2 Lists

I don't know if it's because Christmas time is in full swing here, or if it's because we'll soon be in the land of consumerism but lately I've had this running list of things that I would love to buy scrolling through my head. I thought I'd share it with you...

1. Nike Fit watch because I never know how far I'm running. Plus my watch died yesterday and it's driving me crazy to keep looking at my wrist and not seeing anything!

2. Vibram shoes, if you can call them that. I don't know why I really want a pair of these, I just do. They seem pretty versatile. A little bit like keens, a little bit like tennis shoes. Whatever it is, I want them!

3. Food Mill. I have wanted a food mill for ages but just haven't gotten around to buying one and now that we're here in Ecuador I don't even think they sell them. I know you may think that I could just use the food processor but when Ina says use a food mill, I believe that the food mill is what I should use.

4. Spice Grinder. Ours just broke and we seriously use this little gadget for everything. My coffee, tahini, egg meal, bone meal, spices. The spice grinder is used daily in our household.

5. Hiking Pants. Basically I want them because they're water resistant, light weight, and dry quickly! They're a much better alternative to the Ecua-pants, that I have a strange suspicion are only acceptable in Ecuador.

6. Camera. My point-and-shoot is dying. I have to use a bobby pin to get the battery out in order to recharge it. And for the first time, I feel like I'd actually like to learn about taking good photos. Largely in part because of this blog, but also because I feel like my photos have no depth and there's so much to take pictures of here that has depth. I really have no idea about this specific camera but I know I want something similar to this one.

7. Collapsible Dog Bowls. While travelling, there's nothing bulkier than Chuki's food and water bowls. If you saw the photos of our recent camping trip, that big black bag that Ryan had hanging from his pack was full of Chuki stuff. Including these super large dog bowls. These would be nice to have.

8. New clothes - work, life, running. I'm not talking a ton of new clothes but just the basics. No link necessary.

Like I said, I have this list scrolling through my head lately. But I also have this list too... The Things I'm Looking Forward To When I'm Home list, which includes...

1. Memory Foam Pillow. Our pillows here are terrible and I can't wait to have my beloved pillow back!

2. Pure Beech Jersey Sheets. These are heaven. If you don't have them, make your way to the nearest Bed Bath and Beyond to buy them RIGHT NOW!

3. Pizza from here, here and here.

4. Bogdan Christmas. Enough said.

5.  Cozy Pants. These specific ones I accidently left at my parent's house because I was wearing them when I was packing.

6. And of course, it's a given, but seeing friends and family!

I think maybe I'm a lists person. 


MULUB, 
Taylor

Japan v. Korea

So we've officially begun looking at jobs in Japan and Korea. We're thinking we'd want to start in the Fall of 2011. It makes me super excited to think about this new opportunity and just looking at the pictures on the websites are breathtaking!

But we need your help. It seems like everyone we know knows someone thats working in Asia as an English teacher. We're looking for two things:

1. People that teach English in Asia.
2. How to get in contact with them.

If you could help us with this, we'd really be appreciative. Right now we're only at the very beginning stages but after teaching for almost a year now, we certainly have a better understanding of what questions to ask and what to look for.

Thanks so much!

MULUB,
Taylor

On Friendship: Part 2 or 3

Old Friends...

I started talking about them in Part 1, but I tried to focus. Now, let me tell you something about old friends: there are no better people in the world. For me, my old friends are the most important people in the world to me. If you're one of my many, many family members, don't think that you're excluded from this category, because you aren't.

Pululahua

We're back from camping! It was so much fun. I feel absolutely refreshed and re-energized about living in Quito. There are some things only nature can do.

Camping

We're going camping today through Tuesday or Wednesday, we're not quite sure. We'll be camping in an active volcano crater, so it should be quite fun! We've heard its beautiful, actually we've been there and it is beautiful. But we haven't been down into the crater, just up on the rim.

I'm ready to get out of the city and commune with nature. Hopefully we all come back in one piece! We're taking Chuki so you never know what could happen. More on our trip when we get back!

MULUB,
Taylor

On Friendship: Part 1 of 3

The idea of friendship is one that I commonly think about. I also commonly think about all of my friends, both old and new, near and far. But the idea of friendship also creeps in quite frequently. What is it? How does it work? The evolution of friendships over time, distance and through changes. What does it mean to be a friend? How to be a good friend when you're not there to give a hug or to hang out.

Anyways, I have lots of different ideas on friendship rolling around up there and I wanted to get them on paper sooner, rather than later. So here goes an attempt at trying to successfully convey some of the ideas in my head.

Why I Blog

The point of this blog was originally to keep our friends and family back home updated on our daily life while we were away but its certainly turned into more than that. I find comfort in knowing that this blog is here and that it will be here for me to look through long after this experience here in Ecuador is over. It's become an outlet for me to express big idea ticket items and small everyday changes and occurrences.