A Big Blog of Zoe-isms

When I came to Ecuador, i didn´t quite know what to expect…but I for sure wasn´t expecting for my best friend to become a fifteen year old hyperactive liberal Chicagoan. Zoe and I met at the Chicago Airport, on our way to Quito. We knew we were destined to become friends from the second she said, “Hey you´re wearing my shirt…” we sat next to each other on the plane here, and we talked non-stop. We clicked from day one. Zoe and I have had many many memories while here. Zoe and I along with Gabi have embraced this dream of ours, and really reached for the stars. We´ve held eachother close when we´ve been sooo homesick we couldn´t stand it, we´ve laughed our heads off over silly silly things that will never make sense to any one else but us. We´ve accidently drank alcoholic beverages...
We´ve hopped on busses, not knowing where we´ll get off, and we´ve walked for hours looking for a mall that we just knew was around the next corner..or the next…or the next…We´ve dodged traffic, while holding hands and running across the road and screaming, and we´ve helped each other with homework…(that´s a long story….) we´ve made cookies at midnight, and stayed up late hours in to the night talking…all three crammed in one bed. We´ve ran around department stores trying to find the ugliest outfits in the mean time annoying the dressing room ladies, we´ve gone to the Cinemark three times to see one movie…(you really don´t want to know…). We´ve hiked up and down muddy hills, we´ve belted out Wicked songs at the top of our lungs, and we´ve been there for eachother through it all. Including getting robbed…four times. Zoe would always know when I was in a taxi, because i´d call and ramble about who knows what. And then there was always Gabi, who kept Zoe and I level headed. You see the three of us were like sisters from day one, and I think all of us thought that we would never be separated.

However like most things in life, all good things must come to an end. Zoe was only here for a semester program, and she left this past weekend. It was a weird feeling for Gabi and I, as we watched her pack up her two huge suitcases, and set off. In a way, I was nervous to let her go…my little Zoe out to face the world by her self, and then also it was like we all felt a piece of us go. And so in memory of Zoe, Gabi and I have created this blog post…

Zoe always said silly things…and we´ve decided to share them with all of you.
• “Emily, are you surepositive about that?”
• “Gabi I think I am going to go buy the High School Musical SoundtracT”
• “What do you mean Idaho doesn´t have Block parties?! How do you survive!?”
• “Um…Emily…I don´t know how to make Mac and Cheese…are you sure I don´t put all the ingredients in at once?”
• “um…I don´t feel like going to school today, so…i´m just not! What are they going to do about it…send me home?!”
"Gabi, fix it!"


• “oh, if I only had a brain….”
• “I´m pretty sure my lit teacher hates me, so I am going to stay far far away.”
• “Emily, I got off when I saw the budget sign…except for it think it was only a billboard….because I walked a good hour”
• “so…I got on a bus…and then, the craziest thing happened…a block later, I got off!”

• “I prefer my pizza with just tomatoes please….”
• “ya huh”, “nu uh”
• “Because we´re sisters, we stick together….”
• “if I were the king…of the forest….”
• “I just don´t understand…..”
• “what kind of country is this?!?!”

• “Izquierda…I mean derecha…I mean…I DON´T KNOW….!?”
• “when I get back to the states...”
• “and then i´d sit, and think some more….”
• “but…i´m only 15…”
• “Emily, for your wedding….please wait till I can drive there….”
• “Because I knew you, I have been changed…for good.”
• “….so….yeah”

Of course there are many many more, however Gab´s and I just can´t think of them right now. Although we miss her, we´re both truly grateful for the influence Zoe had on both of our lives. We´re already planning a transcontinental reunion, and we can´t wait to all be together again. We love you Zoe, and good luck with everything….ps we haven´t heard from you! “What is that!”
Love,
Emily and Gabi

I love to see the Temple....

Growing up in Idaho, and only thirty minutes from the Utah border I was always blessed with the opportunity to only be a maximum of thirty minutes away from the temple. I could see the Logan temple out my bedroom window, and just in the past few years two more temples had been added to Idaho. The Rexburg and the Twin Falls. I have never had to live somewhere where the temple wasn´t staring me in the face, reminding me of the things I wanted in life. I once said, “you know, you honestly can´t do anything bad in Logan, because everywhere you turn the lights of the temple are there…reminding you of who you want to become”
So when I moved to Ecuador, I instantly missed the constant presence of the temple. I missed looking out my window and seeing it´s magnificent lights beckoning to me. When our bishop announced a ward temple trip I was ecstatic! I immediately sent for my records in Utah, and started the process to get a temple recommend so that I could go. Well it took about a month to get my records here…everything runs on latin American time, and then after that it took a few tries to get an interview with the bishop. Finally with recommend in hand I paid my 12 dollars to ride the bus to Guayaquil.



However I feel like to fully tell my temple trip story I need to tell about what happened the day before I was heading out. I´ve heard stories about people who are preparing to go to the temple, and how Satan always tries to make it so that they don´t go, or so that they are distracted if they do make it. Thursday morning as I was getting ready to go to school, I threw in my wallet, knowing that I needed to go to the bank before I left to Guayaquil. Also Zoe wanted to go tell the missionaries goodbye before she leaves this week, and right by the mission office there is a Market with things I knew I might want to buy for my family for Christmas. So I had my wallet, and my debit card. I also un packed my mp3 from my temple bag and threw it in my backpack just in case. Well I went to school where my backpack stays with me through out the day, except recreo breaks. After school I caught the Ecovia, where I was riding it to the mission office to meet zoe. Now the ecovia is Full of people, so when I boarded my back pack was behind me, but only for a matter of about two minutes, and in those two minutes I was walking towards the middle of the Ecovia. Once I got situated I turned my bag around to the front of me. We went to the Mission office, told Elder and Hermana Ward good bye, and HErmana G. After our goodbyes, I walked down to the distribution center to buy a Spanish bible. I have a BOM but I wanted a Bible…to read the Christmas Story and things. Well when I reached in my bag to pay for my bible I realized that everything was gone. My mp3, my debit card, my wallet, my Ecuadorian ID, my makeup, and some other things… I panicked.
I immediately called my dad in the states, and had him close my card, while in the mean time I called my mom here and cried to her. Being worried about me she took off work early and met me before I left to the temple. Also my sister here (Kimberly) called me, to make sure I was ok. I knew that I was safe, and that everything that was stolen from me was just material items but I couldn´t help but feel violated. Knowing that who ever took it was probably someone from my class, and that I trusted them all and they were my friends. I was devastated, but I knew that I couldn´t let it affect my temple trip. So I put it out of my mind…and I left to the temple.

Our trip was 8 hours. We pulled out of Quito at about 9:30 on Thursday night, and we arrived at the temple at about 7 the next morning. Everyone who knows me really well knows that sleeping in the car is something that is easy for me. As long as I have my pillow I can easily curl up and sleep the whole eight hours. However I was not prepared for the hot humidity..i woke up drenched in sweat, and wondering where in the heck I was. However I woke up just in time to look out the window and see the temple, big and bold and beautiful on top of the hill. It was an incredible feeling, and it gave me Goosebumps. We pulled into the temple grounds about seven, and the first temple session started at nine, so the adults headed straight in to get ready to go to the session. We stayed at a hotel right on the temple grounds, which was pretty neat. We ate our meals inside the cafeteria at the temple.


The adults never quit, they went to all the sessions offered through out the two days were were there. I was amazed, they only stopped to eat lunch, and then on Saturday morning they headed back in and did two more sessions before we left. I had to wait till six Friday night to go in. We didn´t have very many youth on our trip, and the ones that were there brought family names to do. So when it came time to do baptisms the temple had a large stack of names ready to do. And I ended up doing them all. After ten names I thought I was done, but then we just kept going and going and going. It was incredible. And then I was confirmed for my same names. We had two families sealed together while we were there, and I saw the cutest wedding party come out. Just the bride, her parents, and the groom and his parents. And then they drove off into the night in their taxi.
I spent Friday walking around the temple, taking pictures, and feeling the spirit. It is a feeling I will never forget, and a feeling that I will hold on to during the hard times. There the temple was, in the middle of this huge city, and yet up on the hill, you couldn´t even hear the sounds of the city…it was literally it´s own little world. I didn´t want to return to Quito, far away from the feelings that I had felt…


The Lord takes times like this to show to us his tender mercies. To show to us that life isn´t that bad. He gives us opportunities to be filled with so much love we feel like we will just about burst! And if we take these opportunities we will be changed forever. I don´t know if I’ll ever have the opportunity to return to the Guayaquil temple, but I know that that sacred place will always have a place in my heart. I do love to see the temple, and I can´t wait till the day that I can actually go inside!
I love you all, thank you for your prayers and support in this crazy dream of mine. I miss you all each day. I hope you´re having an amazing Holiday Season. May your live´s be enriched by his spirit and love, and know that someone all the way in Ecuador is praying for you.
Hasta Luego,
Emily

VIVA QUITO!

The Day of December 5th dawned bright and beautiful. The city of Quito was hustling and bustling with preparation for the Festivities...you see this year marked the 474 birthday of the beautiful city of Quito!



The festivities have really been going on for a week now. Starting with the parades and the crowining of the Reina De Quito. However the most important two days of the Ecuadorian Calendar lie with in the 5th and 6th of December. There´s even a street named 6 de Diciembre! The streets are full of VIVA QUITO banners and red and blue flags...(not USA haha, but the colors of Quito). It was an event i was SO excited to take part in.



For me the celebrations started at school, on friday, at seven in the morning. We started by decorating our balconies. Each Class had a competition to see who could decorate the best balcony. Then we all gathered down on tha patio, where there were various yummy treats served, and a band. The band was playing fantastic cultural music and everyone was dancing! it was sooo much fun. However...Zoe and I had no idea how to dance...so we just danced the "Gringo" dance. It was intense...especially since we didn´t really even know how to do that...haha. I think alot of people were curious to see how us foreigners would react to their festivities but when we just went with the flow and even added some of our own taste to it...they seemed to think it was pretty neat! A class mate of zoe´s actually filmed us dancing...it was great! Then we told everyone that next year when the exchange students don´t know what to do...they can show them the dance...and say this is how Gringo´s dance! it was great!

At night the city is alive. We went down to the Old City. Where it was decorated and made to look like the olden days. there was singing, and dancing...and little shops that sold authentic Ecuadorian cosas. This all took place beneath the huge nativity scene that is set up on the hill. The Virgin Mary is up on the hill all the time, but through the festivities they add a huge lit up nativity scene. As you can see behind me and zoe in the pic from my other blog. It was gorgeous. However during the fiestas de Quito, baby Jesus gets replaced by a huge VIVA QUITO sign...

(sorry...my lack of computer skills makes it so that i can´t figure out how to turn this around...whoops...hehe)But behind us is the street Ronda, a street that was decorated for the Festivities!And that is my sister Kimberly and my mom Paty...

Now Comes the funny story...
So part of the festivites and around this time of year the people of Ecuador like to enjoy the cold evenings with a hot cider. It has apple, orange, and other citrusy fruits...it´s served warm, and it smelled really wierd. Anyway...my mom told zoe and I that we just HAD to try it! so we did...well after a few drinks I kept thinking...this tastes really different but...out of respect we kept drinking. Well as we were walking my mom said, "after a few of those, you´ll be so tipsy you won´t know what happened to you..." That´s when we realized...this wierd cider we were drinking...was full of alcohol! Well after that Zoe and I were a giggly mess...and we decided either we´re both really cheep drunks...or it´s a placebo affect...either way it was pretty funny! however when i talked to my mom (in the states) i asked... am i in trouble that i accidently drank alcohol? haha...I learned my lesson, and it was gross!



Zoe and I called it a night a good 6 hours before everyone else...but laying in my bed last night as i listened to the partying going on around me...i didn´t really have a problem with it. This morning as I headed to an activity with my ward the City was so eery...and silent. In a freaky sort of way. I decided I participated in enough of the celebrations and i was glad that at ten this morning my head was clear and i was up and going...tonight the parties are still going on...but for now all i can say is VIVA QUITO, and I am so glad i am here...

Love,
Emily

My Address!!!!

So my address has been requested by a few people...so i am putting this on not as a hint...or a sly suggestion...just to please a few people ( aka...aunt cindy...and pickle...hehe)how ever pictures and letters are always welcome... anyway...this is my address...it gets sent to an office, my program office and then they let me know when i have mail!

Xplorer
C/O Emily Ann Zilles
Calle Ultimas Noticias N39-101 y El Universo
Quito-Ecuador, SA

I have lots to tell about the fiestas de Quito...which i will fill you all in soon...i just will have to do it when i have more time! i love you all, and miss you tons and tons!
love Emily

The Simple Secret....

"The Way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life..."




"If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness..."


"The First thing we can do is learn to laugh...."

"The next time your tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead, it will extend your life, and make the lives of those around you more enjoyable..."


"...learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training...these experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character, and increase our compassion for others...

"We experience hard things so that we too may have increased compassion and understanding for others..."



"My Son, Peace be unto thy soul, thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment..."

" and then, if thou endure it well...God shall exalt thee on high, thou shalt triumph over all thy foes..."



"The simple secret is this: put your trust in the Lord, do your best, then leave the rest to him."






I received an email from my mom this morning informing me that Elder Wirthlin had passed away. it caught me off guard and i got a little choked up. Elder Wirthlin, although in his later years became a little hard to understand was always one of my favorites. especially his talk this past conference. it has become one of my greatest motivations, and i cling to his words when i am going through my hard times. he was a marvelous example, and his words will never fail to touch my heart...
Love,
Emily
(All Quotes taken from "Come What May and Love it", October General Conference, 2008)

Thanksgiving Pics

These are Some more pics from Thanksgiving...for those of you who don´t have Facebook!
love em

Come What May and Love it!

Hola Everyone!
It was so good to talk to all those that i could on Thanksgiving! it made me a little less homesick just to hear all those that i love on the other end of the phone. despite the crazy connections i was able to talk to so many people! and it was great! Thanksgiving day here was great! i am not going to lie it was dang hard to be so far away from everyone on such a special day, but my mom reminded me "em you´ll have many holidays here with us, but you only have one in Ecuador..." so with that thought in my mind, i put on my strong Ecuador smile...i can honestly say i had a great thanksgiving!
we had a big party at Xplorer with all the exchange students, and our families. We ate a makeshift thanksgiving dinner, the students put on a short silly play, and Zoe and Gabi sang a song from Wicked. The best part however was when sofy surprised me with a pumpkin pie!! i know...it was totally a miracle! i guess she had a friend coming in from the states...and when she knew i would be missing pumpkin pie so much...well she had her bring some from the states, and i actually had pumpkin pie! in Ecuador! also...we all had a dessert contest...well i know this may come as a big surprise to all of you, but i made the winning dessert! i made a Skor cake, and it actually turned out really awesome! i was just as shocked as i am sure most of you are right now...haha.
Today is December first, and the beginning of my fourth month here! i can´t believe how fast time is flying! when i think back to my first weeks here...i can´t imagine how fast time has flown! it´s incredible. December will come and go...and then January...and before we know it we´ll be half way through!
i´ve just added a new gadget to my blog, so make sure that your speakers are on when you open up my blog...because i added some songs...including Defying Gravity! it´s so awesome...(Haley Nelson let me in on that little secret...)
Life is going along as normal now...it´s so weird to me, as i look out over the city, that this is really where i live. That i live in Quito Ecuador! I’ve never lived in a big city before but i am getting used to it.
Today was a good day, i always judge my days by the beginnings. Starting with if i get a seat on the bus. Well let me describe the busses here...they are PACKED...we´re talking sometimes when i get on i am standing on the last stair of the bus and my backpack is flying out in the wind as i hang on for dear life, knowing that if i fell out the driver wouldn´t even stop. well today was formal uniform day, so i was in my heels and i got a seat on the bus! i don´t know how it happened...but i decided right there that today was going to be a great day! And it was...haha!
My day´s come and go...and before i know it weeks have gone by. I had a great experience this last week helping in the hospital. I helped take care of a little Baby named Johnothan. His mom brought him in and then just left him. well for one beautiful week i got to be his mommy, i held him, walked with him, sang to him, loved him, and gave him what he didn´t have. well this Friday when i went into take care of him he was gone. his mom had come back for him. i was devastated...i had really grown to love that little baby, and then his mom just came and took him! how dare she! especially when she had a tendency to just leave him places...but i learned a lot of lessons from Johnothan. I started to think maybe i wanted to go into the medical field when i get home, and maybe be a nurse...but i don´t know if that career would be for me either...but mostly from Johnothan i learned the power of innocent love. As i looked into his eyes, i could see not only the innocence of a child but also a child who was so wise. i know those two things contradict each other but it´s true. I so wanted to know at times what he was thinking…and ask him questions…because at times I felt like he knew all the answers that I needed to know. But all I could do was love him, and I hope that my week of love gave him just a small taste of what he needed.
Institute is going good. My first week there I won a Triple Combination, because of my amazing scripture mastery skills…(ha there brother winward! Haha) I love having a place to go like that. Where I can practice my Spanish, and also be with people with the same values and beliefs as me. It feels nice. They kinda get a kick out of me, because I have my English scriptures, my Spanish set, my dictionary, and then a notebook to take notes…sometimes it´s a little overwhelming…and I just sit there and let the spirit teach me.
Today being the first day of December marks the beginning of the Festivities of Quito. Originally these festivities are because of the founding of the city of Quito. But they just so happen to be so close to Christmas the celebrations kinda get thrown together. The whole city is all lit up, it´s beautiful. The huge Cathedral is all lit up, and so is the statue of Mary and baby Jesus. The city is covered in lights…and the old town is absolutely magical. I know I will miss my family so much this holiday season, but I am really excited to celebrate here! I am getting in the spirit of Christmas, and getting excited! However I am truly dreaming of a white Christmas…maybe i´ll cut out some snow flakes or something…haha
I´ve recently been reading some of the Conference talks from this past conference and one of my favorite ones is Elder Wirthlin´s. It´s titled “Come What May and Love it!¨ There are many parts that I love about this talk, but one in particular I would like to share, he says, “...every life has peaks and shadows and times it seems like the birds don´t sing and bells don´t ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result.” He also reminds us to learn how to laugh. When I ended high school, I thought I had seen it all, dealt with it all and that anything else that came my way would be a piece of chocolate cake, well…coming here has taught me that I was wrong. This has been a very hard thing in my life, I left everything familiar behind me, I left those that I love, and the comfort of the home i´ve known my whole life. And it´s been scary…but I also know the power of smiling, and laughing. And when I make a mistake, or a feel like I can´t go on…I find those things that make me happy…and even though this is tough, and scary by finding the silver lining through all this has brought out the good in every situation…(I still haven´t found the good in the three times I got robbed….but i´m over it so I guess that´s good…haha)
I love you all! And Once again thank you for your love, support, and encouragement…and as Elder Wirthlin says, “as we look for humor, seek for the eternal perspective,…., and draw near to our Heavenly Father, we can endure hardship and trial…we can say…come what may, and love it!”
Chau Chau! Love Emmy Ann