States Recap

I totally ran out of time to blog about my plan to go to the States. I was awarded, I´ll say, of month leave for extending my service for a year. Before leaving I was so nervous and thought I was going to feel so many things. I started writing a blog about it, but I seen now I never posted it! Whoops! It´s all good though cause I was worried for nothing. The trip was amazballs! I chose to go home in October when there seemed to be a plethora of reunions, that proved to be a GREAT decision.

Saint Louis is my Home of Record so I flew into the Lou and was there for a couple of days. My first few days were really just getting acclimated to being back in the States, Televisions with thousands of channels and seeing my parents. I got a track phone eventually too so that I would be able to communicate with people while I was local. I had a list of people to call while I was in the US but since even moment was filled with visits it didn´t happen. Still coordinating and setting up dates was facilitated 100 fold having a cell phone, unlike that last time I was in the US.

After, finally unpacking and getting myself together it was time to RE-pack for my Cali leg of the trip. I had lots planned for California, my grandma turned 90 (and is still as fiesty as ever) so it was party time and a family reunion all in one. Also, it was time for my sweetie to meet all of my family and for me to meet his friends and fam that live in the Bay. So off to Cali and went and what fun it was. I flew into LA to drive up to Stockton with my sister because that is our tradition. I wish I had been able to have some time in LA but I flew in at midnight and we drove out at 5 am. For Grandma´s celebration we had a host of activities planned such as dinners, lunches, bbqs, bowling, and of course the main event, The Party! We had so much fun and it was so amazing seeing my family. I am really glad I was able to come back to celebrate and see everyone at one time!

The next stop was the Bay. My sweetie came to the party Saturday and graciously came BACK on Monday to swoop me back to his neck of the woods. The night I arrived his mom had invited her friends and family that lived in area and we had a big grand feast. Come to think of it maybe THAT is how I gained a fast 10 lbs while in the States. We ate so much cause it was SOOOO good. It was a fun party with really great people. So that went well. It was really great seeing were my love grew up and went to school and all of those little things. We also went to San Francisco to meet his college roommates and we also got to check out Oakland to visit my Uncle Cousin and one of my friends who is like family to me. Since I am strongly considering moving to Northern California upon my return to the States it was great to hang out and get a feel for the area. Once again, on the Cali let I got to see so many people and met even more, so I considered the Cali let a success as well.

One back in Missouri it was time for Homecoming and the Expressions Reunion! My soros and I have been Deltas for 10 years and even though we felt old, we knew it was time to get together and celebrate. To be able to be with them and participate in this event was so great! My line sister from Sweden also made it, so we came from far and wide for this auspicious occassion. As always it was all screams and hugs when we all saw each other. We stayed at a hotel and had a major slumber party, which we all know I Love!

We had a fabulous dinnner and night out that was planned by my amazing Anchor. It was great because we got our own private room and we were able to go around and catch up on each other´s lives. Getting a recap on 15 people is not easy but hey we had good food and drinks so it was just a joy. Then the next day we got up Bright and Early to drive to Columbia, Missouri to make to the Epsilon Psi Luncheon. I didn´t think we were going to make it but we totally did! We got to meet the current chapter and they are absolutely amazing. They put on a great luncheon and are doing great work, so that was amazing. Mizzou has changed so much! It´s so high class we were all freaking out..in a good way. It was great to see that it´s on the rise and doing well. We made it to the football game which was a great time and then we went to an outside stepshow which was such a highlight for me. It took me back to the old days and we of course were clowing! It was the best time and we even got to do the Founder´s Step and Stroll! I know some of you reading have no idea what I´m talking about, but just know those things all equal a good time and it had been 10 years since I got to do that, especially with my line sisters. We drove back that night (hardcore, right!?) and went our separate ways. I was really proud of us making such an effot to get together. Everyone who wasn´t there was missed but it was so great that so many of us were able to come out.

After that it was serious see your people in STL time. It was all about dinners, lunches, coffees what have you. My ride or die friends came to visit me, my mom had a happy hour for me to see all of her friends, I got to hang out with my besties and it was just a whirlwind of fun. I know one thing, my brain had no problem "switching" to English. It wasn´t even a switch. I kept marveling at how easy it was to talk. I just opened my mouth and spoke. I didn´t have to think about it or figure out how I was going to do it. It just came out. I also ate a TON. I am not joking when I say I gained 10 lbs...easily! I also was taking a GANG of showers and washing my hair about every 4 days. I was obsessed with hot water. I was also washing clothes I knew I wasn´t even going to be wearing. Just how easy the machines were and how fun it was for me to do laundry! That´ll wear off when I come back officially I know.

All in all it was an AMAZING trip. I mean for the limited amount of time I was there I got in a LOT of visit. I even kept it going during my layover in Miami. My Back rushed her work schedule to come pick me up for lunch and cocktails! All in all such a great trip. I got to at least hug so many people but at the same time I knew it was only for a moment and then I was off again which is hard. I got to see my Aunts on both my mom and dad´s side which was special and of course got to spoil my mom´s dog before I left. It was sad leaving, but this trip helped me feel good about going back in a year and to have even more reslove to give this year my all and then come back and be ready to live my life in the US of A.


Until Next time.....

(p.s. by the time you get this post I will be in the wilderness with my teens, which me luck and Give Thanks!)

Back from the States!

What up Loves!

I´m back from spending a fabulous month in the US of A. I went to Saint Louis, Columbia, San Francisco, Vallejo, Oakland, Stockton...the list goes on. The point is I am back, but without internet and no pictures uploaded. So if everyone could be patient with me I will do my best to give a detailed run down with pics as soon as I can. I just hadn´t written in awhile and I wanted to let everyone know I´m here alive and kickin. As alway, stay tuned for updates!

xoxo

Return to the States Recap...

Just as I suspected I waited too long to write, so I have forgotten all the little anecdotal stories and details to share, so this will be a broad brush stroke recap of the visit.

Overall the visit was fabulous, just what I needed and wanted.

I made a last minute decision to leave on a night bus on the 4th instead of leaving first thing in the morning on the 5th... I had my homies visiting December and January as we celebrated Navidad and rang in the new year together (Good times!). I was totally Not focused on my task at hand which was, "prepare for your trip to the states and figure out the details of your travel..." So what it was instead was "run around on the 4th saying my goodbyes, final cleanings of clothes and house, trying to predict weather and activities aaaaannd just hoping for the best. Better safe than sorry, if I end up not packing my toothbrush not as big of a deal as missing my plane ya'mean?

So taking a night bus meant arriving in Gquil early morning when my flight wasn't until the PM. I hadn't notified that Gquil crew that I was going to be coming through so I figured I would just chill in the airport (oh goodness this is going to be a long post I suspect...) I send a last minute text (which actually didn't work the first several times) notifying the Guayas girls. I have a wonderful bus trip to Gquil, get let out right by the airport and end up meeting up with my two Guayas Gems. First Molls who gave me hugs and a bed to nap in (angel!) then Sabriga and I grabbed a bite to eat at my favorite Falafel spot on the Malecon. I am SO glad that I went ahead and went on that night bus and got to see my old site mates.

The airport experience struck me as...fancy..I dunno, I guess if you're flying out of Ecuador that means you have plata, i.e. money. Everyone was so super jazzy and oozing with wealth. I noted to myself...culture shock number one and I haven't even LEFT The country! That's the the thing about Ecuador. There is such a divide. There are some Extremely wealthy people here and there is extreme poverty and they are often juxtaposed in close proximity.

I first flew into Quito and waited and waited and interminable amount of time, but thank God for my antiquated ipod, and journal. Finally it was time to board the plan to Miami. It was soooooooo fancy lol I don't have another word. It was huge, it had movie screens they were serving wine, it was like every seat was first class!

When I arrive into Miami, everyone is STill speaking Spanish....and things are a bit crazy getting through "customs". Then came the task of finding my gracious friend who was picking me up...without a cell phone. It's fine, I'm not too cool for a pay phone. After finally locating them I pick up the phone, read the directions, dial the number....the operator voice instructs me that it will $1.00 for 5 minutes!!! Wha!? Back in the day weren't pay phones $.25 for an endless amount of time!? So already you know my mind is like, for that I could get a bowl of soup, some lentils, a mountain of rice, some plantains and a jugo!!! BUT I was like ugh-uh Jen you are in the US you can't be doing that the whole time. I also didn't have 4 quarters...so I lug my stuff around to find someone that can change out my dolla, and then I go back to utilize my $1 to the fullest in my 5 minutes allotted.

Candi picks up (whew) she's already at the airport!! Sweet! This should be easy, I tell her I'm just going to head downstairs and wait outside of XYZ airline. So I should see her soon right!? MAn LOOOONG story short, poor girl is driving around for and hour? Hour and a half? I don't even know, and I'm trying to borrow people's cell phone to call and see what's going on. It turns out that even though I did indeed go down some stairs...that I was "UPSTAIRS" as far as pick-up places go. *Argh, chagrined from lack of cell phone *


It was soooo good to see my friend and that was the official kick off of the slumber party!!! Oh did I mention it was my birthday, yeah by the time I landed in Miami it was January 6th, my birthday, and all I wanted was a mellow time with the girls to catch up, laugh, cry, share, and bond. And that we Did. Now it is Slumber Party Code that what happens at the slumber party stays at the slumber party but here are some pics of the fun times.
Really the most fun was lounging with our hair wrapped up in scaves, sharing blankets and eating the must incriminating snacks imaginable...but you know my fabulous friends were NOT tryin to be caught on camera like that :)



Speaking of snacks may I take a moment to talk about what I was eating!?!? Doritos, Blue Bell Ice Cream, Oreas, Pizza and more Pizza, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cheese Dip, Pita Chips, Hummus, Brownies...I mean just snack, junk, processed, ridiculously delicious and fun. After about 4 days I actually could see the weight gain in my face..but did I stop? Oh no, Soda, chocolate covered pretzels, Krispy Kremes, Seasame Sticks...I mean really the list is endless..breakfast lunch and dinner doing the most and it was sooo much fun!

I am really grateful to my girls that came through and even to those that tried but just couldn't make it. I really miss having girl time, I really miss being able to pick up phone and just say "did you hear XYZ? I know crazy right!? Alright I gotta go..." you know nothing Skype, or email worthy, just little stuff you can do because you are right there.

So my girls were helping me cause I was a bit of a cave(wo)man when I first got there... the iphone is/was an anomaly for me...me texting on that thing was a disaster. My fashion was backwards not forward and prices of things, even thought I was trying to "play it cool" were blowing me away. Everyone got me together and by the end I was accessorizing and would even leave my tennis shoes behind..sometimes. My friend Ry actually came through with a suitcase of things just for me to wear (and KEEP!) to Everyone's relief lol.

We picked up a new friend pretty much every day of the visit and it was super sad dropping everyone off :( I'm so fortunate to have had that time though with them for my birthday.

Next stop was Orlando! I took the Greyhound (that's a whole notha story) and arrived to Disney World (after a $40 CAB Ride though!! Almost had a heart attack, that's half of my rent! I'm just sayin....)
To all of you living under a rock, serving as a PCV, living somewhere where the US dollar is strong, or just those good with money...maybe DON'T go to Disney World. When I rolled up to that pristine hotel (Hotel, NOT Hostel) and was greeted by cheery lobby staff my eyes for an instant stung with tears... It was too much. I was like oh man (I think it was that cab ride too though lol). Disney is the apex of all things overpriced, false, consumerist and American dream on speed right? Most would agree, so that just was super shock to my system.

However, minutes later (this is after spending 2 dollars for a FOUR minute call to my mom to get my aunts cell phone numbers) my family from California rolled through the doors and all was right again in my soul and spirit. It was sooooooooooo good to see everyone. I missed them more being right in front of them. The Cali crew is the part of the family I would make my way to go see pretty often with me living in Southern Cali and them just living 5 to 6 hours away in Northern Cali. From there it was all a blur. I thought I was going to have a lot of down time while everyone went to the parks (for 80 something dollars a DAY!)

Well my gracious Soror Aunt sponsored me two days to go to the parks as long as I hung out with her grandson, which was turned out to be a great bonding experience for us. The parks were so much fun. The ratio was 1 adult per kid, but they kept us RUNNIN we were so worn out. I don't know how parents do it!! The kids were a highlight of the trip though, Disney was for them and there were on 10 the whoooole time, we couldn't get them to calm down...
I don't know what more to say about this part. The most treasured times worth mentioning where the walking around and stealing those moments to catch up with everyone and see what's going on in their life. I was filled with so much gratitude to be a part of a family that gets a long. We have so much fun together. My 2nd cousins were definitely pleading me not to go back and Definitely to not stay an extra year. My older cousins were teasing me asking if I herded cattle, had metal plates as to not break them on the rocks I wash them on and if I even wear shoes. Ah, so culturally sensitive :) We had crazy times at the park, fabulous group dinners, slumber parties and laughs galore. I stayed with my Grandma which was an extra treat. She's hilarious. She takes out her hearing aid and continues to talk and ask questions. When you try to answer her, she'll interrupt you and say "Chile' I can't hear you I don't have my hearing aid in!!" and then will continue on whatever rant she is on. Gotta Love Gram!

In the end it was a great trip. I lost my uncle to cancer late last year while I was away and I missed seeing him at the reunion even though he was there in Spirit. That's why we get together every two years, to catch up and celebrate each other now, because tomorrow is not promised to us. We proposed that the next reunion is held in Northern Cali (santa cruz or somewhere around there) in the summer (I think...). Next year we are just goin to get a house or two and do it SUPER Slumber party style. You KNOW I can't wait for dat! Also, October is my Grandma's 90th so I need to be making plans to be back for that.

Oh one last thing, my mom Definitely sent me back with a WHOLE suitcase of goodies...cause that's what visit back to the US are aaalll about for a PCV!!!

Going to the States!

I'm so Excited, so nervous, so not packed yet, so not even really sure of my itinerary. All I know is that I cannot WAIT to see my family and friends. I am going back for my birthday celebration in Miami and then to Orlando for a family reunion. Talk about the best of both worlds! I haven't been back to the States since I started my Peace Corps Service so this should be interesting.

I'm nervous about the culture shock, the price tag shock, all the English (and all of the Spanish I will lose speaking English for two weeks) and being used to looking like Raggedy Anne and not knowing how to "dress up"! All of that stuff does not matter and my anxiousness about them will quickly fade when I see mi gente.

My travel schedule to the states is ridiculous. I have to go to Guayaquil (9 hours away) just to fly to Quito (which is about 5 hours from Sua, and 9 to 10 hours for Guayaquil, but it was the cheapest flight) and then I have about a 12 hour layover then I'm off to the States (on my actual birthday). I am here writing you on the 3rd and I don't know if I am going to leave the 4th on a night bus to arrive in Guayaquil in the morning or just take a day bus on the 5th and catch my flight at 8:00 pm *sigh *. I also don't know if I'm just going to camp out in the airport or if I am going to go through the trouble of leaving the airport finding a hostal and then going back to the airport in the mornin.

I suppose these are all things I will research today, whilst I "continue" to do pack, do laundry and figure out my travel plans!!

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday To Meeeee!!!!

Happy Holidays!!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year Too!!

Where are my manners?

I have just left my supportive audience to read my Why I Love Ecuador tidbits while I fail to give real updates, shame shame and it's gotten so bad I can't even send good tidings and cheer! I am have put myself in time out and I am back on it!

So your Christmas present will be pictures of my apartment. I was waiting to do an actual photo shoot when everything was in order, but it seems to never happen so I'm going to provide what I have which was taken AS I was moving in.


So I lived with a host family for a month and that was an adventurous one. That is going to have to be a series of stories you hear from me in person, I can't even write about all the shenanigans that were going on in that house. In the end I really needed space of my own but I like the family a lot. Now that I am able to spread my wings (and unpack all the boxes I was living out of in that tiny room) I feel more myself and I go hang out with the family when I have a chance. We are all good now.

Wait, I'm going to put pictures of Christmas on this post since it's more relevant and I'll post apartment pics for January. New Year New Apartment. Christmas was a blast. My friend Anna and her hubby own a hostal On the Beach and we cooked ALL day long listening to the waves crash and we went from DJing the Christmas music, to the smooth Brazilian tunes and closed out the night with Raggae. Such a beachfront Christmas. It was really great. There was plenty of food for everyone and everything turned out deeeeelicious!


Excuse the randomness, I'm super sleepy as I write this, but it's been to long so you gotta do what you gotta do right?

I am working at La Aldea and I will have pictures of that next year. The organization is really great and well...organized. It's an orphanage that is set up like a little village (which is what aldea means). They don't separate brothers and sisters and up to 9 children live in a house with one madre. It's a great set up and it lends itself to raising kids that have a sense of familya. I will talk more about that when I have some pictures to better explain.


I have had visitors for Christmas and I have ticket confirmations for more coming and I'm so excited. Next year will bring more friends, maybe a trip to Machu Piccu and who knows what else!

Speaking of next year, I really just realized I'm going back to the states in a matter of Days!
I am heading to Florida for my 30th Birthday Celebration and for a Family Reunion. I will be heading out on the 5th which felt like 6 months from now yesterday but now it feels like it's tomorrow. Time is a funny one I tell ya.

This will be the first time that I have gone home in over a year and a half! So Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to me on that!!!

So Stay tuned for apartment pics next year, I might get a chance to post NY pics at the top of the year but no promises :)

If not Happy New Year to all! May this next year bring lot's of love, peace, abundance and wellness! I appreciate each person reading these words and who have kept up with me and supported me for the past, what, 18 months!! Really couldn't do it without you!!

Love and Hugs