As I have mentioned before, one of the best parts of life here in Ecuador is spending time with our neighbors in Mt. Sinai. Our relationships are starting to grow and deepen with many of our neighbors here, and yet we still have this dynamic of still extending our relationships to new regions of the town. One of my favorite ways to spend the afternoon is just to leave the house with no plans at all. I always end up meeting such interesting people, or having spontaneous adventures.
So, last week it was one of those unplanned afternoons. I was walking around in a new area to see what was happening or if anyone I knew lived there. Somehow amongst my adventuring and comfort with neighborhood time, I forget that being one of the only gringas in the area, leads to this not resulting in a very inconspicuos effort. (yes, even though it feels like home I am still white and very contrary to the norm).
I approached this group of children who were hanging out in this street, who were baffled by the sight of me walking around and proceeded to ask if I was.....pause..... lost??! and I was thinking to myself....darnit! I must have taken some wrong turn in the US and ended up on the other side of the Equador. :) It ended up making a lot more sense to them explaining that although I was from the US, I was only living here for a year and would go back eventually.
Being very excited about meeting someone new, they took my hands and showed me all around their neighborhood. Where were the places to play futbol, hang out and chat, and where all their friends and family live. We then proceeded to a small grove of trees that lined the separation between houses and the country side and continued on this small trail that winded through a rural landscape. It was so peaceful to be away from the sound of loud music, construction, and cars driving and to be filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and a gentle wind. The children were running around showing me the different types of plants that were around-lime and papaya trees, guayaba and pear trees. So here I am with this large group of friendly and joyful children dancing and running around (I also somehow ended up carrying someone´s baby brother during the course of our walk), watching this brilliant sunset cast behind the hills of Mt. Sinai. It was one of those peaceful, unanticipated moments where all you can do is breathe it in, knowing that these little moments are what make life, life in Ecuador.
