Week 4: 10-11 June

Week 4: My Last Days in Ecuador!

10 June, Monday
Monday, I took the day off and didn’t go to the school, which felt really odd. Instead, I went to the main churches in the historic center with Baya—who appreciates catholic culture even though she is Muslim (Hilary is Jewish, so she could not go with us). The Basílica del Voto Nacional was so beautiful and reminded me a lot of Notre Dame in Paris, which is quite ironic because I was with a Parisian. We climbed the tower of the basilica and had a beautiful view of the city and of the statue of the virgin of Quito (El Panecillo), which we will go to later.
After the second church, Baya and I ate lunch and then headed over to the little mountain that the virgin sits upon, where we met with Hilary. The view from there was also very beautiful! Quito is such an amazing and large city—I am sad that I did not have the chance to explore it in the little time that I am here; I definitely am coming back some day. Anyway, after exploring the inside of the statue of the virgin—who is special because she is the only version of the virgin with wings—we went to this well-known coffee shop that has an incredible view of Quito. From this café, which sits on another hill, you can see the other little mountain where the virgin sits (lit in purple), as well as other landmarks in the city--there are so many hills and mountains in this city. I really am dreading having to leave.

2nd & 3rd BGU, English Level II

11 June, Tuesday 
My last day was on Friday the 7th, but on Tuesday, I went back to visit them and say goodbye one last time before my flights back to the US on Wednesday. I'm going to miss every single one of the students. I only knew them for three weeks, but I love them so much. I only legit cried in front of one of the five classes (10th/1st BGU, English Level II) I said goodbye to this day, so I consider that an accomplishment—especially since I'm such an emotional person. I cried because as I was speaking, one of the students, Rafael, had his guitar and was playing sad music on it, so I just couldn’t hold it! I was doing fine like I did with the first batch of students, but I lost it with the powerful music in the background.

2nd & 3rd BGU, English Level I

Also, when I told them I leave for the states Wednesday, they all reacted with "Aww" and "Noooo," so I got happier and sadder that they would actually miss me. Rafael just pushed me over the edge with the sad guitar music.
I'm so weak and sensitive; however, I don't know why I got so emotional and attached—I have only known them three weeks. These kids really did have an impact on me, though; my time and experiences with them have made me a better teacher and a better person. I may have been their teacher (for only three weeks), but they taught me so much more (valuable lessons) in those three weeks than what I could have taught them in a semester.

9th EBG advisory

10th EBG & 1st BGU, English Level II

10th EBG & 1st BGU, English Level I