Tal Vez Manana

I really really wish I could say I was posting this from Ecuador.  Unfortunately I am typing this from the  "Mia Hotel" of the Miami Airport, with a king size bed and my carry on to keep me company  With some luck, I hope to be in Ecuador tomorrow night.

Details:
We left Flossmoor close to 7am, and reached O'Hare in record time. 
I said my goodbyes, went through security without getting awkward pat downs or going through the full body radiation machine monster  scanner thing and was at the gate well before the flight's scheduled departure at 10:50am.  I met up with a fellow student going on the same program... all in all feeling great.

Everyone was boarded and we were about to pull away when the captain made the announcement that some small thing needed to be replaced on the plane... in total departure was delayed for more than 3 hours.  I was sitting on the plane at O'hare longer than it was in flight to Miami.  When we landed we literally ran to the gate and missed our connecting flight by minutes.  This brings us to rescheduled flights, hotel and food vouchers. I called my host family for the first time and had a very broken conversation.  I'll say I hit a low point in my Spanish speaking career when I called my host dad "senora."

Overall, not a very good day.  Of course, there was a lot learned.  American Airlines will not hold your connecting flight, but they will put you up for a nice budget stay at wherever you're stuck. Fully charging your cellphone before a trip is a must.  Eating a good meal as well as regular exercise can improve chances of catching flights.  Seriously though, I know this is all part of the "Study Abroad Experience." I'm trying to take it in with good humor.  For now I will look up some Spanish vocab and practice for the next phone call to my host family.  I have to redeem myself somehow.  

Maybe tomorrow I will be in Quito :)