Thanksgiving in Ecuador

HI!

Thankgiving was last Thursday! I was looking forward to it very much, even though this year I wasn't going to be with my family. I have made some great friends here and knew it would be an awesome American holiday anyway. I have to admit, it was strange going to class on Thanksgiving and not seeing any commercialized products or advertisments about the holiday. Of course I'm not exactly proud to celebrate the holiday for what it started out as (let's face it americanos, matamos todos los nativos) but I am proud for what the holiday has become. A time to feast with your family and realize what you're thankful for. I'm thankful for my parents first and foremost. I am thankful for many things, of course, but as I celebrate this American holiday in Ecuador, I can't help but be grateful for this opportunity to study abroad here. I have had so many great times here, this truly was a life changing experience. I am also thankful to have a loving extended family back in the States who care about me and are interested in my experiences here. I am grateful to have a beautiful home in Portland and a new home in Eugene (thank you Alex). With only three weeks left, I plan to travel as much as a I can (thanks for supporting me financially, mom) and really enjoying the Ecuadorian culture and my gringo friends I have made. I will miss you all more than you know.


Here are some fabulous Thanksgiving/ after party pictures.

Our OUS Thanksgiving dinner!

Sam and I

Julie and I

Julie, Cari and I

Arturo, Elaine, Grant, Jesse and I

Jesse and I

Alex and I

Con todo mi amor,

Audrey

My Dad, Galapagos Islands, Montanita

Hi all!

My dad came and visited me for a week! I am so extremely happy that he came. I was very happy to share this experience with him and show him around Quito. He met all my friends, tried the beer (he said it wasn't bad!), we went to Otavalo, my school, the teleferico, and the GALAPAGOS ISLANDS! The Galapagos Islands are absolutely incredible. Everyone, if they have a place in mind they want to travel to, should go to the Galapagos. The landscape is beautiful.. it turns from desert to lush vegetation in about a thirty minute drive inland. We were on Santa Cruz Island and Floreana Island. It's so beautiful I could live there. And the food is delicious! My favorite part was seeing the GIANT GALAPAGOS TORTOISES!!!!!!!!!!!! Pretty sure it's been my dream to see those guys since I was little. And I saw them with my dad :) My second favorite part was laying out in Tortuga Bay, a white sand beach with clear waters and hardly any people. We  saw blue footed boobies, sea lions, sea turtles, sharks, sting rays, pelicans, marine iguanas (endemic to the islands), land iguanas, baby tortoises and soo many finches. Here are some pictures.

After we left the Galapagos (our tour was three nights, four days), my dad and I went back to Quito for two days. I made him try Ceviche and we went to an artesanal market not far from where I live. He stayed at my host mom's house and she enjoyed his company very much, regardless of the language barrier. On Wednesday morning, the 31st of October, I dropped him off at the airport and said goodbye. He said he really likes my friends and was very proud of me. I was glad to be the person with him on his first adventure to South America. That same morning I caught a bus to Guayaquil, a city about 10 hour bus ride away. From there, my friends and I took two more buses to get to Montanita. Montanita is a little coastal hippy town that everyone loves. It was beautiful there! Everyone was so happy. There was great food, music, bars, and the weather was good (it didn't rain.) There was a group of about fifteen of us who went, and all stayed in the same hostel. We were there for three nights and four days. We came back early Sunday morning and were beat. It was an incredible fall break and I will never forget it!

Until next time, chao! :)