at. We didn't say anything to each other for awhile, but finally introduced ourselves, and somehow got on the topic of what we want to do with our lives. As I was telling her my bit, (quite timidly, I might add, because no one seems to really get it) her eyes started lighting up, and she grabbed my arm and said, "ME too!!" --- Hope rose in me. I was very much surprised that someone in this group of people shared the same dream as me. We want to study the same things and do the same things--even down to the smallest detail. It was fantastic. While the other exchange students were (I think) having a dance party, we went off and found a hammock and talked about how we want to change the world. We spent the next day at the beach together, walking along the shore line, talking about deep topics for once, (as opposed to the usual, "how are we going to buy alcohol, today?")
I had a friend! A real one. And it was exactly what I had prayed for the day before. As we were walking, we came across some caves. We had to climb some rocks to get there, but they were beautiful once we arrived. Apparently there were more a little farther, but the tide was too high to reach them. Those who went the day before, though, said it looked like a scene out of "The Notebook."
Agh! So i had some fantastic pictures of all this, until...I lost my camera : ( Surprisingly, I was hardly upset at all. Just a 'lil dissappointed. Life will go on.
While we were waiting for the tide to go down (which it didn't end up doing in time) we started talking about how we want to change this year and what we want to learn. Several more people joined in the conversation and it was cool to talk about something important with people other than just Kirsten. (Kirsten is the name of the girl I met.) We ended the day with an anti-climactic rotary meeting/dinner. We weren't told what we were doing, but were split up into our respective countries and given large flags to carry in. We were waiting outside the door to the meeting for at least an hour, all the while camera men and important looking people passing us to enter the meeting. Each country was even told to pick a representative to speak on TV! Yet, when we were finally aloud to enter, there were about 10 people --10-- waiting for us to set our flags in stands and sit down. Did I mention it was anti-climactic?
After the meeting, there was an hora loca--crazy hour. Rotary hired people in circus costumes to come and dance and get us to dance. There was even a man on stiltz! They gave everyone a silly hat and noise makers and were blowing on whistles and making dance trains. It was actually pretty fun, the crazy hour.

So overall, the trip was good. It had its downs, but meeting Kirsten was incredible. A true answer to prayer. I started thinking about not going on the other trips Rotary has (Galapagos and Amazon) because I wouldn't have been able to enjoy myself with the majority of the other exchange students, but after meeting Kirsten, I'm excited about getting to go.

All of my pictures are lost, but I'm working on getting pics from some other exchange students.

Cayambe
Last weekend, I went to a volcano called Cayambe with my unlce, aunt, cousin, and some friends of theirs. It's not that far away, but it took 3 hours to drive to the top. Hopefully that gives you an idea of how tall it was. (Or at least how bad the road was : )) It was snow capped, and breathtaking--literally. (there's not much oxygen at that altitude) Some of the snow was melting and forming a small waterfall and river in the valley below. You could hear the rushing water echo from the valley up to the top of the mountain, where we were. There were hardly any people, and no unnatural sounds. It was completely tranquil.

I took photos with my unlce's cam, and will upload them as soon as I see him again!

Also, took my first salsa class and bought a guitar that weekend.