Honestly.... I feel like I don't have anything to say and that I am just typing a blog post becaue it's been six months, I haven't posted since early October, and I should probably update people that I am alive.
BUT I actually think it's the opposite problem. There is TOO MUCH to say, and to try to find the right words is overwhelming, especially when I am paying for internet, the keyboard is sticking, and I could be eating lunch at a neighbor's. Today my communitymates and I hit the 6 month mark of being here in Ecuador. It's a pretty big deal I guess.... It's the longest I have ever been away from home. I've never lived outside of Massachusetts, let alone, out of the country. and this experience is pretty big, beautiful, and heavy. and what we have been reminded of a lot lately, is that it's half over. In reality, I feel like I am beginning. Yesterday, I translated for a neighbor who does not speak any English. It was the first time I've done that, and I wasn't planning on it until we sat down, I was next to her, and she looked at me and started speaking. I am able to make jokes in Spanish now. And sometimes I can even be sarcastic. I don't feel completly lost in conversations, only when I am zoned-out or not paying attention. I like more Spanish music than when we first got here, understand more of the readings at Mass, and even know parts of prayers. I feel motivated to talk about God more. I engage in more conversations. I feel more connected. I feel less phased by things that don't actually matter. I can eat a lot more rice before feeling like I am going to expload. I've also been feeling really heavy and sad, as I confront more challenging and complex situations. I physically ache from worrying about the kids in my after school program who go home to poverty and all its complex intricacies that I don't have the energy to type out. I struggle to stay mentally here while decisions for my life back at home get finalized. I guess I can list some things I have learned in the past six months... or memories I have... or challenges.. or hopes...or all of them.... LEARNED: 1. Spanish 2. How to bachata 3. How to make rice well 4. Spanish 5. Spanish 6. How to be bad at almost everything. MEMORIES 1. Poma bowling with my communitymates 2. Sarah dancing with Pepe (a dog) 3. Dancing with Sinai for Jess's birthday 4. Dancing together with Sinai, our community, Manny, and Henry after the Christmas party 5. Translating for the first time 6. New Years Eve and Day CHALLENGES: 1. Spanish 2. Missing people 3. Lice 4. Holding saddness and joy at the same time 5. Staying present 6. Being myself in another language HOPES: 1. Be myself in another language 2. Keep learning more Spanish 3. Embrace new experiences, both fun and uncomfortable 4. Pray more 5. Learn more lyrics to Spanish songs 6. Love more, even when it hurts and so I guess that's it. It's a super unplanned, authentic, spur-of-the-moment blog post, but I guess that's pretty much my life here. So yeah, I'm alive. Still in Ecuador. Still 100% sure I was called here. But rather than trying to find out WHY, I'm just trying to BE, and let the why find me.
1 Comment
Hannah Cowen
1/20/2019 06:04:07 pm
We are going to the Galapagos in March, the 8-20. Via Quito. Are you anywhere near Quito?
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorHi! I'm Kate and I am spending the next year in Ecuador as a volunteer with a service organization. I am using this platform to share pieces of the journey as I go. Archives
May 2019
Categories |