Back in the US

I made it. Saying my goodbyes was a bit tough at the orphanage and with my host family. But I am home sweet home in a house filled with Christmas cheer. A lot of exchange students from my classes were on the same flight as me which was a great way to end the experience. We all were able to be together until the very end.

Thanks for keeping up with my blog for the past 4 months. I have learned some Spanish, lived in a huge city, made some great friends, learned a little about the Ecuadorian culture, scuba dove with manta rays, rafted through the Amazon, jumped of waterfalls and bridges, zip-lined through cloud forests, saw monkeys, blue-footed boobies, tried ceviche and guinea pig, took salsa lessons, went to a world cup elimination soccer game, attended a bullfight during las fiestas de Quito, and had a blast lovin’ on little babies at Para Sus Ninos.

Although this wasn’t easy, here are my top five favorite trips (#1 being the bomb-diggity:

5. Whale watching off the coast of Puerto Lopez
4. Horseback riding to a waterfall in Baños
3. All-day Whitewater rafting trip in Tena
2. Bike riding along the mountainside in Baños
1. Scuba diving in Puerto Lopez with giant manta rays

Top five experiences in Quito:

5. Exploring Centro Historico, admiring all of the colonial architecture
4. Taking a month-long salsa class at a studio in the city
3. Being one of 45,000 people in the national stadium to see the Ecuador vs. Uruguay futbol game
2. All the coffee dates with Kristen and Mateo
1. Spending my last few weeks at Para Sus Niños

Thanks for tuning in. But now I am signing out. Who knows, maybe this won’t be the last of my Ecua-adventures. Till next time

Merry Christmas,
Carrie