Week 4: 12 June

12 June: Last day in Ecuador💔

On my last day, Wednesday, I relaxed—not knowing what I could do by myself in a few hours before I would get picked up for the airport at 8pm. I went to the mall again—looked around but didn’t buy anything—and ate lunch there. I decided to eat traditional food since it was my last day and I would not be eating dinner prepared by my host mother. As I was walking around the mall—which felt like any mall I know from AZ—I was trying to forget that I was leaving such a beautiful country. The people all seemed just like any other people, which helped me come to terms with leaving—which I dreaded.

I then walked back to my home, and I realized that I still had time to kill, so I decided to walk to a park nearby—the one section of pure greenery in the city and not on the outskirts of the area. I sat and read at one spot on the trail because I did not know where the trail would take me. I took a couple pictures, not knowing that there would be better scenery further along the path. After I finished reading, I decided to continue on the trail. I took pictures along the way, like the one in the upper left.  I arrived to a lookout point, which was so beautiful. I then went through the trees and found an off path in the woods—I only did went through there because I could tell other people have trekked through there before. I got concerned that I was lost at some parts, seriously considering just going back and getting back on the main trail, but I continued along making inferences about where the second lookout would be and survived! which is quite odd because I have a terrible sense of direction, haha. It was scary being alone, but also quite relaxing since I was in nature and there weren't any other people. After taking time to reflect as I was sitting on a bench over-viewing a certain part of the city, I decided to make my way home on the main path. I made it back safely and just waited with my packed bags watching Netflix to pass the two hours until the driver arrived to take me to the airport.

During my alone time, both at the lookout and during my Netflix solitude, I couldn't help but think about the students I said goodbye to yesterday. I'm sad to be leaving my students. They are such sweethearts! I don't want to leave them. I want to cry thinking about them, and seeing the pictures we took both help and hurts more. I wish I could hug them all right now. I seriously thought about going back during school time—but that would be a waste of time because they have class to do and I don't want to disrupt that. I really just wanted to go so that I could hug them, but I didn't want to cross boundaries; I did leave them my Instagram username so they could follow me (since I am no longer their teacher) and I could see all the great things they will do in life. My Facebook and Snapchat is too personal and just for family, which is why I did Instagram—which is not public, but it is more informal.

Anyway, I really do miss them even though it has only been a day. Just the fact that I grew so attached to these students expresses just how much of an impact they have had on me; it also shows just how much more impact my future students as a graduated teacher will have on me since I'll have a whole year with them rather than merely three weeks. I'm so sensitive, but honestly, I cannot wait to develop these relationship with those students, regardless of how sad I'll be when they leave. However, I think I got super emotional with the students from USA Academy because I know that I will never see them again, as opposed to students I will have in AZ middle/high school, where I will continue to see the students (except for seniors and student promoting from 8th grade).