Goodbyes

Yesterday was my last day at Luchadores del Norte, my internship location for the past 2 months. It was the first set of farewells that I had to do before I leave here, and it was pretty hard. I´m sure they´ll only get harder.

However, the day wasn´t all sadness. We did end up having a little "Going Away Party." I brought in some chips, soda, and Michigan chocolates that morning, expecting to just sit around and chat with the nurses before I left. Seeing my offerings that morning, one of the nurses asked me if I ate Ceviche (cold seafood soup with a ton of lime and onion... a traditional dish in Ecuador). When I told her "yes," she left the clinic and I didn´t see her for the next 3 hours.

When she did come back, she brought... lunch, essentially. There enough ceviche for all the workers in the clinic, rice, and a soup to go with it. My chips and soda were pretty pathetic in comparison. Then we all sat around and debated if Medical School in Ecuador would be free for someone who was not an Ecuadorian citizen. The doctors decided that I need to save myself some money and study medicine here after I graduate. When I told him I have a year off in between graduation and medical school, he suggested that I live in Romania, because the language is beautiful and easy to learn. This is the usual nature of our conversations... full of random life advice.

Then I took my final rickety, 45 minute bus ride home. I haven´t cried yet, but I´m about to go pack my suitcases right now... I have a feeling tears will be inevitable.

Yolanda´s delicious ceviche. Note: this is a "poquito" (really small) portion of rice.


Eating cevice in the pharmacy. From right to left, Doctora Julia, Yolanda (who you can´t really see), Margarita, the lab technician (who I never really met), Me.

Dr. Montero in front of the clinic. He´s the one I get my life advice from.