ONLY 83 DAY LEFT? WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

As you can tell from the Title of this, as of the moment I am writing this, i only have 83 days left. So far this has been the most crazy, upsetting, amazing, hardest, eye opening experience of my life. It feels like I landed in this country yesterday, but the sad truth is that i have two and a half months left. Last night I came home from the beautiful Galapagos Islands. I still cant believe I got a chance to go there. It was so wonderful! We spent five days, snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, boating, eating and going crazy with a bunch of other exchange students. I saw so many fish, sea lions, birds (yes some blue footed boobies), turtles, and spent so much time talking with some exchange students i never get to see. I had the time of my life! (If you want to see pictures on my facebook there is an album called Galapagos!) I also had another great blessing this month. My host mom had a baby! I have a baby brother! So when counting my family i have 3 dads, 3 moms, 4 brothers, 3 sisters, a cat and a dog. That is a lot of family members! I LOVE IT.
I got to talk to Torvald today in skype. Dang do i miss that kid. District 5100 was my first home and now District 4400 is another. Leaving is going to be so hard! I didnt cry the whole way from Portland to Ecuador, but i know i will cry just about the whole way back to Portland! For those of you who dont know yet my return date is June 3rd! Ill be back in time to graduate!

New Family.

About two weeks ago i moved families. I loved my last family but am super happy to be with this one. My dad is working with me on my Spanish and my sister is just super awesome. My mom is pregnant and due with a baby boy next month. Ive been on break for the last two weeks so ive gone to Ambato to see the Torreos (bull fighters) and i went to the beach for a week. Yesterday i went to Quito to see the historical district. All in all im loving the change

AMAZON!

I cant believe I never posted about amazon! The amazon was one of the best experiences of my life. Me and four other exchange students woke up at the crack of dawn and piled in a van to head to Quito. While most of us slept the whole way we did have a few moments of fun crazy random singing. Once we got there we met up with the other exchange students coming with us to. We got on a plane and proceeded to El Coca. Pretty much the last city in the amazon front. There we got a little food then got in a boat for a two hour ride upriver. I fell asleep yet again. and woke up when we reached the dock for Sacha Logde.. From the dock we had a bathroom break then took a 20 minute walk along the path. We came to a little dock along the side of a river that lead to a black lagoon where we were rowed a crossed by some guides. Once we got there we proceeded to learn the rules and get ready for our next four days. That night out guide, Pancho, took us on a nighttime canoe ride to find Caimans. We ended up finding a tarantula that sent all of us into freak out mode and most likely scared our guide that he was about to have the biggest group of babies on the plant.
Day 2: We started off by walking to a place called the three towers. Its three giant metal towers that have rope bridges between them. Once we got up there another group joined us and it started to rain. It was one of the coolest moments ever! We ran back in forth in the rain getting soaked and having the best time ever.  Im apologizing now for no pictures because for some reason they wont upload.  After the tower we went back to the lodge for lunch and a break and then we were off again. During the break we all went swimming in the black lagoon. That afternoon we went on a canoe/hike. We saw monkeys and our guide made us many a cool relics. The hike ended at the butterfly house. The truth is i love butterflies but butterfly houses are one of the creepiest places on earth. With hundred of butterflies flying at your face i was freaking out just a tad
Day 3: We went to a community where they gave us a little performance and we played soccer. Where i happened to slip into the biggest mud puddle on the planet. IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. It was funny and people couldn't stop laughing. I got to wash off my but a bit then i took my leave and sat with my friends. That afternoon we hung out and did some more sight seeing
Day 4: we went to this other tower build around a very old tree. We walked around it and saw many a cool plants and sights and our guide made us headbands. We then climbed the tree. The top was so beautiful. we were in the rain forest canopy. We could sit in the tree and many did. When it was my turn i couldnt and long story short i got stuck. A girls camera fell down the tree and survived. We took many a pictures and had a blast!That afternoon we went on another walk around the rain forest seeing more monkeys.
Day 5: The morning was sad because it was our last day. We went down to breakfast, said goodbye to our guides and left for the canoes. Flying back to Quito and then going home to Riobamba. All in all it was one of the best trips yet.
P.S i will try to add pictures later

December: Cross dressers, Clowns and Christmas

Oh December, December where did you go? I still remember the beginning of December like it was yesterday. Last month was one i will never forget. While i traded in the hectic craziness of my brothers birthday party with 20 or so guest followed by hurriedly getting the Christmas decorations up for December in Ecuador. Its a trade I gladly made. December was the craziest  most hectic month of them all. December started like any other month but on December 13th five of us exchange students piled in the back of a truck and took a long ride out to a small "Pueblo" or village to give out some candy and cake to orphans with special needs. We happened to take a clown with us. I think clowns are a little weird and creepy SO i was having some fun times.

This is me not able to do it after he threw himself on the ground.

 The clown turned out to be super nice so by the end i was a little less nervous of him. So we first took a 45 drive to a little tiny town where an orphanage run by nuns was. Here they took in kids with special needs or cancer. We gave a little show to the kids then handed them bags of candy and come cake. The clown decided to use us to help him. My job was to make him stand up without his help. 

Us having to make weird noises and laughing

Kids giving us hugs

The dance they performed for us

After the orphanage we drove to a town named Chambo to give more candy and few gifts to children at a school there. We also gave another show by the clown...... This time the exchange students had to make fun noises for a few minutes before we all died of laughter. Then we handed out barbie dolls to the girls and toy cars to the boys with bags of candy. At this time in Riobamba it was time for all of the parades of the schools to start. The name of the parade is called Paseo de nino. Or travel of the boy. Its meant to symbolize the trip of Christ to the manger. The children showed us their dance and then followed by giving us hugs. Which is funny in its own right. Simon is over 6 feet tall and children here are SHORT so he had to bend WAY over to give them hugs....

Me taking a picture with the clown. I cant believe
it turned out this well i was kinda freaking out in my head.

The night was the Rotary Christmas party. It was super fun. All six of us went and were all dressed up. Rotary gave us gifts of a Rotary International hat that says Riobamba-Ecuador on the back and a shirt with a monkey that says "Ecuador. Que mono pais!" mono means monkey or cute (for like little kids) so it means Ecuador, What a cute country! With a monkey because the word is the same! heheh i thought it was cute!!! The night was fun and it ended with us salsaing with each other (funny when white people and a Brazilian who cant dance try and salsa!)  

Since we got home so late we didnt go to school the next day! WOOT!


The next week was crazy for me! My class was learning our dance for our Paseo de nino. In my school it is tradition for all of the SR class to dress up in military costumes with crazy other things and do our dance. It was interesting to say the least. After the parade we didn't have school and we didn't have school the next day either! But that night we had a Christmas dinner with my class. It was really fun we played secret santa (but it wasnt so secret!) and we danced and ate and enjoyed the night together.

Daisy, Michelle, Me, Kathy, Nicole and Hemili outside at the Xmas dinner

Most of the girls of my class

Most of the boys of my class and Nelson, the teacher in charge of my class

 Here we dont get winter break. But because of the parade i got six days for Christmas. It was fun. We celebrated Christmas on Christmas eve. It started with my mom cooking ALL DAY to make a dinner that would put thanksgiving to shame. Then we went downstairs and celebrated with my moms family. I got many nice gifts and felt so blessed to be part of this family. After that we went to my aunts house to open presents with my dads family. Again followed by more amazing gifts and feeling of family.
Christmas was followed by three days of school. then a four day weekend for New years. Here the new years traditions are amazing. First off, Boys dress up as girls then dance in front of cars for money. Then at midnight we big paper dolls on fire and light off fireworks.
It was a great to end 2012 and bring in 2013. Happy New Year! May it be full of blessings and joy. God Bless!!!!

LIFE is amazing!

So me and posting i can tell is going to come to a once a month party that will happen on a lonely weekday night. But you know what? Im ok with that because i cant talk to everyone at one time can i? So since ive posted last a lot has gone on. I went to the province called Manabi. Its on the coast and offers cool places like protaviejo, Crista and Manta. We stayed on this really cool little hotel and got to participate in a parade in portaviejo, walk up a giant mountain in crista and ride on top of cool buses. Yes i said on top..... In nice dresses and suits, heels and our rotary jackets, all of us exchange students rode ontop of or in these cool cars with bands and we drove around portaviejo at night waving flags and screaming. It was sooo cool! We also got to swim in the ocean. and of course i got stung by a jelleyfish. My friend got somewhere between 2nd and 3rd degree burns from laying in the sun to long. For that i felt bad and spent all of our last night there taking care of her. I love her a bunch though. My French-Canadian Courtney :)
My Spanish is coming along quite well recently. Im very proud when i talk to teachers or friends and they give me the oh-crap-you-understand-most-of-what-i-say look. Sadly i wasn't able to give it to the doctor i saw today. Apparently i have the beginnings of a stomach ulcer. So my doctor put me on a regiment of like five different pills. Somehow my body has been feeling stressed while my mind hasn't  So my shoulders have gotten all tight and not allowed as much blood to my brain and my tummy has become super duper sensitive. For those your who don't know i recently made the decisions to go lactose free because i am lactose intolerant. Well my decision just got backed up by my doctor i must remain lactose free until i am 100% better.
I know that sounds like a major downer but in reality it isnt. Im on a series of pills and my life will go on as normal. Including Tae Kwon do, Piano, Soccer and school events. This weekend is sports day at my school.  Me and Hemili signed up to play on the soccer team (IM SUPER EXCITED!) its going to be crazy funnnn! I will let you know how it goes after this weekend. But chao for now!

I really need to post more often!

First off i apologize for not posting in so long! Its been an adventure to say the least. On the 18th of this month i will have been here two months. It already feels like a lifetime. Ive forgotten the routines of the US and replaced them with my strange new routines here. Like for starters on monday-friday i wake up at 6am (yes mom i actually wake up when my alarm goes off!) and get ready for school. I have a very attractive uniform i get to wear...... Knee high white socks, a navy pleated skirt that reaches my knees, on monday a blouse tie and blazer and the rest of the time a white polo red sweater and jacket. My favorite day is thursday because i have pe. I get to wear comfy clothes! blue sweatpants, a white red and blue shirt that says my schools name and a white jacket that is actually kinda cool!
There are a lot of differences between my school here and my high school at home. First off my school is k-12. Its weird to be going to school with my 7 year old brother. Here the teachers move, the students stay in class (with the exception of lab time in the science classes and PE). School starts at 710 and gets out at 110. I have two 20 minute breaks in the day and there are FOUR places to buy cheap-really-good-but-bad-for-you food. I think the biggest difference here than at home is that even though their are cliques, they dont determine anything. It isnt like there is a popular clique and then everyone else. People actually get along and are nice regardless of class, gender, age or appearance. It was quite refreshing to have friends on the first day of school. I have five super close girlfriends that adopted me on day one; Pame, Gabby, Maurlita, Cathy, and Vivi. They are so wonderful and make sure im never alone. The thing i have noticed about a lot of latins is that they take a while to warm up to you. i mean just last week my brother that is my age started to actually treat me like a sister. He would invite me out with him and his friends and even tickle me from behind (NOT FUNNY). My little brother is on his way to warming up to me. He no longer whines and gets upset when i walk in a room. He even invited me to play video games with him the other day. As my brother starts to warm up to me so are a lot of my classmates that just ignored me for the first month of school. Now when most of the boys walk in the class they come and say hello or if they see me on the playground its a "Hi Hailey!" its been truly wonderful to start getting pulled into my life here.
My spanish and slow but coming a long. Now that juanfris left i think my family will speak more spanish to me. Juanfris left for canada last night. It was sad. Me and my mother cried. he was really fun to have around. At dinner yesterday he came up behind me and tased me when i wasnt looking (tasing is when you come up behind someone and poke them in the side). For someone like me who is SUPER ticklish i fell over. The goodbyes sucked like normal. I knew him a little over a month and he was already my brother. I think what really made it real to me was when he added me on skype he labeled me Naña (short for hermana (sister) and only used when really close to someone). I almost cried right then and there. I so very excited for him! I know his exchange is going to rock! But at the same time i wish he was here with me so i could enjoy his company!
Coming up i have Rotary's trip to Manabí. It a HUGE beach trip where all exchange students meet for the first time. At the language camp i only met one third of the kids. We are going to get to hang at the beach, go to surrounding cities and just enjoy each other! I'm super excited!
I would also like to make a shout out here and ask a big favor. My friend Alex Horsey is an amazing person. In middle school we were both bullied for very different reasons. He took his pain and in high school created this awesome group called project believe in me. He teamed up with this girl who makes music CD's and they are creating a mixed CD with artiest from all over the US to help people experiencing depression due to bullying. Music is an amazing outlet to express yourself, either through singing, writing, recording or just listening. There is five days left in his money raising campaign. He is half way to his goal to be able to produce the CD and hold an opening in Portland. There are a bunch of great prizes if you help by sponsoring. Here is the link to the cite http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/839502552/hold-on-another-day-songs-for-project-believe-in-m?ref=home_location. If the goal isnt reached than everyone gets their money back. Please share this on FB and with all your friends. This cause is important to me and hits close to home. Please support it, even if you can only give a dollar. Thank you!

the rhythm of life

Last Saturday marked week four that I have been here. One month. One crazy month of non-stop adventures and memories. I went to the beach, Orientation, Hung out with friends, Learned how to play ecuavolleyball (poorly), won my first ecuavolleyball game (after three weeks of trying!)Went to school, Created new AMAZING best friends, took my first horseback riding lesson, and sat through my first piano class. One month inst that long, but it has flown by all the same. I think where did august and September go? Time does fly when your having fun. I'm having the time of my life!

Whenever i have issues tieing all my thoughts together i go online and search for a quote. I read hundreds of them before i find the one that clicks and my thoughts just flow from my mind to my fingers. So here is the one i found today;
                  “Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” –Jim Rohn
My life here is so amazing. I dont want to call it better than it was in the states, but it is different. Besides the constant headaches, i have things i never had at home, like close girlfriends, a ridiculous amount of extended family, and a culture i am completely and totally in love with. I've also been blessed to have the gifts i have been given at home, a family that loves me, food (more than i can eat!), and clothes. I really believe i am the luckiest girl in the world, just because a little over a year ago i decided it was time for a change. 
I have talked a lot about what i have been doing here but i havent talked about this lovely institution called school. Salesianos is the place that i go monday through friday from 710-110. I take six classes there, English, Spanish, Religion, Biology, Computers, and Social Studies. The time that my classmates are taking different subjects (other sciences and math) i go to the elementary school and help teach English. It has actually been a bunch of help because English classes are taught in Spanglish. The first day of school was CRAZY. I went a little bit late with my aunt (who works there!) and we went to the school inspectors office to work out a schedule for me. Then my aunt took me to the room that would serve as my class room. She pulled out three students, Pome, Sebastian and a girl whos name i didnt catch. My aunt used to be their teacher. She told them who i was and how i was going to need a lot of help and friends to make it through my year. Pome automatically adopted me. She told Jose that i would sit in front of her, and she would take care of me. And she so has! I love her and my other friends. They invite me out on the weekends and make sure i know what the homework is. They are patient with my lack of spanish and talk to me in spanglish. I know there is so much more to say but i cant think of it right now! off to do HOMEWORK! Yes i do my homework mother!