Every end is a beginning...

For us, the last 48 hours have been a mixture of feelings. Wednesday was mostly made up of typical pre-departure activity: packing, making sure our affairs were in order with our host families, etc. So in that respect we were constantly reminded, and saddened, that our time in Ecuador was drawing fast to a close. But in between taking care of business, Jennifer and I managed to sneak in some last-minute Quito enjoyment! I went to get my hair cut at the barber shop "El Baron" which is right down the street:
Here you can get your hair cut by people who know the art of haircutting for only $2.50!! It really was one of the best haircut experiences I've ever had.

Then, in the evening, Jennifer and I went out with Vicky to the Fruteria Monserrate in the Centro Historico to indulge ourselves in some of the best ice cream under the sun:

And as if that weren't enough, we went after that to the Heladeria San Augustin, in business making some awesome helado since 1858:

With that last drop of ice cream, we said goodbye to the Centro Historico, passing by all the majestic colonial architecture for a final time as the Trolebus sped us back to the homestay. Of course, I had dinner waiting for me, which was rather difficult to eat with a belly full of helado, but I savored each bite, knowing it was my last in Quito. And, as I didn't realize at the time, it would be the last time I would converse with Señora Anita.
This kind lady took care of me for two months, never faltering to provide me with awesome breakfasts and filling dinners, and making sure to look after my every need. Needless to say, as the night drew to a close, it became harder and harder to end the conversations, and our final abrazo was heartfelt and tear-filled. Te extraño mucho, Sra. Anita! Estamos en contacto.

Salido y Regreso

4:30am Thursday morning came too soon.

The streets were completely silent, save for a few random distant cars. The darkness helped conceal the fact that the nondescript red car parked in front of the homestay was actually our taxi to the airport, as we missed the driver asleep in the front seat until he sat up after I took the picture above. And just like that, we were whisked away from our home away from home, without fanfare, too early for a sendoff or at least a brief appearance from our homestay members.

The airport was surprisingly busy at 4:45am, with people bustling in and out of lines and hauling all sorts of baggage around. After checking in with Continental, paying the ridiculous $40.80 departure tax, and getting our carry-on luggage searched at the gate, we were on the plane:
We left ourselves at the mercy of the plane, staring intently out the window to savor each moment that we had to look upon Pichincha and the city for the last time. And then, the ground went out from under us - we had left Quito, waving goodbye to the shrinking buildings below. It was rather sad to see it go.

But once en route, we realized we had so much to look forward to, and the closer we got to home, we began to feel excitement take the place of sadness. During our almost 5-1/2 hour flight, all the hopes and dreams for the future began to sink in - graduation, residency, all coming up - the aventura of a lifetime was waiting ahead. And when we touched down in Houston,...
...it was no more wistful thinking about Quito, but rather the gratefulness that we were in our home country again! After going through customs, Jennifer and I went to Chili's - our first American meal in the States. Boy was it phenomenal - drinking tap water with ice in it free of amoeba worries was exhilirating!

And then, the time came to board our last airplane: Flight 2945 non-stop service to Birmingham. A short 1.5 hours later:
A familiar sight! We were HOME! And with plenty of loving, smiling faces to meet us there:
(Jennifer's family arrived just a few short moments later)

And just like that, de repente, a familiar world came flooding back to us, as all the comforts of home became available to us again. And while our arrival back in Birmingham signaled the end of an extraordinary two-month experience, it also signals the beginning of our greatest aventura yet - graduation from medical school and our 3-year pediatric residency that follows. But of our time in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands: we are perhaps some of the luckiest people on this Earth to have had this opportunity to experience a new land with all five senses, live and work among a different and wonderful culture, and connect with so many awesome people, ecuatorianos and extranjeros, whom we will always remember. And as we march onward in the path laid out before us in the next three years, we would be remiss not to acknowledge the indelible imprint that our experiences have made on our consciousness. We will miss you, Ecuador, and now just as our hearts have always belonged to our home in Birmingham they too will belong to you as well.

Ciao, Ecuador. Que te vaya bien. Algún dia nos vemos, siempre con brazos abiertos.