I just wanted to put up some pics, too...

Rainbows over Loja

Mindo after party

You too can climb up the rock and jump off into the waterfall!

Ziplining in Mindo

Sneaky praying mantis, almost didn't see 'em.

Just for kicks...

My blog smatterings have been infrequent, to say the least. So hows about one more before I throw in the hat and hang up the towel?

At 6:35am on Thursday, August 19th, I left Quito. Sad. After some vexing seat shenanigans on the plane, I squeezed myself into the middle seat, neither window nor aisle, and cried a little bit. Probably more than I'd like to admit. As the plane sped down the runway, I looked out of the window and thought "So that's where the golf course is!! Damn!" Sure enough, it was right next to the airport the entire time and I never once made it out for a round.

I am back home now writing this from Chicagoland and enjoying things like home cooked food, driving and my sister's little dog, Chewy (I've taken a shine to calling him Chewish.) Although, there happens to be quite the list of things I'm not enjoying... things like American prices. I just dropped 70 bucks so I can have a functional cell phone for the next month. I find myself saying, "In Ecuador..." a lot. For example, "In Ecuador, I put $6 on my cell phone and this amount lasted me anywhere from 2-3 weeks." Sigh...

I've been compiling a list of reverse culture shock moments for your amusement:

1. Fighting urges to say (or at least attempt to say) everything in Spanish. But I still talk to Chewish in Spanish... I think he likes it.

2. Epic battles between the left side and the right side of my brain on the issues of throwing toilet paper in the toilet. I'm still looking around for the trash.

3. Not expecting cars to stop for me when I'm in the crosswalk and then genuinely confused/surprised when they do.

4. Getting carded for buying a beer. What's the drinking age here? Do you really care? Interesting. Where's my ID?

5. There's XM in my mom's car and I've noticed one of her favorites is the 24/7 Elvis station. That's not so much culture shock, but just annoying. Sorry, mom. Love you!

6. Forgetting to lock doors and being somewhat okay with it. (this may be a Midwest small town, thing...)

There will no doubt be more to report but I think I'll leave the list at 6 right now. For those of you in MI, I will see you in less than a week! Feel free to call me at my same ole number... preferably after 9pm when I get free nighttime and weekend minutes....

After I go take my clothes off the line, I think I'll go for a bike ride.

Un abrazo,

C