Eight months ago today I was sitting at SFO with my dad, trying to not freak out that I was getting on a plane to the middle of the world, somewhere I knew no one and had no clue what to expect my life would be like. I left my heart in San Francisco, CA, and headed south.
Today my time around the equator is coming to an end (for now). I'm leaving the "belly button of the world," the "land of volcanoes," an incredible country that I have come to love and feel deeply connected to, and it's more than just a matter of being used to living here.
So as I take a break from my life in Spanish, as I suppose you could describe it, I'm pretty overwhelmed with emotions.
I'm excited to see the people I left in the States, that are so dear to my heart and whose support has been absolutely indispensable in my time here. I've carried you all down here with me in my heart, but that's just not the same as being able to give you a hug or to chat or to share a meal with you. [The nerd Emily you all know and love is super excited to go back to studying at Cal, but that's a whole different issue.]
I'm also scared out of my mind. For someone who's [generally] a control freak, it's just as daunting returning to the [purportedly] "normal" after having an experience like mine down here. I have absolutely no clue what transitioning back to the U.S. will be like, what my summer will be like (ah, the woes of employment in a cris-ridden economy)...I got nothing. All I know is that I'm going back to the States. From there it's a crapshoot of sorts. [I can't lie, I've been freaking out probably since I had 3 months left].
I'm also broken-hearted. I've built a life for myself down here. My host family means so much to me, and I've spent so much time with them that I can't imagine what life's going to be like not seeing them every morning and evening. Like I said, I just feel connected to Ecuador, as cheesy as that sounds, and it makes my departure a difficult one. In so many ways I'm leaving my heart here in San Francisco de Quito (convenient full name for the city, eh?).
Looking back on my decision to come here, I don't really know if you could call it that. I sort of found out about the program and that was basically that; I was coming to Ecuador. It's as if I stumbled into the most important experience of my life thus far, eight months that will continue to be extraordinarily important for me in my years to come.
But I couldn't be more sure that this year has been exactly what I needed. Nowhere near perfect, but just what I needed.
So when you want to ask, "Well how was it?", understand that your question is a bit silly because how do you summarize eight months of such a distinct life experience so easily? I suppose my answer would be the following:
They have been eight of the most significant months of my life. I've lived some of my most happy and positively memorable moments, but I've also lived some of my most miserable and challenging moments. But I wouldn't take back an instant--it was all absolutely necessary.
Today my time around the equator is coming to an end (for now). I'm leaving the "belly button of the world," the "land of volcanoes," an incredible country that I have come to love and feel deeply connected to, and it's more than just a matter of being used to living here.
So as I take a break from my life in Spanish, as I suppose you could describe it, I'm pretty overwhelmed with emotions.
I'm excited to see the people I left in the States, that are so dear to my heart and whose support has been absolutely indispensable in my time here. I've carried you all down here with me in my heart, but that's just not the same as being able to give you a hug or to chat or to share a meal with you. [The nerd Emily you all know and love is super excited to go back to studying at Cal, but that's a whole different issue.]
I'm also scared out of my mind. For someone who's [generally] a control freak, it's just as daunting returning to the [purportedly] "normal" after having an experience like mine down here. I have absolutely no clue what transitioning back to the U.S. will be like, what my summer will be like (ah, the woes of employment in a cris-ridden economy)...I got nothing. All I know is that I'm going back to the States. From there it's a crapshoot of sorts. [I can't lie, I've been freaking out probably since I had 3 months left].
I'm also broken-hearted. I've built a life for myself down here. My host family means so much to me, and I've spent so much time with them that I can't imagine what life's going to be like not seeing them every morning and evening. Like I said, I just feel connected to Ecuador, as cheesy as that sounds, and it makes my departure a difficult one. In so many ways I'm leaving my heart here in San Francisco de Quito (convenient full name for the city, eh?).
Looking back on my decision to come here, I don't really know if you could call it that. I sort of found out about the program and that was basically that; I was coming to Ecuador. It's as if I stumbled into the most important experience of my life thus far, eight months that will continue to be extraordinarily important for me in my years to come.
But I couldn't be more sure that this year has been exactly what I needed. Nowhere near perfect, but just what I needed.
So when you want to ask, "Well how was it?", understand that your question is a bit silly because how do you summarize eight months of such a distinct life experience so easily? I suppose my answer would be the following:
They have been eight of the most significant months of my life. I've lived some of my most happy and positively memorable moments, but I've also lived some of my most miserable and challenging moments. But I wouldn't take back an instant--it was all absolutely necessary.
![Mi nuevo país [Map of Ecuador]](http://seedjewelry.net/photo-gallery/ecuador_map.gif)
2 comments:
Emily,
I hope you have a smooth transition back to states. From my experiences studying abroad the most important thing for me was taking the time to breathe and re-adjust to American life. I took some time off and did not try to pack to much in the beginning. Just immediate family in the beginning.
Janelle has been her a week now. She is transitioning pretty well. We took some time off and went off for a weekend by ourselves. Her contact with ALL THE PEOPLE who want to see her, has been brief, as it can overwhelming.
We very much enjoyed your blog and hope you continue to blog! Although you are no longer in Ecuador this does not mean we are not interested in your adventures.
Keith
Hola linda,
So, I just got arount to reading this and wanted to say - beautifully put. You're wonderful :o)
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