Saying Adios… one of the hardest that I have ever done…

And yes, that is it already: 3months that flew by like nothing. 3 months full of challenges, sweat, smiles and laughter, tears and discussions and finally a huge circle of friends and two more mums and dads in Ecuador. Those 3 months were a rollercoaster, like life in general. But they were full of colors and not just black and white. Another time it was confirmed that life is not as easy as black and white, there are much more colors to it.
Last week Wednesday before I headed off to a couple of days nature, I was received at the Centre to say Goodbye. Finally we decided that it might be just a “See you soon”. And Juan is quite sure that I am just taking two years holidays to study and to return after that. For me it was a very hard moment and I tried to wipe my tears away. They all were so lovely and for one of the first times really honest, which was the biggest present to me. What really impressed me was that they wrote little notes and thanked me for the following: Thanks for always encouraging us in our capacities and always giving us the confidence in our own skills and abilities. Still when I think about this, I feel so touched and surprised. For me it is an amazing thing to leave them with… Thank you!
For them I prepared a presentation with the typical me jokes about our time together, with some photos to reflect on what we have done together and what I enjoyed with them most. I think everyone had a big smile on their face and a little tear in his/her eye at the end of it.

When I prepared the two folders as a description of my work in those three months last week, I finally realized what we have done together and that it is actually quite a lot and useful to them. While one is working, one is stuffed with experiences and impressions that it is difficult to see the whole picture sometimes. Today I see the whole picture and feel freer to go.

Everyone is asking me when I will be back and if I come back next year and I always have to say that I have no idea. I would like to come back but there are a lot of other things out there I like to learn and live. I absolutely got to appreciate the culture, nature, people and their way of thinking and being. I really fell in love with Ecuador and the diversity that one can find here. It is an absolutely amazing country that is incredibly tiny for all the things it offers.

I am so glad I climbed this mountain and I pushed myself with support of all of you so far although I had some fear…
But if a plant does not grow towards the light and always turn its head above, it would probably never flourish…

Thank you all so much for your support over the last year and especially the last months, support in being friends, writing encouraging emails when I hit a low, reading the Blog, looking at the pictures, giving advice and ideas and supporting financially some of the projects we did over here. Your help is hugely appreciated…
I am looking forward to see you all soon.

Muchísimas Gracias

Sabine