Ecuador: 1/12/2018 - 1/27/2018

Friday, January 26, 2018 - Spending time with the family

Shina didn't have school again today, so we were able to spend some extra time one on one with her. She insisted on wearing her new dress and sweater around the house, looking absolutely adorable. For breakfast, we had fried eggs and plantain hash, along with bread, yogurt, juice, and coffee. Rosa is always great at providing a variety of food items so that there are always vegetarian options for him.

It was a relaxing morning. Sonam gave Craig a shoulder massage, and Javier lounged in the sun. I worked upstairs in my office.

Sonam prepared a pepper and onion dish which he then garnished with aji sauce. Before lunch, Javier said his goodbyes and caught the bus. It had been really great having him around, and we enjoyed meeting Jess and spending time with the two of them in Quito last weekend.

Sisa and Yupanqui returned home from school, and Sisa immediately changed into her new dress and sweater to match her sister. My stomach wasn't feeling great today, so I skipped lunch. Any time we have any kind of ailment, Rosa is quick to apply traditional healing knowledge. This was no exception, and she went out to the garden to pick a particular herb to help my stomach. She made tea for me out of this herb, and soon my stomach was feeling better.

I went to check on how the cuy (guinea pigs) were doing in their pen in the outdoor kitchen. When I lifted one of the boards to peer inside, I was delighted to find a new baby! I scooped him up, holding on securely as I know that they are very squirmy. I carried him into the kitchen and surprised Craig and Sonam. Everyone else apparently knew about it, and Rosa said that it was two days old. Why didn't anybody tell us? It was a big event in our minds - we don't often get the chance to play with cute baby animals!





In the afternoon, everything had a more somber feel. Javier was gone, and all of us (Sonam, Craig, myself, and the three kids) were dreading having to say farewell. The kids were very clingy.

Sonam played with them while we packed our things. Yupanqui tied a blanket around Sonam's head as a turban. Shina wrapped her doll in a blanket and tied it to her back in the traditional manner. Sonam helped Yupanqui to work through some of his emotions through physical activity, busting out some kung fu moves as the two of them chased each other around the property.

We finished packing for the trip home. We store clothing and toiletries in the casita, so we normally travel light. But on this trip, we had heard some rustling noises late at night, and today we found evidence of mice in our dresser drawers. So we needed to bring all of our clothing home to give it a good thorough washing.

We would also be transporting all of the gifts that Sonam had brought from Bhutan...including the two gorgeous and fragile skeleton masks from Apa! So packing was no small feat!

My appetite was back by dinnertime, and we had soup with popcorn, steak, potatoes, salad, and the rest of Sonam's pepper mixture.

The kids were begging us not to leave ("No te vayas!") Sonam video called the kids on his phone, demonstrating how easy it will be to keep in touch. The echo was amusing as they talked to him over the phone while seated next to him. This seemed to allay their anxiety a bit.

After dinner, Rosa wanted Sonam to try on his traditional Otavalan clothes to make sure that they fit. The shirt was perfect, but the white trousers were way too tight. Rosa took them upstairs to her sewing machine and let some of the fabric out. But it was still not enough. Ever gracious, Sonam insisted they were fine, but they were not. Since we were leaving first thing in the morning, she would not have time to exchange them at the market. She had him try on a pair of Antonio's pants, and those fit better. So they gave those to him and she will exchange the others for a new pair for Antonio. They always find a solution for every problem, usually at the last possible minute.

Sonam looked very handsome in the traditional Otavalan clothing, and we took photos of him with the family. He also tried on Antonio's poncho and hat for the full effect.

We would need to leave at 6 a.m. to head to the airport in the morning. Saturday is Sisa's only morning to sleep in, and she has English classes in the afternoon. We told the family that they should stay home and get some rest. Hector would drive us to the airport, and we would be fine. There was no need for them to wake the entire family early to make the 2 hour drive to the airport only to turn around and immediately come back home. Any delay in timing would put Sisa's English lesson in jeopardy.

At first they insisted on going with us, but as we made our arguments, they were eventually convinced. But Rosa insisted that she would have coffee ready for us before we leave.

We said our emotional farewells to the kids, and then headed off to bed early.
Javier lounges in the sunshine

Javier lounges in the sunshine

Sonam, Shina, Sisa, and Yupanqui

Sonam, Shina, Sisa, and Yupanqui

Achi Mama and Shina

Achi Mama and Shina

Sonam dresses like a local

Sonam dresses like a local

See all photos from January 26, 2018



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