love this place.

Yesterday was one of those days where almost every thought in my brain was related to the idea that I cannot leave this place.  I love it so much.  Maybe it's because classes are over and I've been spending this week roaming the streets of Quito with my friends, but I seriously love my life here.  

After a morning workout, smoothie breakfast, and a couple episodes of Friends, Alyssa and I visited the Bisilica, one of my favorite places in Quito.  The climb was terrifying, the views were breathtaking, and I could've stayed up there forever.  After stopping at the market on our way back for a hot second and Skyping with the one and only Molly Gobeli, we walked to our favorite Italian restaurant to eat what we thought would be our last meal of the semester there...but who are we kidding?  The sweet Italian guy with a half head of dreads is too great to pass up.  We're definitely making time to go back.  

Dinner was followed by attendance at Nick's play at Alliance.  We surprised him at the show and watched him rock his solo in an overly cheesy Christian musical...brought me back to my late elementary days.  

THEN after finding NERD ROPES...that's right people...for the first time we spotted those delightful slices of heaven...we hung out at Plaza until the midnight premier of Iron Man 3.  Besides the fact that I was so nervous I had to hold Alyssa's hand for about half of the movie, it rocked my world.  

[dinner with these beauties.  lys, me, kim, bon, & sarah.]

 [after nick's play. zach, nene, jenna, bon, lys, aaron, 

diana, nick, sarah, me, & benny.]

 [i could hardly contain my excitement.]

 [iron man 3.  yeah baby.]

date night.

We went to our favorite chipotle wannabe restaurant.  

We followed it with our first ever visit to Chicberry.  

We talked for hours.  

My heart is SO swollen.  I needed a date with my girls so bad.  

LOVE. MY. GIRLS.  

the goodbye train.

All aboard.  

Last night was our last chapel at the Jensens.  Marlo has faithfully spoiled us every Tuesday for the last three months with some of the best cooking I've ever experienced.  Tuesdays quickly became my favorite days this semester.  Spending each Tuesday night squishing around a tiny living room table to fight over an appetizer, eating amazing dinner and dessert, worshipping with my friends, hearing Matt share words God laid on his heart, and just being together has been a highlight this semester.  Saying goodbye to Marlo and Mikala and sending them off for their Italy vacation made my heart hurt, but also made me realize how incredibly blessed my Tuesdays were this semester.  

 [bon, lys, marlo, me, & mikala.]

As the goodbyes begin I'm also reminded of the things I'm going to miss in this place.  Oh how I wish I could take our roof and all the peace and joy I've found there home with me.  

[villalengua.]

chocolate.

Chocolate covered strawberries.  Not that hard, right?  So Alyssa and I whipped out a couple plates of perfect delicious looking treats, cleaned up the counter, felt accomplished, and she handed me the tub of chocolate to put in the fridge.  Little did I realize, the lid was not secured, so as I bent down to carefully place our beloved leftover chocolate on the bottom shelf, the lid flew off sending chocolate pouring over the side of the tub like a waterfall ALL OVER my jeans, the fridge, and the floor.  I screamed something explicit and in a hot panic started scooping the top layer of chocolate from the puddle on the floor and throwing it back into the tub of delicious brown goodness to save our leftovers.  

And there I sat, covered in chocolate, yelling at Alyssa to get napkins while she instead grabbed her phone to take pictures of my obnoxious mess.  

All of our chocolate successes and disasters ended up paying off, though.  We had a party at Christy's with all of the students and host families to thank them for home stays.  It was SO much fun.  I ate way too much junk food, got made fun of for my crazy dancing at my birthday party, and held Anita as she fell asleep in my arms.  Loved it.  

 [love my Ecuafam.]

cotopaxi.

Feelin like a world class adventurer these days.  After getting up EIGHT-- I repeat-- EIGHT times to pee last night due to the massive amounts of water I consumed in preparation for our hike on the world's largest active volcano, Cotopaxi, I put on my six layers of clothes, topping off my obnoxious hiking look with Kimmie's sweet striped socks, and set out on a Saturday adventure to hike through some Equator snow.  

Spending the day trudging through the sleet, licking the Cotopaxi glacier, holding Bon's hand to keep that girl from sliding to her death, jumping down the rocky, sandy hill and falling on my butt with Kim over and over again, and loving my incredible semester abroad friends was absolutely wonderful.  

 [scott, bon, janie, hannah, zach, benny, lys, michaella,

me, and kimmie.]

 [stopping at the lodge for some hot chocolate.]

 [so thankful for my kimmie.]

 [i love us.]

 [we did it.  holding hands the whole way down the glacier.  LOVE these girls.]

 [my bonster.]

 [and why not throw in a little beyonce.]

 [rockin our hiking socks.]

perfect ten.

Ten.  Today was a perfect ten.  

early morning workout with kim.  fruit smoothie devo time.  skype sesh with marky.  shopping with bon, lys, and kim.  last spanish class.  girls' afternoon watching step up in preparation for a night out in foch.  most hilarious taxi driver ever.  italian restaurant.  skype meeting with trinfolk (including the best friend who never skypes! winning.) a night out dancing in foch.  LUH MY LIFE.  

 [rocio.  the best spanish teacher on planet earth.]

 [bon, janie, jenna, me, lys, sarah, & bridgette.  ready to dance our brains out.]

otavalo.

A day of bumpy mountain roads, spanish bartering, crowded markets, beautiful views, party bus dancing, and wonderful friends.  As Diana would say...Oh my gato.  Great day.  

 [bon, lys, and me.  love my girls.]

 [bon loves cats.  i love kittens.]

 [me and diana.  my favorite ecuadorian.  LOVE her.]

 [jenna, janie, bridgette, bonnie, me, alyssa, sarah, diana, kayla, kim, michaella

ben, aaron, rene, scott, & zach.]

[never a dull moment. hanging out with dino.]