Estoy tan triste en este momento. No puedo creer que en doce horas, me voy de este país maravilloso. El tiempo se fue volando y mañana tendré solamente mis recuerdos de mi viaje, de mi familia anfitriona, y de muchos de mis amigos increíbles. Lo bueno es que voy a regresar a mi familia real y mi vida real - con la comida que me hace falta mucho y con todas las experiencias americanas que no he experimentado por cinco meses. Pero bueno - esa es la vida. Todo está siempre cambiando y las cosas siempre serán así. No me puedo quejar... (translation at the bottom)
The past few days have been so nice but so sad. On Thursday night, we went to Lauren's roof one last time to eat pizza and say goodbye. Some of our friends were going to Galápagos, most of the others (including me) were just going to be busy with our host families for the next two days. We went to Huaina one last time, listened to all of our favorite Ecuadorian pop songs (and American ones too) and enjoyed our last night "out on the town" - just sitting, but still. Going home, another cab driver tried to rip me off but this time I batted my eyelashes and told him it was my last night in Quito (almost true) and he let me go.
On Friday, I stayed at home all day. At my last request of things to do in Ecuador, my host dad agreed excitedly to have cuy for lunch - guinea pig - an Andean specialty! If I hadn't tried this before leaving, I really would have been disappointed because it's so traditional and the thing to "do" in South America. Anyway, I got to see Anita, our maid, prepare it (pictures coming soon!) and then did a whole photoshoot with my host dad, making a big show of taking a big bite out of it. In actuality, we split it into three - I got a thigh and leg. My thoughts?? Cuy is... weird. The taste was fine, mostly because of the seasonings, but the meat is so tough, especially the skin, and I couldn't not tell myself that I was gnawing on a small rodent. Also, my host dad insisted I eat the paw (nails and everything) because you do that apparently. So I ate the nails and foot of a guinea pig and all I can say is that is was really crunchy and I'm now considering vegetarianism....
Just kidding. But not really...
Anyway, it was fine. I packed mostly on Friday, apart from the essentials I'd need until departure. I actually didn't do much else except watch Dead Poets Society and a couple episodes of Bones.
Today, I got up early and met Ally (from Chicago) at the Ecovia station. From there, we headed to the market one last time to get a few more little souvenirs and have one last morning together. I love all of my friends here but I was so happy to have a morning with Ally - she really is one of my favorites and so it was a great morning. We ran into a few other people at the market we know - everyone is leaving soon so also grabbing things they need. Anyway, I got all my stuff, said a tearful goodbye to Ally, and took the 6 de Julio Ecovia bus home, one last time.
At home, I came just in time for almuerzo, which of course was extra special today. Andy's girlfriend came over and we ate chicken, steak, and sausage with potatoes, guacamole, and mote (different types of corn) and of course, with ají, my favorite sauce. After dinner, we took lots of pictures all over the house (again, coming soon - have to come home first to get pictures off my camera) and the mood was really nostalgic.
After lunch, everyone went back to their rooms and I was tired so I just watched TV all afternoon (shocker) but tonight, at dinner, I gave my gifts - a large wind chime, with suns and stars and bells on it, and some chocolate. Everyone was so grateful and saying how much they loved having me and it made me so sad. Then they gave me a gift - a beautiful set of handmade Christmas ornaments - absolutely gorgeous and irreplaceable. I gave them the letter mom and dad wrote - they absolutely loved it and I think it meant so much to them to read it.
That pretty much leads to now (I'm sorry I'm being so detailed - I'm sure most of you don't really care about this stuff but I really don't want to forget anything sooo...). I'm sitting on my bed once again, packed and ready to go. I already said goodbye to Andy because he's going tonight and I'll be saying goodbye to Maggie and Estefy when they go to bed, because Joddy is bringing me to the airport. We're leaving here at 6:15, so I can be at the airport 3 hours early (recommendation of the airline.)
I'm so sad. I absolutely love this family who opened their doors to me four and a half months ago, and it's really strange to think in a few hours, all of this will be gone. I've seriously had the most incredible time of my life in Ecuador - might have been the best decision I've ever made. Maybe it seemed a little silly a few months ago - moving to a third-world country for a few months, with a language I barely speak, and a family I've never met. But thanks to this amazing trip, I have seen and done things I never would have dreamed of before and probably become a much better person as a result. Where do I begin? I got to visit the Amazon rain forest, swim in the tributary of the Amazon river, see the Pacific Ocean for the first time in my life, went ziplining in a cloud forest, went white-water tubing and was so thankful for my life thereafter, I jumped off a giant bridge, went repelling down waterfalls, rode horses in a beautiful mountain, took baths in natural hot springs, got sick with every illness possible (digestive and others), saw countless beautiful historic monuments, got to stand 4000m above sea level, got to visit a market town and see all the indigenous people, got to witness what the "third world" part of this country really looks like, while living in an environment that is so ridiculously first-world, I got to experience the crazy buses of Ecuador, learned to bargain and argue for everything in Spanish, I went to crazy Liga fútbol games, I got teargassed out of one of them, I made the most amazing friends, American and Ecuadorian, became part of an Ecuadorian family, represented them and totally dominated at kareoke at a party, became an expert at splitting bills of $68.45 into 10 or 11, learned to apologize for giving $20 and learned love getting small change back, I managed to pay for a $0.25 bus ride on Thursday with 15 pennies, which was one of my proudest moments, and learned to navigate a giant city and learned how to get myself just about anywhere for less than $0.50.
Oh, and did I mention I went to class too, sometimes? :) No, no... en serio, I managed to do all of those things and only missed as many classes as I was allowed, made great grades, did all my homework, and still managed to read 17 books this semester for fun. I also had so many awesome nights in Quito, hanging out with friends at their houses or in bars, dancing, having fun. And, managed to sneak in a few flings while I was at it. Not to mention the whole point, which was to become fluent in Spanish. I'd say I'm 85% there and can't wait to prove myself back in the States. Not bad for a semester, right?
Okay - my point being: this has been wonderful. Surreal. Absolutely unforgettable. And come tomorrow, it's all over.
Much love,
Cynthia
PS. I reread what I wrote and I'd also like to say that I can't emphasize enough how much I have missed my family in the past few months. American life, food - I could do without that, but I don't know how much more time I could go without my amazing parents and brothers. So I'd just like to say that despite everything I've written up until now, you can't possibly imagine how overjoyed I am at the thought of them waiting for me at the airport tomorrow. Guys, seriously, I can't wait. I love you so much and it's only down to hours now... <3
Translation from above:
I'm so sad right now. I can't believe that in 12 hours, I'm leaving this wonderful country. Time has flown and tomorrow I'll have only memories of my trip, my host family, and many of my incredible friends. The good part is that I'm going to return to my real family and my real life - with the food that I miss so much and with all the American experienced that I've not had for five months. But hey - that's life. Everything is always changing and things will always be that way. I can't complain...
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