Ecuador, Summer 2019 (Final Entry - Guayaquil & Moving to Oregon)
Our trip around Ecuador had to come to an end as we had a few commitments in Guayaquil before we left. My permanent crown was ready to be fitted, replacing the temporary crown that was placed after my root canal shortly before we embarked on our trip around the country.
Early on the morning of July 28, we took a cab to the bus terminal in Cuenca to board the three and a half hour bus ride back to Guayaquil. Although we have driven through the mountains to a great extent on this trip, the views could never compare to what we saw on the way back.
Our drive through the mountains had us above the clouds which stretched as far as the eyes could see like a blanket of snow on an open field.
(From left to right) Me, Gabriel, Juan Sebastian, Marco Andres, and Daniel
We spent our last week in Ecuador visiting some more of my family members, many of whom I had not seen in six years or more. Almost all of my cousins from my mother’s side of the family were in Guayaquil for my grandmother’s 80th birthday party so we all had our own little reunion at a cafe near my mother’s house.
My grandmother’s 80th birthday party was on Saturday, August 3, and everyone was there. As my grandmother has gotten older her health has been slightly declining which has caused her to be depressed. This depression was multiplied exponentially earlier this same year when my uncle passed away after suffering a massive stroke at the age of 53.
My grandmother had tears in her eyes the entire time seeing all these people gathered together to celebrate her on her special day. It honestly moved me to tears seeing her like this and I’m not sure if this trip may be the last time I see her so I definitely tried to make the most out of it.
Before this trip, I would never say I was a “family person.” In fact I openly resented the idea of being too close to your extended family, considering it something we do because we’re told we’re supposed to. Hell, it’s one of the main reasons I haven’t been back to Ecuador in nearly six years before this trip.
After seeing everyone come together to celebrate the oldest living matriarch in my family, I couldn’t help but feel like I’ve been selfish trying to isolate myself away from all these people. I realized that I need to try to get a little closer to my roots in the future and not push everyone there away.
Three days later on August 6, we went to the international airport in Guayaquil to board our flight back home to Boston. The next few days were a mad scramble of packing for our move to Oregon, saying goodbye to the friends we made during our time in Boston, and getting a bunch of physicals tests, dental exams, and cavities filled for my job in Antarctica.
