Hi all! 

Back now for a quick blog post to start December! Since my last post, things have been quite the whirlwind! 

First, and potentially most exciting, we celebrated Jhoseline’s birthday!!! I love birthdays so much, and if you have read the blog before, you know how much I appreciate having Jhoseline in my life.  What an awesome excuse to celebrate her! I could hardly wait- we decorated the apartment and shared a cake in her honor. I’m pretty sure everyone in Ecuador was aware of her birthday because of me. It was definitely a nice bright spot in a time when the cycle was starting to get very busy! 

We also moved into a new apartment! We found a really nice spot that is cheaper and much closer to everything for us, so life has been much less stressful! It is right on a gorgeous plaza called plaza San Francisco, which is always full of people and vendors.  It is also close to a large market called Diez de Agosto, which makes grocery shopping much easier and cheaper! We have definitely been enjoying a shorter commute (and more sleep!) in the mornings, evenings, and lunch time. 

This is the view as you exit our apartment building!

As the cycle was coming to an end, I could not believe we had been teachers long enough to complete almost a full cycle.  Although I never thought teaching was for me, over the first cycle I truly began to settle into a rhythm with my classes and really enjoy our time together.  At the end of the cycle my niños classes had to do a final project, which for our level consisted of writing a play and performing it. We spent the last week brainstorming and writing together, then the last day we performed! Each class even wrote me into their plays.  On the last day, I was so excited, making decorations for the performance, putting together my costumes for my “characters,” and trying to make a relatively healthy but desirable snack for our class party (shout out to Jhoseline for the help)! In the middle of all of this, I had a moment in which I surprised myself at how much I had come to enjoy a job I never saw myself doing.  I was sad to say goodbye to my students on their last day of class! I hope to get niños again next cycle!

My costume for this play was a Spider! Here with my Lion, Jaguar, and Snake

Some of the decorations and our "stage"

A tourist with a hunter and Jungle Protection!

Another significant day at the end of the cycle was Thanksgiving!  We had been so busy leading up to the day of Thanksgiving that we had almost forgotten about it- and didn’t expect it to affect us much.  When the actual day came, though, and my family was all together without me, it was a bit tough to continue through a normal work day. In the morning, I told my sister (Olivia, 14) that I was really missing being with the family, and asked her to send me some pictures or updates throughout the day.  Because she’s absolutely amazing, she sent me about 8 video updates throughout the day featuring various family members and Thanksgiving activities. I don’t know what I would have done without her! It was a great way to keep my spirits lifted throughout the day and stay connected with the family. Once again, thank goodness for Facetime! 

Thankfully, on Friday we had a  “Friendsgiving” organized by some of the teachers.  We all gathered in one (and fall-decorated) house, and everyone brought some kind of food item.  You know I had to bring some Mac and Cheese, because for me it is not Thanksgiving without it! We also brought a chicken and some other small things.  Heating up food in the kitchen with a glass of wine amongst the warm hustle and bustle of dinner preparations was definitely a feeling that I couldn’t have put my finger on previously, but was missing on the day of Thanksgiving.  I am so THANKFUL that we were all able to organize this nice dinner, and eat a really delicious and filling dinner amongst good company!

Our Friendsgiving plates! Featuring Mac and Cheese, homemade bread, stuffing, mashed potatoes, mote (corn), deviled eggs, chicken, and carrots!

As I write this post, I am in the airport in Guayaquil awaiting a flight into Florida.  I will be spending a few weeks in the U.S. during the December vacation, because I just cannot spend Christmas without my family! I am also excited, because before making it to Ohio, I will spend a week in Orlando with my best friend Paige for her birthday! I can’t wait to see her again, because we haven’t spent this much time apart since before we met during our freshman year of college.  I look forward to the month to come! Thanks for reading!