HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!  It could be my imagination, or just wishful thinking, but it feels like it has been cooling off a bit.  The mornings, at the very least are much more cool.  We now have a little over 20 days left of school left.  I think about the summer trip a lot.  I can't wait to get out and about and explore some new places and countries.  Most of all, I can't wait to do some good hiking.  Lately, I've been hitting the gym pretty hard.  Combine that with paddle tennis on Tuesdays, sports night on Thursdays, and staying active in general, I feel like I am in pretty good shape.  This past Thursday, we skipped sports night.  Instead, the guys took a trip to the beach right after school.  We left at 3:00, got to the beach and caught a few waves, ate some empanadas, drank a few beers and headed home the same night.  Believe it or not, it was the first time that I've gotten in the ocean in Ecuador.  I'm not too much of a beach person, but it was great to be there (especially in the middle of the week).  It was pretty surreal working and going to the beach in the same day.  Here are a few pictures of the trip:

All good things must come to an end, right?  Why is that?  It doesn't really seem quite fair.  I've been really fortunate to meet some really cool people who enjoy the same things that I do.  I've made friends with whom I'm able to be myself.  Personally, I think that is pretty rare but maybe that has something to do with my personality.  At this point, we have exactly five weeks before some of these great friends move on to new adventures.  At the end of the school year, Dave and Danielle go back to the states for a short time before heading to their new post of Vietnam.  I'm really excited for them and the awesome opportunity.  Selfishly, I'm bummed that they are leaving.  Steve and Jean are also leaving to go back to New Zealand after many years overseas.  Again, I'm really excited for them but sad to see them go.  Now we just have to enjoy the time that we have left.  Live and enjoy every moment . . . that's what life should be like anyway, right?  I wish I lived my life with that in mind all the time.  These next five weeks, we'll have to pack it with fun and adventure . . .