The in between
It has already been 3 weeks since I arrived home from India and within less than 1 week I will be of again towards Ecuador. The in between period is strange. Gradual changes take place. In the beginning I kept on telling people about India and my experiences there, but after some time when people ask you how it was you just don’t know where to start. There are so many things you want to talk about and at the same time there is no beginning or end of the story. Then you start working and preparing for the next journey. For me this meant working in a book shop, starting with my thesis, arranging my stay and reading as much as possible about Ecuador. While doing all these things and in between the moments of stress I try to enjoy my time here. Enjoy seeing some friends, being with my family and spending time with my boyfriend. Just cooking together, eating together and sitting in the garden to talk to each other is wonderful.
For the first time I noticed how much stress it causes me to run around to try to be on time everywhere. Getting up at 7am, making breakfast, washing the dishes, feeding the animals, go to sign my contracts at 8:30am, be at my work at 9:30am, be at the bank at 2pm,… It all sounds quite doable when I write it down for you, but for one reason or another I get stressed because of it. Maybe it is the contrast with India or maybe they are the consequences of being late. I don’t know. I just need to stop worrying. Last when I took the train they were handing out smoothies. Mine carried the sentence: “You’re more adorable than a baby panda riding a sneezing piglet”. This simple sentence that doesn’t make any sense at all made me smile the whole train ride. They are the small things in life that make everything worth it. And who am I to complain, I have all these chances and opportunities. I am grateful and happy for the things that come my way and will fight to make my dreams come true.
Ecuador is coming so close. It feels like I am already there with one foot, but still I am scared to go and put my second foot down. I am scared and excited. From the photo’s I have seen and the things I read the country seems wonderful. Although it is small compared to the other countries surrounding it, it contains all different landscapes and climates at the same time. Of course this also makes it more difficult to pack. Taking both clothes for winter and summer while trying to keep the weight down as much as possible isn’t the easiest thing, but it is a challenge I am willing to take.
Ecuador, thank you for letting me come. I am looking forward to meet you!
