La Casa de Juliana

For a while now, Juliana has been asking us if we'd like to go to her house to meet her family and try her favorite Ecua dish.  Of course we did!!! It took us all semester, but yesterday we finally got to go.  She invited her aunts and uncles and her grandmother, and we got to meet all of her siblings.  They were all so kind to us.  We enjoyed a delicious meal of encebollado (soup with fish and a bunch of other things!!) that her mom prepared, and then we all sat in the living room and talked for a couple hours.  It was the most encouraged I have felt in a long time.  I was able to share stories, understand everything they were saying, make jokes, and even laugh at theirs.  I felt so accomplished, like I really have been learning Spanish while I've been here.  I know that sounds dumb, but some days its hard to know how much you've learned or improved.  Jenny even managed to explain the electoral college in Spanish!! Not sure I could do that in English!

After a wonderful time with her family, Jenny, Anneke, and I went back to Anneke's house (because her parents were out of town...we were keeping her company!) and had a good old-fashioned sleepover, complete with banana splits and chick flicks.

Amazing day, now a sick day.  Cool. Actually it's a good excuse to study for exams.  But I thought I was over this whole getting sick thing.  Less than 2 weeks left in the Dor...unbelievable.