LA PLAYA!

The end is coming so close now. I really cannot believe it actually. Well, it is kind of a fake end for me actually, but still it's the end of classes and starting early next week people are leaving.

In order to get our one last time all together in, all of us volunteers planned a trip together to the beach. We ended having an awesome turnout where in the end only 3 volunteers didn't come and 12 of us were there, including the two German boys. It was such a fun time and we really just got to spend a lot of time hanging out and talking. We, of course, watched lots of soccer (sad about the USA) and we were definitely a sight to see in little Same (the beach) as we were the only Gringos and very excited about our soccer games. We also played lots of volleyball on the beach and although my arms are very bruised, I loved every minute of it. We also played cards, took long walks on the beach....oh so romantic ;) And swam around a lot in the ocean.
The only little issue we had was getting home...there was a big indigenous protest that closed down the road from Atacames (the coast) to Quito. We ended up not leaving the coast until 2AM and got back to Quito (for one dollar more) at 11AM. Basically, 12 hours of traveling from the beach in Same to the house here in Quito...yikes! It was worth it though and I am glad I got that time with the volunteers. It's definitely been a growing experience with all of them, but I am really going to miss them and we have experienced a lot together this year!

Graduations and parties this week!! Yay!

Love you guys!!
Taylor

Ultimas Noticias 15K

June 13^th 2010…I completed a 15K race! Considering since grade school I was never even able to run the mile, I would never have guessed that I would be participating in a running race voluntarily. But I did it and it was awesome! Cinthya was the best partner to do it with, and we came in to the event with great attitudes. We together decided that we were going to walk it and just enjoy participating and stick together. We did walk a majority of it, but we pushed each other and we ran at least part of every kilometer and every downhill section. And we even made our goal which was to finish J and to try to finish in 2 hours! And what was our time…exactly 2:00! Wow! It was so much fun, and being a blonde in this lovely country, I, of course, received quite a bit of encouragement from both people watching on the sidelines and other participants. It is awesome how encouraging everyone is in a race and it makes you want to keep going and give it everything you’ve got. We started in the way south of Quito, went through the historical downtown, and ended up in Athaulpa Olympic Stadium – running half a lap inside with the stadium packed with people. About 15,000 officially ran the race, and then with others as well, the newspapers said 20,000 people participated! I would highly recommend doing a race like this sometime in your life…such an amazing and positive high!

After the race we decided to walk about 3 more miles (yikes!) to the Mariscal bar district to meet up with our German friends for the Germany-Australia game. Another very fun experience! These Germans are crazy for their soccer! They all had flags and painted their faces and were crazy about their cheers. I couldn’t help but get really into it with them. Deutchland…Deutchland…Deutchland! After the game we also had a cook out at the house, so it was an overall exhausting but wonderful Sunday!

I do have World Cup fever! Extremely disappointed by the RIDICULOUS call against the US on Friday, but it’s okay, we just need to win Wednesday! USA! USA! Any time I have I am catching parts of the games and even during class sometimes. It’s so cool how all the world gets into it.

Happy Father’s Day Dad and Grandpa Jay! Love you guys and miss you!

A Family Weekend...

A Family Weekend…

I did it! And what an experience it was… I finally stayed over at a Center family’s home on Saturday night. It was three of the kids from this family First Communion on Saturday, so after mass (and then a field trip with my first graders), Cinthya, Adam, and I went over to Luz and Francisco’s house. They live a little over an hour south of the downtown Center, but we really didn’t have any trouble getting there. When we arrived, Diana (the oldest daughter) came running up to us too and took us to the house. It was really fun to hang out with the family and especially all the adorable little kids. It is two families and between the two there are 7 kids under the age of 10. We danced a bit, ate food and jello, played cards, and finally went to bed around 1:30am – exhausted! I slept with Cinthya and Belen (5 year old) and then Adam and Bryan (9 year old) were in our room too. It ended up being about 17 people between the 3 rooms and 4 beds total, but they definitely know how to make it work. On Sunday, we woke up first and went and bought bread, ham, and cheese to make some sandwiches for breakfast. After breakfast we hung out for a while and then went to the park with everyone. I really love this family and it is a lot of fun to hang out with them…and another plus, I didn’t get lice, which was one of my biggest fears of this weekend!

Beyond the Family time, I also went on field trips with my first graders in Cotocolloa and La Marin the last two weekends…one group to go paddle boating in Parque Carolina and the other group bowling. We also went to KFC with both of them, which was a HUGE hit! I love how the simplest things are so exciting and fun with these little guys. They’re a bit crazy, but irresistibly cute!

Also one more thing, I learned how to play Risk last week and it is so fun! I won twice in a row on Friday night (one by Adam’s vendetta for Niko, but the other I WON!). It is a fun way to bond with some of the other volunteers. We also all went out dancing on Thursday night for Jessica’s birthday and it was a lot of fun. It’s awesome when everyone does stuff together!

Life is good. It is busy and full of visitors and lots of emotions around here, but still good. I ask you all for prayers for our volunteer group. Pray that we can be there for each other and that we all may see how the Lord has been using us and teaching us this year.

“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve on another with whatever gift each of you has received.” 1 Peter 4:10