Halfway Pau!

Today marks 50% of my time here in South America. I have made it through half of my scheduled time here and I'm still alive! Yay!
Lately I’ve been nostalgic and mildly homesick as Christmas decorations begin going up around Quito. There really isn’t anything like Christmas in Hawaii, and it honestly is one of my favorite times of year. There are very particular smells and feelings that I remember, like hoodies and gray skies throughout the month of December, as well as Christmas carols and gaudy decorations around Pearlridge and Ala Moana.

I’ve come to a very comfortable place in Ecuador now. I really am happy to be living here and feel very comfortable with my family, home, and life here. It’s interesting because many other students have begun to have problems with theirs, but Marcia and I get along great, we have a very comfortable and friendly relationship. I've recently decided that she's crazy in a good way, but that's ok, it's fun. I'll have to post examples at some point.

I've decided that I really like it here, although it took some getting used to, and I am comfortable here. With this, however, I've also realized that I really do like living in the US. It's more of a culture thing than anything, and although I am loving Ecuadorian culture, it's something to miss your own, where you're at home at. I also have very much been missing Hawaii home and the crazy unique culture there. It's been fun here in Ecuador, because I feel like Hawaii is very much a middle ground between Ecuador and the US in terms of similarities. I am very much enjoying my time here, but also am excited to get home and see all my loved ones again. Until then, I will revel in the Ecuadorian life :)