Missing Home

We've hit the halfway mark. Half of this journey is already over. The people and the places have been amazing; extraordinary. It truly has been a once in a lifetime experience. So why the pictures of my cat? I'm sure you're wondering. I think I've hit the portion of the trip where I'm really missing home. I miss my cat Stinker, who was bound and determined to help me pack for the trip, as you can see in the pictures. On an extended stay away from home there is always an acclimation period which is either before or after a difficult period of estrangement. Well here I am reminiscing, glad I have these pictures, but there are other things about home I miss too... I miss strawberry milk. Yes, strawberry milk. I got Nesquick from the grocery store yesterday, but it is frutilla flavored, which is similar to strawberry but more of a mixed berry. Close, but not quite. You know what else I miss? Cereal with milk. It is another one of those strange cost differences I've discovered. Along with clothing being more expensive, there are other items with drastic price differences. I went to the grocery store with my host mom and sister and was able to peruse all of the aisles quenching my curiosity by examining all sorts of products and price differences. I miss cereal with milk because cereal can be five to seven dollars a box depending on type. I also really miss peanut butter. It is seven dollars a jar here, way outside of my price range! It just seems odd the things we miss, when we have been isolated from our normal culture. It is a great experience though, to be able to fully immerse yourself in another culture vastly different from your own. I'm sure there are things about Ecuador I will miss when I go home too......definitely the fresh "jugo" or fruit juice/smoothies!!!