Allergic to Mangos?????,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Hello world!

I hope all is well in North America! I'm living it up down here in Sur America, doin' my thing, you know. I just got back from Reconnect in Quito a couple days ago. It was a week long conference type thing at the PC Training Center for the purpose of "reconnecting" with us after our first 3 months of service. It was really nice to see the other fantastic volunteers from my Omnibus (106, baby!!!), to hang with the awesome host family I lived with during my first 3 months here, eat the amazing Sierra food again, etc, etc.

My host family in Tumbaco is incredible! They wanted to decorate for Christmas with me so we did that on Thursday. I have tons of pics that I'll be sharing on my photobucket (www.photobucket.com/sheburnsbright) ASAP. They are just so sweet. Mama made me a little Christmas decoration to put in my new apt where I'll be moving ya mismo (I hope!). They let me put the Christmas tree-topper on. They made my favorite Ecuadorian meals. Mayrita made me a really pretty pair of earrings. We laughed and reminisced for hours. It was just what I needed. I really feel like a part of their family which is such a wonderful feeling. It really is. Thanks, Mora family!!! I love you! I'll send pics soon!

Of course being back in Tumbaco was also awesome! I ate cevichochos daily (I'm going to make them here in Guayaquil soon!!!), went to the delish panaderias, walked the Ciclovia, remembered how hard it is to keep my feet clean there (hello, dusty roads!!!), and drank too much at Bodegon (now called Donde John's???!!!...what???). Yeah. All of those things really reminded me of training and how my first impressions of Ecuador compare to my daily life here. Tumbaco and Guayaquil are like 2 different lives, really. And my life back home is much different than both of my lives here. It's really fascinating.

Funny story. After my lips swelled, itched, pussed, and irritated me beyond belief, I talked to one of the PC Doctors about my concern...she told he I have herpes!!! OMG EW. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE??? Gross. She gave me some cream and told me to talk to her in a few days. A few days later I just got worse...and more worried...what is wrong with me???? Talked to her again & she wrote me a prescription for allergy tablets and cream. Allergies??? I never have allergies...??? AHHH! I went to get the prescriptions and the pharmacist wanted to charge me $25. But I'm broke! Called the Doc to ask if they're trying to over charge me. She then asked me a very random question..."Sarah, I have a question for you...have you been eating mangos lately??" OMG, YES!!!!!!!! I HAVE been eating mangos lately because during one of my runs last week, I ran by this man who was picking mangos from a tree near his tienda and he threw one to me (yes, just like Rocky in Rocky I!!! It was SO cool...)...then after my run he gave me an entire bag of them...which I ate all of them in like 3 days before my trip to Quito. I am SO allergic to mangos, it's not even funny. Gross!!!! At least it's not herpes though, right? LOL What a life I lead...

Anyway, I still feel gross from my trip and my mango reaction, so I think I'm gonna head to my bed for a nap. I need to go to the Mercado Caraguay but I'm just faltaring on energy right now. I'm uploading some new pics to my photobucket, so please check them out!!! Feel free to comment and whatnot!!!! And it's a public page so share with your friends!!!!!     www.photobucket.com/sheburnsbright

Much love. And watch out for the mangos...apparently us Ohioans don't have bodily resistance to their crazy acidity!!!!