fireworks are cool. anywhere.

Tonight after class, Annabel and I went out to dinner at El Sendero, which we go to abouuuut once a week. As in, the people who voluntarily work there recognize us when we come in and we often see people we recognize when we go. It's a restaurant owned by American missionaries so the food is pretty good, pretty home-y, and it's very well....American. They have hamburgers, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, chicken wraps, cappucinos, mochas, sandwiches etc etc. Yes, several Mexican menu items, but the food is hardly Mexican and is very delicious. And their limonada so good. Anyway, usually when we go, I get papas y carne which consists of what the restaurant call "rustic potatoes", which are little cubes of roasted potatoes, a hamburger patty, a small salad of lettuce, tomato, and vinegarette, and a sunny side up fried egg. 1) before coming here, I hated fried eggs. Now, I eat them about 4 to 5 times a week for breakfast. 2) Papas y carne, in every other restaurant is called papi carne, and in every other restaurant I've tried it, is not as good. 3) I will be making papas y carne when I get home because it, along with hamburgers (moreso burgers), as bad as that is, has become kind of a staple for us foreigners here.

After dinner, we went across the street to the plaza of San Sebastian because as we were eating I noticed people were walking past carrying cellos in cases so I was curious. There was a concert set up outside in the square. I think it was the Loja Symphony Orchestra. Pretty cool. We didn't stay for the whole concert because after a couple pieces, there were people singing with the orchestra, which I don't love sooooo we left. But the music was cool, very Latin American, which was weird for me to hear especially because I grew up playing the cello and playing and hearing primarily classical pieces...never once something you could salsa to. Regardless, it was cool.

Then after we stopped at a pharmacy and I picked up some ivy extract syrup to suppress my what seems to be neverending cough slash sickness in general, we went home. And let me tell you, it is convenient to have a 5th floor bedroom with a wall of windows because I just watched a 15 minute fireworks display while sitting on my bed. I'm assuming the fireworks started after the concert ended. It was pretty cool. I kind of felt like it was the 4th of July and then I got excited that I will be home by the 4th of July this year. Fireworks are pretty spectacular wherever you see them, don't you think? I'd post some pictures that I took, but I think we all pretty much understand what a fireworks display looks like.

By the way, thanks to the people who have either commented here or mentioned that they read my blog. I appreciate it.

Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday AND we don't have class on Monday because it 's the 24th of May which is a national holiday celebrating the Battle of Pinchincha. Our favorite pizza place is on the street called 24 (veinticuartro) de Mayo. I'll look up some information on the Batalla de Pinchincha on Monday when I'm bored to learn more about the holiday. I'm realizing that even though I majored in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies, I know next to nothing about Ecuadorian history. Speaking of that, two days ago my teen students asked what I studied in college and I explained that I double majored in Spanish and the aforementioned six-word major and their prompt response was, of course in Spanish, "So.... what can you do with that major?" Typical. My response was "Anything I want to do." ....I should have listened to my sister when she told me to pick a more practical major. If only we could all go back and change our lives. Oh well, I'm here now. Living in the moment and trying to enjoy it as much as I can. I'm glad to be able to speak and understand Spanish so well. I hardly remember anything now about the culture, history, or politics of hispanic countries, but whatever man. Enough with the stream-of-consciousness writing.

It'll be a slightly boring weekend surely because I am sick so I don't want to travel and now Annabel is sick too, same cold surely. eeeeeeeeeyuck!