This is the End

My last few weeks sure flew by fast in Ecuador! After the bus trip with all the exchange students, I went to school for a few days, that when June started, I stopped going to school for my last 2 weeks to enjoy as much of Guayaquil that I can. It was nice being able to sleep in late and walk around with my exchange friends, but after a while not going to school would get boring! Most days I would go to crossfit, a VERY intense exercise class that i've come to love. My last Friday, the 14, I went to school for the day to see all my friends, which was really fun! That night my best friend from school threw me a going away party for my let full night in Ecuador.

I got to go to the beach 1 last time before I left! My friends took me to Salinas, a beach that's about 2 hours away from my city. 

Saturday I did some last minute shopping, and finally started packing. I have no clue how I fit all my items from the year into 2 suitcases and a backpack! My last night I went to the airport to see off 4 exchange students who were going back to their states in the US. After that I stayed out with my friends a little bit for my last hours. 

I had to wake up very early this morning to catch my plane at 7am. 

I'm currently writing this on my flight from Miami to New York, and we should be landing in around 2 hours. I still can't believe

my 10 months is up in Ecuador, because being in the airpot today reminded me of when I was coming to Ecuador, which only feels like a few months ago.

This year has been the most amazing experience in so many ways, and i've met people and gone on adventures that I will never forget. Fue una vida en un ano, no un ago en mi vida. Te amo Ecuador. 

Final Trip (written 10 days before posted)

The last trip was through most of the larger cities in the Andes Mountains. All 150 exchange students came to my city, Guayaquil, and there we had a Rotary event with all the Rotarians who could come from all cities in Ecuador. We all came in with our flags in order of countries, a few exchange students made speeches or little presentations about their experience in Ecuador. 

Lake in National Park Cajas

standing on ancient ruins

The next morning we took off to Cuenca, than Riobamba, Banos, Quito, Ibarra, Cotacachi, and Otavalo. All the cities are in the mountains and beautiful in their own way. At each city we would go to the typical tourist attractions, like the line of the Equator in Quito. We spent a lot of time in the bus traveling, but nobody really minded because it's always fun when your with 150 of your friends.

rainbow over Cotopaxi Volcano

Hanging with llamas after having
a lunch made of them. 

My favorite day was when we were staying in Ibarra, which is a little city 1 hour north of Quito, and we took a day trip to Lake Cuicocha. It looks like a GIANT crater that was made in the mountains that got filled in with water. It was so beautiful, and we got to hike to the top and look down on the lake. The hike was really hard for all the kids who are living in cities on the coast like I am, because of the high altitude change! 

Volcano Cotopaxi

On the last day we went to Otavalo, which is another little town next to Ibarrra, and there is the biggest market i've ever seen. They say that you need at least 5 hours to see everything. All markets in Ecuador receives their goods from Otavalo, and when they arrive, they raise the price, so Otavalo is the place to go to get the cheapest things! On the last day we had to say goodbye to everyone who isn't from our own cities, because people started to leave Ecuador a few days after the trip ended. When everyone was leaving we would take out our flags of Ecuador and everyone would go around signing them, sort of like yearbooks at the end of the year. That day was the day that it hit most of us that the year is actually ending, because we are so used to our life and schedule here, it seems strange that we have to leave it all. 

at the top of
Lake Cuicocha

My friends from Germany
and I standing on the line
that separates the 2
hemispheres