reality has hit the last couple of days, realizing that we only have 10 more days left in ecaudor. sooo in an attempt to summarize the last week or so at el refugio, i’ve made a list of the “super awesome things” and “not super awesome but not bad things” that have happened. (who doesn’t love a good list)
super awesome things:
- going to the rainforest on monday and getting to zip line!!
- learning how to play spike ball (thanks abby and josué)
- using machetes to make trails at el refugio (MAD respect for anyone who makes hiking trails as their job)
- hiked the perimeter trail at el refugio (lowkey died) (we left at 4:45am and reached the summit of the mountain just before sunrise at 6:15am, we stayed up for awhile and made it back to camp before breakfast at 7:30am)
- helped build the roof of a gazebo (thanks dad for teaching me how to use a drill, hammer, and all the other tools. ohare was impressed that I knew what I was doing)
- learned how to play cuarenta (the national card game of ecuador! cant wait to teach people how to play back in the states)
- played murder in the dark (for all my HH people-basically it’s real life among us without the forks…however, I didn’t know murder in the dark was an actually game people used to play and therefore have been told I didn’t have a childhood lol)
- about half of us have decided that we would rather be called gringas instead of “the americans”
- making friends with all the interns at el refugio!!
- i’ve basically become fluent in spanish. okay, not really. but I can communicate so much better than I could 3 months ago. i’ve realized that I’m way better and comprehending and understanding what someone is saying rather than speaking. but we’re working on the speaking part. my spanglish (espanglish) however is pretty phenomenal.
not super awesome things but still not bad:
- absolutely destroyed my tennis shoes in about 2 days (result of the perimeter hike and building the trails)
- dug another trench (if you ever need a trench dug let me know)
- was bitten by approximately 27 misquotes in the rainforest all on my ankles (so far haven’t gotten malaria (lol), just INSANE itchiness that doesn’t go away)
- luis wanted to be in my blog but also wanted it to be known that he is m e a n. but also wants everyone to know that he isn’t rude and doesn’t hate me. so I got that going for me.
- gave piña a bath. (piña is luis’ dog who absolutely smelled awful. he told us that piña HATES baths, (okay, challenge accepted), he was right. it took about 9 people to give one dog a bath. to be honest, im not even sure if she smells much better.
- sunday. we leave el refugio on sunday to head back to mabe and fabi’s. this is really conflicting for me because I miss mabe and fabi SO much. but it’s also a reminder that we head back to the states soon.
prayer requests:
I found out this week that on easter, two people from the grade above me in high school, passed away in a tragic car accident. if you would please take a second to pray for the families of Tayler and Dalton it would mean so much. prayers for their friends and for the town of prescott would also be so appreciated.
I’m finally able to go to the doctor today for my wrist-so prayers for answers would be super appreciated!!
