Home!

I have to admit, although i have been home about twenty days now, i still wake up thinking...i can't beleive i am finally home! Nothing will ever compare to the feelings that i felt as i was leaving Quito. My family took me to the airport after a long night of a party held in my honor. Patty walked me to the gate, and kissed me goodbye, i felt like part of my heart was being ripped out as i walked away, facing the next great adventure in my life. after many delays and a day later i finally touched down in the Salt Lake Valley, it was amazing to see the mountains stretch out underneath me, to almost smell the clean mountain air, and to see nothing but open spaces for miles around me. meeting me at the end of the exit tunnel was my family. they were all bearing large signs, and louie even had a tshirt with I LOVE EMMY written on it. My family was there, along with my friend natalie. it was such a GREAT feeling to see all of them there, and to see all their faces that basically i had just imagined for so long. To see my Grandma's there too was such an incredible feeling each day i had mentally prepared myself that something could have happened to my Grandma Zilles, and to see her standing there, all smiles was an indescribable feeling.
After many tearful hugs and kisses we gathered my bags, which by miracle arrived together on time, with my flight. i was starving and so by my choice i chose to have a REAL american breakfast at Denny's. being my first experience in an American restaurant i got confused easily, but i ordered a yummy plate of pancakes, bacon and eggs, with a huge glass of orange juice. my family listened intently as i began to tell experience, and memory, and story after story of my Ecuadorian life. i still feel like i could talk my whole life about Ecuador and never grow tired of it.
When i walked in my front door for the first time in almost a year i just took it all in. for a while my house had just seemed as a memory, and all the sudden i was in it, taking in the familiar smell, and running through it piling my mind full of all the things i had forgotten.
i unpacked my bags that night, unloading all my special ecuador memories and presenting gifts to family and friends. it is so great to once again be surrounded by all the people who love me, and support me, and who have offered constant prayers in my direction the past year. they've all made me who i am today, and with out them i would be lost.
I started working that wednesday, i am cleaning for the school, although it hardly sounds like a glamerous job, it's actually quite fun, as we unconver history and relive memories in the halls of the highschool, elementary, and middle school. i actually even had the opporunity to clean the new auditorium, it's beautiful and such a GREAT addition to have in our tiny school district.
i would have to say the hardest part of being home, is figuring out who i am here at home. i'm not the girl i was last year, and my friends aren't the same people, i'll not be going back to that life, and yet fitting into this new life has proved to be quite challenging, but with time i think everything will fit into place.

and so, life goes on, each day i'm making memories, and living my life to my greatest potential!!!!

love Emmy