Home sweet home.

The last day with the kids in Quito was a lot like I imagined it. They didn't understand that we were leaving. They ran out to their parents at the end of the day and didn't look back. It made things a lot easier on me. It reminded me how adaptable children are. They are resilient. They bounce back, and I'm almost certain that we're already a memory to them. I don't mean this in a sad way, because I truly believe in the difference we've made in the past two weeks. I believe that being loved and nurtured is the way children grow up to feel secure. I wish I could spend fifty two weeks per year giving children the love that they deserve, but I guess that job will fall into my hands soon enough. In a year I hope to be caring for kids through music, and in ten years I hope to be taking care of kids of my own.

It's nice to be home but I miss the people and weather and dogs and fresh juice of Quito! I miss our host family and dulce de leche and playing with little kids. Home has been relaxing compared to the action-packed, energy-draining days of running after kids, speaking Spanish, and touring Quito. It's comforting to be back in my own bed and with my family again.

I missed my guitar a lot so I spent some quality time with it today. I wrote some new lyrics that I really like, but I couldn't write much music. I only have another day before we're separated again! We're leaving for Puerto Plata on Sunday morning. I'm excited to spend a lot of time with my family and practice Spanish even more. I've decided to look into some kind of Spanish class, hopefully this fall, but definitely some time within the year. It's become increasingly important to me to master this language and with all the practice I've had in the last two weeks, I've realized that it's possible.

I have a beautiful picture of me and Courtney with our host family that I will be sure to post as soon as a I put it on my computer. I am so grateful that I was able to get to know them.

Thanks for reading and for all the support through this experience. If you keep reading, I'll keep writing! Paz a todos.

Music day.

Today was great because kids are great. Before I left for Quito, I bought a few instruments to bring for the kids. I wasn't sure whether or not to even bring them in when I met all thirty of los niños. I decided to bring them today and it ended up being a great idea. Music is so motivating! Of course, after completing 3/4 of a bachelor degree in music therapy, this is not the first time I've stumbled upon this phenomenon. It was just cool to experience it here because, as corny as it sounds, music really does have the power to transcend language barriers.

Music is motivating because it is inviting and rewarding. Today, a little boy who I haven't heard speak for the past week and a half, sang some of the words to "La Araña Pequenita" or "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." When I took out a tambourine, a group of kids sat around me and took turns hitting it while we sang a song about un barquito that my Grandma and cousin Olivia taught me. Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but it was the first time that the kids actually shared something without fighting since I've been here. (Of course, they required quite a few "Si quieres tocar, tienes que sentarse!") It was a big deal!!! Music is motivating. I rest my case.

Tomorrow is our last day of work. I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye to the kids. They're so young that they will likely forget us soon, but we'll never forget them. I hope that some part of their lives have been affected by our presence here. I feel like we've been here forever, but what's two weeks in the life of a kid? It's so strange to just walk away. Today I was listening to music with a little boy named Lenny who (shhh don't tell) is easily my favorite. Him and I have had a lot of fun times the past two weeks. Anyway, we were playing some American pop music and the song "Gonna Get Over You" by Sara Bareilles came on. He was sitting on my lap and we were singing to each other, him pretending to know the words in a language he doesn't speak, while I was singing the line "Ohhhh how am I gonna get over you?" I don't know how I'll get over Lenny or Michael, Mateo, Cristofer, Janita, Daniella, Martin, Alejandro, or Taira, but maybe I don't have to. Maybe I can always keep them with me, wishing them well wherever they are, with whatever they do, and whoever they grow up to be.

 

 

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Pictures and video that wouldn't post last night...day

 

 

 

View of Quito from El Panecillo from kelsala on Vimeo.

 

 

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Mountain day.

I've loved mountains ever since I started watching the WB show, Everwood, when I was a kid. I remember wanting to live in Everwood, Colorado, a small town surrounded by mountains, where everyone knew each other. Well, Quito is kind of reminding me of Everwood. It doesn't matter where you are in the city, you're completely surrounded by beautiful, snow-capped mountains and volcanoes.

Today we went to El Panecillo, which is a mountain-top statue of Mama Mary with wings. It was breathtaking. I have never seen anything like the view from up there.

I took a video from up on the statue but for some reason I can't post it :( and I'm losing patience because I'm very tired so I'll try to update this post with the video tomorrow. It's awesome.

Last night we went to a karaoke bar! I sang "Let It Be" and "Someone Like You." It was a lot of fun. We drank beer from tiny glasses. Very classy. I'll add pictures tomorrow. My usually trusty app Blogsy is failing me!

Buenos noches a todos!

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Quito day.

This will be a short one because we're leaving for la discoteca! Today we went downtown. We found a cool shop that sold local goods, a fair trade shop, and a delicious restaurant! We ate tamales, pollo, chocolate con queso (they're so smart), and helado. For two three course meals it cost us twenty seven dollars!

Today I got to video chat with so many people I love! They were all at my Uncle Eddie's annual July 4th BBQ. Thank God for technology or I would've missed it for the first time in my life.

Here are some pictures :)

 

 

 

 

 

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Sick day.

Well, it's been a sneezy week and when we woke up this morning, we realized that we probably needed a sick day. Courtney caught a cold from the kids and my allergies have been driving me crazy from the first day we got here. The food has also been a little tough on my stomach. We've been sleeping all day, trying to rest so we can do some sightseeing this weekend. This week has felt very long, and it's finally caught up with us. Being in a foreign country is incredibly overwhelming and the thought of only being halfway done is a little bit scary, to be honest. We've enjoyed every day here, but things like our health, the language barrier, and the large amount of kids we've been taking care of seem to be a bit more than we can handle. We're trying to take it day by day.

Thanks again for reading. Here are some more pictures of the babies that we love so very much :)

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Tired day.

Wow. Estoy cansada. I even took a nap when we got home and I'm still tired. It's a good tired. It's like the feeling you have when you have to wake up early for something awesome like a wedding or vacation. I've been waking up and pushing the tired out of my mind because I know I get to spend my day with the coolest kids.

I'm so glad Courtney and I came here together. I wouldn't want to be alone here, mostly because every day something unexpected happens. It's nice to lean on each other. Courtney is also one of the funniest people you'll ever meet so she has been the comic relief in my life for the last five days (but also for the last nine years!)

Short post because I'm tired but here are some pictures! Thanks to everyone who is reading. Happy 4th!

 

 

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