Ecuador

     Currently I am in Ecuador. I haven't spoken spanish or taken a class in 5 years. This is an intense crash course. But it's so much more than that. The people here in Quito don't smile. I think I've seen three...maybe four strangers smile in the 8 days I've been here. That strikes me as a sad stat. Also, the place claims to be 95% Catholic but only about 20% of those 95% practice the faith by something as simple as going to church on Sunday. Ha, I went to confession here. That was interesting. Luckily the priest knew a little english because if he didn't I would have been in trouble.

     Here, away from my life in America...well God seems to be more present. I'm not sure if it's just me being away from all the things I know so I turn to one of my remaining foundations that much more, or if it's that Ecuador has religious things everywhere, or if it's merely the lack of distractions.

     My fellow students are great. Sure there are a few I would prefer to not spend much time with but even those people are fairly nice and we just don't mesh well. But I'm hitting a problem. I'm not dating anyone yet I feel odd saying I'm single. I mean, I definitely am single. I'm not taken by anyone...yet I feel taken. It's an odd feeling and it makes me feel like I'm betraying someone every time I smile or dance with a pretty girl in our group. Constantly I'm reminding myself that we are not dating and that I am not accounted for but I still feel horrible that I find myself caring a lot about a fellow traveler when in a way, I feel like I have no right to. But it's probably infatuation though she does have a couple traits that I hold highly. Back in the states, I suppose I need to figure this all out...

      One last comment: don't take a waitresses suggestion without looking at the price of the item. I got a Guinness assuming it couldn't be more than $5 and the security of a drink I've had before was worth it. It was $14. Yep, and since in Ecuador we are advise not to carry much cash I had to turn to my friends to pay for me. It was embarrassing to say the least.