Hey blog readers! 

April was a crazy month for me, and I can't believe it's over! Only 2 more months of being here in Cuenca, and I am still not sure what I am going to do. Although I have fully enjoyed my time here, I think I'm ready for a new challenge. I am going to miss the heck out of CEDEI, my friends, and the Fundación. I will elaborate more with my final thoughts in a month or so's blog post so stay tuned!

Anyway, this past month was full of vacations from teaching and volutneering I got a nice vacation in and had many long weekends! :) A couple of weeks ago, I went to Quito with a good friend, Sam. One great thing was our ability to save 8 hours on a bus and fly. We found cheap tickets, and I'll say, definitely worth the money to save time for a short vacation. Quito was wonderful, and there was a Good Friday parade, and we spent our holiday drinking coffee, eating cake, enjoying the views, and watching the parade. Quito is absolutely ENORMOUS, and the view from the Basilica is quite humbling. 

PS- we stayed in La floresta, and I highly recommend! :) 

After our day and a half in Quito, we decided to take the bus up to Otavalo to check out the market and do some hiking. Otavalo has the largest outdoor market in South America and is only an hour and a half from Quito on bus. Unfortunately, I ate some bad shrimp in Quito and was super sick the whole time. Luckily, I am alive, and feeling very well now. I was able to go to the market for about 20 minutes, so I saw a little bit of the market in Otavalo. Also, the sweet indigenous family whose hostal we stayed at, did an indigenous healing ceremony on me and gave me some hollistic medicine, which helped for a while. Anyways, although I left Cuenca with Sam and came back with Sam and amoebas, I had a great time in Quito and want to visit again before I leave.

Time at the Fundación and teaching are going well. Teaching is flying by, and I am enjoying not having any Saturday classes. I have a FULL weekend! WOOHOO!

Time at the Fundación is going well. We have a few new families, which means our numbers are growing, but the more, the merrier (crazier). Many of the volunteers are starting to end their time here, which is so sad. I am going to miss the heck out of everyone. 

Overall, time is flying, and I cannot wait for what is next. I am going to give extra in my last few months here, as to leave a good legacy for my time during the Puente Cultural Grant. 

Anyways, 

Talk to  you all later! 

Thanks so much for reading :)

The view from the Basilica in Quito. Quito is HUGEEEEEE.

My good friend Sam and I. She left me for the USA. I miss her :''(

Anderson, an absolute cutie and new student at the Fundación. His first day he cried because he was so overwhelmed with the amount of kids. Now he loves coming :)

Making empanadas for the 25th anniversary party for the Fundación. Left to right- Veronica (level 2 teacher), Favayd (level 1 teacher), Maria Gusta (psychologist), Antonella (social worker), Nele (fellow volunteer and friend) :D

Annalia and her gorgeous, traditional braids for the 25th anni party! 

Veronica, Genesis, Fernanda, Kenia, Jennifer, and Lizbeth greeting guests at the party. 

Olivia, my fellow gringuita and volunteer, stealing snacks from the AMAZING snack table we created for the party.