It's been a while

"Oh, these times, they are a-changin'"

Well, friends. I almost feel odd returning to my blog after such an absence. But, for the sake of efficiency (not reporting my whereabouts etc. to everyone individually), and because I do truly enjoy writing, I might return to the ol' web-log once more. I mean, the plan is to provide you all with updates more frequent than once every three months.

What's new? In the States I have friends getting married, having babies, moving across the country, losing their parents, getting jobs, breaking up, and friends who have time to enjoy a good book and a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks (or I suppose now it would be a Peppermint something-or-other...) (Side note: Starbucks has never sounded so good to me as now. I am sure reality would disappoint, but my imagination tells me that Christmas-in-a-cup-of-frothy-milk latte would be absolutely delicious at this moment.)

Here on the equator I have two big life events coming up: I am leaving my job and moving.

For the past year and a half the world's highest capital city, Quito, has been home. And now, I will be heading to Portoviejo (which means "old port"), a city on the coast of Ecuador, in a matter of weeks. In fact, I am currently in Portoviejo because of a four-day weekend! Today is Quito's 4th of July.

On leaving my job. I have been teaching English in a continued learning center that belongs to Ecuador's best university, la Escuela Politécnica Nacional. It's been good. I think the greatest challenge is the lack of continuity with the students. Every two months I've found myself with up to 60 new faces staring at me. 60 new names. 60 new reasons to work, or dislike work. 60 new people with stories you  may never know. Also, I am not called to teach. For the time being, I am called to work, so teaching it is! But, I do not hope to do it long term. Work for me has never been the most satisfying thing, but teaching certainly hasn't seemed to be my niche. We'll see. I will continue to teach, only online instead. And most likely in a university here in Portoviejo, among other myriad possibilities. I am content and unconcerned about the job. Something else great will come along--it always does.

 

On moving. Why am I moving? Well, I just want to be closer to the guy in the above photo. My boyfriend Patricio and I have been together for eight months--all long distance. For those of you Midwesterners who know what I'm talking about, the equivalent is this: I live in Detroit and he lives in Marquette. (The city and natural beauty etc. apply in this comparison, as well as the distance.) So, yeah, that's been quite a while of commuting on weekends to see each other. I am thankful for it though. It's been a great challenge. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, so they say.  I won't miss the 8-hour overnight bus rides, or even the 40-minute plane ride. Or the constant good-byes. I can't wait to go out for dinner after work...what a novelty!


I hope you have seen in the photos how beautiful the coast is. I love the warmth, I love waking up to chirping birds at sunrise, the fresh breezes, the easy drive to the ocean, the delicious food and amazingly friendly people. Manabí is the province of which Portoviejo is the capital, and it is the heart of Ecuador. Best food and and people and beaches, hands down. (I've always wondered: why is it the the warmer the climate, the warmer the people?)

So, having said all that, I hope you all save up your money in your piggy bank and come visit me. I'm going to be here a while.

(I laugh to myself when I glance back at old posts and count the number of times I swear I shall leave this country. That sure ain't the case no more.)

Photos from August, September, and October 2013

Truck-load of...people. I love Manabí.

Nothing new...can't wait to live here!

A whale of a tail!

Hello, whales!

Spent the afternoon in Cotopaxi National Park.

Volcanic flowers and mosses.

Patricio and I.

A mini-update and a poem

How is it July already? (P.S. Happy birthday, Mom! Love you!)

Haven´t much to say other than that I´m happy and doing well. Finding that life is kind of like an endurance run with hurdles...at least you can rest for a few meters at a time before the next one. And if you trip, well, you learned something (jump higher! find a better trainer!) and you´ll get a scab and a story. I think I owe my Dad a bit of thanks for the analogy nonsense. Also, English feels like my second language (and it technically is as far as how much I use it here)...


So, a couple of months ago I wrote a poem. To preface it, let me ask you a question:

Have you ever wanted it to rain because an afternoon was so beautiful and sunny and you felt like you couldn´t appreciate it fully? (...or perhaps I´m a hyper-sensitive person and you think my question is nuts...anyway, read on if you care to.)

The original was in Spanish, and then I translated it to English:

on a sunny afternoon
i long for rain.

a storm with dark clouds
rolling thunder
and fierce winds

on a sunny afternoon
i long for rain.

that will turn off the sun
the flame that burns me
with its beauty and heat

it calls me to desire more

on a sunny afternoon
i long for rain

to rinse me clean
with its drops
falling like tears

on a sunny afternoon
i long for rain

that makes me shut the window

shut the door

shut myself

quench the desire to leave
if it´s raining, i just can´t.

i won´t find the answer out there
in the street

in the mountain
in the fields.

but i forget that rain
makes things grow.

the brilliant green of the grass after the rains
calls me anew

the beauty calls me
the flowers, the birdsongs
call me, claim me.

the flowers open,
the birds open their mouths.
i open myself, i grow, i see.

on a sunny afternoon

i long for You
satisfy me


el original: 

en una tarde soleada

anhelo la lluvia

una lluvia de nubes grises

de truenos

y vientos feroces.

en una tarde soleada

anhelo la lluvia

que se apague el sol

la llama que me quema

con su belleza y calor

quien me llama a anhelar

más que él.

en una tarde soleada

anhelo la lluvia

que me enjuague

con sus gotas

cayéndose como lágrimas.

en una tarde soleada

anhelo la lluvia

que me hace cerrar la ventana

cerrar la puerta

cerrarme

apagar el deseo de salir

si está lloviendo, no puedo--

no voy a encontrar la respuesta afuera

en la calle

en la montaña

en el campo.

pero olvido que la lluvia

hace las cosas crecer.

el verde brillante del césped

después de la lluvia

me llama de nuevo.

la belleza me llama

las flores, el canto de los pájaros

me llaman, me reclaman.

las flores se abren

los pájaros abren sus bocas.

me abro, crezco, veo.

en una tarde soleada

Te anhelo

satisfáceme.

It´s June!

I just happened to find time to post something super-quick...and realized it was June 1. First of all, I can´t believe it´s already June. It´s confusing when the weather in Quito is perpetual fall...I keep thinking it´s October or something. Especially now that I´ve moved farther north, the weather is actually cooler. Perhaps I´m at a higher altitude? I think. And also, I had hopes of blogging once a month so it´s pure luck that I ran across the street to use the internet. I use the computer at this little store that sells everything, and to the store owner, everyone is named ´neighbor.´

Let´s see, what´s there to report? I´m happy, healthy, and thinking of a visit to the States in August or December. I´m not really sure when is best.

I moved about three weeks ago and am happy in this new area. There are 0 foreigners, I´m a bit closer to other friends, and my roommate is a friend of mine who recently moved to Quito from the coast. Our apartment is the lower level of a house, it´s spacious and aside from being a bit chilly, I have no complaints.

And, that´s all for now. 

Here are some photos of the last month:

May 2013

Also, June 1 was another date I had in mind, once upon a time, of leaving Quito. Ha!