Happy 21rst Birthday, Heather!!

we celebrated Heather's birthday this evening...

happy 21!

Hey guys, I just wanted to give you a quick update. Things have been going well here the past couple of days. Just doing school...exploring Quito...and collecting a couple of funny quotes. They might not make sense, but to us they are funny. The following are things we have either heard other people say or we have said them ourselves. 

"Hey, that's MY gringo!"

(The USFQ security guy telling the americans to make friends with the guards)

"The green man actually runs here!" 

(Our friend, Scott--amazed at the WALK traffic sign)

"I like your skin" 

(Ecuadorian man to Heather ???) 

"If I see that man again, I am leaving the store!"

(Heather to me about Ecuadorian man)

"I should have been Latin American"

(Kiki...no comment) 

Hello Everyone

Thanks to everyone who reads this...I really appreciate the support from back home. The past two weeks have been filled with various events that I hope I will learn and grow from. I have made some friends and am enjoying my classes. Sorry, I don't have any new pictures.

I am aware of God's goodness that I should be writing this blog post about my adventures, because I have been seriously ill twice in the past week. First, I had some sort of infection they said it might be salmonella. So I went on Cipro from last Monday until Friday. Then, on Saturday, I woke up really REALLY sick...(I don't want to think about it) and eventually went to the ER on Saturday night. They say I have cholera, which is often spread by shrimp. NO, I did not eat any raw seafood--

But, my host family hosted an enormous birthday party on Saturday night, and on Friday afternoon they were peeling a huge quantity of raw shrimp. It must has gotten to me somehow. Cholera is very treatable, with proper hydration (IV) and antibiotics and other medications, but it can have very severe consequences if it not treated. For that reason, I am very thankful God impressed upon me my need to go to the hospital.

Right now, I am doing much better. I am super-exhausted and I haven't been sleeping well, but I took the day off of school and am hoping to sleep most of today. I am laying in my bed, eating my first bits of solid food--although it is simply gruel--and not really that solid at all. (Oliver Twist type gruel--haha)

I can't express how thankful I am to God for protecting me this weekend, and for showing me many mercies which helped me get through to this point. It makes me cry just remembering how good he has been to me. From my host dad to Heather to the ER docs to getting me through the past two nights. It is amazing what God can do.

Please keep praying for me. It is hard for me not to feel a little scared to have to stay here for roughly 4 more months, but God is surely in control of everything both here and in the US. Love you guys,

Kiki

pics...la iglesia de Santo Domingo

We travel this road Eloy Afaro every day. The road we actually got lost on was at the corner of Russa and Shyris, but we didn't know where we were at the time! Today we got on the wrong bus again, but they let us off without charge. The bus system is very confusing, and the traffic is pretty dense. The house is basically at the corner of Eloy Afaro and la Avenida de la Republica. 

My school is in Cumbaya! USFQ!

Breathtaking........

This is our VIEW from the doorway. It´s actually not my pic, but it looks the same. It is of Mount Pincincha. I am serious-- the view is incredible. That is why we live in Bella Vista or Beautiful View.

I only have a moment to update, but I must tell you all some of the things that have happened since my last post. First, Heather and I got lost on the Quito bus system for three hours. We first our bus stop and then went South to a lower-socioeconomic area, then we took two more buses--got equally lost--and *whew* landed in a pharmacy for 1.5 hours. I made phone calls to my host family and tried to get directions from the pharmacists lol! we finally made it home and we both crashed for a while.

by the way, Heather and I are now-- double cousins! My host aunt is the sister of her host uncle and my host uncle is the brother of her host aunt!!! and we live in a duplex. and our maids have the same name! wow... Both of our families are very very nice-- chevere--like they say in Quito.

My family consists of:

Tia Jaquie, Tio Pedro, Anita (20) and Jose Luis (15)

Heather´s family consists of:

Tia Myrian, Tio Patricio, Carolina (20) and Andres (22)

I have a lot more to tell but that is all for now. Tomorrow is the first day of classes, and Heather and I will be braving the buses again at 7:45am!

well, i made it here! we had problems with the plane on the way to quito, so we had to return tp Panama two times! that was completely unexpected. instead of arriving at 10 20. we got there at 4 30. ! today we had orientation for the univeristy. it has been going great and my host family is better than i could have hoped. thank you all for your love and prayers and support before my trip. i reallu needed to remember that the past few days. God has been with me and i am very thankful for all of his provisions. i better run now, but ttys!!!!