Leaving on a jet plane

Today is the day! My plane leaves at 6 o'clock. After almost 2 years of planning, I am finally headed for Quito. I just hope I remembered everything. Everyone I talked to in the past 2 weeks seemed to have a suggestion I hadn't thought of. (Boys, just don't read the next sentences). How did I not think of feminine products when I was making a list of toiletries to pack? My dad reminded me that batteries may be super expensive, so I threw in two huge packs at the last minute. My original CT told me that I will be using sunscreen DAILY, and I should bring it from home, rather than buying it there.

Hopefully, everything I need is in these bags:

I left some room in the backpack and in the big suitcase for new purchases. The toiletries took up SO MUCH space (plus, when I open my big bag, it smells like girl), so I should be set to bring home mementos and gifts. I wish so badly that Pilgrim could come with me too. I'm going to miss him so very much.

I ironed on the patches on the orange suitcase, flags of countries I've been too. I ordered them all on the same day, and they seemed to come in in the opposite order of the country's proximity to the US. I'm still waiting for Canada's flag, but the Netherlands came in right away. (The US was the last one I got in the mail).

I will arrive in Quito a little after 10pm, local time (Central time). A shuttle will pick me up and take me to the apartment. I will have all day tomorrow to unpack and explore the city! New teacher orientation will begin on August 14th. I will get to see what new hires experience, and be able to get all of my questions answered in an open setting. If I like it there, and they like me back, I may do this again next year. I plan on having a few weekend getaways, weekday nights exploring the city and visiting the Galapagos sprinkled in with being a responsible student.

In other news, I discovered plans have changed. My program at KSU usually has Middle School majors student teach their primary concentration (mine is Social Studies.) At Colegio Menor, 6th grade is taught like the classes in American elementary schools. My program director did not think it would be fair to assess me based on the teaching of subjects that we not my concentration. I have been moved! I will now teach 7th grade Social Studies for one month, until the teacher goes on maternity leave, then I will teach 8th grade Social Studies. I'm excited about getting so much experience in so little time.