Chuzo!

In Ecuador, "chuzo" means "shish kebab." It also serves as an exclamation when something bad happens, denoting the general hopelesness of the situation.

Chuzos are exactly what we made to celebrate this July 4th, because ever since my parents visited, the grill has been sitting up here on the terrace, waiting patiently. And The Law Says that if there be a grill available on the 4th of July, it Must Be Used.

By the time I remembered to take pictures of the whole process, however, the food had already been cooked and eaten. (Chuzo!)

I did, however, manage to find the American flags that had been packed in my original luggage upon coming to Ecuador. Pure magic.

Our party consisted of 12 guests representing three countries: Ecuador, the USA, and Spain.

Ecuador provided the beer,

and the USA provided the cookie cake.

Spain provided funding for more beer when the supply got low.

PCV Amanda lives upstairs from me now that Molly has moved out, and it was she who initiated this celebration. Together we went to the market and haggled our way into a basketful of fresh vegetables; one pineapple; one watermelon the size of a small child; and one chicken breast we sincerely hoped was fresh. Then we lugged everything about a block. Then we took a taxi the rest of the way home.

Anyway, Amanda and I are good neighbors. We don't lend each other a cup of sugar; we share sugar out of the same tupperware container. What more is there to say?

Cookie cake, full of neighborly sugar, we salute thee. Que viva friendships both in and outside of the USA. ¡Viva!