Mama Joy's Visit
The first day that I brought my mom to the University, I introduced her to a friend from my program. My friend immediately said, "I was wondering if you were going to bring Mama Joy to class." Thus, my mother became Mama Joy.
It was a great time, and my mom got to meet pretty much everyone. For me, the best day of her visit was when we went into Centro Historico in Quito to see the Plaza Grande and the Basilica. Also, the way my Ecua family took her in was great. My mom discovered that Carlos can understand a decent amount of English. Josue on the other hand pretended he understood then would quickly look at me for translation. My host family loved her visit. Juan Carlos and Josue were seriously tearing up the night before she left. Even now, a few weeks later, my host family still asks about how she's doing. Josue always asks if she misses him the most. Just yesterday Genesis said, "I love your mom. I miss your mom!"
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| Picture taken in Lumbisi, on a hill. (My mom really isn't that short) |
Andrew came in four days after my mom left. Before his arrival almost everyone in my program kept reminding me that he was coming. They were even counting down the hours. Definitely very exciting. His visit felt shorter, but we did a lot (as you can see from the previous post).
The highlight was just being able to spend time with Andrew. But the trip to Mindo was fun. I did not make it out without bug bites as I had hoped. They're not as bad as the last time (where I had 40 on one foot), but they did turn a sickly maroon color that made everyone, especially me, uncomfortable. It's strange, the bites cluster on my right ankle/foot. It's like the bugs especially like my right foot, I just don't understand. Also, during zip lining, I lost the contact in my right eye. I saw it fall out right before the end of one cable, and I thought... well that's never getting back in my eye.
My host family also gave a warm reception to Andrew. They're so genuine and warm heart-ed. Andrew also was pretty quick in picking up some Spanish. I would be about to translate something and he would already be nodding and responding.
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| Overlooking Quito, after taking the TeleferiQo. Feeling the altitude. |
So now both of my visitors have left and I'm not expecting anyone else. At times it feels like they were never here. It's a little bit of an emotional roller coaster, and having to say goodbyes again was difficult. I've never felt so much anxiety and excitement than when I was waiting for my mom and then Andrew to arrive at the airport. Perhaps it's because Quito has a tiny airport, but there were huge crowds of people both times when I picked up my people.
The first time I was clutching half wilted flowers that I bought last minute for my mom. I stood for almost 2 hours scanning all the people coming out of the doors. I saw so many families and friends reunite... At one point my taxi driver (who has never seen a picture of my mom) said that he thought she came out... the next thing I know I see an elderly Asian woman (not my mom) hobble out. Okay Ecua-uncle, just because she's Asian does not mean I'm related. When I finally spotted my mom I was surprised that the flowers were still alive. Andrew did not take as long to come out of customs, but it was the same feeling of anxiety. I've concluded that waiting for loved ones at the airport is kind of painful and exicting in a very humane way.
I already miss my mom and Andrew. I was spoiled by their back to back visits. Now it's time to go back to doing things that I normally do. It may sound boring and a little sad compared to having visitors, but it's actually really cool to think I have a daily routine here in Ecuador, and I'm going to enjoy it while I can.
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