You've Got to be Kidding!!

I have a confession...

I have always wanted to serve on a jury. I was in a leadership class in high school that took us on a field trip to the local courthouse. There, we learned about the judicial system and even participated in a mock trial. I was captivated by the entire process. I definitely knew I wanted to be a part of a trial some day, not as a defendant mind you. Alas, I soon realized that I was not ambitious enough to become a lawyer and no law school meant not trying out the judge role. I decided that I would happily settle for being a member of the jury.

When I turned 18, I thought it would just be a short amount of time before I was called to serve jury duty. But that summons never came. Any time a friend would be summoned I would share my envy at their good fortune, which was often met by confused and awkward silences.

So now, almost twelve years later, Dave and I are happily living in Ecuador. What should arrive in the mail today at my parent's house?

My first jury summons.

Sheesh....typical.

Yes or No?

A couple weeks ago, slipped in the far reaches of my mailbox, I found a note that took me back to the good ol' days of elementary school.
You know what I'm talking about. Remember how you would just be sitting at your desk, one leg pumping back and forth, pencil eraser nudging your bottom lip, as you tried to puzzle out those mind-boggling multiplication tables? And then, out of the corner of your eye, you would see Andy passing a note to Melissa, who would then pass it on to Mark, who would then palm it off to you right before Mrs. Nelson turned around from the blackboard. Your name would be written all in cursive and curly-q's on the clumsily folded paper. Carefully, stealthily, you unfold the paper to find:
Well, InterAmerican sent me a 'check yes or no' note, and it raised the same sensation of anxiety that those old love notes of yesterday used to inspire. Instead of the traditional, "do you like me?" question, it was the "will you continue …

Ecuadorian Fun Facts

D and I have been reading up like crazy, trying to prepare for our huge move to Ecuador. I have started to share little fun facts with my students each day about the customs and the food. I have found that the more disgusting the fact, the more the kids love it. Some of their favorite facts:

* Guinea pig is considered a delicacy in Ecuador. It dates back to the time of the Inca's and is referred to as cuy. The Ecuadorians call it cuy because of the sound the guinea pig makes when it is roasted.

* You never flush your toilet paper down the toilet in Ecuador, you place it in the trash cans next to the toilet.

* Hot showers are a rarity, with many showers requiring you to connect the electrical heat wires inside of the shower stall yourself. This gives you about three minutes of hot water along with an electrical shock.

* Animals that might be living with you include iguanas, bats, snakes, rats, various bizarre insects, and of course, guinea pigs.

* The celebration beverage of …

Beach Shmeach

After an almost two year experiement in living, Dave and I have come to the conclusion that we are not beach people.

Sand? Not a fan.
Being in a sea of people who, let's be honest, are a lot more confident in what they are wearing then they should be? I can live without it, my eyes will forever thank me. (Seriously? Speedos? Why are people letting their friends leave the house in those?)
Yes, the ocean is beautiful. And big. And just a little frightening with all those crashing waves that pull you under water and provide that "I've just been tossed into a washing machine during the speed cycle" feeling.
Besides that, I tend to burn. And then freckle. Not good.
I can't help it...I wasn't born to be enchanted by the swaying palm trees and shimmering sunsets. I mean, I'm from Idaho. Give me the mountains anyday.
And this is why Dave and I headed to Vilcabamba, Ecuador for Semana Santa, instead of following the rest of Ecuador to the coast. There w…

Living The Good Life

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