The Links

Some thoughts about leaving Ecuador: It’s a mash up of sadness and excitement as we pack our bags and sell our bikes. We’ve been here 11 months, had some major ups and downs, grown as a family, and learned a lot. It’s hard to know how to summarize our time or reflect on all that has transpired. Perhaps only time and distance will bring things into focus. In the meantime, I’ve been contrasting and comparing what I am ready to leave behind and what I will miss about life in Ecuador.  Many things bridge the two categories: Easy Peasy climate: Although many Ecuadorians complain that Cuenca is freezing, it’s pretty much Alaskan summer year round. It’s more California than California. Sweatshirts and flip flops every day. It’s the kind of climate that makes you pretty soft. So, of course, I am going to miss it. But it’s perfection is tiresome. I miss seasonal variation and marking the passage of time by light and leaves. I miss switching up my exercise routine based on trail conditions

  Every Rose Has Its Thorn First let me start by saying that this was fun. It really was, but it also had its ups and downs. In this section of my blog I’m going to take you through my time and experiences in Ecuador.  So let’s rewind the tape and start from the beginning.        When I arrived in Ecuador it was like I’d left the USA and traveled through a portal to a different dimension.  It was completely different than anywhere I’d been before.  First of all EVERYTHING was in Spanish, which was overwhelming.  Keep in mind that throughout the year everything would continue to be in Spanish. Over the next few weeks, I started speaking more, making friends in my urbanización (a gated community of condos), and practicing fútbol.  That brings me to the next chapter of this journey: School.  When I started school it was virtual, which I will state was the hardest thing I have ever done. Period.  Not only was it glitchy with our horrible Wifi but also I didn’t know anybody. Oh yeah, and ev

  m y t i m e i n e c u a d o r                                                                               Thin Things I’m excited to go back to: Fitting  in    My friends Skiing Our House Ice Skating                                     Things I’m going to miss about Ecuador My Friends Reading more than I can in Alaska Kids Day The price of everything Almost free orbies