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!!!
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