Vida Selva...

Hello!
I know it has been a while, and I could write a lot about all that has been going on in my day to day seminary life, but there are much more interesting things to hear about! I am in the Jungle! Every four weeks, we take a trip. After the first four weeks, I found myself in Shell, Ecuador. This is the city that is most famous for the story of the five missionaries that were killed trying to reach the Waodoni tribe. To this day, the Waodoni tribe lives in the Jungle, about a 20 minute plane flight from the city of Shell. I was privileged to meet one of the men who participated in the killing of the missionaries. His name was Dewey and the first thing I heard him do was pray for me our group. He prays for every group that comes to visit his community. This story is told in the movie "The End of the Spear" I would recommend watching this movie if you want to be amazed. Also, there is a more informative documentary called "Beyond the Gates of Splendor" that tells the whole story. I got to spend a few hours with this tribe, that has a completely different lifestyle now, than 50 years ago when they speared 5 missionaries to death. This was truly a once and a lifetime experience that I could never forget!
We have done several other things in Shell, we hiked to see three waterfalls, one of which i got to swim in! It was so fun! Also, I got to eat a fish whole, skin and all. (for any of you who know my relationship with seafood, you know this is highly rare) I also ate an ant out of the Jungle that tasted like lemon. We got to canoe and white water raft down the Pastaza river, which is one of the largest tributaries to the amazon river. It has been an amazing trip. Several things I never imagined I would ever get to do!
This trip has been amazing so far. The people here are so wonderful, and different that the people in the states. It is just such a rich culture, with so much to learn. I don't think I can get it all down before I leave! The other students I am studying with are great, and the students and staff at the Seminary are some of the best people I have ever met! I do miss things about the States, don't get me wrong, but this is for sure the experience of a lifetime!
Talk again soon,
Kalyn

Como se dice DeVeDe??? ohhhh....DVD?

It has been a long week! feel like I have been here for much longer than 7 days. But i have learned a lot already. For example, DVD is pronounced in Spanish the same way it is pronounced in English. So if you go to the movie store and ask for a DeVeDe...they don't know what you are talking about! This has been a very interesting week. On Wednesday we went to a traditional Folkloric dance, it was called "Jacchigua" It was so beautiful. All the dances represented different parts of the traditional Ecuadorian and Quichua lifestyle. It was so fun to see all the costumes, the colors were so beautiful and bright! It was definitely an experience of a lifetime!
Also tonight, was super fun! All of the NILI students went out for pizza, to dowtown Carcelen.....IT WAS DELICIOUS!!! And we had ice cream, came back to campus, and played cards, it was really fun. Usually the most fun times are just getting to know all the students at the seminary. They are all so nice, and they all want to help you learn spanish...it's great! My roommate came yesterday! I'm really excited because now I can always have someone to talk to and ask questions. I know that this is kind of a short post, but I seem to be in a constant state of tired these days! Hasta Luego!
-Kalyn

Cua Cua....

Cua Cua is the sound a duck makes in Spanish.......I think this blog should be a learning experience for all involved, I know I have learned a lot today, so I thought I would share the knowledge. You're Welcome.

I went to downtown Quito today, just for a short amount of time, and I really can't wait to go exploring (not at night, and not by myself, for those of you worried family members). But there is a lot of cool things to check out and a ton of cool stores.

We start classes on Monday, and I must admit I am a bit intimidated. I know I will learn, I just get embarrassed easily. Here are three things I have learned in only one day:
1. Cua Cua
2. Quieres sentir means do you want to feel....Quieres Sentar means do you want to sit down, don't confuse the two
3. When you purchase a Coke in a glass bottle and it's only $ .30 that's because you have to return the bottle before you leave the store

So....I'm having a great time, and I can't wait to learn more! I miss some things about the states (like actually flushing your toilet paper down the toilet) but I think I'll be ok here! The other students are great and they all want to help you learn, so hopefully I will!

-Kalyn



PS: Here is my schedule of trips we are taking through NILI

1/30-2/1: Otavalo- a huge street market that takes up the entire city

2/13-2/21: Trip to Oriente- the east coast of Ecuador (near the Colombian and Peruvian borders)

3/6-3/8: Ecuadorian Family home stay

3/20-3/29: Ministry trip to Riobamba and Guayaquil

4/10-4/12: Atacamas- northern coastal city

4/26-4/30: Galapagos Trip!!!!

5/2: Fly back to Chicago!

T minus 3 days to take off.....

In three days I'll be flying to Quito, Ecuador. I'll be living there for three and a half months.....109 days........2616 hours. I am the most excited and also the most afraid i've ever been in my life.
What a great adventure!
Who knows what lies ahead...........

Solo Dios

-Kalina