INTRO
so, i have to be honest. i was pretty darn inspired from both jamie and steve when they visited on the importance of blogging, but then i realized im not sure i have many huge things to blog about, PLUS i still have a bunch of emails to respond to, BUT i know so many of you enjoy the updates, so here goes!
first, thank you for all the love and support. our halfway point to being here just passed, and its incredible how far weve come. just getting to know my worksites, community, neighborhood -- the progress is incredible. ive learned so much about myself, others, Spanish, social work, listening, loving, faith ... it really is so life-giving. but it really couldnt have been possible without some awesome email, mail, CDs, packages (most recent shoutout to margaret mooney, thanks so much!!) and especially prayers.
NOW THAT IS TRUE LOVE...
thought bc its feb 14, maybe i should blog about some of the things i love here. here´s a list!
1. my FAMILY visited last week! mom, dad and lisa came, and we spent 6 days doing SO much, all the stuff i normally do here and more! lots of fun with the neighbors, volunteers, etc. ahh love. so great to have them here and understand a bit more of my life in ecuador.
2. the hospitality of our neighbors, esp of wellington´s and alicia´s families. i always feel so welcome in their houses, and they feed us and care for us as if we were their own children. its really comforting to have places to go to watch movies, laugh, talk about all kinds of stuff. the hospitality in every aspect here though, shown to me most recently thru my family´s visit -- how many people at chicos, valdivia, and in my house and volunteer community bent over backwards to some degree to feed us or chat with us :) made me even more appreciative for these people!
3. my house community. first of all, weve had SO much fun together this year, TONS of silly and loud memories. we definitely have our challenges at times, because living in community is never easy, but we know deep down that we love each other no matter what, and to have that during this year is so cruicial.
4. my friends and students thru chicos. they give me so incredibly much life here, i just love the conversations with them so often. its surely hard, relating to their lives at times, or really trying to understand them. i feel like this is a HUGE way i accompany this year, thru just being with them and learning about their lives. i think i glow when i talk about some of my friends there -- aside from the ridiculous days (like when they give us weird nicknames, or play crazy games, or call us crazy, or wear shirts with silly sayings on them ... let me know if you want the full stories haha), there are some really incredible boys with huge hearts under those tough outer skins, some people i will truly never forget. immense love.
5. the kids at valdivia! obvi im in love, they are so joyous and huggy and its so fun to be there. it took me awhile to adjust to the constant chaos, but now i do just love love love it. ive found myself with a lot of life esp in the little successes, like when one of our ´´soccer boys´´, usually too cool for school, greeted me, behaved, did the activity and sat quietly at the wrapup on friday. WOW. love.
SILLINESS
...and now for 10 silly things i love...
1. raspberry ice creams for 5 cents from rosa, a grandma down the street.
2. rocking out to the hip hop music at the 10.5 (partner shelter of where i work) on saturdays.
3. mass in mount sinai, the one at the big church.
4. playing justin beiber while showering, esp if mark can hear it. he LOVES beibs. not.
5. hugging david across the street.
6. sitting in gabriel´s hammock with a cola.
7. any good chat with one of the boys at chicos.
8. my daily morning bread run.
9. trying to take care of the new puppy my boss just got (see fb for pix).
10. dancing to ´´danza kaduro´´ with any of the other 15 volunteers and megan (or any part thereof).
feliz día de san valentin; los quiero mucho!
con cariño,
isa
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