9-6

It is really interesting, before I left I was told that we would all go through stages of culture shock and all of that, but I guess it didn’t really hit me until now that that was completely true.

The first stage was the honeymoon period, this was when we were all super excited to be in Ecuador and couldn’t wait to explore and learn more about the culture. Everything was an adventure, taking the bus, walking down the street.

Now for sure I am in the next stage, I don’t remember what it is called, but in this stage everything is difficult, and its not that I don’t want to be in Ecuador because I really do, it’s just that everything seems much more difficult and frustrating than it needs to be. For me at least, it is frustrating and takes forever to take the bus, I hate the guys on the street who yell at me when I walk by. It is just really interesting. We for sure have settled into life.

It is really cute because my host family is starting to act like my family; my mom still won’t let me out of the house without a jacket even though it is usually around 70 degrees all day. My family has also started trying to convince me to go out more at night and party because I am young and that is what I am supposed to be doing I guess? I am not really sure, what I am sure of though is that I do not really like the party scene too much. Everyone smokes here especially in the bars so all the bars are filled with smoke, and if we try to go dance the guys are all over us and won’t leave us alone, it just really is not my idea of a good time and my family does not necessarily get that.

My semester now is going to be fairly easy which is nice; I only have three classes, Spanish conversation, yoga and Jewelry making. I was going to take a psych class too but I went the first day and could tell that I was going to be really stressed out the whole time so I am just going to have an easy semester and work really hard when I get back.