!!!!

We were pirates on a party boat. I sported the blue-footed booby on my shoulder in lieu of a parrot.

Ladies!

I just had a pretty intense two weeks. I too experienced the familiar face experience as my whole family came to visit me. Their trip here was a little tumultuous (missed a connection,) but it was great to see them for the first time in a while. We did an island tour, so I got to see some flamingos, penguins, white-tipped reef sharks, various fish (trumpet fish were my fave,) manta rays, sting rays, blue-footed boobies, and a ridiculous number of marine iguanas. We experienced quite the array of guides, one of which may be the sleeziest Ecuadorian I've met yet. ("Latinos are hot in the bed"? Uhh, thanks for the info.) There was horseback riding, which was fun. We saw an enourmous crater on Isabela- totally amazing. I got lots of Spanish practice because I was the only one in the group who could speak any.

When we returned to my home island (San Cristobal) my families met each other, which was fun and semi-hilarious. My one-year old host brother was really excited to see my mom/receive his Philly's hat. They left last Saturday (sad.) Thats it for visitors for the semester :).

Anyways, I miss you all tons. Best of luck in outdoor or your international adventures.

Studtz