Getting into the rhythm

So, I feel like it's about time to write another post. I haven't written for a few reasons: I haven't really had time, I haven't really felt like writing, but mostly because I haven't really needed to. 

Before I left for this trip, I was really unsure about, well pretty much everything, but for one, how I was going to react. How I was going to adapt to my brand new and terrifyingly different environment. I didn't worry too much about it though, because I figured that I would find my way through it all and be just fine. I did have in the back of my mind the idea that I would cry a lot, and be homesick. But honestly, I have really surprised myself. I've been here for almost a month and I only cried once on my second night here. 

I don't know if it's the fact that I have a bunch of people from Oregon here with me--we all latched onto each other in the first few days--or if it's because my host mom and sister are just amazing and make me feel very comfortable and at home, but I am glad to say that I am not homesick. I am loving it here.

I have gradually been starting to appreciate the little things about this place that are so unique, new, and unlike anything I've ever experienced. I love the people--I haven't quite been able to pin down exactly what it is about them, but they are just so different than americans. I'll figure it out and find an eloquent way to say it. 

But the thing that I love the most about this place is how I feel. I feel so free here, so able to be myself. This summer I was kind of depressed because I didn't feel like myself and because I felt alone. I knew that Ecuador would change me, but I didn't know it would happen so quickly without me really knowing it. Obviously I don't feel like I'm a completely different person or anything, I'm just the same old Breanna, but I feel a change inside me that's just starting to bloom. I'm just really happy here, and I feel like being here is really enabling me to completely be myself. 

I'm so excited that I get to be here for 4 more months, who knows what will happen and what I will learn! I'm definitely starting to get into the rhythm of things, too. I wake up in the mornings, shower, drink the freshly blended juice made by my host mom, take the bus to school, go to classes, eat a huge lunch, spend time with my friends, more classes, go home on the bus, hang out with my host family, do homework, go to bed. Of course there are a lot of interesting things that happen during and in between all that. That's just the outline.

Anyway I'll write more soon. I do have to catch you all up on all the awesome things I've been doing, but right now I just don't have time! 

Hasta la pasta :)