No PlAce LikE hOmE!

Traveling home for the holidays: 4 hours on bus from Manta to Guayaquil, 4 hours on a plane from Guayaquil to Miami, 6 hours in the Miami airport, 2 hours from Miami to Richmond, Virginia, and 2 hours from Richmond to Waynesboro, Virginia. 


All well worth it.


It's great to be home, different, but great. The first thing I did when I got home was take a 45 minute, steaming, hot shower. It was amazing. I slept in my comfy bed. I realized the noise level. Zero. It's so quiet. The silence is hard to get use to again. There are no sirens, dogs, people, music, fireworks-nothing. I slept throughout the night.

The "No Spanish" speaking is getting to me as well. I was in the grocery store and never thought I couldn't think of a word in English but only in Spanish. The first restaurant I ate at was a Mexican Plaza, of course. 


I was nervous to return home for a short amount of time. It's hard enough to adjust to a new culture but even more difficult to re-adjust to your culture and having to adjust back to your new one.


One thing that has been hard to get use to is the weather! I haven't felt this cold weather in months. Seeing frost on the cars in the morning and wearing hats & gloves-it has made me realize that I definitely belong in a tropical atmosphere.

I have missed the mountains. There is no place like home. 


And lastly, my family. It was an incredible feeling to hold my family in my arms again and not have to see and talk to them online. I'm scared to say goodbye again. My family is my life.


I have 2 weeks at home. I will sure live it up to the fullest for I will not be home again until next August. 


As much as I love being home...I sure do enjoy Manta as well and miss the warm weather, my students, friends, and of course the beaches. 

Until Manta again my friends...

Christmas Already?

So as the year is coming to an end very fast, I thought it would be great to catch up a little bit on what has been going on. November flew by-as well as December. So many things have taken place! I have not only been thrown even deeper into the Ecuadorian culture but I feel that I have a sense of belonging now. I have created my own habits and daily routines. A few routines include daily runs to the beach, lesson planning every morning, TEFL certification, teaching three days a week, hanging out with amazing friends I have met here, and of course improving my Spanish skills by speaking with my family everyday.




Teaching is the main reason why I am here. I am giving so many adults the ability to expand their English language and better the opportunities for them in the future. My English classes are now in level two. It is getting more difficult and I have lost a few students from level one. But the ones who are sticking around are strong and confident. Although we work hard in the classroom, it's a lot of fun. My students are awesome! They showed their 

Combing classes & working hard

appreciation towards me on my birthday with a surprise party for class! I am not so sure they just wanted to not have class or they just wanted to have a party?! But either way, it was great! I really connect with my students and hope to see them progress all the way through level six.

My students are awesome!

Happy Birthday to you....Happy Birthday....

Yes, that's right. My birthday has passed. I turned 24 years old on December 10th. I thank all of my friends here in Ecuador for 

Cruzita Beach

making my day the best! I had a lot of friends visit me from all over the country, including: Ambato, Guayaquil, and Portoviejo. On Friday, we all got together at my house in Manta and enjoyed each others company over some grilling out, swimming (accidentally), and ping-pong. Saturday, we traveled to a near by beach, Cruzita! We spent the night in Cruzita dancing to music, talking, and of course adding some Ron Abuelo in there!

Nightly Cookout in Manta

Along with teaching and having a blast on my birthday, the first week of December is pretty popular here in Manta. Athletes from all over South America (Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, Chile, Brazil) travel to Manta, Ecuador to compete in the Juegos Sudamericanos de Playa! The games last for ten days. Athletes participate in beach sports such as soccer, surfing, triathalon, balon mano, volleyball, and more! It's great to watch the competitiveness.

So to wrap up a long story short-I pack my things and start my travels back to the states for the holidays. I am a bit nervous to adjusting back to old habits but even more nervous to re-adjust back to my new ones here in Ecuador.


...Until Christmas my friends..