This is now my fourth full day back in the United States, and it’s strange how quickly the time is passing, yet how it also feels like I just left Quito yesterday. I was very much reminded of the differences in paces of life in Ecuador vs. the United States when I went to get some falafel for lunch at a restaurant in my neighborhood. While waiting for my food, I accidentally picked up a stranger’s sandwich, thinking it was mine, and let’s just say his reaction was anything but understanding.

Dear Siena,

I’m going to try to take you on a journey with this post so buckle up your seat belt and lets begin.

I remember the first time I tried pizza with ranch dressing and it was absolutely revolutionary. If you’ve ever tried pizza with ranch you will know and if you haven’t, go order some pizza right now and ask for a side of ranch. What I have tried recently surpassed this revolutionary taste by kilometers. I tried a Tim Tam slam.

As we arrived in Picton, the beginning of our week long journey through the south island, we watched the rain clouds overwhelming us. The first night was spent camping in the rain… and the first day driving in predominantly raining weather. Even so, the views were amazing. Here is just a snap shot of part of our drive through the mountains.

I did 2 things to prepare to leave for Quito. First, I spent as much time with my immediate and extended family as possible, and second, I went into the city of Chicago as much as possible. I did not grow up directly in the city proper but I grew up so close to the edge it feels to me like my home town. I wanted to see as much of my “home town’” as I could before I left so I took several trips into the city.

Looking back, I sometimes wonder if my parents made a mistake when they booked a family vacation to Italy three years ago.

Little did they know that in the midst of international flights, jet lag, foreign languages, heavy suitcases, scrumptious pizza and scenic countryside, they’d created two travel bugs in their kids who would continue to pester them for more trips abroad.

Hello!

First, let me start off my introducing myself a little. My name is Caitlin Hartley, and I am a senior in the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida. I love my school more than anything, and I’m profusely proud to be a Gator. I am minoring in French language, and have been taking French since middle school, which brings me to wear I will be traveling this summer.

In preparation for my trip to Madrid, I went to the African World of Braids in the neighboring city of Durham to get my hair braided. Say what you’d like about Durham, but it is undeniably more urban than Chapel Hill – take that as you will. The shopping center that contained the African World of Braids wasn’t even pretending that it wasn’t in the hood, which I suppose is a good thing (maybe?).

I’m actually writing this post from on the road. Right after my exams finished and I swallowed my last bit of exceptional French food at our goodbye lunch, I was rubbing my eyes on a bus to Amsterdam, and having been moving around with a friend from home (including a foray back to Paris) since. We’re in Florence, Italy, now, with plans to see David tomorrow.