One month done and only 26 more to go...!!!! :)

OMG, I FINALLY figured out how to update my blog on this computer that is ALL in Spanish. I think there just may be something larger looking over me. ; )

Anyway, loved ones, Ecuador and I are getting along quite well! It has literally been a month since I´ve arrived her (ok, in like 2 days it will be exactly a month, but who´s counting???) It has been a whirlwind since I laid foot on the ground in Quito. I´ve made some fantastically amazing friends already here in our omnibus (who I´m still trying to find on facebook...they must be well hidden or something? lol). My host family is still treating me like a part of the family and that has been wonderful. Today I learned how to make sopa de bolas (one of my fave soups here!!!) and patacones (basically fried green bananas). SO GOOD. I´m keeping track of the recipes for when I love on my own eventually...so I don´t starve to death and end up eating rice and potatoes everyday...lol I also learned how to make handmade soap last weekend! Cool, right? We learned in case we want to teach it to our youth groups once we´re in our sites. So neat.

I feel like a million dollars other than missing Shadow, mom, Jen, etc, etc, etc. I write letters constantly and am still trying to figure out how to send them since we have training during the only hours that the post office is open. And it´s not like the US where you can just slip a package on the mail in a box on the street...that literally doesn´t exist here so you have to go into the post office and do it all in there. Anyway, enough with that. I have more important things to blog about!!!

Spent all last week on the coast in Muisne, Sua, and Quininde (google them!!!) BEAUTIFUL places - wish I could´ve had my loved ones there to share it with me. But at least now when you guys come to visit me I´ll know where all the hot spots are! We literally stayed in an ocean front hotel for $10 a night...wow. Had a beautiful fire on the beach, spent time with the most random people - 2 French girls here studying for 2 weeks, 3 people from Germany (including a couple who sails around the world fishing in their little sail boat...they´re on theiy way to the Galapagos right now...a 4 day trip for them!!!) and some Ecuadorian locals. And of course us silly Americans. : ) It was just a magic night and made me to thankful to be here even though it´s so hard sometimes without my best friends, parents, and the love of my life by my side. I took tons of pictures and just have to figure out how to upload them. I swear, if it´s not one thing it´s another. LOL I´m gonna try to use my friend´s computer later (I think she has internet???) so keep your eye our for pics on here and facebook.

Training is going great and my Spanish is still going strong! Thank goodness. I learn more everyday and haven´t had any real issues with communication. I just wish I could talk on the phone to Shadow and mama more, but as one of my friends says, Ït´s all part of the test...¨ lol And I´m gonna pass this test just like I´ve passed every other test in my entire life!!!!! YEAH, superwoman!!!!!!!

I hope you all know I´m thinking of you constantly and I´ll update my blog more often if I can. It´s just a pain the butt to get online here. I always feel rushed when I am on and it´s just a pain. I´m dying to put pics on though, so that is def a priority.

The weather here has been beautiful and my tan is flourishing! Hehehehe, Jen!!!! Be jealousss. Although I hear it has been HOT up in the states so I´m sure everyone´s getting fried up there too. I love you soo so much and think about you every day. I´m taking tons of pics and keeping a detailed journal, so don´t worry - I´ll have more stories than you can even imagine by the time I´m back. I hope you´re all getting ready to party for my return now...it´s gonna be something to remember ; )

I know this is a really scattered post - but that´s the best I can do right now! I´m typing at the speed of LIGHT on a Spanish keyboard...so that´s at good as it gets. Anyway, I find out my permanent placement site in about 2 weeks so you better believe I´ll keep you all on in the loop!!!

Paz, amor, y Ecuador,
Sarah