español.

Ahora, mi clase de español ha terminando.  Me gustó mucho mi clase de español.  Creo que es divertido aprender español, pero es dificíl aprender si no se estudia mucho.  Es necesario estudiar y hacer tarea y practicar español para aprender mucho. 

Mi parte favorito de mi clase de español es hablando con otros estudiantes en mi clase.  Aprendía mucho cuando nosotros hablamos en español.  Hablamos sobre muchos temas como el machismo y el marianismo, el divorcio, los relaciones, los mineros, el Photoshop, y más. 

Otro parte que me gustó mucho era mi profesora.  Rocio es muy bondadosa y chistosa.  Ella hablaba sobre el Dios en todos nuestros clases y preguntaba preguntas difíciles.  Ella es muy inteligente y me gustó su clase mucho.  

interview #2.

My interview subject:  my favorite Ecuadorian, the one and only Diana Yepez.

Hearing about Youth World from a friend who worked for Quito Quest during the summer, she knew she couldn't pass up the opportunity to be a part of the Youth World Team, so she quit her job at the airport and spent a summer working for Quito Quest.  At the end of the summer, she was worried about what would come next.  After quitting her airport job, she had no job to go back to after her summer at Quito Quest.  On the last day of that summer, Christy Stumbo offered her a job on the Semester Abroad staff.  She excitedly accepted the offer and has been working with Semester Abroad ever since.  Diana described to me that becoming a part of the Semester Abroad and Youth World Staff was something that took a lot of prayer and was a decision that contained clear guidance by the Lord.

When I asked her about her favorite part of her job, she described to me that she loves the way Youth World and Semester Abroad bring people to Ecuador to serve and enjoy her country.  She also told me how each time she experiences things that are new for students, she is reminded of the beauty of her country.

Getting to know Diana this semester and learning about the things God has done in her life has been a blessing and a half.

interview #1.

Zach Brown:  a crazy, smarty pants, adventure loving semester abroad staff member who makes people feel incredibly comfortable in his presence.  I hung out with him at one of my favorite local coffee shops to get the scoop on his journey to Ecuador.  What started as a casual conversation about video and photo editing turned into a three hour conversation about how God leads us exactly where He wants us.  I found out that Zach had been to Ecuador in high school before leading a team from Azusa for a five week trip in college.  He described how God started giving him a longing to go somewhere international after college during his Junior year.  It was so cool to hear how God prodded his heart to come here.  He talked about having a really difficult time deciding whether or not to leave behind the familiar home with his friends in So. Cal., and how he ultimately decided that God's calling was greater.

So now he's almost done with his second semester as a Resident Coordinator in Ecuador, spending time not only developing relationships with semester abroad students, but also working to develop the program during his time here.  I appreciated his perspective and his openness to share his heart and his life with me. That's definitely one thing I've appreciated about him all semester--the way he so easily relates to people and makes them feel comfortable.  While he's not sure where he's going next, he's sure God will take him where he needs to be.  What a great encouragement and example.  So thankful for Zach Brown.