Where the Heart is

There has been a significant change in my sense of home. My heart has moved on to Ecuador. Being in Baltimore means taking care of all the details before we leave, and in truth, we have loads to do and not enough time to take care of everything. But my mind and my heart are thinking forward to our lives in Quito.

I have no idea of what our lives will be like. So far, I have been a tourist there several times, which is not at all like living there. What my day to day existence there will be, how I will take care of everyday tasks, how I will make friends, how I will coordinate our lives, all this will sort itself out when we are there.

We are lucky to be staying with Isabel when we arrive. Erika will be in Syracuse studying for her masters, David will be in another institution, Erika's sister will be in Oregon. So it will be just Isabel and Maya and myself and Eric will come later in August. Hopefully Maya and I will be comfortable in Spanish by the time school starts. We will take our time exploring places to live. This will be the first time since childhood that I will not have a workplace to go to, I will be able to choose what I wish to do each day. I imagine I will explore Quito at first, and still be a tourist for a while. At some point I will want to start exploring the rest of Ecuador on weekends and school vacations. I may or may not teach at San Fransisco de Quito University, I may or may not find a volunteer position. I know I will write and take photos for Eric's books. I may enjoy my freedom so much I will not want to 'work'. Eric believes that I will uncomfortable being idle and will feel compelled to work more regularly. I anticipate being thrilled with my choices and will take advantage of the possibilities that present themselves.

I will essentially be 'retired' for a year, how strange that sounds. Eric will get up every day and go to the university. I will get Maya ready for school and make sure she gets on teh bus and then I will contemplate my day. How bizarre and unknown and wonderful that sounds!

l.

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