My Month In Pictures

Hola 

So this has been my last whole month here. I haven't gone to school, instead I have been doing a lot of cool things like hanging out with friends. I'm gonna do this update different, I wont tell about my days, I will just put pictures up for you guys to see Ecuador and how my whole year has been. All the pictures have been taking with my phone so I apologize for bad quality.

Granadillas 

Ibarra by night

Juan one of my many cats here 

Strawberries you can by cheap on the street 

My favorite cake

Quito

Ceviche

Ibarra from Arnetta's house

Bananas 

Vulcan 

Papo, my dog looking after me 

Ceviche and Mango you can buy on the street 

Aji Loma, Diana's house

Love 

Ecuador Tour

Hola 

Long time since last time, sorry guys...
I'm just busy enjoying the last couple months I have here.

Today I will tell you guys about my last Rotary trip. The bus trip all around Ecuador.
Why ruin a good tradition of how I start every single update about my trips? So I'm gonna start with saying again Ecuador is BEAUTIFUL! It's not the first time I have been driving through whole Ecuador and got to see all the different landscapes Ecuador has, but that doesn't change the fact that Ecuador's nature is still stunning.

I'm just gonna tell the main things we did. I have seen so many things and done a lot on this trip, so if I had to tell it all I would never finish...

Day 1: Friday 16 of May
We spend all day, the first day in bus. We were driving to Guayaquil from Quito, 8-9 hours, but we had some small problems on the way there...

The wheel was burning 

But a beautiful place to stop

When we finally arrived, we had 5 minutes to change to nice clothes and blazer. We were going to a Rotary conference, to walk with our flags and take pictures.

Danes

Day 2: Saturday 17 of May
We visit a beautiful botanical garden in Guayaquil with many animals and beautiful flowers from all around Ecuador. Then we started heading to Cuenca (the next city), but on the way there we took a stop at Parque Nacional del Cajas, again very beautiful.

Botanical garden in Guayaquil

Parque Nacional del Cajas 

Day 3: Sunday 18 of May
We spend all day in Cuenca, walking around town to see all the old churches. We also saw a convent where the nuns never see the out side of the world. When they are brought there as kids, they are never allowed to leave again. No contact with the world outside.
Later we visited a place to see how to make blankets and stuff like that. That night at the Hotel there were a talent show, it was super funny and I had a great time. The Danish girls were singing Tilbud with TopGunn, we did an amazing job. ;)

Day 4: Monday 19 of May
The weather that morning was so bad, now you guys know and that's why I don't have any pictures myself. We started out by visiting some ruins called Ingapirca. After that the weather was already better and we went to Chimborazo, the tallest mountain in Ecuador and the worlds tallest point.
(Yes, Mount Everest is the tallest mountain, but Ecuador is already a high country so that makes Chimborazo the worlds tallest point).
For the first time in my life I ate llama... My favorite animal. But I gotta say wauw, that's some good meat. We were walking a beautiful tour, with a stunning view to Chimborazo and I was walking with an alpaca - it was so freaking cute.
Then off to Riobamba, the hotel there was crap, but it was one crazy night.

It was raining and cold 

Chimborazo 

My pet alpaca

The view over Riobamba from the rooftop

Day 5: Tuesday 20 of May
Baños, there we saw a lot of waterfalls, so pretty. We saw a huge waterfall called Palión del Diablo it was so beautiful and super cool, because you were able to crawl "under" the mountain and then stand behind the waterfall. Then we visited Puyo where we saw how they make wooden statues.

Sugar cane

Behind the waterfall 

Palión del Diablo

Day 6: Wednesday 21 of May
We visited a place like the rain forest, a little bit boring when you already have visited the real deal, but still cool. After that we had some time in Baños city. I bought a lot of this special caramel candy they have it's just so good! Off to Quito, that night in Quito we took a look around in La Rhonda - really nice.

Day 7: Thursday 22 of May
That day we visited Teleferico, the weather was bad and you couldn't see Quito city. Good I have been there before. Later Mitad del Mundo, the middle of the world. Then we drove to Ibarra. The hotel was really shitty and we weren't allowed to leave the hotel, because according Rotary Ibarra is a violent city, which is bullshit. We had a good time anyway, a lot of flag writing.

Teleferico

Day 8: Friday 23 of May
Atuntaqui a city with cheap clothes. Then Laguna de Cuicocha, so pretty! Then we went to Cotacachi the city of leather. It's a really nice little town. I bought a new wallet. Back to the hotel. That was our last night together all of us. We got our certificate and then of course a party.

Day 9: Saturday 24 of May
The last day. We got up super early to visited the market in Otavalo. it was weird being in Otavalo with all the exchange students, but I had a great time and bought a lot of things.
Then the goodbye. That's why it has taking me so long to write this update..
Saying goodbye is never easy, but saying goodbye to amazing people you know you might never see again is heartbreaking. So many wonderful people I will miss! What hurts the most about saying goodbye is knowing that my exchange is coming to an end and I'm not ready.
I can't believe this was the last trip.    

Love

Galapagos

Hola 

I have spend five amazing days on Galapagos. A trip I never will forget. I can't explain how beautiful Galapagos is. 

Rotary changed my group two times, but I finally got to go. I went together with the exchange students from the province Manabi. I was a little bit nervous before going, because I had never been talking with any of those guys (they live more than 8 hours away from me and we don't go on trips together). But they are all super nice and I got a whole bunch of new friends. 

As I already told you guys Galapagos is beautiful, such an amazing place. I wish, I already could go back. But lucky me this was my second time on Galapagos, I have been there before with my danish family, but long time ago. It was weird seeing the same things and remembering how I also have seen that with my family...

Well now let me tell you about my amazing adventures.  

We were living on the island called, Santa Cruz. Our hotel was really nice and we were living right in the middle of the town, that was awesome. There was a lot of tourist and something to do every night. We were divided in two groups for the daily activities, because only 16 people could be on each boat. My group was a super nice group.

I have been snorkeling with sea turtles, sharks, penguins (I have also touched them), sea lions, marine iguanas, stingrays and a million different fish in every single possible color, size and shape. The water was so blue and so clear. One day when we were sailing we saw a big group of dolphins, around 30 dolphins. They swam right in front of our boat. They were playing and doing tricks, the water was so clear and they were so near that we could see everything. Nothing less than amazing. The water could be a little bit cold, but the sun was burning so it was nice. And of course as also I got a terrible red sunburned tan - oops haha.

I have seen sea lions and iguanas everywhere! Every 10 meters I walked there would be a new group of sea lions or iguanas. I could get so close to them, it was amazing. The animals are so quiet and calm. God I just love sea lions, they are so cute. The way they wobble when they walk and how they are everywhere without giving a fuck. Then of course all the birds I saw Blue-Footed Boobies, Flamingos, Frigate Birds and more. There are just so many. I didn't see any wild turtles, but we went to two sanctuaries. So I saw the big turtles, I was so lucky that I got to see two turtles having sex, awesome. We didn't walk a lot on the different islands, mostly we stayed on a boat and just sailed around so we could watch the animals from the water.

I was so tired when I got home from Galapagos we had to get up every day around 6 or earlier. But we got to do all these amazing things, so totally worth it.

 Love 

You Know You Are In Ecuador When...

Hola 

I know I should write more here and update you guys about my life in Ecuador, but the thing is that it's all just a part of my (normal) life now...
I'm still completely in love with beautiful Ecuador, but going a weekend to Quito, visiting my friends in Ibarra, dancing or laughing my ass out to a workout in the gym, is just my life now and I don't find it interesting writing about it...
It's a nice feeling, finally feeling like it's home. Of course there is still things I miss and find very weird here, but my friends and amazing family makes it all better.

So today I won't give you a diary about my adventures, but tell some other things like...

You know you are in Ecuador when: 

• You eat rice every single day... (But you like it) 
• TRANQUILO... Time doesn't exist! 
• Hot water when you showering is a rare thing...
• Guys whistle after you, even though they are walking with there girlfriend...
• The most family's have a maid...
• You don't use seat belts...
• Coke with Rom or beers are the only things you drink at parties... 
• Guys dance better than girls...
• A nice dinner is chicken with fries... 
• Snickers bar are expensive...
• Nicknames are what you look like and not a shorter version of your name...
• ^^ You do not get offended of being called fx Chino (Chinese) or Gordito (chubby)... 
• Seeing a cow walking on the street is perfectly normal...  

Love

My 17 Birthday

Hola 

Yesterday was my 17 birthday.
I had such a good day, even though I was sick, I didn't go to school for that reason.

In the afternoon Diana called and said that I should meet her at Sisa. When I came Diana was there and she said I should follow her. We went to one of our favorites bars...
When I walked in all my friends from my class were there with cake and balloons.
It meant a lot to me!  

Cake on fire

Me eating my name 

Later I went to have dinner with my family at a nice restaurant in Sisa. 

And one more cake... 

So good! 

More cake on fire

Me and my host brother 

It was a really good cake! And a really good night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY in my living room 

Love 

6 months in Ecuador

Hola

Yesterday was my half year anniversary in Ecuador!

I can't believe I have already been here for 6 months. It's crazy how fast time goes by. It has been a half year with amazing adventures, the greatest people, beautiful nature in every direction and a lot of fun! Stuff that makes me fall a little bit more in love with Ecuador everyday.

But it has also been a half year without a hug from my mom, laughing with my best friends, fitting in, understanding everything and a 1000 other things I miss, and makes me wanna go home again.

I'm looking forward to even more adventures and more fun. I'm sucking in every moment I have left.
 
Love

Vacation

Hola 

So today was my first day in school after a loooong vacation, so I have a lot to tell. 

I have been traveling a lot! I haven't spend one single day home...
It's not because I have big things to tell, because mostly I have just been chilling with friends. 

I have been a lot in Ibarra, hanging out with Arnetta, normally we always buy ice cream or bake pancakes. But this vacation we have been on a lot of tours together.
For two days we went to Cayambe, to visit Arnetta's host cousin and aunt. They are really nice and I had a great time. We baked orange cake and Arnetta tried her first Shawarma - Que rico...  

A funny swing

Another day Arnetta and me took the bus to Cotachachi (the city of leather).
First we got lost, but with our excellent Spanish skills we asked somebody and found our way to the street where the stores only sell leather. I bought a new bag and Arnetta a new wallet.

When I get lost:

I love passion fruit here in Ecuador it's really good, and Diana's has a lot of trees.

So one day Diana, her sister and I took it to the next step... 

I have been to Quito visiting Sofie and some other friends.
Also one day Arnetta, Michelle (Arnetta's host cousin) and I went to Quito together.
We ice skated and that was fun. 

Wiiiiiii

So Arnetta and I was photo bombing people, it was really funny. But we were just about to leave when I saw a great opportunity to photo bomb a couple, but I was skating so fast that i couldn't stop in time, so I skated in to this guy - Ops... Perdón 

Basically me all the time:  

Then of course I have been to a lot of parties. 

One party that was really funny was the 14th February also valentines Day...
Valentines Day is a big thing here, flowers, balloons and red confide everywhere.

First I was in Quito visiting a friend, there was a lot of traffic so I got home really late and it was raining like crazy, so i went straight to Diana's family's coffee shop where Diana was and took a taxi home to her. It was supposed to be a chill night just with a couple of friends, because her parents weren't home, but no! A couple more guys then we had expected showed up. 

Later we were hungry so we started to make cupcakes, but only the half of the cupcakes actually made it to the oven... Haha 

Yes, that is cake in my face 

Saturday I went to Ibarra and stayed to Sunday (yesterday). We were suppose to go to a party, but that didn't happened. Paul (Arnetta's host brother) had a lot of friends over because the next day they had a concert. So we were listening to them practicing all night.
Sunday was the concert and they did a good job. 

Just some pictures... 

Making pizza with my host mom

A Danish flag!! Wuup Wuup 

My cat 

<3<3

Love