5/22
This trip has been one wild ride and I can’t believe it is coming to a close. A part of me is ready for the comforts of my everyday life and to continue with my next great adventures this summer, but a bigger part of me knows this was the trip of a lifetime, and I will miss it. I’ll be missing the friends I’ve made, the jungle sounds at night, the constant adventure, and the completely different culture of Ecuador. I’ve learned so much about the chocolate and flower industry here, the culture within Quito, Cayambe, Otawala, the Iyarina and the Waorani, and seen sights I know people rarely get to see.
As for today, We took it slow for the first time since being in Ecuador because we have so many assignments to complete. Our presentations, Ecuador advertisements, and blogs took up most of the day here because we had to finish them by 5pm.
The actual presentations were fun to watch as each group took a different approach when using the knowledge we had learned from the businesses on this trip. Watching the video advertisements was the best part! I’m super happy with the way our video turned out. Everyone plus nine of the employees at Iyarina voted on the best video. Meg beat me by one vote – it was such a fun way to showcase all of the work we had put in!
After dinner, we ventured to a nearby town with a really cool waterfront to celebrate Ellie’s cousin’s 23rd birthday. Tomorrow we are going out with a bang by visiting the cloud forest, hummingbird park, and another lake/park area before our 11pm flight!
5/23
I am currently sitting in the Quito airport writing this last blog preparing for the next 10 hours of travel! Hopefully I can finish it before they call our boarding group!
Today is another bittersweet day as this trip is actually coming to a close. Saying goodbye to the Iyarina staff was surreal. We filled the day with stops, starting at the cloud forest where the temperature dropped and the altitude rose. Breathing was no easy feat!
Afterwards, we went to La Brisa where we got to watch hummingbirds zoom around us and drink sugar water from our hands. I have never seen so many different types of hummingbirds. They were all so stunning.
Soon after, we stopped at Baeza for lunch where we snagged empanadas for $1! Finally, we stopped at a really beautiful park area with a lake, lamas and mountainous views! At this point, I was really torn between adventuring as much as possible and just chilling on the bus for a bit since we had been so active throughout the day.
Everything I did today held a certain gravity knowing it was so temporary, and tomorrow I would wake up in the USA with only memories of Ecuador.
I’m officially signing off from Ecuador! I’ve been grateful for how these blogs have held me accountable to record such an incredible experience 🙂