Trail Blazer

This morning I said goodbye to the beautiful United States of America and started my journey to Quito, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands for my 4 month long semester abroad. I am sad to leave behind my family, friends, Bucknell and my usual customs, but I am excited for the path that I am about to blaze in the book of Rue family travels.

I am very grateful that I am an experienced traveler, thanks to our crazy family vacations. The ambition to travel has been a part of our family since my parents met on their study abroad program in Germany, through IES, the same program provider I am going through! Little did they know they would be sending their daughter to another country through the same program provider that I am considered a "prodigy" of.

To keep track of our travels we have a magnetic map in the basement. We place magnets on the places that we have travelled to, whether it be individually or as a family. Last night my dad mentioned that Ecuador is the first country he is sending one of his children to that he will not be arriving to with them or has not visited first. Being that my Dad has been all over the world, I'm glad I've happened to find somewhere I can beat him to. I am blazing my own trail! I think that deserves a pink magnet on Ecuador and the Galapagos downstairs :)

I've made it safely to Houston. Saying goodbye to Mom and Dad at the security checkpoint this morning was very hard, but I find I am getting more and more excited to meet my host family and other program participants the closer I get to Ecuador. I hope that my Spanish is good enough that I don't sound like a complete fool when I first meet them. Hopefully my Spanish will have improved by the time I meet my second host family in the Galapagos.

Saying goodbye was one of the biggest challenges so far, aside from the luggage weight limit of 44 lbs. I was told by IES that I am only allowed to check 44 lbs when we go to the islands. My big bag this morning weighed in at 63 lbs. Woops. Hopefully I won't have to leave too much behind. I'm expecting "eternal spring" temperatures, so I did have to pack everything from jeans to shorts and sweaters to tanks... I promise I'm not making excuses :)

Hopefully the flight to Quito is as easy as the one to Houston. First class isn't bad, thanks Daddy! I'm not sure how I am going to keep in touch, but when I have wifi I plan to check facebook, email, instagram and hopefully I can write on here. Keep in touch friends! I promise I'll respond when technology allows me to! Te amo! Adios!

luggage!

(in total it weighed in around 90lbs, derp)