la última

This week was the last week of classes/exams at USFQ, and it was the last week that most of my friends and I are all together. Three of my best friends here head out to Argentina tonight, but around the same time, my sister arrives in Quito!

Even though we were "swamped" with tons of "studying" this week, we managed to celebrate our last week in Quito together.

On Tuesday, my lit professor had a Cuban lunch and viewing of the movie "Fresa y Chocolate" at his house in Cumbayá. Our class went over, ate some really great food, and chilled at his beautiful house.

Delicious Cuban food

Wednesday was the last ladies night at Bungalow and the last salsa night at Aguijon. It was pretty sad, but it also made us realize how lucky we were to have met each other this semester.

triplethreat.

Rosa & Maya, who live on the West Coast :(

Thursday was the last day of classes, so we took some pictures on campus to commemorate our last semester.

Rosa, Liz, & I

Cutest couple in Ecuador

Thursday night, we celebrated being done with all of our classes with a Mexican dinner at a restaurant in La Mariscal called Red Hot Chili Peppers. Delicious. Then, we went to go see one last movie at Cinemark, and we lucked out because it was ladies night, and we got tickets for $2.20! We saw "Water for Elephants," which I highly recommend to everyone. It was excellent.

The guys thought it was a chick flick.

Today, we had one last lunch all together at Alice Ann's grandma's café.

I really was blessed to have met all of these friends this semester. I can't imagine these past 4 1/2 months without them!

familia

One of the things that I wish I had had more time to do this semester is spend time with my host family. It's hard being torn between seeing all the beautiful places in Ecuador and spending time at my house with them. My host parents Lore and Guille are two of the most kind and welcoming people I've ever met, and they have made my experience in Ecaudor an incredible one. Hearing some stories from other exchange students and the relationships they have (or rather, don't have) with their host family, I am even more grateful of how blessed I was to have lived with Lore, Guille, Leandro, and Linet.

Luckily, this past weekend and this week/weekend, I have been able to spend more time at home, and it's been wonderful. Saturday night, they had a couple of friends over, and we spent the evening enjoying each other's company, which is something I've only had the chance to do a few times this semester. Last night, my friends Liz and Cole were over studying, and they stayed for dinner. Little did we know that it was going to be something of a dinner party! Lore and Guille met a guy from England this past weekend when they were at a friend's house, and they had him over for dinner last night. So, over burritos and Coke, we all chatted in a mixture of Spanish and English about everything from life in Ecuador to Guille's favorite topic, Cuba.

This Friday, my sister (finally) gets here! And of course, Guille wants to celebrate. So, Friday night, we're having a welcome party for Meredith and a goodbye party for me and Ashley. Sunday is Mother's Day, so Ashley and I (with my sister's help) are going to make dinner and dessert for our host moms and our families. And NEXT weekend, after a week of showing my sister around Ecuador, we're having another party at my house. This one will be a combination of my actual goodbye party and Guille's birthday party.

As my time here winds down, I'm excited to go home and see my family and friends (and drive my car and eat Chickfila). I'm also very sad to leave Ecuador. It's been my home for the past 4 1/2 months, and I'm even tearing up a little just writing this. But I also know that I have had the most incredible experience here, and I am so blessed to have been able to live here. I have had so much fun, and I have learned so much. I have to remember to look back on this experience and yes, be sad that it is over, but more importantly, be grateful that these 4 1/2 months were part of my life.

historic.

May this post serve as a memory of one of the most historic moments in the United States in the past decade. Tonight, President Obama announced that 10 years after 3,000 people were killed, U.S. intelligence officials found and killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. This is truly a huge step in healing for the thousands of families and friends of those who were killed on September 11, but it is a little bit difficult to rejoice so much in the death of another human being. However, I think Derek Webb said it best...

"Don't celebrate death, celebrate justice."

little mr. turtle

Remember back in January, when my parents gave me the best birthday present I could have asked for? If not, here's a refresher:

I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity Mom and Dad gave me to go to the Galápagos. I wanted to bring them with me, but that was obviously a stretch. So, I brought the little turtle they gave me along on the trip. He had a great time, but I hope that one day my parents are able to experience all that he & I did in person!

At Volcán Sierra Negra

Riding on the boat

With a pelican

Sunset on the beach

With a fellow turtle

On the beach at Tortuga Bay

Flying home

Thanks Mom & Dad for an amazing experience! I can't thank you enough, and I love you more than you know!

no hay lugar como galápagos

Indescribable. I feel like pictures and stories can't even begin to show the incredible beauty of the Galápagos Islands. Its bright blue waters and sunsets are gorgeous, and it is home to countless species of animals. It's not cheap to go, but it totally vale la pena!

TUESDAY
- Plane from Quito to Guayaquil to the Galápagos
- Ferry across to Isla Santa Cruz
- 2-hour boat ride to Isla Isabela (worst boat ride ever. I didn't know I could get sea sick!)
- Checked into our hostel on the island
- Flamingo-watching!
- Enjoyed the sunset over the water
- Dinner
- Went out for Ashley's 21st birthday!

Ferry to Isla Santa Cruz

Isla Santa Cruz

Beach at Isla Isabela

Girls at the flamingo lake

Sunset at Isla Isabela

Girls on the beach

WEDNESDAY
- 9-mile hike up to and around Volcán Sierra Negra
- Picnic lunch
- Walk around Islote Tintorera (named after the white-tipped sharks)
- Snorkeling!
- Another beautiful sunset
- Dinner
- Sleep early (we were so exhausted)

Volcán Sierra Negra - 6 miles across and 5 miles wide

The group at Volcán Sierra Negra

UNC!

conquer.

Ashley & I

A sea lion on a boat!

Penguins

Marine iguana

Sea lion on Islote Tintorera

About to go snorkeling

Snorkeling!

Another beautiful sunset

THURSDAY
- Up early at 5:00am!
- Boat back to Isla Santa Cruz
- Breakfast & animal-watching at the dock
- Checked into our hostel
- Charles Darwin Research Station to see the giant turtles!
- Walk to Tortuga Bay (blue water/white sand beach)
- Relax in the pool at the hostel
- Dinner & shopping

Sunrise at Isla Isabela

A sea lion and a ton of pelicans

Blue-footed booby!

With a giant turtle

Tortugas gigantes

Tortuga Bay

Girls at Tortuga Bay

We saw a baby shark!

FRIDAY
- Breakfast
- Packed up and headed back to the airport
- Stopped at two "twin" craters
- Flew back to Guayaquil, then Quito

At the twin craters

Chau Galápagos!

Pretty amazing, right?