Thursday, May 24, 2012

May 21, 2012- The Day of Departure!! :)


(wow… I’m realizing I’m going to have soooo much to talk about for every entry… I hope you all like reading.. ha)

This was the actual start of our crazy adventure! Woot! Woke up at 5 o clock to finish getting packed and then set out for Minneapolis! This would probably be the longest day I’ve ever experienced!! Traveled from Minneapolis, then Chicago, then had a 3 hour layover in Miami. Then we officially left the country!! :)

We FINALLY touched down in Quito, Ecuador (after a flight including “We Bought A Zoo”,  and complimentary wine, gin and tonics, and beer!) at around 11:20pm local time (which is also WI time!) As soon as we stepped off the plane you could feel the difference in the air pressure (you’re legs feel really funny..) Then we had to go through customs.. not exactly the first thing you want to do after an entire day of traveling.. but had a lovely surprise upon walking out of customs and into the airport lobby! After almost 3 years of not seeing him, I saw our exchange student José! SO AWESOME! :) We didn’t stay long and talk though, because we were all exhausted, so we got a taxi to take us to our hotel (Hotel Plaza Internacional).  Driving in Quito (even at night) is nuts. I don’t think I could ever figure out the roads. They just go in random directions, and… I’m pretty sure red lights are optional, at least at night because our driver definitely drove through a couple (not sure how that works!). Looking at all of the signs for all of the buildings and just the way the buildings are all set up and designed is what made me realize I was actually in a different country. I just kept thinking to myself, I’m not going to be able to understand anything for 3 months… great.. language barrier (surprisingly I think I’ll be able to pick up quite a bit of what I’ve lost, and figure out new things! By the time I get back I’ll be fluent…psh… yea right) When we got to the hotel, it was actually really sweet! Simple, and what not… but a really cool building! We all went to bed as SOON as we got there because not only did we have an exhausting day, but we had an early morning and a super eventful day that was going to start at 6:00 am..

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