Chicago

Well, here I am in Chicago.

Tomorrow at 10 a.m. I wlll be taking the El to O'Hare to begin my trek into Ecuador.

It's raining right now in Quito, the capital. And it will be raining for the whole week I am there. Hopefully, I will be getting some intense language boot camp at the "Amazing Andes" Language School. Then, next Saturday, I take a bus to Puyo, in the Oriente region, where I will spend three weeks in the Amazon Community Medicine Program of CFHI (www.cfhi.org). That month, I happen to be the only student in that program, as I have described before, so it's going to be ... interesting.

I am getting excited/nervous and think that I may be somewhat in denial.

After the long bus ride from Minneapolis yesterday, where my mamaw dropped me off at a megabus to Chicago, I arrived at Kevin's place. I did a bit o' site seeing today, including The Field Museum right on Lake Michigan (just days ago we were driving up the north shore of Lake Superior ... that makes two great lakes in one week!). Then Kevin met up with me after his classes and he showed me this crazy sculpture that looks like a kidney bean. It's unbelievable actually! I can't explain it, but it reflects things in very crazy ways.

I have read that the descent into Quito is quite adventurous, so with my fear of flying, the darkness, and the forecasted storms, tomorrow will be oodles of fun. And I have to start that danged antimalarial medication.

Know that I love you all. I already miss you.

And a special thanks to Mom, Dad, Jessica, Ashley, Mamaw, Granpa, Andy, Kevin, and last of all, the always wonderful Mark ... for all your love, help, and assistance over the past few weeks and years.

Next dispatch to come from Quito, Ecuador :)