So we bought these bananas...

So we bought these bananas the other day. They were still bright green, but we figured we'd save them for later, so we bring them home, and over the last few days, while they have stayed bright green in color, they have also grown hundreds of brown spots, so brown now, you almost can't see the bright green underneath. Isn't that weird? Huh....

....Hello all! Well, we're working on our 10th month here, can you believe it? Sometimes we can't even believe it and then other times we feel like we've lived here all our lives. We look forward to coming home soon to work for a little bit and save up some more money. The goal for me is to be able to support myself here, but it looks like that will take some time to set up.

Our goal is to stay through September at least, so as to be at both our conventions for the year, our assigned Spanish one and also the special Anual English Assembly. And then we hope to come home for a little bit to see everyone. And to shop!!! If I could afford the plane ticket, I would go home tomorrow just for 3 days, shop, shop, shop, then come right back. There are no places to buy decent clothes, shoes, etc... and when we left, we thought maybe we'd be here for 6 months, so we weren't as prepared as we could have been to be staying so long. So we are hurting for a Nordstrom Rack or even a Goodwill. What we would give for an hour in Goodwill. I'll even take the downtown Hillsboro Goodwill. Come to think of it, a Thrift World even sounds pretty good.

We've had so many encouraging experiences and the support from the friends here is incredible. When we talk about leaving, some of the sisters get teary eyed! They love having us here, and that makes us even more content to stay. The service, while always "challenging", (after 20 some years in US territory, 10 months has not yet cured us of what we're use to) is productive and enjoyable.

The most recent party we made an appearance at was the Despedida de Vanessa. (Vanessa's going away party) Vanessa is the cutest little thing, sister to our friend Omar. She use to go to our hall, but left just as we came to support the sign language group. She is now moving to Ibarra to serve there in the Sign field. Her mother is devastated. Children here simply do not leave their parents home until they are married. Thus the shocked remarks when we tell them that our parents supported our decision to come here and they don't call us twice a day to check on us. When we say that we don't cry every day for our parents, they look at us like we are the cruelest children ever to live. It's an interesting study in culture. Many times, we don't understand how our culture is until we've lived another one to compare it to.

The only other piece of interesting information is in the form of a very frustrating story. As you know, my wallet got stolen on the bus a couple weeks ago and I lost my identification card. Here in Tumbaco around home, I hardley need to use it, but any traveling we do definitely requires the card. The police do random checks and stops and if I don't have my card on me, there's trouble. Anyway, so I finally got around to going to Immigration in Quito to apply for a new card. After a frustrating series of instructions, they sent me off to a near by store to make copies of random pages of my passport. No one will make copies of things for you, even if it should be part of their job. When I returned, they informed me that they couldn't help me because I had no denuncia, a police report beasically, explaining my loss. So I went back home feeling quite defeated.

A few days later, I made my way to the Comisaria, Police Station, to get a copy of the denuncia. After explaining my entire story to the officer behind the desk, he sent me to a different building next door, where I was assured I would be helped. After waiting next door for 30 minutes watching the women do absolutely nothing, she told me I would have to go to the Police station in Cumbaya, as they were just too busy to help me. As I neither live in Cumbaya or lost my wallet in Cumbaya, I was really hoping the knew what they were talking about.

Anyway, I finally made it to Cumbaya today and went to the Police Station, where I asked the first lady where to go. For some reason, every single person I talked to through this whole process got really confused until I finally had to explain to them that I am an extranjera and didn't have the regular ID that they have. "Oh, you're not from here? OK, then go here..." Duh! I neither look nor speak that well! But I still kind of liked it. Well, she directed me to a closed office, which obviously wasn't helpful. I waited there until some one else came by and begged them to send me in the right direction. They told me better to go straight to the head sergaint's quarters. He would surely take my report as he likes "nenas lindas" (creepy). So I went around the building to the back, through an alley and found myself in the middle of a drill of sorts. The police here are more like military. Instead of carrying nice, side hand guns, they all carry rifles and semi automatics. It's ridiculous. Anyway, the guy in charge saw me, called me over, asked what I wanted and stopped the drill to take me to his office. Turns out he wasn't creepy at all, very helpful and professional actually. Half way through the report, he realized I didn't have a copy of my passport, so off I was sent to find a store with a copy machine. "Hopefully," he said, "We'll still be open when you come back." I decided that if they were closed when I got back, I was leaving this ridiculous country for good! (just kidding...) It was pretty funny by then. So I left the station, walked around the park down were all the stores were. Every store I went into assured me that the store next door had one, so in i went... to 6 stores before finding the right one.

Ok, back to the Police office. This time the drill was over and 2 officers were getting in big trouble in front of the office, while all the other officers looked on. Not sure what happened, but they were getting yelled at big time. I had no idea if I was suppose to wait for permission to walk through this procession or what. By that time, I was so irritated, I didn't even care. I said excuse me, and walked right through. No one even looked at me this time. They were in big trouble. From what I gathered, it was a bust gone bad and heads would roll. Ok, so 30 minutes later, I had a copy of my denuncia in hand as I walked by the group once more. This time, they all gave me a little salute. It was funny. I was confused, but I laughed. That put me back in a good mood, but I definitely needed Juan Valdez.

So, then we went back to Quito, to Immigration to try once again to get a new ID card. As soon, as I got there, they informed me that the Denuncia that I had was invalid, as it was filled out by the wrong department. They said I'd have to go back and get a new report. After seeing how upset I was at their lack of efficiency, and the run around I was getting, they told me to go to the Quito Comisaria instead of going back to Tumbaco. I could still try to finish the process that same day. We took a taxi to the Police Station there in Quito, and after standing in the wrong line for a while, I was finally pointed in the direction of the right officer, who immediately took my report, asking me to go into a different room and make 3 copies of the report, which I had to pay for. He then gave me my copy, and we were off back to Immigration. Once there, they verifed I had the right paperwork this time and gave me a number; c574.

After one hour of waiting, the numbers had gone from c550 to c559. The office would close well before they got to our number, and as it was beginning to get dark, we had to leave for our bus ride home. Another wasted trip. At least I think I'm one step closer in this never ending ridiculousness.

Anyway, here are some pics of the party. Caio for now...

Aburrido says hello to everyone there!

This is no ordinary musical chairs. You had to dance around the chairs, not walk. If you stopped, you were out. Also, they would pause the music, which is not the same as stopping the music evidentally. Who taught these people how to play...?

Down to Diana and Danny. Go Diana!!!

Maria Eulalia made me promise to put this picture on the blog. Not sure why.

Mayra and Santi

ok....

This whole time, I didn't know my camera had a b/w setting. Huh...Still trying to get the lighting right though. They are all a little blurry.

The party was at Lily and Alex's house. They are a super cute couple. She's the nicest person I've ever met.

No party is complete without some late night karaoke. I protested at first, but me and Danny's duet of Dust in the Wind was the first to score 100, so the fame and glory of victory was worth it.