It has been awhile...

So I have not posted in awhile because life has been pretty normal. This month will be eight months in the country and I feel like I have a life here. I have gotten used to the food, the language, even how they dance here! haha. Sometimes I do things that make me feel like I am more used to the Ecuadorian culture than American culture now.
Over the past month a few exciting things have happened. I went to Nicaragua in the beginning of January. It was the first time out of Ecuador since I got here. I got to see the kids from Nica that I fell in love with my first trip, ate a ton of platanos, went to the beach, and danced alot of salsa and bachata. It was a really nice trip and I felt more useful because I could use my spanish and some peace corps tools. But, it was also very different than my first 3 trips. This time, it was much less exciting to speak spanish and eat rice everyday because that is now an everyday occurance here in Ecuador. But, it was also great to see some friends from home and get to gossip with the girls in English.
Since then I have just been working. I started giving english classes to my friends here in my house three times a week. It's fun because I feel in my element as a teacher and speaking a language where I don't have to get caught up in not knowing what to say.
Otherwise, life is good here. I am getting excited for my trip this month with the Granings. I can't wait to see the three kids and give them hugs.
I have also been reading alot on my kindle which is an amazing tool to have here where books in english are scarce, expensive, and take up alot of space. Although I miss holding a book, it is just so darn convienent.
I will be trying to update more often, it is just less exciting now. But some fun things are coming up; like carnaval (a holiday that lasts 3 days) and me and my sisters birthdays. Exciting....