My Main Girl Audrey...

You know who has some really good quotes? Audrey Hepburn. She also has a really good face, figure, style and class. 

 My mom always jokes around and says in her next life she's going to look like Audrey Hepburn. If that's the case I think we are going to be twins. 

 One of my [many] favorite quotes from her is:

 

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” 

 

Amen.  That's really all I have to say about that. Is amen Audrey. Amen.

 

Welcome to Quito!!

Ecuador is beautiful. At least I think so. The packed city, the mountains, the crammed streets may not have an appeal to most people but, I love it. 

I love how closely packed the houses are. How the landscape looks from a distance. I love the 60-70 degree weather. I love that it rains randomly. I love that it's warm (and close to the sun so I get a nice tan). I love it all. 

I love cities in general though! So, what would make this any different?! :) Welcome to Quito the capitol of Ecuador.

Elevation: 9,200 ft.

Population: 2,504,991

16 miles south of the Equator

.62 Miles in size. 

KFC! :) A little taste of home. 

The Artesian. 

The view from close to our house!

Graffiti is EVERYWHERE! This is some of the creepier artwork! 

Mikele, Janessa, me and Brandi :)

Pay no attention to my hair. It's growing out.
Brandi and Mikele are cousins... So Janessa stepped in as my honorary cousin. Haha

Initial Reactions... Quito, Ecuador

After 3 flights... (Salt Lake to Dallas, Dallas to Miami and Miami to Quito) and free dinner on the plane (it was actually really good?) I made it to Quito, Ecuador. This will be my home for the next two months and I can't wait! :) I am so excited to start working with the kids.

Quito is a city in Ecuador. It's actually the Capital of Ecuador. But, I am definitely in South America.

It's really late here (1am) and I have a busy day of orientation tomorrow. :) I can't wait! Ah! I am so excited. But, here are some pictures and yes... some initial reactions.

1. Everything, all signs, songs, pictures, posters, everything is in Spanish. 
2. I wish I knew Spanish. 
3. It's not a very clean city. 
4. It reminds me of like... Little Korea in LA but, not nearly as nice. Or as well lit.
5. The house is huge. We have security. And a passcode to even get in. I feel cool. And special.
6. I have heard nothing but good about the kids and am SO excited to start!!
7. The girls are all very nice. My new roommate is Brandi. :) But, all the girls are awesome!
8. I've never been to South America before but I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to go out of the US before this! 
9. I got to ride in a taxi! And listen to Enrique serenade us through the radio. 
10. I'm going to really enjoy it here. In fact... I'm going to love it!

And... of course... pictures. :) of me. Not the city. haha

Sitting on my bed in Quito! :)

Lovin' every minute of it. ;)

My welcome goodies and note from my new roommate!

My clothes.

Yes, they do have a closet to hang things. I am sure my mom is mildly horrified by the sight of my clothes rack. :)

Ecuador..

So, I have yet to blog about the most EXCITING adventure of my life so far. In April I am going to go to Ecuador for two months. From April 19-June19 I will be in Quito, Ecuador working with children who are far less privileged than myself. I am so very excited to be involved in this opportunity. Actually I can hardly wait. 

I have talked to several of my friends who have done this particular service through this same organization. And so, that is how I decided to do it with this group. OSSO stands for Orphanage Support Services Organization. They have their own company run orphanage in Cuenca, Ecuador. They partner with several other orphanages in both Quito and Cuenca. 

A volunteer is able to go for a minimum of 1 week to a maximum of 8 months. During your time there you are expected to work 6 days a week. You will average 50+ hours a week working with the children. There is also additional time where you plan, prepare for and participate in meetings. And time to study Spanish. From 7-12 you are in the orphanage and then from 12-2 is Ecuador's seista. During this time you go home and enjoy lunch/a nap. From 2-6 you are back at the orphanages working. Around 6pm every day you come home for dinner, free time and bed.

On their website the conclude the what to expect section with:

"Serving with OSSO is a life-changing experience…for the children as well as for the volunteers! You’ll change lives, you’ll be loved by children who have no one else to love, and you’ll give love to those who wouldn’t get it otherwise. Your hearts will break and grow more than you thought possible, and if you go for the right reasons, have a good attitude and work hard it will impact you and the world for generations."

I got accepted to the program! They sent me a package last week that included:

1. A checklist of what to bring (and when to start getting things ready)
2. 2 OSSO luggage tags for my bags!
3. A promotional DVD to watch. 
4. A CD of Spanish children's songs. 
5. And a OSSO hoodie.  Which I was so excited to get... I modeled it that day and even had a photo shoot for my blog.  

I really can't wait! Only... 48 days till I leave for Ecuador!!!

Hair.

So, here's the deal. I wanna cut my hair. And not just a little cut... a BIG cut. I want to cut it really short. But, I am really debating it. Because what if I look ugly. Or fat. Or ugly and fat. Sure there are worse things than that... but, those are pretty bad things? Right? I dunno.

Anyway, I wanna do it. And I really wanna do it. And I keep telling people that I am. And you know what... I talked to this girl about it the other day. She overheard my concerns of looking ugly, fat or well... like Ellen. Any way moving on, she had a cute pixie cut and said she loved it. She said that there are 2 things I needed to know first:

• Get some earrings. You are your face. You have no hair to hide behind. So, cute earrings are key. I think I need to work on getting more cute earrings. 
• Be prepared to chant. Self esteem doesn't always come in a rich supply for girls. So, there are some mornings where she has to wake up and say to herself "I am pretty. I am pretty. I am pretty." Over and over again. No matter if you're head cheerleader or the girl sitting in the stands (Thanks TSwift for the inspiration) you can relate to waking up with a little less then "average" self confidence. On more than one occasion. Or maybe that's just me. 

Anyway, she also said that you should give yourself 3 reasons why you want to cut your hair. That way, you have those to reflect on. And if anyone says "you had such pretty hair! Why did you cut it!!" You have at least 3 reasons on hand that are honest and important to you. So, here are my 3:

1. Am I only allowed to have short hair when I am a mom? Why can't I cut it now?!
2. It will teach me something new. A few things. First, to appreciate me, for me. Second, to use make up to my advantage. More than I do now. Third, how to do a new style of hair. 
3. My hair has always been relatively long!
4. Who do I have to impress for the next... couple of months/year? No one. 
5. I really really want to.
6. I have a pretty enough face. Right?
7. I want to do something new with my hair. I want to cut it! 
8. It's only hair... it will grow back!

I guess my biggest concerns are these: my face is too round, and my hair is not right for it. So, after I consult with my hairdresser Falon to determine that: my hair is not too curly, frizzy or thick for this cut... and that I won't look like I have a dead rat on my head... Consider it cut. 

Here are some people you may know who can rock a short cut:

Ashley Greene. Or... Alice from Twilight. 

The prettiest girl EVER! Emma Watson.

Ginnifer Goodwin. We have a similar face.

So, I would do one of her cuts. Most likely. 

She looks cute. And hey! No earrings. Crazy. 

Halle... Hally? Berry... Barry?

Not my favorite picture of her. But, she used to be classy. Katie Holmes.

Kiera Knightley. Pretty too. 

Natalie Portman. 

Literal rocker... Pink. 

Oh... and just Victoria Beckham... Posh Spice.

Two of my favorite celebrities... or role models, if you will. 

I guess my first item of business should be to pick a cut. Right? Isn't that how you proceed with such big decisions? After all... this decision is like the biggest/most life changing decision I've made! Second only to choosing a college and a major...

I promise a Thanksgiving post relatively soon.