Llegamos al fin

Well it looks like this is it. My suit cases are packed for the most part (I have accumulated a ton of stuff). Today is my last almost normal day in Guayaquil. The parents are getting here at 10:15. The director of my study abroad company is going to pick me up and take me to the airport to go meet them and bring them back to the house. I already went to the terminal today to check on the bus times for our travels as we are headed to the beach early tomorrow morning! I also stopped by the movie store and grabbed a handful of dvds since they are only 2 dollars a piece here!
So here are a few closing remarks/lessons learned/random thoughts about Ecuador that I have thus far not mentioned.

• In some countries April Showers bring May flowers, in others April showers bring loss of electric power.
• Everyone on the public bus sits in the aisle seat even when the window seat is empty because it provides a quick escape route and is less likely to have a robber sit down beside you and rob you and leave.
• Iguanas are the squirrels of South America.
• Clothes, books, and anything else manufactured are rediculously expensive in developing countries, but you can buy 20 limes for one dollar.
• Some people seem to have a deep religious belief that mashed potatoes should only be served cold.
• People also seem to have a deep religious belief that a meal is not a meal unless it consists of at least half a plate of white rice.
• And that rice should often be accompanied by potatoes... or spaghetti...
• Also that spaghetti is a normal ingredient in scrambled eggs.
•  Poverty is not a simple problem and can not be fixed with simple solutions. Giving a poor family 25 cent a day wont solve all of their problems. They also need public transportation, education, access to sanitation, health care, etc.
• Soy milk, milk substitutes, or powdered milks are more popular than regular milk here because it is expensive and hard to have decent refrigeration. 
• You can make almost anything out of a plantain. Chips, stew, dessert, soup, tortillas...
•  In some countries it is perfectly acceptable to call someone chubby as long as you add "ita" on the end so that it sounds cuter. The same also goes for skinny, big nose, white, etc....
• Child labor is a rampant and serious problem everywhere.
• McDonalds has invaded EVERYWHERE.
• KFC serves lentils, fried shrimp, and cookies in South America. Who knew?
• You can never know who around you speaks English.
• Being respectful and curious about someones cultures opens all sorts of doors!
• The world is HUGE!
• Sometimes you close your eyes and open them again and four months has passed in what seems like seconds.