3 weeks
I've been out of touch for a while, but I have been reading the blog whenever I get the chance. I love the duck photo.
Well, it's getting close now. Last night I slept in my little adobe house for the last time. My neighbors who bought my stuff had already taken everything away, so all I had was the mattress on the floor. I had my stereo playing ellie's I Remember CD. It seemed appropriate somehow.
It's been a tense couple of weeks. Ecuador is in the middle of trade talks with the US, about a free trade agreement, and for a variety of reasons, the indigenous groups called nationwide strikes, effectively cutting off transportation through most of the mountains. There wasn´t much activity where I lived, just a lot of mud piled in the road in a few places for a day or two, but up north it was pretty bad. And, for a couple of days it looked like I wouldn´t be able to leave because of road blocks farther north. So I was a little panicked, trying to get everything organized to leave, say goodbye, wrap things up.
Here's the thing though. I've made some good friends here, and they all cry and get emotional when I tell them I'm leaving. But, I do believe I'll be coming back to visit, and anyway, in my head I'm already planning my new life. So I don't cry, and I don't really know how to handle it when someone else does. I wish I could be more in the moment...I mean, my gosh, I'm not at home yet...and who knows how it will REALLY be once I get there...
But, Yay! not long now. I'm planning some little gifts for all of you...
Well, it's getting close now. Last night I slept in my little adobe house for the last time. My neighbors who bought my stuff had already taken everything away, so all I had was the mattress on the floor. I had my stereo playing ellie's I Remember CD. It seemed appropriate somehow.
It's been a tense couple of weeks. Ecuador is in the middle of trade talks with the US, about a free trade agreement, and for a variety of reasons, the indigenous groups called nationwide strikes, effectively cutting off transportation through most of the mountains. There wasn´t much activity where I lived, just a lot of mud piled in the road in a few places for a day or two, but up north it was pretty bad. And, for a couple of days it looked like I wouldn´t be able to leave because of road blocks farther north. So I was a little panicked, trying to get everything organized to leave, say goodbye, wrap things up.
Here's the thing though. I've made some good friends here, and they all cry and get emotional when I tell them I'm leaving. But, I do believe I'll be coming back to visit, and anyway, in my head I'm already planning my new life. So I don't cry, and I don't really know how to handle it when someone else does. I wish I could be more in the moment...I mean, my gosh, I'm not at home yet...and who knows how it will REALLY be once I get there...
But, Yay! not long now. I'm planning some little gifts for all of you...
posted by Hannah at 10:54 AM
4 Comments:
Hannah, I know what you mean about not crying at farewells. I always try to put aside that kind of reaction by focusing on when I will see someone in the future.... like, as I'm saying goodbye, I am more interested in planning for the time I say the next hello.
When is your actual date of arrival in the U.S.? Are you flying in to Chicago or elsewhere?
Hannah, I'm so excited you are coming back to your (first) home.
I'm excited because you probably have that feeling in your belly of uncertainty and adventure and nervousness and wishfulness that boil together inside you, that hyperawareness that everything is going to change. There is no other feeling like it.
I'm excited that you are somehow more reachable now, Ecuador seems so far away to me.
And I'm excited you get those first few months of seeing the American overproduction version of civilization again. It's disorienting but fun, a barrage of the familiar but almost forgotten.
Have a safe trip, knowing you never really leave.
Three weeks, wow I bet that will go fast for you. That is about how long I have until I take the practical part of my test.
I not much of an emotional goodbye kind of person either. I usually stand there thinking to myself, ok this isn't the end of the world. Let's move this along. I know I know that sounds terrible but really it isn't.
I can't wait until you get back!! I wish you could come visit Alabama before Eliza's wedding, but at least I know we'll get to see each other in 2 months.
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