After two days of traveling we (being my mom, Mrs. Rosenau (family friend) and myself) made it to Quito, Ecuador. The chaos began before we even left the house yesterday! It all started with the weighing of the suitcases; mom's was over but she got rid of some stuff she didn't really need, or could live without for the next week. Mine was way over, by about 10lbs, and I couldn't afford to leave anything behind (I had already packed as little as I could). Moved some stuff around and mine was still over. Whatever, we would just pay for the overweight bag, no big deal... WRONG! Get to the airport 20 minutes later and sure enough my suitcase is 10lbs over and this is where it began. Dad freaks out about the extra $100 for the extra 10lbs (he knew this before we got there, so it really shouldn't have been that big of a surprise), so then Mom gets frustrated which makes me frustrated. I'm sure we put on a 'lovely' show for those passengers waiting patiently in line whose luggage was probably underweight to begin with. So we open up the suitcases and begin moving stuff around; had to get rid of my backpack (which is now needed) and my beloved jar of peanut butter, the rest I was able to put in either Mom's or Mrs. Rosenau's bags. Anyways, get all that straightened out, 49 lbs each, good to go. Say goodbye and head through customs into the small waiting area on the State's side of the airport. Mom had packed a bunch of stuff for her sister that is living in Quito for the year, two of which items consisted of the large jars of peanut butter. Funny thing was those two LARGE jars of peanut butter stayed in the luggage, while my one SMALL jar of peanut butter was removed. I'm sure Auntie, Uncle Dan, and the girls can share theirs; if not I guess I can live without peanut butter for the next three months. After that the rest of the way was pretty uneventful; well, the aircraft from Chicago to Miami was pretty tiny, crowded, and extremely warm. Not a good combination for anyone who is claustophobic. Thankfully things got better after takeoff. Spent the night in Miami and then left for Quito this afternoon.
We arrived to a rainy Quito, which apparently was nice, warm and sunny earlier today (funny because this is what happened the last time my family came down in February; it was all sunny and warm until Mom stepped off the plane. The girls were joking that once Auntie (my mom) left the sun would come back out). Today is also my Aunt and Uncles wedding anniversary and their oldest daughter, Mikayla's birthday. We went out for supper once we got here in celebration of both. We went to a Mexican restaurant, so I have yet to try Ecuadorian cuisine... That is still to come. After supper we went back to my Aunt and Uncle's place to open gifts and visit for a bit before I had to get to the house where I'm staying for the summer. I'm staying at the Casablanca house, this is the house where short-term teams come and stay during the summer. Once all the interns arrived we had a brief orientation and a quick meeting in regards to the Amazing Race that we begin the summer with. We spent the first night here and then we (who are staying in Ecuador) will be back here in 9 days; the rest of the interns are heading right to Peru after the Race is complete. So this race is 9 days throughout the country (and possibly outside of the country), we were advised to pack as little as possible (so that includes 3 pairs of pants, 3 T-shirts, one sweater, and pjs, as well as the needed toilettries and miscellaneous items that will be necessary for the next 9 days). I have no idea what this race will entail, I just know that for the next 9 days I will be traveling through the country doing all sorts of crazy tasks (still hoping cuy (cooked guinea pig) isn't part of it). So on that note I should probably head off to bed and try get some sleep; the morning is going to come early and who knows how much sleep any of us will get during these next few days.
Miss you all already!!!!
Beunos Noches
