Well, as I write this I am back in the good ole Columbus, Ohio drinking quality coffee and hanging out with my sister, some of the things I missed most. However, if I had to choose, I would still be in Ecuador. Though I did miss friends, family, and most importantly food- there’s just something about South America that always calls me back.
After Corri left on a Wednesday, Hannah and I had through Sunday to spend our last days together. We made a lot of guac and fresh smoothies, watched some good chick flicks, and spent time walking around Ibarra to the best dessert places that I would miss- crepes, cheesecake, and ice cream. Even though I enjoyed a good dessert on most days, my sugar tolerance actually decreased in Ecuador. The cheapest option for food is to buy fresh fruit and veggies, and it was actually more expensive to buy processed foods with additives- the way it should be!
The last few day were incredibly rainy and overcast. We kept saying that Ibarra was crying because Corri had left, and it really did not stop raining for those four-five days. There went our plans to hang out all day on the patio and to sleep on the roof. On Easter Sunday evening, Hannah and I both headed to the airport together. We had gone to the bus terminal in the morning to get some tickets for later in the afternoon, but they were already sold out due to the holiday. So instead we had a driver take us, and that ride was so fast, windy, and traffic filled that I surely thought Hannah was going to throw up next to me in the car. At the airport, we shared a last meal together, and then she braided my hair one last time before we said goodbye. All tears aside, I am so grateful that she was there with me the entire time in Ecuador. We left our respective countries to South America on the same day in November, had to renew our tourism extensions on the same day, and got to spend the time together at the airport before I headed home and she headed back to Colombia for two weeks with friends. All of those dates aligning sound like coincidences that aren’t really coincidences.
The flights back we among the smoothest I’ve ever had, right on time with a seamless layover in Atlanta. Upon landing in Cleveland, I saw snow blanketing the land and boy was I thrilled!! I missed all of winter and thoroughly enjoy snowfall, so even though most people are upset with the current cold and snow in April, I couldn’t be happier. My childhood best friend picked me up at the airport, and we headed straight to Panera for brunch. I couldn’t think of words in English, and I couldn’t remember how to use my debit card. It was weird to be back. I bought Dani’s (my friend) mom an apron, and she loved it! That night, I headed out with her and my uncle to what I had been craving for two months- spicy baby back ribs! They were so delicious, and that was just the first stop on my food list. 
Being back so far hasn’t been difficult, but it’s made me realize how many things I miss about Ecuador but also don’t miss. Going into grocery stores has been the most overwhelming… I only last a few minutes before walking out because I can’t handle the prices, all the selections, and the busyness of everyone inside. One pineapple for $2.50-$3.. Are you kidding me?!? And there aren’t four avocados for $1 anymore… I really miss the fresh fruit and veggie selection. I also miss walking everywhere, and taking a bus if where I was going wasn’t walkable. Taking a car everywhere really does feel lazy. I miss the little tiendas and mini marts that were not part of a giant franchise. And I miss the pace of life being low-key, slow, and not so job/work oriented. The most stress I’ve felt has been in the past week of being home- I never felt stressed in Ecuador.
Though Ecuador wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. There are some things that I really won’t miss. I won’t miss only being able to get coffee in the afternoons, and usually lower quality coffee at that. I won’t miss my non-insulated window being right next to the bus stop that starts running at 6am sharp. I won’t miss only getting $20 bills out of ATMs and not being able to use them pretty much anywhere. I definitely won’t miss the movies playing on our long bus rides around the country. I love love love the public transportation access, but these bus drivers would play music and/or movies at 1000% volume and it was basically an instant headache. I won’t miss being “interesting” to someone just because I’m a gringa and for no other reason. I won’t miss sidewalk etiquette and NEVER having pedestrian right-away. I have full faith I won’t get hit by a car now that I’m home and had way more close calls in Ecuador. And I won’t miss the aspect of social life in Ecuador where classes don’t associate with other classes. If you meet someone who is wealthy, they probably only hang out with others who are wealthy; and vice versa. Now I just listed a lot of negatives in this paragraph, but it still doesn’t outweigh my want to return.
Everyone kept asking me when I’ll return, and I wish I had an answer. I would love to permanently move abroad to Colombia or Chile, but the extent of my student loans and the lower monthly salaries for occupational therapy abroad prohibit me from doing that. Regardless, I credit my time in Ecuador to a lot of growth both personally and in terms of where I see my OT career headed. I met some of the most amazing girls, and we created a bond while traveling together that is as strong as friendships from home. I got to advocate for and educate on the field of occupational therapy in a place where it doesn’t yet exist much. The older adult community centers had improved self-efficacy in caregiving skills, high satisfaction levels, and demonstrated carryover of OT material I had provided them with. As a student, those are awesome things to see. And lastly, I grew so much as an individual in ways I didn’t anticipate. For all that to occur in the past five months, I’d say I’m a pretty lucky woman.
To anyone who has read my blog or at least checked it out a time or two, thank you. I’ve never written my thoughts before as I have in this blog, so I hope you enjoyed. Three days after my return home, I traveled backt o Columbus and successfully defended my capstone project and was given my doctoral degree (along with my 10 other inaugural OTD classmates); now it’s just one month until graduation when my time at Ohio State ends. That past seven years here have been the best of my life, and I really do owe so so much to this university and to the occupational therapy faculty. And because of this, I just have to say: but for Ohio State.
PS- Back in March, I convinced my mom to take a 10-day vacation with me back to Medellin, Colombia. So during May, I’ll be writing about this little adventure, too (Mom is so spontaneous!!!). Until then,
Sam