7.18.11
I cannot believe how long it has been since I have blogged. This will certainly be the longest journal post of all time because I have so many wonderful things to share. Right now I am sitting on a bus on the way back from Palmar and I have spent an entire week without spending any time communicating with anyone I am not with. I have only talked to the people I am around and sone the things that are readily available to me. I have not written on my computer journal for a week and really have not spent a ton of time reflecting on the day to day activities. This has been really interesting for me mostly because I have not spent as much time processing everything that has been happening. However, it has been a phenomenal week. Being in Ecuador is natural now and my relationships with the other interns just feel so natural and comfortable. However, I am ready to come home. I am ready for my family, ready for freedom to choose what I eat, when I eat, when I shower, freedom to dictate my schedule, the ability to sleep in a bed without a misquito net, etc. It will be so odd to be able to communicate with everyone around me and understand what is being said. I am overall having this incredible mixed bag of emotions about this experience coming to a close. I have changed, I am changed, and it feels good. I know I will continue to see the effects of this summer in my life as time goes on but I have learned SO much this summer and my personal development has been monumental. Enough about my thoughts—here is what has been happening in the past couple of weeks. I record all of this for those reading, but more than anything for my own benefit and ability to look back on this journal and savor the precious details of my summer spent in Ecuador. .
7.8.11This morning I went to another Spin class and got our bottoms whipped by our Ecuadorian instructor. We were short of breathe quicly and certainly felt our muscles and hearts working. During breakfast we “iced” SJ for a little post birthday treat (“icing” someone is giving them a Smirnoff Ice drink after which this person is obligated to get on one knee and chug the entire drink until it is finished). In my broken Spanish I tried to explain to the man working in the kitchen that I needed him to bring out the Smirnoff Ice to SJ with her eggs. He acted like he understood but them Luz informed me he was severely confused and she cleared things up for me. This is yet another testament to my Spanish abilities. After breakfast I went to go print more surveys for our day in the field and had a typical Ecuadorian experience. The computers were slow, the printer ran out of ink, and I was doing another interns work in the first place so I went into the situation frustrated. What should have taken five minutes ended up taking an hour. I was consumed by my frustration and let this experience be the straw that broke the camels back. I had my first break down in Ecuador. I lost it crying out of a loss for any other reaction. While in the privacy of my room another intern walked in so my irrational reaction was cut short, I had to clean up my act and move on. I had hit a wall and I had to pick myself up and continue onward.
After a short bus ride SJ, Liz, Margaret, Emilia, and I arrived at a restaurant where we were able to help cook a traditional almuerzo. I was put in charge of frying the plantains which was incredibly easy and awesome to do because I will definitely be cooking these regularly in the future because they are delicious (get excited friends and family). I loved watching the women work in the kitchen and create a meal much like the ones I have enjoyed regularly. After cooking we ate and spent time talking with one another about our pasts, our lives, and engaging in other thought-provoking conversations. We ventured on to another indigenous community where we were all split up and able to spent time with local families. Liz and I were picked up by James and we went on a hike to his house that is at the top of a huge hill. Liz was really feeling the altitude so we had to make a lot of stops for time to catch our breath. Once at his house we went with all the children being 2 young girls under 6 years old, 2 older girls around 13 and James who was 11. We hiked up even higher with a young girl latched on to the hands of both Liz and I. After 20 minutes of climbing we reached a grassy patch on the side of the mountain where we waiting, singing songs and taking pictures with the two young girls while the older children gathered all the pigs and sheep and brought them down. As we headed down the hill the animals ran ahead and headed straight for their house, 20 minutes away. It was pretty remarkable that these animals knew exactly where to go. Also, while walking home the youngest girl had to go to the bathroom and so she just squatted right where she was, relieved herself, pulled up her pants, and continued on her merry way. Sanitation isn’t even a passing thought. When we returned back to the house we watched the mother pigs nurse their piglets while getting their fill. We then hiked straight down a huge pasture back into town with the whole family, included the mom with a mound of green leaves larger than she was on her back.
We then gave a Charla to the women artisans who weave goods such as scarves, blankets, hats, purses, vests, and ponchos (one on which I purchased). We were told that our charla was supposed to be on sales strategies and marketing but upon arriving we saw that they already had very impressive and detailed posters and bulletins. Therefore we resorted to plan B and ultimately just had then ask us questions and tell us their issues. They struggle with sales and reaching their target market of foreigners from their small rural community. We suggested that they have a woman doing the weaving at the market to demonstrate the quality of their goods along with creating a pamphlet about their organization in English. The time seemed to be very constructive and helpful for all people involved. I truly enjoy the cultural exchange this day allowed for.
We hopped on the bus, picked up our friends and had a blast eating dinner together at a restaurant with a fantastic environment called San Valentine.
7.9.11
During my run this morning I stumbled upon another Ecuadorian work out class in the park. This is always entertaining to see a huge group of Ecuadorians doing a mix between Step and Zumba. After breakfast the owners of our hostel drove us to Banos, a popular tourist town in the middle of the mountains, in their minivan. Having private transportation allowed us to ride on the roads that were being rebuilt after a volcanic eruption. Many of the gorgeous volcanoes serve as the backdrop for Banos. Unfortunately it was raining our entire weekend in Banos but that did not stop us from having a ton of fun. Walking around the artisans market I was overwhelmed by the amount of white people and English speakers I saw. We ate lunch at a quaint little restaurant and filled up before heading to our travel agency that was taking us rafting. We geared up, got our wetsuits and shoes and piled in a van to head to the river in our rafts. I have not been rafting since 7th grade so this was quite the experience and I adored being on a raft again and the thrill of the rapids. Our guide only spoke Spanish but he was full of energy, spunk, and life. Most of the rapids we encountered were 3+ rapids and we never had anyone fall out (we only jumped out willingly). Our whole group loved rafting and after drying off and trying to warm up our guides took us to a small place that served a complimentary dinner.
Returning to the hostel we all showered and put on the only presentable outfits we brought to the country. Our hostel had a gorgeous roof with an awesome view of the city where we enjoyed drinks together. At 9pm we headed into town where we got on a Chiva which is essentially an open bus that has benches and a back area playing music that is great for dancing while on the move. Our group along with 20 other people headed up the mountain to a beautiful view of the city. At the top of the mountain tons of Chivas are parked and hundreds of people are gathered around a huge bonfire. Naturally we found the karoke bar inside and began to sing some classics such as “My Girl” and “Brown-Eyed Girl”. Before we knew it, it was time to head back down the mountain. On the ride down I began to feel really sick and afterwards I headed back to the hostel. I was bummed that I didn’t feel well because I missed out on the rest of the evening activities but I was thankful to get some good sleep.
7.10.11
Waking up to rain when on vacation is never fun. We all woke up late and headed to a delicious breakfast place where we ate eggs, juice, coffee, bread, granola, fruit and other wonderful breakfast foods. Part of our group took naps, others caught a bus back to Riobamba, but I wanted more adventure. Matt, Daniel, Madison and I went to go figure out which were available to us even in the rain. We ultimately decided to rent a stick-shift, jeep wrangler type car. Daniel carried us up the mountain with his driving skills. There were certainly a couple of times when we were not sure we were going to make it but our little yellow car proved more durable and able than it appeared at first glance. At the top of the mountain we saw a sign for “Café Arboles” so we parked and went on a short hike to the coffee shop which ended up being an open air, covered area with 4 people sitting inside. They had a pot of beans on that my new friend, Charlie, clad in army gear let me try. Charlie also opened up the huge tree house door for us so we were able to climb up and sit inside a place that would undoubtedly have an unreal view if it weren’t raining and cloudy outside. Brave Daniel swung on the trie swing over the mountain while the woman in the “café” made us tea, coffee, and a grilled cheese. For my tea she brought me two leaves she had picked from the side garden and had me chose whether I wanted chamomile or mint—the freshest tea I have ever had. After warming up for a few minutes and running into 3 backpackers from Europe who had just hiked in the rain for over an hour to get to this café, we walked back to our super cool car. Matt or “Matteo” as we call him in Ecuador drove us down the mountain and we returned our sweet ride satisfied with our adventure. For the rest of the afternoon we packed up, shopped in the artisans market, and rode the bus home. When we got back to Riobamba, we were greeted by Luz and Liz who had cooked a traditional Italian meal for us and set up the kitchen in the hostel with candles and nice silverware. Although I was not at all hungry I still adored the pasta and bruschetta we ate.
7.11.11
A day on the road. After a long run around Riobamba I thought I was ready for the 8 hour drive ahead of us. I was sorely mistaken and quickly realized it when the small, 12 passenger van pulled up an hour late to carry 11 people and all of our luggage. We spent the next 30 minutes putting our things on top of the van and ultimately I ended up snuggled in the back with 6’4’’ Matteo, 2 water purification systems, and about 10 bags. It was a long ride, some serious bonding with Matt and a few quick escapes out the narrow back window for the bathroom. For lunch we stopped in Gauyaquil at a mall and it felt like America with plantains, less diet food products, and different banks. It was an odd feeling to see KFC, Subway, clothing, Nike, cell phone stores, etc. Subway was not as good as I remembered but I was able to have a coffee with milk and a half a splenda—yum. Today in the van we began a very very epic team Impacto activitu------we started season 1 of Lost. We are addicted. This is an action packed show about a group of individuals stranded on a “deserted” island after a plane crash. Six episodes in, we cannot get enough. We arrived in Palmar at 8:30 and the last 30 minutes of the drive was all along the coast with the smell of the beach, the sound of the ocean, and a beautiful sky filled with stars to our side. Once in Palmar we all walked each other to our home stays, all of which are within 7 minutes walking of each other and no more than 5 minutes from the ocean if not beach front. My family is absolutely hands down the best family. I know this because Rita, another girl in the program who stayed at their house two weeks ago, told me. Martha and Jorge are my host parents and Eliana and Jorge Jr. or Jorgito as he is called, are my two younger siblings at 11 and 5 respectively. Their house is modest at best made entirely of cinderblock with concrete floors, one common room including a kitchen, a bathroom, my room, and another room that all other members of the house sleep in. My room has a full bed, a misquito net which I sleep under like a queen, a dresser, and a mirror. My first dinner was fantastic—chicken, lettuce, and the biggest mound of rice I have been served in a while with a lime flavor. Each region of Ecuador has rice that is cooked a little differently but the rice in Palmar is undoubtedly my favorite. It is like sticky rice and has a wonderful consistency. My first impressions of my family are that they are so kind, full of life, and genuinely love one another. This should be a good week.
7.12.11
This morning began with a quick run on the beach and an exhilarating turbokick class in a parking lot on the sand. While punching, kicking, and twisting we were observed by passing locals and later by a group of foreigners who arrived in scrubs. While slightly embarrassed we continued to get our workout in. After a breakfast of hardboiled eggs, a grilled cheese, a yogurt drink, and coffee we all met together. Our common meeting space is a place called NeoJoventud which is the community center in Palmar. It is a place run by community members, especially the youth, that works to promote healthy living and support for members of the community. It has a common space, a panderia (bakery), an internet café, and a small work out space. It was developed by a peace corps volunteer and is professionally run from all appearances. In my opinion, this a beautiful example of community development and empowerment. After orientation with the city, the organization, and our time here we were informed that all of our consultations for the week had been canceled because this week was the festival of Palmar. This festival, as my family would explain, is an ode to the Saint of fish who is celebrated with a concert Wednesday night, soccer games between boat crews Thursday and Friday, and a night of fireworks and dancing Friday. Almost every man in the community fishes for a living, my father being one. Our week quickly changed from being light to having next to nothing formal we had to do. Therefore we talked some more, returned home for lunch, and then came back to the beach in our bathing suits to sit in the sand. I enjoyed the company of a few different people on some beach walks and we all were trying to allow ourselves to get out of work mode and into a state of relaxation.
Dinner tonight was more chicken (which is supposedly a delicacy in Palmar. I love my home stay family. I went to the beach for a fire which was so very fun. After talking by the fire I came home. I was going to read in my bed before sleeping but quickly realized that my flashlight being the only light in the house was attracting bugs despite the net on top of me. Reading at night was all of the sudden out. Last night I definitely had the sensation of bugs crawling on me in my sleep. As disgusting as this may seem, I decided to not let myself react because the reality is that this family lives with bugs all the time. They won’t hurt me and if they live in these conditions every night I can certainly live like this for a week. Their house is modest but it is full of love and that is certainly much more significant.
7.13.11
Another morning of a beach run and turbokick provided the best start to the day. On the beach hundreds of fisherman were getting on their boats, bringing in fish, or somewhere in between. The city of Palmar always smells of fish and other seafood. After a cold shower, Martha fed me another grilled cheese with yogurt juice and coffee. I walked to Neojovetud where our team was meeting to discuss our general thoughts on the program and different aspect within. At this point we all have our criticisms and things we collectively and individually found frustrating, inefficient, or ineffective. However, the time we spent this morning in discussion was focused on turning all of our criticisms into recommendations and after our time spent together I feel we have some very valuable advice for Solutiones Comunitarias. When we finished our work we hit the beach, soaked up some sun, and continued talking about life. I returned home for lunch of a fresh calamari stir fry type dish. It was good but the calamari weirded me out a little bit with its tenticles still attached.
At 1:30 we met and Miguel, the guy who runs NeoJoventud took us out to the Mangroves. We all piled in a boat and rode through gorgeous trees that grow in the water and serve as breeding grounds for fish. These Mangroves have been preserved for the ecosystem of the area and are one of two remaining Mnagroves in the country. While on this boat ride we also saw some Blue Footed Boobies, amazing birds that are famous in the Galapagos Islands. We then rocked our way into the ocean where I jumped in, partially because I wanted to swim and partially because I was sea sick. Salty swimming was a blast but I promptly climbed back in the boat for fresh oysters which Miguel had literally just pulled up from the ocean, opened, and squirted lime on. I had two and thought of my mom who adores oysters and always makes sure we get oysters when at the beach. After all interested individuals had enjoyed their fresh seafood, we rode back to the beach and celebrated the birthday of another guy who works at NeoJoventud. I bought some oysters for my family (which are a rare treat) hoping for some ceviche in the coming days but much to my disappointment never happened. I returned home for another delicious meal with chicken and a huge mound of rice. Before dinner, my sister Eliana, Jorgito, and I played a game of Uno which I somehow managed to explain in Spanish. It is truly amazing how games can bring people together and I loved playing with Jorgito and Eliana. At 8pm, I met all the interns at NeoJovetud where we had a projector set up for us to enjoy 3 more episodes of lost. Tonight I was given a key to get back into my house because my entire family was going to enjoy the fiesta concert. However, when I returned home I could not manage to get the key to work. I kindly recruited a passing family to help me out and this confused man unlocked the door with much ease for me. I lay in my bed with only a sheet and had a restless night of sleep. My head is right next to the wall that leads outside and the roof is not closed off to the wall. Anything that happens outside essentially happens at full volume for me. As I lay awake, I heard a wild horse outside my window and I heard the concert continuing on until 5 am in the morning.
7.14.11
My 6:40am wake up call came early this morning as I went to run on the beach. I passed a few stumbling men who were clearly still intoxicated from the night before. We have been warned that alcoholism is a problem in this community and the festival would not bring out the best in the members of the community. After my work out I took a shower and ate breakfast. Martha was clearly very tired and told me they had stayed out until 5am the night before celebrating. I felt bad having her wake up to cook for me but she was sure to never make me feel like a burden in any way. Walking to NeoJoventud I passed three men sitting outside a Tienda. In general, I have felt so safe in Palmar. Our group is the only foreigners in this tiny community where everyone knows each other and everyone knows who we are and why we are there. I am quick to say hello to others first and I never feel threatened. This morning, once summoned by these men I realized they were very inebriated so I quickly tried to excuse myself from this interesting situation. As I said goodbye, each man moved in for the traditional greeting of the kiss but this men left big wet ones on my cheek. I couldn't help but smile as I walked away wiping of the slobber of their drunken stupor. This morning our group talked about our projects for a short while and then laid on the beach, walked on the beach, and just enjoyed the Palmar weather. Returning home for lunch, I forced down one of the least appealing meals I have had in Ecuador--a country fried steak. This is not really my cup of tea but I ate what was put in front of me. At lunch, I talked with Martha about the drinking culture in Palmar. The men are the drinkers and the women rarely to never have anything because they have historically had to take care of the men. Jorge is a responsible father and rarely drinks I was not surprised to hear. He is clearly a loving and present father and husband whom I have come to admire and respect. My family in Cuenca does not have many strong male figures and is all under the strong matriarch of Marianna. It has been so refreshing, comforting, and familiar to be in a fully functioning family. Eliana has great manners, thanks her mother for every meal, and carries herself with confidence. I am sure to compliment both Eliana and Martha for Eliana's manners and Martha's parenting every day.
In the afternoon we boarded a fishing truck and headed to a rural community to market for the upcoming campaign on Sunday. It was a hot afternoon and I found myself zapped of energy. Regardless, Matt, Katie, Liz and I walked from door to door in this community handing out fliers and telling people about the campaign on Sunday. This community was the most impoverished we have seen with few homes having more than two rooms and some lacking beds. After our marketing we returned to Palmar where I spent time hanging out with Eliana, asking about school, and seeing her incredibly organized notebook. She is clearly very bright and well-behaved. I was summoned into the back yard before dinner where the extended family was all sitting, talking, and cooking on the outside grill. I talked to Jorge's brother who was lounging in a hammock with a kid on his lap. I played clapping games with Victor, one of the cutest boys I have ever seen who has a grin that spans his entire 6 year old face and is easy to induce with any poke or funny noise. Jorge's mom was making grilled plantains and tuna and she is a joyful presence as well. Kids were running all over the place and I did my best to figure out who belonged to who but eventually gave up and just fell in love with the large family and the proximity in which they all live. I truly felt a part of the family with kids on my lap, dinner on the grill, and clothing on the lines. What an Ecuadorian experience. I then enjoyed my favorite dinner in Palmar of two fresh tunas on a bed of lettuce with rice and lentils. Afterwards, the interns made a fire on the beach and reflected on our time in Ecuador.
7.15.11
After running on the beach this morning, I went up to a place called the "Santuario" which is essentially a church on top of a big hill. It has a gorgeous view of the city of Palmar, the city of Salinas, the ocean, and the surrounding area. After soaking it in, I returned for a cold shower and breakfast. I asked my mom if she would be willing to make a lunch to go for me and she kindly said she would. I headed to meet the interns with a backpack full of clothing, a lunch to go, and my bathing suit, ready for two days of adventure and exploration. We boarded a bus and headed to Montanita, a beach that is very popular for tourists where we were planning on surfing. When we arrived we were overwhelmed by the amount of foreigners there, restaurants with menus in English, and artisans that exercised their limited English vocabulary to induce you to buy their goods. Montanita is one big party and felt kind of like Panama City. We were disappointed to find that surfing lessons were expensive and had no gaurentee of actually catching a wave. Instead we enjoyed a day relaxing in the hot Ecuadorian sun and exploring this city. Around 4pm half the group returned to Palmar while Matt and I went to another beach, Puerto Lopez to join SJ and Margaret for a night spent in a fun hostel. We arrived just in time for a gorgeous sunset over the ocean which was enjoyed in good company, outside a cabana, surrounded by palm trees and hammocks. We all showered in our quaint hostel with a beachfront view and then went out for italian food. After we sat in a cabana on the beach where I ordered my favorite new snack of a grilled cheese and I also had a strawberry banana batido (basically juice made with milk which ends up being a mix between a smoothie and a milkshake). We talked about life and then called it an early night.
7.16.11
Running in a beach town proved interesting as I ran through 4 towns just to get a good run in. I then sat alone in the raised breakfast area looking out over the ocean and writing in my journal. The rest of my roommates arose and we enjoyed breakfast together. I then met a girl who was staying at the hostel who was about to be a junior at UNC---small world! She is from Charlotte and has been studying abroad in Quito for the summer. After talking to Anna for a bit, we ventured into town where we waited for the rest of the interns to arrive by bus. Once they came we were ushered onto a boat to begin our whale watching journey. In the next four hours I would sit on the back of the boat, on the top of the boat, and inside the boat while our fearless driver, Don Cherry tracked down humpback whales in the ocean. Despite my severe sesasickness, I was amazed by the whales that waves and jumped 20 feet away from out boat. I have never seen anything quite like it. We stopped near an island and I was able to snorkle for the first time as well. Upon our return to Puerto Lopez we devoured a huge Columbian meal which was delicious. Stephanie was again pleased which a taste of her home country. We lounged on the beach in hammocks and I had to get out of the strong Ecuadorian sun for fear of severe sunburn. Eventually we boarded a bus home but had to make a stop in Montanita so Daniel could get him henna tatoo of a wolf howling at the moon on his side. Once back in Palmar, I was warmly greeted by my sweet family who had prepared a wonderful chicken dinner with veggies and fried plantains. We were disappointed when we realized we couldn't watch more lost but we improvised with a game of hot seat.
7.17.11
Oh boy. The last day in Palmar, the last Sunday in the country, and being oh so close to returning to the US. This is insane and uncomfortable and weird. How should I be responding emotionally? This morning we met at NeoJoventud after I enjoyed fried eggs and plantains. We waited for our transportation which was late as always. Finally a fishing truck showed up and had 12 people in the back along with all our gear. We arrived in Bambil Cacoa after a 30 minute ride. We set up and SJ and I quickly took the job of walking around the town doing marketing. We walked door to door and told the local people all about the campaign, our products, and told them we hoped to see them there. The response was not super enthusiastic but some people ended up showing up. Many people requested medical services and I hated telling them that we could not help their health issues other than giving them a good reference. Today, I wanted to be a doctor and that desire within me was reignited. I want to be able to provide for these people because as I walk around I realize they cannot even begin to think about buying our products until they have their health. Most of the mothers were not even concerned about their own health but that of their children. It is easy for me to say that we will give them a reference for a doctor but how will they get there? Can they afford a doctor’s services? Can they afford medicine? How severe are their problems? It is just a never ending and complicated list of questions and issues. After we walked to most the houses we returned to the tent and talked to locals about one of the new products we are investigating called AgroDrip. The people were interested but they could were not willing to buy it without a trial in case it didn’t work. We did not sell any other products besides eye glasses and seeds for home gardens. By 11am we did not have any more customers which was really frustrating and disheartening. I went on an exploratory adventure with Daniel, Matt, and Katie around the city to fill the time gap and see if there were any other people we could tell about the campaign. We were all slightly annoyed with the Aesesores because they seemed lazy and did not seem to be phased by the fact that they were not having any business. We did not want to do the work for them and did not know how to encourage them to walk around the community or actively seek out customers in some other manner.
We returned for lunch in Palmar where I had a delicious plate of chicken, plantains and lettuce. I then walked to the beach and took a little siesta while my food digested. Afterwards Katie, Daniel, Matteo and I went on another adventure down the beach. We walked to an inlet where the river meets the ocean and we swam around this inlet with other locals in the area. Then the boys got on a kick where they were determined to catch a crab. We spent the next hour watching them, laughing at their boyish obsession, and aiding them in their pursuits. We eventually went up on a small rock peninsula with sticks and tried to capture crabs but to no avail.
I returned home for a quick shower and my last dinner with my family. It was a delicious dinner of chicken, warm beans, plantains, and tea or course. I was sad that it was my last dinner and I expressed this sentiment repeatedly to my family. After we finished the meal I was preparing to head to the beach for our last bonfire but I was surprised when a large, feminine male walked in the door and Martha showed me that he was here to do my nails. What a fun present! So I sat in the main room as this large 25ish year old man painted my toe nails and finger nails. He picked the colors and my toes are a shiny light pink with hot pink tips. My fingernails were carefully and artfully done with a shiny pink base and a pink flower on every single nail. Oh my! I was constantly complimenting him on his skill and multiple members of the extended family were coming in and out of the house watching me have my nails done. This gift was so kind and I am so thankful for the thoughtfulness of Martha. After my nails were done I played Uno with Eliana and Maria, her 5 year old cousin who is adorable. After losing two consecutive games I headed to the beach with a huge smile plastered on my face.
The whole crew was sitting on the beach with their faces aglow with the warm orange light of the fire and the rumbling of the crashing waves in the ocean behind them. Gahlee, I really have no words for how incredible every component of my past eight weeks have been. It is more or less a fairy tale experience mixed with a great adventure novel. My ideal situation. On the beach we passed the time reflecting on our favorite moments of the trips, what we have learned, how we have changed, and other such things. Eventually our beach fire got rained out so we returned to our houses for one more night under the misquito nets.
7.18.11
I absolutely cannot believe that today is my last Monday in Ecuador for the foreseeable future. I love this country, the people, the climate, the terrain, the food, the culture, and the list goes on. But I am ready for home. I am ready for family, friends, and everything wonderful in between. I have grown so much as an individual in ways that are tangible and in ways that are not so tangible. I no longer feel the need to shower every night before I go to bed. I love rice. I wear necklaces. Bugs do not bother me at all. I am better at going with the flow. I have learned more about when it is time to step down and listen and when it is time to step up and take the reins. I like to get sleep and feel better when I have eight hours. I believe development work is best done over a long period of time with constant thoughtfulness and work combined with revolutionary patience. I will undoubtedly enter into relationships with people who are very different than me even more eagerly and with even less preconceived notions. I love adventures and random fun. People are people everywhere and a smile is a universal language. It is okay that I do not have a plan for the rest of my life. Being in the same space with someone, even without words, is building a relationship. Traveling is thrilling. I am crazy about my family. Poverty is real. Living in community is beautiful.
These are some random popcorn thoughts that are in my head. Today I arose and my entire family got up at 6:30am to say goodbye. I hugged a tired Eliana and Jorgito. I ran on the beach on final time and ran up to the Sanctuario for the gorgeous view of the city. After a shower, Martha fed me the biggest breakfast I have had in quite some time of sautéed beef, 2 fried eggs, fried plantains, coffee, fresh orange juice, and bread with jam. I was able to finish it all except for the bread, however the last few bites were a struggle. After breakfast cousins and the grandma came over for one last hug and Martha gave me a thoughtful gift. I had seen her up late the night before and she had hand made a tin decorated with butterflies and flowers cut out of foam and glittered. This labor intensive gift was created with such care and love it moves me to tears. She gave me a gift from the bottom of her heart that took time. Martha also wrote me a note saying that they would never forget me and hoping I would not forget them. She said she would “remember me in her heart”. This family truly embraced me and leaving was certainly difficult. Chances are good that I will never see this family again but I truly hope to remain in communication with them.
We waited outside NeoJoventud for over an hour for our late bus (of course) and when it finally arrived we loaded, each having two seats to ourselves in this spacious transportation. I spent the day catching up on all my journals, listening to music, looking at pictures, and talking to friends. We ate lunch in Gauyaquil again and I enjoyed a delicious salad full of veggies followed by another real coffee. Yay. We arrived in Cuenca around 5:30 and I rode a taxi home. I was warmly greeted by multiple members of my family. I was very talkative and told them all about the adventures of my past two weeks. They told me how much my Spanish had improved and I was on cloud nine because I really noticed a HUGE difference tonight in my talking and comprehending abilities which changes the way I am able to relate to the family. After talking for over an hour I was informed that another man was living in the house. He is a 60 year old man from Canada who works with special needs kids as they work on carpentry projects and build houses all together. I have enjoyed the brief time spent with this man.
After a fast shower I walked quickly into town for dinner with friends at an Italian restaurant called La Vina. I was so excited to be reunited with many people, especially Elizabeth Smith whom I have missed tons. We spent the remainder of the evening catching each other up on stories from the past 2 weeks and our thoughts overall. I know these next 3 days will fly and I will be home before I know it. Until then…
Hasta Luego,
Cate
