A Life in a Year- Rotary Exchange : Highlights of Weeks 14 & 15

First of all, I can't believe it's already DECEMBER! Another year has already flown by. Unbelievable!

Besides the two big days I've already posted about from week 14 (Thanksgiving and saying goodbye to Sarah) here are the other things that occupied my weeks: I went to Crossfit Monday-Thursday of week 14, had three volleyball games (two of which were losses), ate two fried ice creams, one each week, had five different skype conversations with my parents, grandparents, other family and friends, had three random days off schools, had my first presentation for a Rotary, went out to eat and shop with my host parents a few times, and did some Christmas things like sending my family's Christmas cards to them, creating the shutterfly Christmas cards for my mom to order back home, downloading some classic Christmas songs, and finally taking pictures at the big lit-up Christmas tree they put up each year in our city.

Crossfit- I am so happy that I started going because it has given me something to look forward to each evening, plus the fact that it's great exercise and I am totally getting stronger (I only went once during week 15) and going back on the next Monday was rough because I totally lost a little strength already). I also have made a couple friends at Crossfit, including one lovely woman who I partnered up with on her first class and talked with the whole time and helped her. She was so sweet and it was one of the perfect examples of people in Ecuador- they make you feel so welcome and at ease, even though my Spanish still isn't perfect.

Volleyball- so the first game was on Wednesday of week 14 and we got there just to sit, and wait, and return to school because the other team forfeited by not showing up. This is probably the only reason we made it to the finals anyways. But the next week played in the semi-finals against Emaculate and lost (even I didn't play that great, probably because I woke up to my classmate asking if I was on my way to the game so I had to rush to put on my uniform and take a taxi there). We had one last game where we played for third. I really wanted to win because we had beaten Santa Maria the first game I played with the team, and I would have loved to take home a medal from volleyball in Ecuador. So, I played great. But my teammates...I'll put it nicely...they just don't know how to control the volleyball. So, if I didn't pass the ball or serve it, we normally lost the point. So that was pretty disappointing.

Fried ice cream- Thank goodness #NoSugarNovember is over, because my friends and I discovered this place by the park that sells fried ice cream and it is seriously the most delicious thing ever. So delicious that when my parents mentioned getting fried ice cream a week later, and wondered where to find some, I told them right where to go. You pick your flavor ice cream that they have already covered in the batter, then they fry it in minutes and put it on a plate with some fruit and drizzle it with chocolate and strawberry sauce. Mmmm :)

Skype- it is always wonderful to talk with my family and friends back home. I have had 3 hour conversations with some of my closest friends and family.

Three days off- I sleep or go to a friends house, nothing new there :)

First rotary presentation- My presentation went really well. I got up there and shared a powerpoint of pictures of my home, friends, family, school, and hobbies from back home. From what I could tell, the Rotarians understood my Spanish and everything I said. A few Rotarians that knew I sing well, asked me to sing at the end of my presentation, which I was happy to do because I've found that after I sing for somebody I meet here, they remember that fact about me and it makes conversation after a lot easier. I guess it has become my ice-breaker tactic with Rotarians.

Out with my host parents- My host parents and I went out 4 or 5 different times over the two weeks for errands, shopping, and to get something to eat. I hadn't spent that much time with them in a while (I took a break from weekend parties) so it was good to get back to some "family time". I find that going out with them is always nice because I am more talkative with them when we are out than when I am at home (because truthfully, I am always in my room sleeping or on my laptop when I am at home). One of my favorite times with my host parents is when we go to the grocery store together on Sunday nights. I know it seems so simple, but I think that's why I like it so much. It makes me feel like this is my family and I am going grocery shopping with them and life is normal. Also, it is amazing how grocery shopping can strike up conversation about what they have in Ecuador compared to what I would buy at Hannafords and Walmart in the US.

Christmas preparations- Well, the decorations have been up since early November, but there was still plenty to do. I bought Hallmark Christmas cards and translated them from Spanish to English and then sent them to my family back home. They have recieved them, which is a relief because I get nervous about the mailing service here in Ecuador. I have yet to recieve a couple cards from my grandparents and it's sad to think they might never arrive. Anyways, the past few years I have taken the liberty of doing my family's Christmas card to send out to all of our family and friends. It is something I really do enjoy doing- it's an artistic thing. So, I went on Shutterfly and picked some design options that I like and played around with the pictures and designs for a couple days before sending my favorites to my parents to choose the one we would use. This and downloading some new and classic Christmas music as helped the Christmas spirit a little bit. It is still so weird to me that it is Christmas time just because I am so used to hearing a bunch of Christmas music on the radio and the snow and just more of a joyous feeling in the US. Maybe it's because I am not at home with my mom's delishious Christmas goodies that she bakes. But I am doing my best to remember that this experience will be a positive one- I am getting to experience this holiday in a different culture. I may not be with my family, but I will be back next year. This is my chance to see how it's done in another country. I think that's cool. Part of seeing how it's done in Ecuador- I got to go see the big lit-up Christmas tree that they put up in one of the open parks near the mall in my city. It is the biggest one in Ecuador, and it is pretty incredible. They set up a bunch of fair games, a little train tour, tons of food stands, and even a few kiddy rides. And besides the tree, the whole park was decorated with lights, a nativity scene, and a little log cabin where everyone lined up to go see Santa. It was nice to see the space all decorated instead of it's usual empty dirt/grass space.

Photos of the big tree and Christmas fair: