Camping

Well, camping was certainly an interesting experience. El Cajas, a national park about 30 miles from Cuenca, is an absolutely beautiful place. That is when it's sunny and nice, although I did have a great time despite that, minus some trials and tribulations along the way.

It was raining, and cold, the entire day we went hiking. It was a really ugly, and muddy day. We had rubber boots, so we didn't have to worry about getting our shoes all nasty, but the boots had no traction whatsoever. That translates into a lot of slipping and falling, which many people did, including me, at least 3 times. My foot also got stuck in the mud all the way up to my knee. I did have one pretty nasty fall. I tried to catch myself in the process and ended up bending my knee, my bad surgery knee, all the way back until it couldn't go anymore. It was bad. I stood up, crying all the while, and didn't move for a few minutes to let it settle itself. At that point, I was saying to anyone who would listen, "Screw camping! I'm going home."

I was also saying that because I had to pee, and I was determined not to go in the woods. Well, I was sick and tired of waiting, after hours of holding it in, so for the first time in my life, I peed in the woods. That didn't happen until after a crash course from Katie in effectively peeing without getting anything on my pants. Indeed I was successful, and that has to be one of my biggest accomplishments ever. After that was completed, I obviously felt a lot better, so I was now telling everyone that since I finally peed in the woods, I could do anything. Meaning,I was going to stick it out and camp.

We ended up staying in cabins because it was really cold and rainy. We did all the usual camping stuff. Ya know, the smores, fishing (I was unsuccessful.), the kiddie games, slumber party stuff. We, 9 girls, called ourselves the giggly gringas because we did a lot of that.

Our sissy fire burnt out around 10pm, so we all decided to go to sleep. I wish I could have fallen asleep. We all slept on about 5 twin mattresses in sleeping bags in a tiny room in the cabin. Of course, I was on the crack of two mattresses. I was pissed. That's only one of the reasons I only got about 1 hour of sleep. First of all, we talked and talked and talked, like little kids way into the night. I don't even know what time it was when everyone, minus me, fell asleep. Secondly, I had to pee so bad and I didn't feel like getting up to go outside. (I finally did at about 5:30am.) Thirdly, my feet were frozen. Everything else was fine, except my feet, which I could have sworn were going to be frostbitten by the time I woke up. So, I was paranoid all night, and wanted to be awake to make sure that

I could feel my feet. Dude, I'm an idiot. So, basically, I laid with my eyes closed all night hoping that I would fall asleep, but never really did. I just wanted it to be morning so that we could get up and start moving again. Well, when we did get up, my thighs were so sore from the day before, I thought I wasn't going to be able to move at all, let alone walk or hike anymore. However, when we stepped outside, the sun was shining, and it was one of the most beautiful sights I think I've ever seen.

My thighs were really sore the next day, so I was not looking forward to more hiking, and as it turned out, we didn't really go hiking. We just walked around a lake and through the forest for a while before heading back to Cuenca. Thanks Gott. I was pooped.

So, all in all, camping was a very fun experience, and definitely something I will always remember. Especially the peeing in the woods. That will go down in history as one of the highlights of my life. For sure.

Examen de heces

So, I know everyone wants to read about my poop sample experience, but I'll save the details.

It turned out negative, which means that I don't have bugs in my stomach. It most likely was just an infection.

However, it makes me kind of upset that my friend, Ashley, who had the same thing I did, got drugs even though her sample turned out negative, too.

I want drugs. They help make things better.

Oh, well. Maybe next time. Or not. Another bout of illness is definitely not on my agenda.

Sick as a dog. Part Two.

I was up all night AGAIN throwing up. From about 2am until 4am. And I almost passed out. It was so terrible. I don't know what it was that I ate, but I'm afraid to eat anything anymore. I'm only eating bread and soup for the next few days. I cannot afford to be sick all the time. And my host mom looked at me, not to mention talked to me, like I was crazy.

Dude, I'm sorry I'm American and I can't eat your food, drink your water, and threw up in the trash can because I couldn’t make it to the toilet. You’re damn lucky I didn’t throw up all over the floor. I could’ve easily not put any effort into my throwing up skills and done just that, but I decided to use the trash can, and then run for dear life when I felt it coming on again, clogging up the toilet in the process. I guess my vomit is some powerful stuff.

Then when I asked her if she had some crackers, she looked at me like I was crazy again. Dude, that's what we eat when we're sick. I can't eat a damn watermelon that you have sitting in the kitchen for me, nor can I drink the damn orange juice. Sorry, I just can't.

Today I went to the doctor. #1. I waited for 5 minutes. If I were in the U.S., I would still be sitting there. #2. I got some drugs for my nausea. #3. I have to take an "Examen de heces" tomorrow. Translation: A poop sample. This is to determine whether or not I have amoebas in my stomach. Translation #2: bugs. Fantastic.

Update on the poop sample soon.

Home

The past couple days have been pretty rough. I’ve been crying a lot because I miss my friends and family at home so bad, more than I ever have. You know who you are.

I miss being able to call someone whenever I feel like it and just say hi, ask for advice, bitch, or just talk about whatever. I miss being able to get online and talk to my friends who I don’t call all that often and just talk about random things. I miss the everyday things that I used to do, too. I miss being able to get online and mess around when I’m bored. I miss being able to drive somewhere, whether it be back home from Athens, or just to the store. I miss being able to go to Ping and work out. I miss being able to watch normal TV, like CNN, and actually know what’s going on in the news.

I feel like I’m sequestered, like I’m not in the know about anything. I think I’ve come to the realization that living somewhere other than my own country will never happen for more than 2 weeks. Sure, I was able to do it in Spain. I never felt homesick, I never cried, I never missed anyone or anything as badly as I do now. But, Spain is a completely different country, and I was in a completely different place in my life. I hadn’t yet created a life for myself, or a life in which I was comfortable. I was a recent high school graduate just entering into the critical college years, and I didn’t know where I wanted to go. Well, I’ve grown up a lot in the last 3 years, and I know who I am. I know where I want to go. I know where I want to be. I just need to take that final step to get there. This experience is really testing me. I suppose that’s what’s supposed to happen, but I didn’t think it was going to be this hard.

It’s different from day to day. I have my ups and downs. But, I know in my heart where I belong, and this isn’t it. I hate to sound so pessimistic because I’ve only been here for a little over two weeks, and my feelings could change. At the moment, though, this is how I’m feeling. I’ve started to cross the days off my calendar. I know that’s terrible, but I’m just so eager to get on with my life in the real world, and to see everyone again. I keep telling myself to enjoy this experience and take everything in because I may never have another one like it. But, doesn’t everyone say that to themselves? It’s much easier to say than to do, but I’m doing the best I can.

Pictures. Finally.

Okay, kids. I finally uploaded some photos, so just click
on the links, and enjoy. Leave comments if you'd like.

Album One
Album Two

Oh, how I miss thee

Alright, some of this may sound pretty lame, but if you know me at all, you'll get it.

Aside from the obvious friends and family, there are other simple things that I miss.

1. The forum I visit with all my Barbra buddies, and the political talks we have, among other random things.

2. Redford. Although, he's been in the news as of late (Google it. There's some great pics, too!), his new DVD is coming out in less than a week, and I saw a poster of him the other day walking around town. In Ecuador. Yeah, he's cool here, too, people. Oh, and I had a dream about him last night, and I did hear a song on the radio that reminded me of him. So, I guess it's not all bad. He follows me everywhere I go, I swear, but it makes me smile. Can we say obsession? Slightly. I brought DVDs to tide me over.

3. Barb. I haven't listened to music in over a week because I rarely have the time. Plus, there's never any news on her front anyways (she's always working on that damn barn of hers), so I guess I'm not missing out on too much.

4. The internet in general. I hadn't had a chance to get on the internet for about a week, and I was going through withdrawal. Then, yesterday when I came to school to use the wireless, it was down. I was pissed. Why did I bring my laptop if the wireless is going to go down? Today, it's back up, but if it's going to be all wishy-washy on me, I may have a freak out.

5. CNN. I have no idear what is going on with Hillary. None. Well, I actually got an e-mail from her the other day, and Bill, too (Yes, we are acquaintances. I did meet her, after all.), that was talking about how people were calling for her to quit the race. HELL NO! She is not dropping out! She isn't that far behind in delegates, kids. Let this go until the convention.

6. My cats. My host family has this damn poodle named Pelusa. She is 5 months old and the most annoying dog I think I've ever encountered. I like dogs, but the big kind. Ya know, the ones who are older and wiser, and don't do much. This damn dog wakes me up at 4:30 in the morning with her constant barking. Honestly, what is there to bark at that early in the morning?

7. Being able to throw my toilet paper in the toilet. Yes, you read that right. The sewage system obviously isn't the greatest here in Ecuador, so everyone must throw their toilet paper in the trash. It sounds gross, although it's not really that bad. At least you never stop up the toilet and have to use a plunger, which I probably would have had to do quite often.

8. OU. Well, not really OU per say, but the people at OU, like my Front Room buddies. Plus, it's spring quarter, and there's nothing like spring quarter in Athens. Well, except maybe Ecuador, but you know what I mean.

9. Ping. I work out quite a lot. I go probably 5 or 6 days a week, and I haven't gone here once yet. There is a gym right around the corner from my house where I went yesterday to talk to this guy who works there (who kept calling me "mi amor." Weird.), and I plan on starting there today. It's $16 a month. That is insanely cheap compared to what I would pay in the U.S.

10. Being able to drink from the tap. We can't. Period. It wouldn't be a happy time.

11. Being able to walk around by myself. I'm pretty independent, most of the time. But here, we can't really walk around alone a lot. Especially at night. We have to walk in groups. It's going to start becoming inconvenient when I need to do something and my walking buddy needs to do something else. I guess we're going to have to go do both things together. We'll see how that works out.

12. A soft, bouncy bed. For some reason, my bed is hard, and it's kind of hurting my back. Or maybe it's supposed to be good for your back? I don't know. I don't know beds.

13. Frizz-free hair. Enough said.

14. My cell phone. How could I forget that? I miss being able to text someone when I think of something completely random to tell them, or just being able to freely call someone. We have to go to what are called "cabinas" here to call the States. It costs 8 cents a minute, which is really cheap, but it's nice to just be able to call someone whenever you feel like it. I'm choosing one day a week to call any and everyone I want to talk to. If you're not on that list, well, please don't feel bad. Your turn will come the next week.

Now, let me just say that those aren't complaints, in the least. I'm really loving it here, but there are times when I long for certain things.