Long Overdue

Greetings!

So, I realize I've been AWOL since before Christmas, so here's a little bit of an update on my life so far.

Christmas: I went with my host family to Quito, and spent the Holiday at my host-aunt's house entertaining, and being entertained by my cousins. They gave me a last minute gift of chocolate, Mexican spicy candy, and tangos. I also received the cutest hand-made card, and some other small gifts from other members of the family. From my host family I got a t-shirt with a giant orange crab on it, proclaiming t be from Manta, Ecuador. I shall cherish it forever!
I also got some jewelery, and other stuff like that, and a very cool book called Quito Casa Adentro: narrado por mujeres - Inside the Homes of Quito: Narrated by Women - written by my host dad's mom, about the founding families in Quito. One of the stories was her aunt. She also signed the book for me!

For New Years I found myself back on the Coast, visiting San Jose for the last time, and I got the enjoy the last day of 2010 and the first day of 2011 suntanning on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and watching the sunset.
I also discovered something called 'Año viejos' - literally, 'Old years'. They are these dolls made of varying materials, which you buy to represent the passing of the old year, and introducing the new. My host family did things a bit differently. They beat up the año viejo first, my cousin almost losing the head in the forest, then burned it, getting rid of the bad memories.

January was a big month for me. I changed host families, and now find myself on the other side of the city from the others. Not a bad thing necessarily, but it does make it harder to do things with them.

Amazonia Trip: January 29-February 1st found me visiting the Amazon Rainforest, staying in the 'Casa de Suiza' lodge. We had to take a boat to get to it. a very sketchy boat, if you ask me.
I spent 3 days hiking in the Amazon, Rafting and tubing down a river, eating ants, using a crazy rope swing above the tree tops, a zip-line bridge that would NOT meet North American saftey standards, and crossing some rope and plank bridges that reminded me too much of Disney's Emperor's New Groove or Dreamworks Shrekfor comfort. (in case you don't know what I'm taking about, in Emperor's new groove the bridge ended up snapping and they got stuck hanging by ropes over a realllly big fall, with alligators at the bottom. In Shrek, well, Donkey is more concerned about the boiling pit of lava beneath him, and though I didn't have that to worry about, the planks did look like they would break out at any moment.)

February: I've joined a beach volleyball team recently, and man is it fun! I was considering surfing, but I'm finding 7:30 -10:30 AM practices Monday - Saturday for volleyball are pretty awesome. I've been going with my host sister's 15 year-old niece who's staying with us for vacation. We take the bus every morning, which is also a new experience for me. Public Transportation! Hey, 25 cents versus $2 for a taxi, I was taking the 25 cents. =D

Up and coming:
965.606 km brings a volleyball competition on the beach, which I'm hoping to be part of, during the local Carnival on the 7th and 8th, that usually gets turned into a week. so probably more like the 4th - 9th. I'll give you the details on this fun yet apparently crazy event when I have more details myself. Apparently though its a week of pranks, parties, fun, and lots of crazy.
The 10th celebrates my host sister's 25th Birthday, and the 12th, my 18th - meaning I'll be of Age in Ecuador! We were going to have a joint party and do something fun, but a change of plans instead has me doing a bit of traveling. So, from the 11th - 15th of March, instead of on Mainland Ecuador, I will find myself approximately 965 km to the West, on the Galapagos Islands! XP
I am NOT complaining about this change though, as you can tell. This is will be the best birthday EVER, spent in one of the most gorgeous places on the planet, with some of my best Friends from around the Globe!

I return back to school in April, and sometime in April or May I have another trip to the Mountains with all the Exchange students in the Country, not just the ones in my Province.

Now that that's all taken care of... Have a nice day!

Besitos!

P.S.

To the Rotary Club of Haliburton: I know we really haven't been in contact. Here's my email in case you want any more info!

viviendo_la_vida_loca@hotmail.com

Feel free to email me or whatever. Sorry I haven't been in touch more!

Tell Steffy I say Hola!