As I sort of thought, I didn't keep up with this, and now tomorrow morning I have a plane to catch.  And you know, all in all, I'd rather stay a little longer.  I'd like to keep on meeting people, get better at Spanish, go and see the places I still haven't gone to.

This trip has been very difficult at times.  I won't go into details about that-some of it was the normal abnormality of being in a foreign place, some of it was extraodinary.  But all told, it was great.  At the end I met up with a friend from home, and ended up in a strange coastal village far away from where I lived as a Peace Corps Volunteer.  We came to Quito together, up a terrifying, spectacular mountain pass, and then he spent today introducing me to a Quito I could love. 

So, what do I know now?

I know how deeply important individuals are to me.  The relationships I had with my PCV site friends are as strong as ever.  Stronger, because now I can be honest about things I felt I had to glaze over when I had an official position-like, that sometimes, it was really difficult to live in Ecuador.  They cried when I left, and I cried when I left.  And the whole time, I missed my family too.

I know that if I start really disliking a temporary situation, a good meal will likely straighten me out long enough to figure out what the real problem is. 

Rest and action, company and solitude, work and laze, nature and city-balance is key.

Letting go of needing to control is the hardest thing.  But it's the path to freedom and it's easier with a friend.

And.  I need to make some changes.

(Chocho ceviche is delicious.)