Feeling Sluggish

Shoot! I've been pretty good about posting at least once a month and I did not post in August. Sorry but I was really busy! (Bunny bunny for September.)

Biggest news first: I have a new roommate. He's super lazy and messy, leaves a trail everywhere he goes, and doesn't listen to a word I say. I don't even know how he got in but he just found me and decided to stay. It's a slug. I named him Sylvester Von Slime. He just keeps appearing on my kitchen counter! I sprayed him with cleaning detergent and threw him in the trash and he was like "haha that's cute" and climbed back out. How does this orange-scented poison that eats my skin when it gets on my hands NOT kill Sylvester?! Zombie slug? Well, I threw him out the window (he hasn't paid rent!) so I expect he'll take a couple days to get back in. I'll try to take a photo next time his slimy ass decides to show up.

Since my last real update...

I spent 4th of July in a tiny beach town called Ayampe with some amazing volunteer friends. We drank a lot of beer and barbequed and pretty much just spent the weekend being extra American and extra awesome. I saw a couple new coastal cities, fell asleep in the sand, got sunburned, and was all the happier for it.

At the end of July, we celebrated Sonia's baby shower and then her little chubby-cheeked munchkin was born on August 6th. I went to visit the next day and was so delighted to meet Amarelis, my ahijada (goddaughter). Yes, I explained that I don't actually believe in a god, but Sonia says that's an insignificant detail. When I meet with the priest and he asks any questions, I have been instructed to just nod and smile :) This event also reminded me, yet again, what an old spinster I'm becoming. The doctor walked in and saw me holding the baby and said "Ohhh who is this? My next client? When will you be getting pregnant? You don't even have a boyfriend? How old are you? Wow, you better hurry up." Sigh.

Next, we had a big TEFL conference in Tumbaco, which turned out to be much more eventful than expected with a big earthquake, landslide, lots of aftershocks, and a birthday. The earthquake was pretty funny for me since a lot of the volunteers had never felt one before and were pretty shook up. (All puns are intended.) And the birthday was fun because it was Todd's, my sitemate, and we had a lot of fun surprises in store for him, including an exploding balloon cake and blindfolded archery. The whole week was filled with Quizno's, donuts, friends, and some productive work mixed in.

Then it was my turn! The volunteers at the conference surprised me with chocolate cake and singing, then Todd bought me birthday food and wine, and then my teachers took me out to pizza and cake in the city. These things alone sent me to bed with such a full heart and so much gratitude for this experience and it wasn't even my birthday yet.

Then the best present of all arrived- Momma! Yep, not only did my mom fly all the way to another continent for her daughter's birthday, but she also brought funfetti cake, party hats, noisemakers, a Coke with my name on it, hiking boots, cookies, candy, AND she paid for us to stay in a fancy hotel on my birthday so we could end the night with a jacuzzi and wine sesh. I was seriously spoiled and I can't express how thankful I am to have the mom that I do.

Mom was here for 10 days and we had tons of fun, touring Quito, going on a waterfall tour, ziplining, whale watching, snorkeling, sipping pina coladas, playing cards, and taking silly photos. It was sad to have to send her off, especially because I had to leave her at the airport hours before her flight so I could catch the bus back home and I was having a tiny pity party. The airport makes me emotional, there was a creep trying to get me to stay at his house in Quito, then I stepped onto the last bus which was filled with people yelling and smelled like old cheese and socks, but it was all put into perspective when I got a call at 4am that my mom was stuck in Quito. THEN she got stuck in Atlanta! AND she had a terrible, swollen tooth infection. Stupid Delta. I felt so bad for her terrible trip home but she says she had a really good visit so I hope that outshines the awful inconveniences.

The new school year started this week so hopefully I'll get busy working and it won't be long until I'm home for Christmas.

I've started learning Portuguese. Umas mulheres estao dirigindo carros. (Some women are driving cars.) I'm hoping to start improving soon.

Until next time, take care, my friends. And thank you for reading. (Sorry no photos or memes this time, my internet's been pretty squirrelly lately.)

Tchau from Chelsea and Sylvester.