Y mañana, me voy

It’s crazy to think that it’s my last night in Ecuador (at least for awhile). I’m trying to think and process and all that, but I’m not sure how to put it all into words yet, so I’m not going to try. I’m grateful for the time that I’ve had here and I will say that I have learned so much, both about the world and about myself. Once I can put into words the end of my time here, I will (another promised blog?), but for now, I’ll leave you with a couple sillier stories about my time here. I’m looking forward to getting home for a few reasons, one of them being to be able to run consistently again. I’ve had funny misadventures during my runs in Quito and I’ll share a couple with you now.
 
For the record, I wanted to call this blog “The runs in Quito” for the pun, but I didn’t know if that translated into Spanish. Anyway.
 
My running here began slowly with lots of 10 minute runs around the 400-500 meter-ish conjunto (gated neighborhood) I lived it. I was comfortable there and the guard would always acknowledge me. It was safe, but not all that interesting. As a 10k track runner you’d think I’d be used to running in circles, but alas, I still do not love it. Eventually my first host family showed me the old airport turned park about a five minute run from our house where I could run on certain days. I did that once and then was kind of banned from doing it again after I got a cold from the wind. So there I was, back to the conjunto. Except on glorious Sundays. You see, Ecuador (or Quito rather) has this program wherein they close one of the main streets for runners and cyclists to have free range all Sunday morning and most of the afternoon. I’d forgotten the freedom of running for awhile until I was able to step onto a street and just go. I got a few funny looks, of course, but I always felt very safe. (Okay, yes, I did also carry pepper spray, but I never had to use it!)
 
When I switched families I was aware that I probably wouldn’t have a safe circle to run in, but that was the only con of leaving, so I decided not to worry about it. And then I met my new host dad and he told me about how he ran every morning in the park and that I could join him. The first time I ran with him was a Sunday, so we went in late morning to the huge park and I was absolutely shocked to find that it was jam packed with people doing all sorts of exercises or just hanging out. Mauricio, my dad, showed me that the park even had a 800 meter track hidden in its depths. Although I hadn’t thought I’d miss a track, especially after the conjunto running, I nearly cried with joy at the sight of something so familiar. Running around the park that Sunday was absolutely awesome, but it couldn’t beat the next time I was there.
 
The next day Mauricio asked if I wanted to get up with him to run at 5. Obviously, I said yes. When I woke up the next day I was unconvinced about why I agreed to this, especially when we walked out the door and I was greeted by the still black night. We arrived to the park and it was still pitch black. I had kind of thought that Mauricio would run with me since it was so dark, but alas, he said chao and I took off. I liked running in the mornings (I did it twice) because of how fresh it was. There were people, but not too many. As nice it was, I couldn’t help but think of how in every single safety training we’d had we had been consistently warned, “do not go into La Carolina [the park] unless it is Sunday afternoon and you are in a group.” I usually adhere religiously to safety warnings, but I chose to trust Mauricio on this one and, hey! It all turned out well. Unfortunately, I haven't been up for running so I have taken a bit of a break and will continue when I get home Sunday.
 
My favorite story, however, happened in February when my first family host brother-in-law Paúl took me to run in another park in Quito. This park is a lot more like a forest with hills and trails and I was absolutely delighted to feel like I was back in nature again. Paúl brought his two dogs and asked if he could practice his English with me for the run so I was pretty much in heaven. We reached one point where you can see a ton of Quito stretched out before you. I was breathless (although we’d just climbed a huge hill so that may have had something to do with it). However the best was after we’d finished our run as we walked through a small orchid Paúl asked if I wanted juice. I asked where, trying to stall to figure out 1. If I wanted some 2. If I should have some (this was still early in my stage of extreme worry over purification of water) 3. If I had brought money. Paúl gestured in front of us and said “here!”. Not seeing anything I thought “Huh, are we taking it off the trees?” and responded that I was good without juice (and to myself: the pesticides could be different here!) Paúl said that okay, but that he was going to get some anyway and then we began walking through the orchid to – oh what’s that? An actual juice stand? Oh…
 
Alas, just a couple misadventures to tide you all over until I’m home. Speaking of, see you soon America!