From Goshen to Quito!

          Like usual, I have been meaning to write for a long time. I especially hoped to write last week to process some of the great things that have happened before I left for my next adventure. Alas, here I am writing from Quito, Ecuador. So let me quickly write about the last two weeks before I reflect on my first impressions of this beautiful city.

          Many things happened in the last few weeks. First, I made a new friend in Goshen. This was an unexpected friendship and one that became very deep very quickly. With this friend, I have been able to be vulnerable but still wholly accepted and I think I was able to do the same for them. These are the types of relationships that give me energy and confidence. Because of these deep conversations, I can live more fully into who I want to be. Even though this friend moving away, I am really thankful for the time we had together and the chance to get to know someone on a deeper level.  

          Last weekend was also amazing as my dear friend from college, Rachel, flew in. I picked her up from Chicago last Thursday and brought her back to Goshen. I introduced her to my friends and on Friday I took her to class and the we went to all the best spots in Goshen. I loved showing her my new home and it made me more excited about Goshen itself. Saturday we headed into Chicago where we met up with our friend Anna. It was Anna's birthday so we went out to eat (at an amazing vegan restaurant) and hung out. Sunday we got up extremely early to go downtown to run the half marathon. It was an amazing race! I finished eleven minutes faster than my last half and a lot faster than I had been training. Rachel also did amazing. After visiting the Bean (a Chicago landmark) we showered and then headed back downtown for deep dish pizza and a trip up the Sears tower. My legs were completely dead by the end of the day and my mind wasn't working great either. Monday morning we went out for brunch then shopping. We ended our time together drinking coffee and eaton an amazing cookie sitting outside talking and watching the world pass by. It was a golden moment.

          I returned to crazy paper writing to finish up the semester. I did not put in my best effort at the end, but I learned so much in my classes this semester and I think I did well with the balance between school, work, running, and socializing. In my last few days in the U.S. I worked quite a few hours, packed, and spent time with friends. Saturday night was also another perfect night as I went out to the new Goshen Brewing Company with a good friend. The weather was perfect, the beer was tasty, and company enjoyable. I realized how I have fallen in love with Goshen and as excited as I am to be in Ecuador, I am excited to return  to Indiana.

          But now, Ecuador! So my cousin Cara and I were talking over Christmas and realized that we both wanted to learn Spanish. We had already traveled together in Europe so we thought why not do another continent together. After much research and conversations, we decided on Ecuador. Mostly, the Spanish has an easy accent to understand and I really wanted to be in mountains. So here I am in the capital city of Quito! I flew from Chicago yesterday and Cara will join me tomorrow. So far, it has been excelante!! We are staying with a host mom who doesn't speak any English but is super kind and a great cook! I have been amazed at my ability to understand and speak as I haven't studied Spanish in six years and never learned it well. The house is really nice. There is another student staying here also and we all get our own bedrooms and bathrooms. We will eat breakfast and dinner here everyday and then find lunch somewhere by our school.

          It takes about 20-25 minutes to walk to school. I had my first classes today and I already love my teachers! I was by myself but Cara and I will be together when she arrrives. The plan for our two weeks in Quito is to have four hours of lessons in the morning, focusing mostly on grammar and then two hours in the afternoon where we walk around the city and work on conversation. Today was a lot of beginning conversation and trying to remember all the Spanish I have forgotten. For the afternoon, it began to rain a little so my teacher took me to where you can get amazing, fresh juice. It was possibly the best thing I have ever drunk! (I forget the name of the fruit... We don't have it in the U.S.) After resting at home, I went back to school for a lecture on the history of Ecuador. It was in Spanish, but very easy Spanish and extremely interesting. Then it was home for dinner and then homework. The school offers a different activity every night including cooking and dancing classes! I am so excited for everything. 

          Cara and I plan to be here in Quito two weeks, then one week in the city of Cuenca, and then a week on the coast, taking Spanish classes the whole time. So far, I love the country. The mountains are beautiful and the weather is perfect (jeans and cardigan weather... My favorite)! The city seems great so far and I really cannot wait to see more! I fear that these four weeks are going to fly by and I won't want to return.

The Joy of Running

          Today I want to write about something that has become a huge part of my life; running. You might remember that I trained and ran my first half marathon last spring. It was not great training and the half did not go really well, but I finished and it was quite an achievement. Even though during the race, I swore I would never run another half marathon again, I knew it wasn't true. I knew that I just needed to put in better training the next time. And I have. I will run my second half in another week. This time, I have tried really hard to stick to a training schedule and push myself to achieve goals. I ran 13.5 miles two weeks ago (the longest run of my life!) and it felt great. So why do I run? And why half marathons?
         First, I am not really a self-motivated person. I know myself well enough to know that I won't just go out and run if I am not training for something, at least not on a regular basis. By having the goal of a half marathon (one that I have paid a lot of money to run) I have something to work toward. Instead of paying money for a gym or a personal trainer, I pay money for a race and then put in the work needed to run. For training this time, I have included speed interval runs, tempo runs, cross-training, and even yoga! This has kept the schedule interesting as I always am doing something different. I like the variation, but I also like the schedule. Running has become the litany of my week.
         I have to admit, that I am still not fast. I still don't consider myself a runner at all. I still rarely get a runner's high. I am enjoying running more and more, but I don't run for the sake of running, or even the sake of being healthy. I like running for the benefits and perspective it gives me. One of the main benefits is confidence! I ran 13.5 miles the other week... without stopping! This is something I never dreamed I would be able to do, but here I am doing it! I really feel like I am accomplishing something. As a Mennonite, I try to be humble, but honestly, I am really proud of myself. I have been able to set a goal and keep to it to achieve the previously impossible. This feels really good and makes me believe that I can do other things I previously felt impossible. I feel more confident in myself in other parts of my life because what I have accomplished with my running.
          The other part that I love about running is the litany that has developed in my life. This litany has developed a new perspective in my life with habits that I love. First, by going out to run at least three times a week, I have been forced to take time out of my schedule to be. I can't study when I run and I can't work. I have accepted my time running as a gift, as a break from my busy schedule. This is time that I can breathe and reflect. Often I listen to podcasts or music, or sometimes I just make up stories in my head. And this time has become sacred. I don't feel guilty for not doing other things, but allow myself to be truly in the moment.
          This litany has also forced me to notice the outside world. During the winter when I was getting depressed and feeling stuck, I forced myself to go outside. And this made winter seem easier. Cold does not feel nearly as cold when you are running and being outside makes a world of difference when you feel stuck. I still hate winter and I did struggle with depression, but running helped me get through it. And by being aware of the outside world, I got to take in the first signs of spring. I don't think I ever have been more aware of the changing seasons before. The world is really a beautiful place and running has helped me recognize this. This spring, I have seen the leaves grow on the trees and animals come out. I have happened across turtles and ground hogs and now little goslings are out on the Mill Race, my favorite path. As I see this new life around me, I feel new life within me.
          I do feel healthier. Along with my whole-foods, plant-based diet, I am the most healthy I have ever been in my life. I feel like I am finally in charge of my body and thus my life. There are many reasons I am at a good place right now in my life, but I think that running has been a huge influence. I am excited to run the half marathon next week and even more excited to continue this habit of running. I hope that I can keep it up in the years ahead and that it will continue to provide me health, confidence, and intunement with myself and the world around me.