On and On and On and On

So yesterday, I continued the search for the perfect apartment! I saw 6 in total. All were dog friendly and all (but one) were in the area that we want to be in.

Two of them were these uber modern one bedroom (which they call suites here). We're talking brand new appliances and granite counter tops with stainless steel. Of course, they didnt have refrigerators (none of the apts do). They were both fine in size... not huge but not tiny. They might feel a little small when Chuki gets bigger. One had a patio, one didnt. Of course the one w the patio was a little bit further and the one w/o was across the street from Megamaxi!

I also saw a house, a very big house, that was converted into 3 apts. It was really big, had a weird layout and the owners lived downstairs. So that was out!

Then we saw a really nice 3 bedroom for really cheap but it was really far away... OUT.

The one that were leaning towards is about a 10 - 15 minute walk to Inlingua but closer towards Ryan's other classes. Its one bedroom but HUGE. It was a great long terrace with a beautiful view! A big kitchen and 3 bathrooms. Plus it has a laundry room of sorts with a doggy door that would be perfect for Chuki when we're gone. The only downside is it's a little more that we were looking to spend. Another thing... it has a pool and a sauna and a yard with a playground and a big bbq for everyone to use!

Entonces, we're hopefully going to make a decision today or tomorrow. And we'll let everyone know!

MULUB,

Taylor

Again

And again today, I saw two police officers (this time they were metropolitan police, yesterday they were national police. Gotta diversify!) buying pirated DVDs out of the trunk of the same car. Tomorrow I'm half expecting to find Correa on the street filling his crack-pipe.

-Ryan

Apartment Hunting

So we've begun the search. Today we'll see apt. number 3. The first was down the street from our house which was great. It's unfurnished, which we're beginning to think might be ok, especially if rent is a little cheaper. It was a 2 bedroom, 2 bath that's being remodeled right now. Pretty nice and dog friendly. Drawbacks... no oven and no refrigerator. So we'd have to purchase those. Plus we'd have to have them come down on the price.

The second was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. It was brand new, big and luxurious. 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, unfurnished. But we're talking granite and hard wood and built in storage units! It was too expensive to live in alone, so we'd need a roomie and it was only Schnauzer friendly, not Chuki friendly.

Today we'll see another at 10am and on Sunday we have an apt to see another at 12. I'm going to search the newspaper on Sunday morning and so we'll have a bunch more to see after that!

Wish us luck.

MULUB,

Taylor

Classic

Today on my way to work, I saw two police officers buying pirated DVDs from the trunk of a car. You stay classy.

-Ryan

Some Unfortunate News

Last night we we're rather awkwardly asked to leave our apartment under the premise that Chuki barks too much when we are away. There are a whole range of emotions flying around between Ryan and I, but that isn't the point of this post.

So, we're on the market again for a new place to live. We've been looking up in apartment building windows again and we'll probably try to set up some appointments for this weekend. Needless to say, Ryan's golden birthday will be spent not on a great mini-vacay but instead probably looking at one crappy apartment after another.

If anyone of our Quito mates that read this know of a place to live that is DOG FRIENDLY we would love to know! We're not expecting something as spacious or as convenient as this place is. But it will be nice to live completely on our own. Without this weird pressure/expectation/being treated like children of the family.

Anyways... that's what's new on our end. We're looking forward to being in a new place but not looking forward to all of the work it takes.

More importantly we need to figure out this barking thing with Chuki. I can imagine its pretty mind-numbing when a dog just barks and whines and barks and whines.

The craziest part is that last night they told us he barks every morning from 5am to 9am. Which is absurb, seeing that I have to get him out of bed at 5:45 for a walk and we don't leave till 6:45. But anyways... so we wanted to see how long he really barks for. So we set up the flip (courtesy of the lovely Miss Roslyn) on the table, turned it on, gave him a bone, and left. Now the flip recoded for 1 hour and 42 minutes and not a single bark was uttered by Chuki. Other dogs, yes, Chuki, no. So riddle me that.

Who the heck knows! But we'll be looking =) WOO HOO, not.

MULUB,

Taylor

PS. This is when I really miss simple things like Craigslist and Yelp and rent.com. Where you can just enter neatly into electronic fields all of things you are looking for and BOOM a super long list of possibilities. Oh the 3rd World... oh Ecuador.

Been a long time coming...

There's a lot of things I've missed being away from the States: March Madness, Spring, Tea Parties. But with absolute certainty, the thing that I am the most upset about missing is the introduction of this mofo:

The KFC Double Down. I mean, if this "sandwich" possesses a single fault I can't find it. Other than perhaps another chicken breast could be added, somewhere. Hell, maybe throw in a donut or something, too. Lord knows I'd be the last to complain.

First, McDonalds comes in with their McGriddle trying to be real cutting-edge. Ooooo, a sandwich made out of pancakes. BOOOORING!!! Call me when you're using fried chicken breasts.

"Hello, Ryan. It's the Colonel, we need to talk...".

This "sandwich" is everything that is right with America, and I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free. And I gladly stand up next to this "sandwich". God bless the USA.

After "do you smoke?" and "are you sexually active?", doctors are going to start asking, "Have you consumed a Double Down in the last 48 hours?". And well they should. I think the CDC might get involved as well.

There is KFC in Ecuador (Gus is better), but who knows if they'll carry this item. I certainly hope they do. If not, I guess it's back to boring old bread. Ho hum.

-Ryan

Congratulations Are in Order!

One of our dearest friends, Jenna, and her Mark got engaged! We are soo excited for the both of them. It's a little bittersweet being so far away at times like these. When we decided to move to Ecuador, I didn't think about missing things. I mean I knew I would miss things, like Chipotle and Trader Joes. But I didn't think about missing events. How could we have known, but since we've been gone Caders has been in the hospital, Toby has been in the hospital, my brother has been in the hospital, Adam is getting married and Jenna and Mark got engaged. I didn't think about missing things like this. Big things, life things, things I'd love to be there for.

But alas, if seeing the world and being content means missing some big life things, instead of being at home in a job that I hate and always yearning for more so that I could be there for them... well, the decision has been made.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the mobile life. For some reason, I love the fact that all of my possessions can be packed into 2 suitcases (or are in storage in my parents' basement). I've been thinking about all of the things that that means. We're an opportunity to present itself in Argentina or Colorado or Alaska, we could go. It wouldn't be hard. We could literally pack our bags (all 4 of them) and leave.

While I love everyone at home and it can tear me up at times to think about missing things, I know that, for me, this life, the mobile life, is the right decision. I see something new everyday, I explore someplace new every week, I eat new foods and I am learning a new language. Even the littlest task can be an adventure. This life here feeds a desire that is so essential to who I am.

But more than the sense of adventure and exploration and newness, when I am abroad I learn more about myself than when I am at home. Period. Fact. It's just how it is. Abroad stretches you, and challenges you, and surprises you, and teaches you about the world and about yourself.

I'm sad to be missing things at home. But I'm not sad enough to come home... anytime soon. And I hope, for myself, that the promise of abroad always outshines the comfort of home. So Congratulations Jenna and Mark! I wish I could be there to see the ring and to look through magazines with you, but I'm sure you'll manage and I'm sure I will too. That's what SKYPE is for after all, right?

MULUB,

Taylor