The past few months have consisted of traveling,
shopping, meeting new friends, losing friends, practicing my Spanish, playing
on the beach, getting sick, and everything in between!
I had traveled to Salinas with a friend of
mine and then headed further South to Machala. Salinas was absolutely
beautiful. The water was crystal clear. The nightlife was not a big hit but the
feel of the town was a Miami Beach feel. We ate a lot of pan de yucca with
yogurt and seafood! We did happen to meet a few people. A girl from Esmeraldas,
Karina, who was nice enough to pay for a night out. She was a bit wild and
talked a lot but she got to practice her English with us and we were able to
practice some Spanish. The other people we met were either married, 18 years
old, or wore speedos who tried to flaunt their parts to us on the beach. Was
not our thing. With lots of fun in the sun and a good adventure it was time
that we travel to Machala.
Machala is the banana capital of Ecuador
and most parts of the South America. Not a bad bus ride from Salinas until I
started to sweat and feel a little dizzy. It was not until I was on the bus I
began to feel a bit sick. When we arrived in Machala at another volunteer’s
apartment, I was throwing up for the next 6 hours with a fever. Food poisoning!
I believe it was from a sketchy restaurant from Salinas. What do you do? This
is just a part of life living in a third-world country. You wait it out, get
what you need to get out and move on!
After a long weekend of traveling, it was
time to go back to Manta. No money but just enough for a piece of pan and maybe
a coffee, I was on the bus from Guayaquil to Manta. They always say…there’s no
place like home. I highly believe this statement true. Every time I am out and
about traveling, all I can think in my mind is “ I can’t wait to get back on
the coast where it is warm and you have the friendly atmosphere.”
Some time was passing and I spent a few
weeks in Manta to catch up. I had a friend from Quito visit for a week while we
published the Ecua-Vista for our program. The Ecua-Vista is a worldwide
magazine for people who may be interested in applying to the WorldTeach
program. With losing the document three times, we finally were able to complete
it.
During the few weeks in Manta, I met some
new friends. As awesome as it sounds, it’s hard to keep friends in a foreign
culture. They usually are passing by while traveling or they may be of the
opposite sex and want to marry you. It is important to choose your friends
wisely! And that is good advice for wherever you are in the world.
 |
| Travelers of Machala |
WorldTeach’s End of Service conference was
peaking. I packed my bags once again and traveled to Quito.
My good friend came to visit from the United States and it also was my best friend in Manta's- Birthday! What better way to celebrate but to do it so in Baños.
Saturday: Puenting & Canyoning. I have never felt an adrenaline rush but when I was about to jump off a bridge. Who does these sorts of things? Apparently my friends and I do. It was exhilarating and I will never regret this moment! It was filled with excitement. It was rainy and cold the entire day but never failed to stop us from exploring. Later on in the night, we celebrated our friends birthdays with flaming shots, meeting friends of a lifetime, and some dancing! A night I will never forget. 
