Friday 3/6

Since it was Julie’s birthday we went out to dinner at a ridiculously expensive Italian place. Afterwards we went to her house for cake, ice cream, and senseless rhythmic movement (“dancing”).

Saturday 3/7

We headed to El Cajas, a national park, bright and early. Our families told us to bring coats, gloves, scarves, etc, so naturally we went most of the day in t-shirts/sweatshirts. People here are such pansies . . . The park was BEAUTIFUL. It’s waaay up in the mountains and it looks like a cross between the sound of music and Lord of the Rings. It had every kind of terrain too—it was rocky, dusty, mushy, grassy, foresty, valley-y. It had incredible lakes, a forest of weird papery trees, and a tight waterfall. We roasted hot dogs and chicken for lunch, and finally returned to our beloved bus/van after 6 hours.

We all went back to Maria’s for dinner (Pizza Hut), hanging out, and a little bit of worship.

Sunday 3/8

I went to church in the morning by myself. After lunch I locked myself in my room to study for my physiology test.

I emerged at 5ish to take a walk before going to the evening church service where I worked with the tots. They’re adorable, but some are just plain evil, like this kid who has a fixation with making contact between every toy and another kid’s head.

After church I made a joke about needing ice cream. I’ve got to be less careful about how I joke, cause I ended up with a coconut popsicle in my hand.

Monday 3/9

After the physiology test the cd for our physiology program punked out so we left early. I went home and studied Spanish, layed out, walked, and ran. It was a gloriously sunny afternoon.

The pharmacy is a black abyss of boredom. After pseudo-checking expiration dates for 2 hours, I contented myself with expanding my vocab by reading labels.

The topic of conversation with my family that night was celebrities. I had to break it to my mom that Ricki Martin was gay and it was a rather low blow for her. Likewise when I claimed that the twins in the parent trap were one girl.

Tuesday 3/10

Who got a 10/10 on a physiology test?!?!?! I DID! I DID!

The farmacy was majorly boring again—so we left.

In Spanish we got back our competency exams. Not so hot . . .

Home church was a bit of a drag as well. We watched a movie and got distracted by watching people flirt. On the plus side, I got a lot of new music from Jenny’s bro, Mocho.

Wednesday 3/11

After physiology we had a TON of time, so I took the bus halfway to church and did some exploring.

First I returned to a beloved bakery but failed to find my long lost love—a sugary roll-thingy.

Being only mildly disheartened, I decided to walk the rest of the way to church, all 35 minutes of it. I lover walking. I love watching people and watching them watch me. It’s like the zoo- effect. There’s nothing better than duking out a staring contest with a strange equadorian man while jamming out to reggaeton.

Dance class was kickin’. Today was salsa, which was a bit more challenging than meringue, and by the end we were all dripping with sweat, (yummy, I know). We’re still learning to shake the tightness out of our gringa hips.

Last day in the pharmacy. Thank goodness. We did some inventory and left early. There was a rumor that there’s a leg amputation tomorrow, and I’m hoping beyond hope that I can get out of class to watch it. I would give my right leg to see it.

Thursday 3/12

Jenny and I cut class to see the amputation. A-MAZ-ING. It only took 2 hours. It was a guy who’d been in a car accident and already lost his other leg. It was basically dead. The burned through the flesh, sawed through the bone, and chucked it in a bag to cremate it. I was in heaven- like, practically almost peed my pants in excitement. Neither Jenny nor I slept very well the night before because we were so excited. It was better than Christmas, (for us at least). I doubt it was all kicks and giggles for the poor guy.

In Spanish class we watched a boring Ecuadorian movie and turned on subtitles when the teachers left.