Adios

Today, July 14th, is my last day here at OSSO in Cuenca, Ecuador. I had my last shift this morning in OSSO's house for it's youngest children. As I have said goodbye and had my last shifts at the different sites, things have gotten harder and harder. Each goodbye builds upon the previous. I not only say goodbye to the kids I am leaving right then, but also remember and say goodbye to the ones I have already left. Today I said goodbye to over five different houses/orphanages.  This time instead of saying...

And at that very moment the computer shut off and would not turn back on so today July 21 I am finishing this post.  The computer shut off just as I was in the middle talking about saying goodbye. In Ecuador people generally say chao to say goodbye. But for our last goodbye many of us used adios.  To God.  Because that is who we are leaving these children to. Leaving was hard, but being home is almost harder. Chances are I will never see these children again. But the hardest part is I will never truly be able to pay these children back for all the good they taught me.  All I can do is try to take what they have taught me, remember it, and incorporate these lessons into my everyday life.

While in Ecuador I didn't realize how good I had it or how much I really learned. But being home I have seen how much I took for granted while in Ecuador. Being home I miss everything about Ecuador.  I miss hearing spanish. I miss seeing the traditionally dressed women walking down the street. I miss the really good bad drivers. I miss the songs I heard on the radio. Most of all I miss the kids.  Being home everything I see reminds me of little things in Ecuador.  Even things like kitchen clean-up, or the way a person says something.  It's a lot harder coming home than going to Ecuador. The first few days in Ecuador were a little overwhelming, but after the first 3 days I was in love with Cuenca.  I never expected that coming home I would feel that I have come home to a foreign country. I find myself amazed at the complaints people make everyday. I am taken back by how much stuff that I have. I feel I am doing something wrong every time I flush TP down toilet. I can drink out of the faucet. The showers stay warm and had reliable water pressure.  I can't sleep in past 7:30 am. I don't like sitting still. I get bored. I think of my kids. Ecuador was easy. Real life is hard. But without struggle there is no reward. I am ready and excited for new experiences. This was a life changing experience that will stay with me forever.  As life goes on I will do my best to take the simple joys found in Ecuador to make my Big Wonderful Life the best that it can be.

*note names of children &/or houses they stayed in have been changed for the privacy of the children.