Dear Ecuador and Ecuadorians,

You have treated me in the most splendid manor. Your kind embrace to allow me participation in your traditions, your freshly squeezed juice for every delicious and cheap meal, and your interaction of letting me practice my Spanish so I can communicate with you in your native tongue. I am not a tacky American tourist, rather, I am your tourist. I have returned the embrace.

Although several times were quite trying, an experience was definitely had through the journey, a journey that began with those times.

Three internal flights across the Andes, a seven hour bus ride winding around the Andes at 13,000 feet, two four/hour motorized canoe rides down the Napo River/Amazon and many other canoe rides, freezing cold water for showers, hikes along the sides of mountains, traipzing through the jungle in the pouring rain and afterwards being eaten alive by possible malaria/filled mozzies, 5am wake up calls, and a different language // these times have given me a different perspective, as in, I only had to briefly endure these adventures which I truly embraced, where as I leave everyone else behind who have been enduring and will continue to endure as a daily part of their lives. I have been taking my luxury for granted for too long, and it was about time that I learned to suck it up and acknowledge that I've missed out on a lot of  "reality," plastered by my own ignorance and lack of exposure.

I wouldn't change a thing. I, for a moment, became an Ecuadorian, an Ecuadorian of the jungle, of the Salasacan indigenous weaving community, of the dusty streets of Cuenca, of the citizens of the outstretched area of Quito.

Quito, Napo, Quito, Salasaca, Banos, Cuenca, the Equator, Otavalo, Quito.

I have feasted my eyes on this beautiful land, a land that photography could not even come close to capturing. I have bonded with its people, and their lessons have taught me so much to the point that as I listen to their stories, all I can do is just cry in awe and admiration as I now hold great respect for these people, my people, the people who have given me joy and perspective.

I have seen so much, experienced so much, all in a little less than three weeks, a few weeks that have rattled my bones for the rest of my life. Will I ever return? and if so, where will I go, and will I reconnect with these simply influential people?

An old sage once told me that as you travel or meet people, either locally or abroad, you take a little bit of someone, and you leave a little of yourself for someone.

You have to make sure that what you take is worth taking, and perhaps taking can do you some good, so shutting down a new and perhaps wary experience shouldn't be evaded. And you also have to make sure that you choose your little lot to leave behind, wisely. First impressions last, and perhaps they are the only impressions. Second impressions verify the first initial perception. So, leave the best of you.

Perhaps this is the culmination of my blog, its peak, the ultimatum, maxium objective, the title incarnate.

Take it, or leave it, but at least think about it.

Adios Ecuador. I hope I have fully taken and left, but please do know that if I failed in any way, I am at least thinking sentimentally about it.

ye soft pipes play on... Andean flutes that is...