retrospective

retrospective: of or relating to retrospection, based on memory

I finally got all my film developed from Ecuador and in doing so was able to further digest my experience. At the time, Ecuador seemed mad with mayhem and yet simultaneously serene. To me, Ecuador was the smell of baking bread from city street panaderias and burning trash from the countryside, the taste of mote pite and cooked bananas, the touch of polyester and gritty dish soap, the sound of car alarms, chickens, and the whistling jingle of Tele Amazonas, the sight of purple lightening right above your head and crowed park plazas filled with Chola women wearing brightly colored skirts, old men in hats, tiny little nuns shuffling about, and even smaller children eating cones of ice cream.  I recognize now that I am indeed wholeheartedly thankful for the invaluable experiences and skills I acquired while abroad.  But as amazing as the experience was, I've since then realized that I should have listened to my mother.  She knew then and I know now that it probably wasn't the right time for me to go abroad, nor the right place.  I had an amazing experience, but could have gotten more out of it if I had waited. and by that I mean, you have to be in a certain mindset for this kind of experience and if I had it to over again I would have waited until I was in that mindset.  I mentioned this to my mom the other day and all she did was smile and say, "I could have told you this. As we drove to the airport the only thing you had to say in a groggy tone was that you didn't really want to leave." For the first time I experience real homesickness and above everything returned with a renewed respect for the U S of A and a feverish determination to be more aware and considerate of my surroundings.  Keep these words in mind as you look through my pictures... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2039940&id=1026587862&l=0d5f8eb523

update 8/3/2010: I think I have since made amends with my host family (us having a falling out and all)...I shared the above pictures with them and got a pleasant e-mail in return.  I also realized that I've learned the hard way that you have to be careful what you blog about...for better of for worse.