You´ll Be in My Heart

The past week has been a torment of mixed feelings. I honestly don´t know where to begin as i describe them, and for sure there is no way to describe all the feelings that are floating around in my head and heart. No one quite prepares you for how you´ll feel as your departure comes nearer and nearer, and your experience dwindles down. you expect to feel excitement, obviously to see all the people you have missed, and yet you can never be quite prepared for the feelings you feel as you say goodbye to each person that has touched your life.
When i arrived in Ecuador i really wasn´t quite sure what to expect, i had spent years dreaming of this whole experience but when it came down to it, Ecuador was nothing like i had expected. I quickly learned to take the attitude of "come what may, and love it". the Ecuadorian culture was hard to get used to, but once i got over it i learned to accept it and try to go with the flow. i learned patience and understanding for people who think, eat, drink, dress, and speak differently than i do, and i know that i will forever be grateful for the eye opening experience i have had while i´ve interacted with the diversity of this country.
i quickly became involved in my ward here, and i had refuge from the storm through institute classes, and ward activities. the members of Barrio Colón took me in, and loved me, and taught me so much. i interacted with beautiful children of God of all ages and really truly gained a testimony of the truthfulness of this world wide gospel. there honestly is a church every where you turn, you truly are never alone. The church is the same, no matter what language you are speaking or what chapel you are sitting in.
I have seen the gosepl touch many lives, and i´ve felt the fire burning with in me as i´ve strived to be a "member missionary". i´ve seen new converts come into the fold and start their lives over like the writing of a new book, i´ve born my testimony of simple principles of the gospel that i´ve just had in my heart my whole life, where as new members here are learning them for the first time. As i reached out of my bubble i let the members of the church here in Ecuador change my life for good.
Through much travel i´ve seen the beautiful country sides of Ecuador with mountains bigger than i´ve ever seen before. i´ve seen coastal areas where the spanish is slurred and the climate is hot and humid. i´ve stood over looking the valley from the worlds largest active volcano. i´ve hiked through palm tree jungles, and seen huge spiders. i´ve seen poverty like ive never imagined, i´ve seen world weary faces and deep caloused hands from hard work. and yet through the simple life they lead they find reason to smile, to laugh, and to dance, and they teach you to find joy in the simple things of life.
ive learned to appreciate my deep ancestrial roots, as the people of Ecuador have much pride in their heritage. i´ve learned the symbolism in the traditional dress, and learned to appreciate their pride in their beautiful country. i´ve held my breath as i´ve tried new foods and learned that i acutally do like wierd meals. and i´ve bit my toungue when i´ve wanted to critize someone in their "ecuadorian ways".
i´ve learned to have patience with my self as i struggled with the language, and i´ve learned to feel accomplishment as i learned to conguate verbs and structure a sentence.
you see, many of you will never understand how i feel about ecuador, but i understand. Ecuador is where i found my self, it refined me, and showed me the person i want to be, and become. í feel more prepared than ever to set out on the next journey of my life, knowing that i can do the things that might seem impossible. i´ve learned to never bend my standards, because truely living the gospel reaps blessings of indescrible joy. i´ve learned to look for the silver lining, and to find joy in the journey, to count your blessings, and to live each day as if it were your last!

I look forward to using my ecuador experiences to influence the rest of my life, they will not go to waist. i know i came here with the goal to learn spanish, but i´m leaving having accomplished so much more. and i feel content and happy with everything i did and saw and experienced in Ecuador.

Thank you to each of you who helped shape and influence my life for good.

Love,
Emily

La Playa!!! (the Ocean!)

This past week i had the amazing opportunity to go to the beach here in Ecuador. i must say it was absolutely fantastic! we went to a beach town called Salinas. it is about a 12 hour drive from Quito. (yes horrible i know, but it totally is worth it!) we left Quito at 11 on friday night. i went with my course from school, kind of like one last Hoorah before i left! not to mention the beach was one of the things I HAD to go to before i went home. So we set off on our trip to the beach.
We drove all night arriving in Salinas about ten the next morning. i was actually on the phone with my mom in the states when we suddenly turned a corner and then all of the sudden there was the ocean stretching out forever and ever, curving with the earth. the blueness of it is indescribable and breath taking. we drove along the side of the water for a few hours before arriving and checking into our 5 star hotel.
however there is a story that must be told before i get to the good stuff. given typical Ecuadorian standards it really did not surprise me one bit when we arrived at our hotel and they weren´t ready for us!!! we had to wait a few hours before we could enter the hotel. now, i hope just for sanity´s sake that they just weren´t ready at that time for us, and not that they weren´t expecting us at all..haha.
Anyway, Barcelona Colón as seen is this picture sits right on the edge of the sand. with access right from the hotel to the beach! it was so amazing, there was a 24-7 all you can eat buffet full of foods from all over the world built to cater to everyone´s needs.
we spent hours soaking up the sun on the beach, and swimming in the pool on the terrace. there were little waiters that catered to your every whim..haha and we stayed in large suites with separate bedrooms for each person and separate bathrooms. (perfect for a room full of girls)
we also not only played in the beaches right by the hotel but took the bus to see many other beaches in the area. one in particular had huge fun waves to play in we jumped the waves, which by the way was warm water!!! (well the temperature of the air, which is...well...warm!)
the water by the hotel was calm and quiet, kindof reminded me of bear lake, not really large waves but really calm. where as many of the other beaches we went to were rough and large waves. we went one day to the "look out point" which is where the light house is. the light house was very tiny and actually quite funny looking, but being up on the cliffs over looking the water was so breath takingly beautiful.
at night my classmates all chose to go out in party, and i quietly stayed behind, at first i thought i wouldn´t like that, but in the end it proved to be very relaxing just sitting by the pool or taking nightly walks down by the water. and i had my own room so i could basically just chill, it was the perfect beach experience!

I am soooooo glad i finally got to go to the beach here in Ecuador! it was so GREAT, not to mention i spent four days relaxing in the sand, and swimming in warm water. i got an AMAZING tan!!!!
Over all it was totally worth the 12 hour bus ride!!!

Emily

My Legacy

Querida Lorena,
¡¡¡¡Mi corazón esta tan lleno, y no puedo expresar como te quiero muchísimo!!!!! ¡No hay palabras! Pero quería escribir una carta para ti, para decir todos de mis sentimientos. Tu eres una amiga perfecta, gracias para tu paciencia, apoyo, y amor. Cuando no tenía alguien tú estabas allí, con tu sonrisa, y palabras de aliento. Tenemos mucho memorias juntas, y estoy agradecida que tu eres mi amiga. Yo sé que, porque nos conocimos, yo he cambiado por el bien. Gracias para todo que tú hiciste para mí!
Ahora, durante estos meses yo trate de traer ti a iglesia conmigo…pero, había siempre diferente cosas que tu tenias que hacer, entonces nunca pude compartir mi iglesia contigo. Pero tú tienes que hacer una promesa conmigo que tu vas a ir a mi iglesia esta verano! Por favor?? Lorena mi iglesia no es como todos los iglesias, mi iglesia es LA iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los últimos días! Es la única iglesia verdadera en la tierra. Todos de nosotros somos hijos de Dios, nuestro padre celestial. Y él quiere para nosotros regresar y vivir con Él. Pero solo podemos hacer esto si estamos en el camino correcto en su evangelio. En nuestro iglesia podemos tener familias eternas, ¿tú quieres estar con tu mami y hermana para siempre? No solo en esta vida? Lorena nunca nunca nunca estas sola!!!!!! Tu padre celestial esta siempre allí, tu solo tienes que orar y preguntar si estas cosas son verdaderas. Hay un iglesia muy muy cerca de tu casa, es por El Inca, una cuadra arriba del Banco Pichincha. El primer reunión esta a las 8:30 en la mañana, por favor VAYA! Oh también hay una capilla por Diego De Almagro, y Colón. Yo sé con todo mi corazón que tu puedes encontrar en mi iglesia la cosa que está faltando en tu vida, ok?!
Esta pequeño regalo es para ti, para siempre recordar nuestro amistad, y también HLJ, significa Haz Lo Justo. Siempre en tu vida Lore, Haz lo justo!!!
TE QUIERO MUCHISIMO!!!
GRACIAS PARA TODO!!!
TU AMIGA PARA SIEMPRE
Emily Ann ZIlles

ode to my Pillow....

Through much contemplation, it has come to my attention that my treasured pillow will have to stay behind in Ecuador. This pillow is not just any pillow, it has gotten me through SO much. it´s been through countless girls camps, cheer trips, family vacations, cabin stays, tear full nights, sick days, it even went to the hospital with me when i got my appendix out. You see, this pillow isn´t just an ordinary pillow, it is my friend, my hug, and has seen me through many a hard night.
and so, this blog entry is a "thank you" to my pillow, thank you for all you have done for me! i will never forget you, as long as i live!

Love Always,
Your Emily

More Good Byes

Our computer still isn´t completely repaired which makes it so that i can´t upload photos, but...when i get the chance i will upload pics to go with these last few blog posts. This week has been full of good byes and tears.
On Monday i had my last FHE with my grandparents here. (the senior missionaries)They had a dinner for me, with lasagna, and garlic bread, yummy green salad, and fruit!!! it was so much fun to be relaxed with them, all the people i love.
After dinner we had our lesson, which i prepared. I played them the song off of Wicked "For Good" and i told them that because i had known each one of them my life has been changed "for good". we all cried, and then each of my sweet friends went around and told me all these neat things about me. i was so touched.
I am truely so grateful for them in my Ecuador experience. i love them each so much! just like grandparents! they said that when i get married i have to bring the lucky guy around to each of their houses, so that they can each individually approve of him! Hermana G. told me that i can´t settle with anyone who loves me less than they do, because if i do, he´s not worth it at all! they also told me it shows a great deal of who i am that here i was all the way in ecuador and i chose to hang out with them, away from the sins and tempations of the world. Elder Ward told me that i had a testimony much more mature than an 18 year old, and that i will go far.
you can kinda see why i was so touched right?


Yesterday i met up with Janet and Rose two friends from institute. they are sweet hearts and really became great friends to me while i was involved in institute here. we went out to get yogurt and pan de yuca, and then they gave me a CD with ecuadorian music, like the wind flutes and such but with songs from movies. the title is "you´ll be in my heart", and they will be Janet and Rose, two beautiful daughters of God, and my spirit sisters for eternity!

This goodbye stuff, is super tough, but i will forever be grateful for my friends that i have here in Ecuador!!!!

Emily

Like a handprint on my heart

Yesterday was my last sunday in my ward here in Ecuador, because i will be at the beach next week, and then the 31st i am headed home!!! it was tough, as i tried to stay composed. but in sacrement meeting they sang "God be With you till we Meet again" and i started crying from then on. I have never quite felt this way before, it´s the most bitter sweet feeling i´ve ever felt. Excited to get home, and yet sad to leave this life behind.
i can honestly say, when i walked into the Colón church house 9 months ago, i had no idea that i would become so attached, and that i would have such strong friendships with the members of the ward.
They were so ready, and open to accept me, and to become my home away from home. Through the year i´ve been here i´ve gotten to know many of the ward members, and i´ve grown to love them. they´ve comforted me in hard times like Christmas and Easter, and they´ve helped and encouraged me to become the best i can be. They were patient with my spanish, and have complemented me as i´ve grown and learned more.
I spent a weekend with them at the temple, and i´ve been caught up in the contageious continuous work of the Lord. The church in Ecuador is young, and new, but it is strong. while many of the members aren´t generation members like me there lives inside of them a strong spirit, and an enthusiasm to spread the gospel with every person they meet.
i´ve sat through the most spiritual and motivating testimony meetings of my life, where almost every member of the ward stood up to bear their sweet, and strong testimonies. no travel logs, or rambling stories, but short, sweet, and powerful words that i will not soon forget.
They sing the hymns in their native tounge with all their might, as they praise all that we beleive in through songs of the heart. their inteligent children master the articles of faith and can quote each one by heart by the time their eight.
although to many the church is very new, you wouldn´t know it, they have amazing strong testimonies, and they pray that their families will join them in the work of the Lord.
My seminary teacher when i was a Junior used to always say, "We never know when we will meet up again, but if it´s not in this life, and it´s in the next, we WILL meet at the big fountain in the next world....i´ll see you there!"
My heart will continuously be with these people in my ward here in Ecuador. i learned SO much from them, and i will never forget them!
if anything, i´ve learned that the church is true no matter where you are, or which part of the world you find yourself. you will always find the church, and in the church you will find the same true doctrines, principles, and testiomonies. no matter which language you are speaking you will understand, and spirit to spirit you will grow to love the members of the church.
I am eternally grateful and in debt to the members of the Colón ward for everything they did for me!!!
Ustedes son en mi corazón para siempre y siempre!

Love Emily

15,748 feet above sea level....

From the first day I got here, and looked out my window and saw the snow capped mountain of Cotopaxi I have wanted to go and see it up close. Cotopaxi to me represents and symbolizes Quito to me. It is remarkably beautiful! Because I don´t have much time left in Ecuador i´ve been trying to figure out a way to get there…(with the help of my mom!) on Saturday morning, my dream came true and Kimberly and I set off to Cotopaxi.
Cotopaxi national park is located just a few miles east of a little town in Ecuador called Lasso. In side the park it was a lot like Yellowstone with natural lakes of hot thermal water due to the three active volcanoes located inside the park. For example at the Base of Rumiñahi sits a small yet very hot pool called Lake Limpio Pungo. My first picture here is of Kimberly and I by this lake with volcano Rumiñahi in the background.
When we first entered the park Cotopaxi was completely covered with clouds, and we couldn´t see it, so we spent some time looking at the other amazing sights to see. There really isn´t much vegetation in the park its self, the soil isn´t very healthy due to all the volcano activity, but there are lot of big huge mountains that make the Idaho Mountains look like babies. As the clouds started to clear though Cotopaxi came into view and it was the most incredible sight I have EVER SEEN!
We drove up to it, and then you can hike up to the snow base. This is the only place most Ecuadorians will ever see snow. And so we started hiking. Now just standing still up at that altitude takes a ton of energy and air. And so to hike up to the lodge and the snow is a HUGE project. We would walk about ten steps and then have to take a breather and recoup for about five minutes. It took us about two hours to climb to the snow base, and then on our way down it took about fifteen minutes because it´s straight down hill…haha
Where we hiked to sits at 4800 meters sobre nivel de mar. (above sea level) that´s 15,748 feet above sea level! Up on the top of the world it was the most incredible sight. Not like looking down on a city, but looking down over incredible greenery, and empty farm land. Clear in the distance we could see Quito, but it was really just a tiny speck, more like an idea that it “might” be there…

I am really glad I got to go up to Cotopaxi, the world largest active volcano, before I went home. It will be so cool just to say…” I did that!” and I doubt i´ll ever see anything so majestic in my life!

Good Byes....

As my days dwindle down in Ecuador it´s a very weird mixed feeling kind of ordeal. i am excited to be with my family again, and move on with the next adventures of my life, but also leaving behind ecuador is like closing a book that will never be opened again. i know even if i do come back and visit, it won´t be the same...i will never be "living" in ecuador again. and so as this chapter of my life comes to an end, it´s fun to spend it with all the people who mean alot to me.
on Wednesday Sofi Martinez the primary president and one of my really good friends had a going away party for me at her restaurant. she invited my friends, and people who are very special to me. she made my favorites, like fruit dishes, and empenadas de verde, along with hot chocolate. it was so fun, and sofi is such a sweet heart!
i hope to meet up with sofi in the states this summer, both of her children are at BYU and she is trying to make it up to visit them, it would be fun to see her and have my family meet her.
sofi is one of the kindest most amazing people i will ever meet, and i am blessed and lucky that i have her as a friend in my life!

Another surprise came when my friend Lina called and asked me to meet her at the institute building at 6:00 on friday night. i assumed i was just meeting her and her husband Miguel, who are very good friends of mine from my ward also. well when i got to the institute building all of the single adults were there and they had surprised me with a going away party. they had chocolate covered strawberries, and carrot cake, and lots of other yummy foods. then Miguel had a little talk planned about how we all need to strive to always further our education. it was really sweet.

i guess you really don´t realize how much you love people, or how much of a difference they´ve made in your life until you are leaving them...but my friends here in Ecuador will always be in my heart!

¡¡¡¡La Gran Cascada Del Pita!!!!

Hey Everyone, i am so sorry i haven't blogged for a while, you see we haven't had internet and it's a little tricky to blog in an internet cafe. at least for me, i'm one that has to sit down where it's nice and quiet and really plan out what i am going to say, so before i get too carried away i decided i needed to back up to last weekend to catch everyone up!
because i am leaving so soon my family finally kicked it in to gear and started arranging lots of fun things that i should do before i go home. Last saturday we went to the Cascadas Del Pita (Pita Waterfalls). just getting there was quite the adventure! we had to take three busses, and then a camioneta up to the top of the mountain.



After we got up there we started our hike. it was about 3 miles in 3 miles back covering a gorgeous mountain range which has 28 waterfalls. it was a beautiful hike, once again the vegetation of Ecuador amazes me! this time i found myself hiking through dense moss and beautiful aspin like trees. the roots stuck out all over the ground, and at times there wasn't a trail at all and we had to just walk right through the river.



at the end of the trail we reach the Big Cascada of Pita and it was gorgeous!!! definately worth the hike.
Ecuador continues to amaze me everyday. it really is the only size of about colorado and yet in just two hours in different directions you can be in different climates, with different vegetation. it's amazing!!!!

I LOVE ECUADOR!!!

Go For It! (for my mom, on mother´s day)

My Dear Emmy Ann,
1:15 am Saturday August 30, 2008

I knew sleep would not come easy for me tonight so i guess it is ok we don´t really have time for it anyway. i have wanted to drop you a not for a few days but this has been my first chance. we have been a little busy. i hope you feel like you were able to get in everything you wanted to before you left.....i know, i know, you regret not gettng your room spic and span and your car as well. i might get around to it before next july.

i loved daddy´s blessing tonight. he said everything i was thinking and would have wanted to say. i have thought lots over the past few weeks and the last few days if i have prepared you enough for what lies ahead. i guess it is normal for a mother to feel that way. i do know that you are blessed with the same things i was given when i left home for my overseas journey.

First- two parents who love eachother and love you all their hearts. this love will get you far. i hope the past months have helped you learn more of our unconditional love for you. we both love in different ways but it is the same.

2. a love and respect for your Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. otherwise there would be no way i could handle letting you go! i know that they can take just as good of care of you in Ecuador as here in Idaho.

3. a willingness on our part to let you discover and become who Emily will be with out me, and us. my mom and i had a motto (from pres. Kimball) it hung in my room much like the one you and i share. it said: Go for it! three simple words but they mean tons! Beleive you can accomplish hard things and GO FOR IT!

4. along with this willingness for us to let you go is your desire to "fly" i see myself in you in so many ways. only you are much better.! i hope some of your passion for life you have gained from me. i know it is harder to to see now but some where deep down i am still an 18 year old taking on the world! so "everyone deserves the chance to fly" now it is yours.

5. a support network. family and friends. i am still in AWE over all the money suport you were given, you are so loved. don´t feel bad if as time goes on you don´t have as much time for all of us here at home. it should be that way. Ecuador only has you for a few short months. we will have you always. any friends that don´t understand and accept your opportunities for this are not true friends.

6. scriptures! you are so much fatehr ahead of where i was at youra ge but it was during my summer away that i gained my testimony of the Book of Mormon. Cherish those silent companions (besides they fit better in your carry on than Bud or Lou would)

Well sweetie, i am sure my parents had many of the same anxieties as i am having but they knew they had prepared me well in the areas i have mentioned and i feel peace with that too.
this chapter of your life with me is ending and a new and different one is begining. i have so many regrets about my parenting. i am so imperfect. i know you have been the recepeient of many of my imperfections. please forgive me. i am so sad to be losing my "little girl" but so excited for the woman who will be my friend. (it is different when you don´t live at home. you can not make your bed...ever...and i can´t say anything about it!)


....

so my sweetie. i must close. it is almost time to wake up! a few last minute mom moments...

1. be safe always
2.be helpful, clean, kind, loving
3. ask questions! it makes everything better
4. when it seams too tough to stand, kneal
5. be brave! take risks!
6. recognize there will be hard times-but they will pass
7. don´t brush your teeth in a train station, or go to "tea" with italian waiters!
8.learn everything you can! it is ok to take the attitude i had...i only get this experience this once in my life!!! i am going for it all!!!!

I love you with all my heart! you´re ready, I have NO DOUBTS

Now Go-
it is time to close your eyes and LEAP!

Go Defy Gravity

Love Always,
Mom

Mom i found this while organizing my things. i love you so much! and credit you to each and every one of my successes.! you are incredible!
hope your mother´s day was amazing. you deserve it!

Emmy

A trip to the Post office!

I just had to blog this quick story. My grandma Betty Lou sent me an easter package about the first of april. (actually exactly a month ago) Now Grandma for some reason, her packages always get so beat up and mangled by the time they get here...its kinda sad. and they always take WAY longer than normal to arrive.
well after i got back from the jungle Xplorer told me that i had a package at the post office that i needed to go and pick up. well as much as i love my grandma, and as excited as i was to get a package...i DREADED going to the correo. usually you need all day there, to pay, and pick up packages. you see you can´t just walk in and show them your paper, you have to first pay 1.00 just to talk to the guy, then you have to wait in line for them to just show you your package and identify that you know the sender. then, they give you a paper and you have to go into this little office where they tell you how much you have to pay for each item in the package. and it´s been even more hassle now that import taxes went up. and then they give you a receipt and you have to go to the bank and pay, then you must take the receipt to the copy shop and make a copy of it. then you have to wait in line again where they finally take all the papers they´ve given you. they then go through them (as if they don´t know what they are!) and then you have to give them two copies of your passport, and sign a paper. then FINALLY they give you your package!

anyway, today...i did all of this, after paying for an 8.00 taxi ride. and i only had to pay .24 cents to get my package!!!!
i just love grandma! her package was the greatest...and i am glad i made myself to get it!

Em

¡So Ecuador!

A few days ago i did a facebook album called “so so so Ecuador” it was such a hit i decided it deserved a blog entry to go along with it. When I get home I’m going to turn all these blog entries into a book so that I can have all of them forever and ever. I´ve already decided that I am going to come home with the “RM” curse, and will be known as the girl who says…”when I was in Ecuador…” (when I was on my mission….) but, I guess that´s one of the many reasons a blog was such a fantastic idea, all of you can share this journey along with me.
Living in a foreign country has been such an adventure. And through my journey here I have found there are many things that are just “So Ecuador”. I´ve posted a few pics to make my point. The first picture that you will see on the left, is one of my newest most favorite. This building was built about 10 years ago, they were almost done, as you can see when they realized that it was leaning. Someone had been off on the measurements and left it there. But it gets better. Homeless people live in it. There are laundry lines hanging and flowers out the windows…notice the mold on the bottom of the building. Is that not just GREAT?
Next, This picture is of the US embassy. I guess it really isn´t “SO Ecuador” but, I still think it´s cool that the embassy is about two blocks away. I can see the American Flag from my bedroom window when I wake up in the mornings before the smog sets in. I had an opportunity to go inside the embassy. Rumor has it that there are 12 floors underground! Anyway, I got to go in there because I had to have this “safety orientation” after my 5th robbing…it was pretty cool.
Another thing so so so Ecuador is the weather. Ecuador has many different climate regions, but Quito where I live is like an Eternal Spring. There will be beautiful mornings, with hot sun and you leave the house in capris or shorts thinking you will be fine. By 4:00 the storm clouds come rolling in and when you see them coming you know you have about ten minutes before you´re drenched…this is a pic I took of a storm rolling in.
The fruit in Ecuador is insane. There is soooooooooo much of it, and it´s so cheep. I took this fruit picture illegally at a grocery store one day. Notice the back wall too, stocked with fruit. Most of them I have tried once or twice. And then again most of them I couldn’t tell you their names….but it´s for sure one thing i´ll miss when i´m back in idaho. The state with no fruit…

There´s actually a funny story behind this picture. Gabs and I got in trouble for taking pics in the store, so…I would sneak pics with the camera just barely out of my purse…we were super sneaky.



Now, transportation in Quito is incredible. You can literally go anywhere you want for 25 cents all you have to do is climb on one of these blue busses and they can take you from one end of the city to the other. (which I found out the other day is so much smaller than any US city…and here I was thinking it was giagantic!) there is also the ECOVIA which is like a subway, but not underground. Then there is the TROLLE, and the METROBUS, they all run on different main streets…and of course there are taxis.






The City of Quito stretches out father than the eye can see, it´s huge. The buildings just go on and on and on. Like when you look out over the ocean and it just kinda turns with the earth, yeah that´s how I feel in Quito, there´s no end to it. Anyway, this intersection is where I catch the bus when ever I need it. And it kinda shows a typical quito street. However, my favorite part is in the left hand corner, the power pole, notice all the electrical wires…yep. And they wonder why they are always out of power?!

those are just a few of the Ecuadorian "quirks" the list will forever go on and on...but i thought you each might enjoy seeing that and getting a taste of what i go through every day in this crazy country...

Love,
Emily

La Basillica

Yesterday i got to hang out with Lucia Puga. For those of you who don´t know her, Lucy was my inspiration and the reason when I decided to study abroad that I chose Ecuador. Lucy and I actually don´t live that far away from eachother, and so lots of times we have been able to hang out.
Yesterday we decided to go to the Basilica. The Basilica is a HUGE Cathedral located in the center of the old part of Quito. It began construction on July 10, 1892, and still isn´t finished yet!



My first impression of the cathedral, was holy cow…there is no way to capture all this in a camera! And so we had to walk around all sides of the court yard in order to get every affect that we wanted!









The grounds of the Basilica are enormous, and all with these tiles laid out. The exact dimensions of the Basilica are as follows, 150 meters long, 35 meters wide, 35 meters high in the central and 15 meters in the chapels. It´s towers are 78.23 meters high, 73 meters in the dome, 16 meters by 45 meters on the base of its towers,. It has 7 access doors and is built in the shape of a cross.








Underground there is a catacomb with a place to put 2,000 cremated bodies. We got to go underground. Also in the center of the court yard there are steps that lead down to where the presidents get buried, and other important people.

Then we paid 2.00 to climb up the 15 stories to the bell and clock tower. There was a rickety old ladder that we climbed, and you know me and heights. I thought I would die but it was so worth it to look out over the city, and be face to face with the huge stained glass windows.
It was a FUN day, and so worth it, to be with lucy, and to see such a spectacular sight!!!
Love, Emmy

"The Climb"

before you start reading there´s a few people I would like to dedicate this blog to, My mom and dad, Bart Ashby, Craig Monson, Natalie Larsen, My Grandparent´s, and all my Family, Marv Sparow, Hermana G., and also all the other people who have helped me on my "climb"

I was recently going through some new songs when i ran across a new song by Miley Cyrus. I am normally not a fan of hers, but the lyrics to her song, “The Climb” struck me speechless. I´ve been thinking about it ever since and i´ve decided that those words really apply to me, at this time in my life, more than ever before. If you´ve never heard the song, turn up your speakers, and listen…if you can´t do that, here are the lyrics:

I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I,
I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb (yeah)

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you going to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb (yeah yeah ea ea)

Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith

The song talks about how, no matter how good it feels to accomplish that dream, at the end often times it´s the “climb” to the top of that mountain that is worth the most. Because think about it, when we were babies if we had just suddenly been able to take those first steps how successful would we feel? If at high school graduation someone just handed you a diploma and you hadn’t had to work 12 hard years for it, would you still feel that feeling of euphoria? If when you had to learn a foreign language you just woke up one day learning how to speak it would you feel the same sort of accomplishment? The answer to all of these is a resounding no. of course not. At times it´s easier to think that life would just be soooooooo much easier if we could just skip over the hard parts and arrive at the end, but, if that were the case would the end taste as sweet? I don´t think so.
Through some days of intense evaluation I’ve decided that it defiantly is “the climb” that makes each and every one of our daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly accomplishments worth it. We must go through every “hard day” to feel the euphoric ending when we reach the peak of that mountain.
Through the first few months of my stay in Ecuador I really started to wonder why in the world I was here. Nothing seemed to be going right, I had to change host families, school was so hard, I didn´t understand anything, and it was just turning out to be anything BUT what I had expected it to be. Well I had a friend tell me, “Emily, you are getting exactly what you signed up for, an adventure” I realized then and there that yes, I was getting what I wanted. I was getting an adventure. Sometimes each plan we have doesn´t go exactly as planned, scratch that, hardly EVER does it go exactly as planned, but it´s how we handle each and every situation that is thrown at us that makes all the difference in the world.
Now, six months later from that conversation, I look back and I understand more why I had to go through each robbing, each family change, and each hard day at school. And it´s because of each of those steps in my mountain that I was climbing that I am now closer to the top.
People who don´t understand me, and probably never will may look at these past months, and my Ecuadorian experience as a whole as a waste of time, money, space..etc.etc…but that´s just it. They don´t understand and they never will, because they never did it, they never lived this, and they were never the “blonde lost in Ecuador”. When I get home I will tell stories for years, and years to come, and yet no matter how many stories I tell or how many times I tell them no one will quite understand. No one will have been here, and no one will feel how I feel about “my Ecuador”
When my daughters and sons sit on my lap, or my grand children sit on my lap, or even my family and friends in years to come hear my Ecuador experiences I want them to know one thing. Ecuador Changed me. Each mental goal I had was accomplished, and many more. I look in the mirror and I am not the person I was last May, and there are things I had to learn in my life that I couldn´t learn in southern Idaho. And I hope you all understand that. I will never regret my year here; I will never regret one single day I got to spend in Ecuador. My heart will always and forever belong in this place, with these people, who changed and continue to influence my life for the better.
And so, as each of us continue to climb our mountains, regardless of what they may be, remember…each step of that climb is so worth it in the end. At times we take detours, but in the end, we all rise triumphantly if we keep the faith, and continue on strong.

I love you all,
Em

Pics....

The Beautiful Mighty Jungle!

I went with Josh and Melanie and Owen on early Sunday morning to the jungle. We took a 5 hour bus ride to a town called Quinindé. From there we caught a Ranchera which is about an hour and a half ride out to “La Laguna De la Y”
The town, “La Y”, is a very small, very small town. As you can see from this picture, that pretty much shows all of the town. The houses are all little wood hut looking things that are built up on stilts so that they stay out of the mud during all the rains…
Josh works out as a doctor in the small clinic there. There are always many different and interesting injuries for him to handle. This picture is on the deck of the clinic. This is the Laguna, and how “la Y” got it´s name.
On Tuesday Melanie and I took a walk down to the Laguna. It was a very hot and humid hike, and we had to wear mud boots because of all the rain. But once down there it was absolutely beautiful.

The people in “La Y” live very quiet and humble lives. They don´t really “miss out” on the things of the modern world though because they´ve never known any different. It rains so much that they all wear mudboots as shoes all the time. There is a little one room library that some volunteers constructed for the children. During the rainy season the children can´t make it to school, but once the majority of the rains stop they are able to make their way to classes.
There is a little general store down in the main part of town that has lots of little things you can buy to eat, but most of the citizen´s of “La Y” just eat what they grown like lots and lots of corn, fresh milk, and chicken.
Their main source of water is rain water which they collect during the rains. They drink this, bathe with it, and use it as their water. We of course boil it in order to drink it.
It´s the ideal culture for a “macho man” the men really don´t have to do much, their children harvest the crops, their wives cook the food and they sit around playing pool and drinking beer all day. The nicest piece of furniture I saw in “La Y” was the pool tables.
The vegetation was absolutely fantastic. So much green, everywhere! Not to mention all sorts of exotic fruits and veggies. We had a chance to walk down and visit with a little old farmer who took about 2 hours showing us around his farm, where he has taken lots of effort to harvest all sorts of exotic plants, and fruits, and he also had ponds with neat fish.
The days passed slowly and relaxing. We took walks, visited with people, met new people, and endured the rain and humidity. On Wednesday I got my toe nails painted, by a cute little girl who did a really good job. We played with Owen and tried to keep him out of trouble. And at night we fell asleep to the sound of pouring rain.
The people love Owen, they´re always stopping in to say hi to him, play with him or steal him away. When we would go on walks it would take a little longer to get places because he was such a center of attention.
It really was a marvelous experience to go to “La Y” to experience a different part of Ecuador and see how people live. Everything is different out there, the climate, the Spanish, the food, and yet it was exciting to have that experience even if just for a week.

If you have Facebook, log on and look at my three facebook albums from the jungle, if not i am going to post a few more just pictures for you to see!
love you all
Emmy

You don´t know who I am?

There is sooooooooo much to tell, and not very much time to tell it in, so i will get as much done as I can now, and then you´ll have to wait for the rest! However before I start jungle blogging there a few more things that I need to blog about and some stories that I think you´ll find pretty fun!
Last Friday found me at “El Jardin” which is a big mall here in Quito. I was meeting Maggie there and I needed to get some things before I took off to the jungle. Now I have probably mentioned this before but when I get in “Spanish Mode” it´s hard to break into English. Well while my mind was otherwise occupied in Español a man came up to me. He was the blackest man I have ever seen, he was huge, and for a minute I was a little startled. He started talking to me, but I couldn´t understand a word he was saying, it sounded something like this, “oshodasfdosguadosgfijd” yup, that understandable. I looked at him, and in Spanish I said, “I’m sorry I can´t understand you” (Lo siento no entiendo) he took a deep breath and said again, “wwoehtaoeighoeitaweogh” (haha) I just looked at him dumbly. Then he said very slow and clear, “Do you speak English?” I then replied, like a retard “si yo hablo ingles” (yes I speak English) except for I told him that I spoke English, in Spanish…(who does that?) then he very patiently replied, “I DON´T UNDERSTAND SPANISH” then I felt very stupid, and he added, “Where are the Restrooms” . that was the first time I understood him a little. I then thought he said, “Where are the Restaurants?” so I directed him to the third floor food court. He then sighed…and said again very slowly, “NO, I HAVE. TO. GO. PEE!” There was no mistaking that phrase and I quickly apologized and directed him to the restrooms. (I must add, half in Spanish half in English)
Well, after about 15 minutes I was still standing where he found me the first time, he came back down the escalators and saw me there. I saw him coming and felt a little silly, but smiled and he started talking to me asking me all these questions. “where are you from?” “why are you in Quito…” Etc.etc. well I answered, and then replied with the same questions. He then looked at me like I was crazy, like “you don´t know who I am?” I suddenly felt even more stupid, if that´s even possible and he said, “I play Futból” (aka soccer) he then held up some pictures of him playing against the Barcelona team. Come to find out his name was Christian something or other…and he is a pro soccer player.
It was a shame I didn´t have my camera…or even a paper for him to sign… then he walked away, and I stood there just laughing my head off. I had directed a pro soccer player to the bathrooms, and didn´t even know it! (poor guy)

Yum, Yum, Yum

On Saturday (last week) Lorena Mendoza (my friend from school) invited me over to her house for lunch. I also helped her study English for her final coming up. I was touched that they wanted to cook for me, and was excited to try some Ecuadorian cuisine. Well I helped Lore study, and then her mom called us down for lunch, we started off with Mote, which (I hope I can bring some back with me) is like corn, but much bigger kernels as you can see, and white. Ecuadorians eat it plain, with salt, or scrambled in eggs, or sometimes I like it in soup too. Well we just ate ours plain with fresh pineapple juice. (sooo yummy)


Now comes the fun stuff. I had smelt fishy smells all day, but figured it would be all right, I had tried many different fish dishes here in Ecuador and seemed to enjoy them so I just kept hoping it wouldn´t be anything too scary. I saw Lorena´s mom preparing rice, which is always a good sign since I LoVe rice, and I was getting really hungry. Well then she pulled the lid off of this big pot. Inside there was all sorts of shell fish, for example, muscles, oysters, crab, and many more. She piled all this on a plate of rice mixed with corn and peas. So it was kind of like ham fried rice but minus the ham and plus lots of different….things….
As I started picking through it, the smell overwhelmed me, and I silently started gagging before I even tried anything. First I had to de-shell all the little shell fish, which took a while…a LONG while. Then I started noticing these little round kind gummy looking things. I then asked Lorena what they were and she told me, Octopus!!!! Yup!!!!
Funny thing was is that of all the different fishies in the rice, the octopus was defiantly my favorite! I didn´t stomach the other things very well…the muscles were too chewy, like a never ending gummy worm, (but fishy) and the rest just tasted too fishy…haha.
But I did it! And I can defiantly say I ate all those things…at least once! haha