As I write this, I am sitting in the corner of our rental, listening to the soundtrack of Princess Mononoke and Rango, among others, ready to go outside again. It has been difficult for me to sit down and write what you could call the last blog post. But after coming to terms with the circumstances, I realize that I cannot finish this blog abruptly so I will write as I always have and I hope you guys can enjoy this post, late as it is.
Mientras escribo esto, estoy sentada en la esquina de nuestra casa alquilada, escuchando la música de Princess Mononoke y Rango, lista para salir otra vez. Ha sido muy difícil sentarme a escribir lo que podríamos llamar la última publicación. Pero después de aceptar las circunstancias, me di cuenta de que no puedo terminar con este blog de repente. Entonces voy a escribir como siempre he escrito y espero que puedan disfrutar de esta publicación medio atrasada…
Wednesday was hazy but it didn’t keep us from enjoying our time on the roof later that day.
Miércoles fue un día medio nublado pero igual disfrutamos nuestro tiempo en la terraza esa tarde.
It was also my sister’s birthday so happy fifteenth Ameli!
También cumplió años mi hermana entonces felices quince Ameli!
I got inspired Friday afternoon and drew this mountain goat which turned out well though it took a whole two and a half hours.
Me inspiré viernes en la tarde y dibujé esta cabra que me tarde dos horas y media en acabar.
The moon was full that night and it looked hauntingly beautiful above the ocean of city lights.
La luna estaba llena esa noche y se veía muy encantadora arriba del océano de las luces de la ciudad.
We made one last round of apple pies and they were absolutely delicious as we devoured our pieces with a mug of tea.
Horneamos la última ronda de pies de manzana y estaban muy deliciosos mientras tomábamos nuestra taza de té.
Our last day in Ecuador was Saturday the 9th. We spent the day surrounded by our family (the ones we live with) and the kittens.
Nuestro último día en Ecuador fue el sábado, 9 de mayo. Pasamos el día rodeados por nuestra familia (que viven con nosotros) y los gatitos.
We filled up on pollo al jugo and pristiños, talking and laughing the day away before the adults settled into the more serious conversations that always come before a goodbye like this one.
Nos llenamos con pollo al jugo y pristiños, hablando y gozando toda la tarde hasta que los adultos empezaron la discusión más seria que siempre hay antes de una despedida así.
After the final round of teary, heart-wrenching goodbyes (both virtual and in person), we boarded the taxis that would take us to the airport. We arrived at there at eleven, a while before our humanitarian flight at 2:30. While we waited in an abandoned food court, we saw three double decker busses arrive to pick up anybody who was arriving on the flights that night. Anyone who arrived would be immediately taken to a hotel and required to remain in quarantine for the next two weeks. We were worried this might happen to us when we reached Fort Lauderdale…
Después de la última ronda de despedidas (virtuales y físicas), subimos a los taxis que nos llevaron al aeropuerto. Llegamos allí a las once, bastante tiempo antes de nuestro vuelo humanitario a las 2:30. Mientras esperamos a lado de los restaurantes, vimos tres buses llegar a retirar los que estaban llegando. Cualquier persona que llegaba, llevaron a un hotel para que pasen dos semanas en cuarentena obligatoria. Estábamos preocupados que eso nos iba pasar al llegar a Fort Lauderdale…
We really could have left later because we didn’t get checked in until one and we weren’t supposed to leave till two thirty. Everyone slept as much as they could on the uncomfortable seats but even so, time crept by slowly and we didn’t board the flight until four that morning.
Llegamos demasiado tempranos porque no nos revisaron las maletas hasta la una y no íbamos a subir al vuelo hasta las dos y media. Todos trataron de dormir lo más que podían en esas sillas incómodas pero igual el tiempo pasó lentamente y no subimos a nuestro vuelo hasta las cuatro de la mañana.
After arriving in Fort Lauderdale and retrieving our bags from the luggage carousel (and hearing some strange easy listening jazz playing on the speakers), we bought some expensive airport sandwiches and waited for our next flight to Charlotte, NC. We had left a fully locked down airport and were half the people on our flight so it really confused us when we arrived in the US and there was a lack of masks in the airports and the flights were next to packed.
It was strange being able to see Mt. Hood on our third and final flight back because we usually arrive in Oregon late at night.
Después de llegar a Fort Lauderdale y recoger nuestras maletas (y escuchar jazz extraña), compramos unos sándwiches caras y esperamos nuestro vuelo a Charlotte, NC. Habíamos salido de un aeropuerto cerrado y fuimos mitad de las personas en nuestro vuelo, entonces estábamos bien confundidos cuando llegamos a los EEUU y ver la cantidad de gente que no estaban llevando mascarilla y los vuelos llenos.
Fue algo raro ver Mt. Hood en nuestro tercer vuelo porque normalmente sabemos llegar a Oregon en la noche.
Our aunt was there to receive us in Portland and we maintained our distance as she handed our keys (and a bag of snacks) over to us so we could drive- Where were we driving to? Ah yes, Lincoln City. We were lucky enough to find a rental near Otter Rock where we could quarantine for the next two weeks and- that was it.
Nuestra tía estaba esperándonos en Portland y mantuvimos nuestra distancia mientras nos pasó las llaves (y una funda de comida) para manejar a- ¿A dónde nos íbamos? Ahh sí, Lincoln City. Tuvimos la suerte de encontrar una casa cerca de Otter Rock para alquilar durante nuestra cuarentena de dos semanas y- eso fue todo.
Our journey in Ecuador had come to an abrupt yet drawn out end. I didn’t know that day we went into lockdown, March 17th, was going to be the last time I would get to go outside in Ecuador. I didn’t realize that I would not be able to hang out and make food with my other family members again. How could I have known that I wouldn’t be able to return to the FAUCE to see my professors or friends? And then to be inside for nearly two months straight, looking out on a city I would never be able to traipse about again… All of those possibilities, hopes, and plans- they ceased to exist the instant we entered the lockdown.
Nuestra aventura en Ecuador se acabo de una forma brusca pero alargada. No sabía que el día de empezar la cuarentena, el 17 de marzo, iba ser el último día que iba salir afuera en Ecuador. No me di cuenta de nunca volveré a encontrarme con familia para conversar y compartir comida. ¿Cómo podía haberme dado cuenta de que nunca iba regresar a la FAUCE a ver mis amigos o profesores? Y después pasé casi dos meses seguidos dentro de la casa, observando una ciudad que no podía volver a explorar… Todas esas posibilidades, esperanzas, y planes- dejaron de exisitir el instante en que empezó la cuarentena.
We’re home now, or so we say. We’re not in Otter Rock with Grandma and we aren’t in Ecuador with our family, so where are we? It’s hard not to feel guilty and frustrated with ourselves because we always had the option to leave and we decided to cut our visit short. So many years of saving and planning went into this visit and for it to end early and like it did is hard to accept.
Estamos en casa ahora, bueno eso decimos. No estamos en Otter Rock con Abuelita y no estamos en Ecuador con nuestra familia, ¿entonces dónde estamos? Es difícil no sentir esa culpa y frustración porque siempre tenemos la opción de ir y decidimos irnos tan pronto. Invertimos tantos años de ahorrar y planear, sólo para que nuestra visita se acabe de esta manera
But we are here now, that’s done is done, and I can’t say I didn’t miss the beach. I really value the time we spent in Ecuador and I learned a lot of things about music and life, things I won’t forget. I just hope we can go back soon so we can party it up during Inti Raymi or eat some salchipapas by the UCE or just kick around a soccer ball at the Metropolitano.
Pero estamos aquí ahora, lo que pasó pasó, y sí extrañé la playa. Valoro el tiempo que pasamos en Ecuador y aprendí muchas cosas sobre la música y la vida, cosas que no voy a olvidar. Sólo espero que podamos regresar pronto para festejar el Inti Raymi o simplemente para comer unas salchipapas o jugar fútbol en el Metropolitano.
– Korayma
Ecuador: A Journey 
Bienvenidos a su otra casa patria..
Espero que nos vemos algun dia.
Ten saludable.
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❤
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Koryma,
I am so glad that you guys are back and safe. I am so so so incredibly sorry that your journey did not have the ending that we all wish you could have had. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts and I cannot wait to hear more from you in person, when the time allows for it. Your pictures were as beautiful as always.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do for any of you. Tell your mom that I am DYING to see her!
Love,
Chloe’
PS- Happy bday, Ameli!
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Thank you so much for your love and support throughout this journey, it means the world to me and our family. Hope to see you safe and soon ❤
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Welcome back! It’s sad that the virus has changed everyone’s lives. We’ll see you at a Ceili soon! Music and dancing will make us forget some of the disappointments. Good Health to you and family.
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Thank you ❤
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Welcome back. Glad everyone is safe and sound. Sorry you had to cut your visit short, but your adventures are not over.
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Thank you!!
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Thank you for describing, over the months, your journey and all the people and experiences you have had. Your pictures have been great too-I especially like the full moon over the city in the last post.
I know it’s hard, but it’s such a weird time for everybody….I have looked at the reports on the corona virus in your area and been horrified and praying for all of you!
And I have to ask-what happened to the cats? Did you bring them home?
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Thank you for following along and the cats stayed in Ecuador sadly but we have our cats here now 🙂
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