It All Comes Back to Quito

I don’t know where June has gone...or the rest of the year for that matter. This has been such an incredible month full of such fun experiences, but the beginning of many sad goodbyes. It all began at our End of Service Conference the first weekend of June. My whole class of volunteers reunited for one last time in the place where it all began- Quito. I arrived on Thursday morning and got together with my friend Liz to make a slideshow of photos that we planned on showing and giving to all the volunteers. You know how much I love photos and anything sentimental! So after working on that for awhile, we went out to sushi lunch with a big group of other vols who had arrived in town. Who knew that one could find such good sushi in South America...but it was delicious! Then I met with some other vols to create a list of Superlatives for the volunteers to vote on, which is always so fun. Then we all headed for our sessions to begin at 4pm.
 
I just love being with the other volunteers and our Field Directors. They are such a fun group of people and I am always guaranteed to have many good laughs when I am with them. So even though we sat through some long sessions, it was always very enjoyable. We talked about all sorts of things-preparing ourselves to leave Ecuador and readjusting to life back home. We discussed “culture shock” a lot, and what might surprise us about our own culture when we return to the States. We also talked about how going home is not really going home because we have changed, as have loved ones that we left behind. I really like this quote that they gave us, that I think describes the situation well: “The problem is the word home. It suggests a place and a life all set up and waiting for us; all we have to do is move in. But home isn’t merely a place we inhabit; it’s a lifestyle we construct wherever we go...”

I handed out Superlative ballots to everyone on Thursday, and at lunch on Friday, Shelby, Sarah, and I tallied them all up for our presentation that night at the final dinner. So after another day of sessions, we all left to get dolled up for a fancy meal together. Kane, our Director, took us to his favorite restaurant in Quito, an incredible Italian restaurant. I hadn’t eaten so well in a long time...they brought appetizers galore to share, and then I got filet mignon and tirimisu for dessert. I had quite the international food experience I guess! The best part about our final dinner, though, were the toasts. Each volunteer had chosen another’s name out of a hat, and was told to prepare a toast to the character of that person. I was toasted by my friend Katie Skipper, and she said super sweet thinks that I definitely did not deserve. I oddly enough chose Aubrey’s name! So I told everyone that while I could probably say the most about her, she was the hardest one to talk about because we have just shared so much together- the good, the bad, and everything in between. But it was just so nice hearing all the beautiful things everyone had to say about each other- special memories, funny moments, admiration and appreciation- and it really just became so obvious that we had become a family of sorts after all our months together, experiencing the vida ecuatoriana. Then after the tears were shed, Mark, Sarah, and I stood up to present the Superlatives to the rest of the group. And lastly, the group presented our directors Kane and Katie with cards, gift certificates, and blow-up superhero dolls because they really were our super heroes for the year. Then of course we all went out dancing!

On Saturday morning I got up early and went with my friend Annie to the elementary school that Liz volunteers at outside of Quito. I really enjoyed seeing another side to a co-volunteer’s experiences here. Liz had taught all the classes to perform songs in English, including the Hokey Pokey and The Lion Sleeps Tonight, and they performed them for their parents for Family Day. Liz was so great standing in front of the kids, doing the dances herself, with more enthusiasm than many of the students! Annie and I were laughing so hard at the spectacle- precious kids in super cute costumes signing with terrible English accents. But it was such a wonderful way to spend the morning and we were all so proud of Liz and all the love and dedication she has given to those kids.

We ladies arrived late to our Saturday morning sessions because of our trip to the school, but we got to work quickly writing a letter to ourselves. This is a tradition at every End of Service- to write yourself a letter reflecting on your time in Ecuador and your goals for the year ahead. So this letter that I wrote will be sent to me a year from now, and hopefully I will have accomplished many of the goals I have set for myself- continuing learning Spanish, finding a job I love, working out and getting back in shape, and most importantly keeping the memories of Ecuador alive and staying in touch with the people who have touched my heart throughout these past months. After we finished, I was excited to have been elected as the Alumni Group Liaison, so I will be in charge of keeping the volunteers connected post-Ecuador. So you better believe I am pumped for planning volunteer reunions! Then we finished by having a ceremony to commemorate what Ecuadorians do to ring in the New Year every year. They burn dolls of famous people, both liked and disliked, in the streets- every family having their own burning ceremony. This symbolizes burning what is old and entering the new year with a fresh slate- a world full of opportunities. So similarly, we each made our own paper doll decorated with our favorite memories, accomplishments, lessons, etc, from Ecuador, and one by own we burned our dolls in the fire. Everyone also had to share their favorite memory, so I said that one of mine was the entire celebration of Carnival, which was just a week of ridiculous fun. Watching the flames grow and hearing about so many happy times really was the perfect ending to our year together as volunteers.

Last but not least, after the official conference had ended, we carried the festivities to Liz and Joel’s apartment for a BBQ. We grilled burgers and hot dogs, hung out together, and Liz and I showed our slideshow to everyone as well! So finally hugs were given and goodbyes were said...and one by one everyone left to go their separate ways- some back to teach, others back to their sites to pack up, and still others off to travel around Ecuador or the rest of South America. And while it was very hard for me to say bye to these people with whom I have shared so much and have really learned to admire, I know that we can stay in touch and that we will see each other again (at the reunions of course!).

So from EOS, I returned to Ambato ready, but apprehensive about my last week with my students. I know that the week will be so enjoyable with final presentations, dinners, and parties, but with that all comes even more goodbyes, and to the people I have spent time with every week, class after class. But as my mom says, to say hello one must learn to say goodbye first, so hopefully I will just take this as an opportunity to spend more time with my students and to know that maybe one day we will see each other again. Such is life I guess!