The End

Friday, December 10, 2010

The last week in Quito and in Ecuador was a success. Everyone seems to be content in our accomplishments. We celebrated the foundation of Quito, contracted a chiva, finally saw el Panecillo...


Something something apocalypse

Nuestra Virgen de las Pesadillas

...ascended the basilica...


You can almost see Quasimodo from here


From above the city

...and said goodbye to our favorite spots in La Zona. Today we gave our final presentations, handed in our bound works, and said goodbye to the CIMAS staff, the city, the country, and most importantly each other. In only a matter of hours I will be on a plane over the Gulf, hopefully sleeping, en route to the homeland.

It will be difficult leaving all of this behind since I've grown and changed so much over the course of the semester, but I'm also ready for the comforts and familiarity of home. I'll miss the beans, but not the rice. I'll miss the sierra, but not the city. I'll miss the scenery, but not the transportation. Mainly I'll miss everyone and everything that has made this such a meaningful and complete experience. If I had to go back and do it all over again, I'd do it exactly the same.

Beginning of the End

Friday, December 3, 2010

Today is the last day of the internship with CEMOPLAF and the last day in Otavalo and Peguche. The evaluations are in, the forms are signed, and the monografĂ­a is written. Tomorrow it's back to Quito for the Foundation until Tuesday, when CIMAS will give us our final debriefing and presentations and goodbyes begin.

Other than that, nothing to report. The semester is pretty much done and in eight short days I'll be back in 'merica to pick up where I left off.