It's been two month since I sent my "very very long e-mail". So here's another. Haha.

January- a month of realization.

Nothing too special occurred in January, just observations. I discovered how much I like this funky little country and how much I am going to miss it. But that wasn't the only thing that I discovered. This month I was the mood-swing-queen. Everyday was a different emotion.One day I would be extremely happy, the happiest one can be,  and the next I would really really mad, the maddest one can be. After talking to many people I came to the conclusion that my moods were on over drive and out of control. The reason for this was because they were lacking the one thing in my life the stabilizes them every year- snowboarding. I love snowboarding and everyone knows it, even here. Each year when I am on the snow I am able to get away from the city life and have time for just me. Being here in Ecuador, I am not able to do that, because there is no snow. The solution to this problem is to keep myself busy and do lots of exercise. 

Trip 
On January 29 I left for vacation, and I didn't come back to Quito till February 6. I went to Ambato, the city of flowers, fruit, and luck. My host-grandfather lives in this city and invited me to stay with him for a week. My first day in the city we visited my grandfather's work. He is an architect and had designed a Cancer hospital (that just finished last week). I also visited some other exchange students (Jakob- Poland and Ruben- Canada) we went to the highest point in Ambato and they showed me where and what everything this was. We also made vegan pancakes with Canadian maple syrup, "Yum!".

Day two- I had lunch in the city market. It is know threw out Ecuador that Ambato's city market has some of the very best empanadas de morocho (Ecuadorian food) and jugo de coco y mora (blackberry and coconut juice). This day I had a tour of the city and visited Chimpichicha, the pueblo of the very best leather.

Day three- I hung out with some exchange girls, but in the night I went to the city of Baños. Baños is one of the most popular tourist places in Ecuador. I only visited for a few hours but I fell in love. Baños is one of the last towns before you enter the Amazon, so it's very warm at night and a lot more humid than Quito. It is called Baños for the pools. My favorite part about Baños is the waterfall. There is a 5+ story high waterfall on the edge of the city, it truly takes your breath away. 
Day four- In the night I went to a Ecuadorian music concert. February 1st till the 3rd is Ambato Days, there are lots of concerts, parties, gathering, etc. This concert I went to had more than 18,000 people, the concert started at 7PM and was still going when I left at 1AM. 
Day five- the city cathedral was decked out for the Ambato Days, there was a monument made over of fruit and flowers, really amazing. This day I learned to make empanadas de viento. Another Ecuadorian food that I can't describe in an e-mail, however will be glad to make them for anyone that asks.
Day six- my host mom, brother and aunt were in town and that night my uncle and his family were coming, we decided to take a trip out to Patate. Patate is a little village before Baños. Located on the side the Tungurahua Volcano.
Day 7- after returning to Quito all my family went back to Quito except my grandfather and I. Two of our friends and my grandfather and I went to Puyo. Puyo is in the Amazon and it is Humid! and Hot! On the way to Puyo you have to drive threw the mountain, the view is indescribable. The pants, animals, waterfalls, rivers, pueblos, and even the people make the 4 hour car ride so enjoyable.  

Day 8- In Puyo. We visited an exotic animal farm, an orchid jungle, a water park river and a lot more. The Amazon is really incredible. We ate lunner (lunch/dinner) in Baños.On the way out of Baños we passed the Tungurahua Volcano, my friend and I watched as black smoke poured and lava jumped in small squirts out of the top. The volcano was active and suppose to blow anytime. My grandfather was glad it didn't go will we were on the side of it. That night was my last night in Ambato, my grandfather and I stayed in and played Rummy and talked about my week with him. I went to bed at 10:30 and turned my iPod on. The volcano blew at 11o´clock, because of my iPod I didn't even hear it.
Day 9- After visiting the hospital one last time we drove back to Quito. It was sad to come back.
February- moving?

January 28, the night before I left for my trip I got news that I would be moving to Cumbaya. Almost all Rotary Clubs require that exchange students move families at least once during the year to experience other family cultures. I was suppose to move February 9th, three days after my trip. However February 7th I was told I would be moving till the following Saturday the 16th. The reason was because of a problem with another student, but when the following week came I became the problem. My school is really small here and located in North Quito, because of the size and location there is no bus that goes out to Cumbaya. So once again the moving was changed to the following Saturday the 23. Before the 23rd came my problem was resolved. Someone else would go to Cumbaya and I would move to another family in Quito. It sounded like the perfect plan, a girl from Cumbaya would come to the family I have been living with and I would stay in Quito and other people would move to where they needed to go. But once again another problem came, February 21 I fould out that the girl from Cumbaya would be moving in the 23rd but I wouldn't be moving out yet. The family I would be moving to had some issues and asked if I could move in the 1st of March. My family had no problem keeping me (they don't want me to move anyways) and I love this family, however I had a mayor issue with the girl moving in. She had been rude to me and I wasn't ready to live under the same roof with her. The week pasted by so slowly and I was never home, barely ever saw her. But when I had to stay home from school because I was sick and she did too, I thought I would snap. I was wrong. The two of us talked about our countries, friends, families, and problems, after 3 hours both of us looked at each other differently. In those three hours I told her more than I have told most people and she did the same. Word of advise, if you don't know some one's history or what is going on with them don't judge them because they will judge you and you two will have to trapped in the same house until it gets worked out. March 1st came and everyone was sad that I was moving, however there was a problem. The family I was moving to had not called all week and we had no clue what was going on. They called that night asking if I could move in the following day, my host mother wouldn't allow it. She refuses that I leave this house until I know the other family. Today March 5th, I haven't heard from the other family yet and I am suppose to be moving in this Saturday. My host mom is going to talk to my counselor about the option of having me stay in this house.

I go home in 3 and half months and I don't want to move anymore. My host brother and my relationship is better than ever, my host mom and dad are really sad about the idea of me leaving, my host sister in Brazil e-mailed me asking that I don't leave because she said that I am making her family happy, and I am currently living with my new best friend. I have been in this house almost 7 months and am very comfortable. I have grow so much as a person with this family that moving for so little time to another family just could never be the same. I am still open to the idea of moving, if I have to I will, but if I have to survive my last 3 months with the "crazy" family, I would be glad to.

Announcements
Life is wonderful, new life is even better. Yesterday the world changed for many people. Two very important people in my life, Michael and Carolynn Moody, had a baby girl. At 2:12AM Eliana Grace Moody was welcomed to the world. And only 10 hours later, my Uncle David (Oogie) and Aunt Gina, had a baby boy. My new baby cousin is named James Edward Rose and in a few years is going to be snowboarding with me. Haha

In other news, school is great, I have a GPA of 3.776, Quito is great, clear sky and sunny, and life is great, I am in Ecuador! The only bad news I have to report is that I am sick with a sore throat and apparently I have an accent. It's not that bad of news.

Miss everyone a lot, hope all is well.
I send hugs and kisses.
G