Updates on Chuki

After worrying and trying to figure out what to do with Chuki while we were gone, I'm happy to report that he had just as much fun on his vacation from us, as we had on our vacation home! I can't wait definitely what it is, but Sebas and his family have a way with dogs. Chuki came home to us much more calm and much more happy. Knock on wood.

As this is our first dog, ever, we're learning what works and what doesn't and we're not afraid to ask for help. Sebas is still on vacation, so I haven't had a chance to ask him exactly what it is that he did with Chuki while we were gone. But all of a sudden, Chuki is playing by himself, sleeping more, not going 100% crazy when we walk in the door. All of these things are SERIOUSLY amazing!

The best part about it is that Sebas and his family really enjoy having Chuki at their house. It's seriously win win. Which makes me really feel blessed, especially as there are lots of little trips we want to take before we leave Ecuador for good!

In other news, Chuki loved all of the Christmas presents that we bought for him at home. Actually, we haven't given all of them to him yet, but he's loved the ones he's received so far. Ryan took him for a walk with his backpack on (yes, we bought Chuki a backpack). It made him REALLY hot, so we'll have to plan for that next time we want to take a hike with the pups. He's also LOVING the real bone we bought for him. He will seriously sit and chew the thing for an hour and then fall asleep. It's amazing! Plus for the price of the real bone and the huge amount of time it will take him to finish it, they're quite a deal. I think the best thing so far has been the $5 stocking we bought at one of the pet chain stores in the States. He freaking loves those little toys with the squeaky things in them. Ryan didn't think he'd play with them because so far his favorite toys have been water bottles, but he does play with them BY HIMSELF! AMAZING!

We're saving some of the presents we bought because his birthday is coming up on January 16. We're thinking we'll have a BBQ outside and grill him a big steak! But we'll see!

All in all, we're happy to be home and reunited with Chuki. I just can't wait for him to be in IL this summer. He's going to have so much fun swimming in the river and running around in all of the parks. Plus he has so many fun people to meet.

MULUB,
Taylor

PS. He's also thrilled to be back to home cooking instead of ProCan! Every time we feed him he gets so excited I think his little nub is going to wag right off of him!

NYE Ecua Style

Happy 2011 Everyone!

I can't believe that it's 2011 and that for all but 19 days, we've spent that whole year living in Ecuador. 2010 was a really great, really rewarding, really teaching, and really challenging year. I learned a ton about myself, about Ryan, about a new culture, about love and friendship and about growing up. And honestly, I'm so excited for 2011. We have a lot to see and do here in Ecuador, then we'll be home in IL for 4 months and then off to some place else to do everything all over again. How could I not be excited?

Money?

In an attempt to try and be a grown up in 2011, I'm putting together a budget so that Ryan and I can see what we are spending our money on. I'm actually really proud of how we've been spending our money and I think we've both grown a lot in regards to buying things and consumerism on a whole. But I think I'd like to be able to see more clearly, how much we spend and what we spend it on. Plus I would like to have the information as we continue to travel so that I have a concrete understanding of living expenses in different parts of the world. Thus starts a new little section of this blog... the money section. Now, if you get a kick out of trying to keep your cooking expenses down while still enjoying tasty, tasty meals I have to point you in the direction on Budget Bytes. This site is amazing. I'm going to try and recreate a little bit of what she does here. I understand that this is probably more for my own interest than anyone else's, but as this blog has somewhat replaced a personal journal... all is fair!

Enjoy!

We're home

Well, we're back home in Ecuador! Our day of traveling yesterday went well. Only a minor delay in Tampa, about 30 minutes, but no big deal! Sebas dropped Chuki off last night around 10 and, just like everyone said, he was beside himself with excitement. It's great to have him home and for our little family of three to be reunited. Unfortunately, I have caught whatever my brother was sick with while we were on vacation and I got progressively worse yesterday while we were traveling. My fever broke this morning, but I'm still really achy and flu-like. The great thing is, Chuki is SO tired after playing all day for the last three weeks, that he's still asleep!

Stay tuned for details and photos about our trip! Thank you to everyone who made our trip home special! And a big thank you to everyone who took care of things here in Ecuador, so we could actually go home (Sebas, Sarah and Corine!).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

MULUB,
Taylor, Ryan and Chuki

Tomorrow is Wednesday, December 8

Today is our last day of teaching, last day of packing, last day of shopping and last day of cleaning... Because tomorrow we fly to IL! We're so excited, we can't even wait!

See you tomorrow everyone!

MULUB,
Taylor

PS. By Friday of last week, I was back to normal and my migraine was gone! Thanks for all of your thoughts and concerns!

Migraines....

I wrote this on Thursday of this week, when I was suffering from a massive migraine. Enjoy!

You can't tell, but my eyes are closed and without the flash it was pitch black in there!

Right now I’m laying in bed, flat, without any pillows because I have a migraine. Now, I’m familiar with migraines, we’ve been in a love/hate relationship for about five years now. They love me, I hate them. But this isn’t any kind of migraine. This one today is one of only four I’ve ever had in my whole entire life. This is the kind that when it happens, I feel like I’m going to die. As I type this, I have all of the lights off in the apartment, all of the curtains closed, a warm towel over my eyes, and Christmas music on very very quietly, so quiet I can barely hear it. 

Fiestas de Quito

Alright its Holiday time here in Ecuador! Everyone is celebrating and we're teaching our last classes with our students of 2010. Crazy how time flies, really. We're extra celebration-y because here in Quito we have Fiestas de Quito, which my students lovingly translate 'Quito Parties.' What happens for the Quito Parties, you might ask... Well, I will tell you, to the best of my ability.