When I started to spend more and
more time away from my family as I traveled and went to school in another part
of the country, I started to recognize more of the traits that I’ve developed
that reflect the people whose presence in my life has impacted the woman I’ve
become. I see my stubbornness, my passion, my desire to learn, my ability to
fall in love with a place, my appreciation of the simpler beauties of life,
among other things. I realized that most of these are traits that I’ve learned
or that have been fostered in my soul from the start through the help of the
people around me.
This Mothers’ Day, I saw even
more than usual the influence of the women in my life. Whether friends or
professors, grandmothers or aunts, cousins or great-aunts, my host mother or my
birth mother, family friends or my best friend, the women in my life have all
contributed to my development. As I travel and find my way around, I can see
how fortunate I am to have such wonderful, strong women to support and
encourage me.
Last night, my friend and I had
our going away party in Quito. As I prepare to leave Quito, I just wanted to
say “thank you” to all of the wonderful women in my life. You have each been so
important to me, and I cannot express my gratitude enough.
Here are some random photos, that don't have to do with Mothers' Day, but show a few more of my experiences:
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| Dogs in Centro Historico in Flying Vee formation in front of Church. |
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| Making dinner for the goodbye party |
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| Chao to us |
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| The three guys and Jenna and I |
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| Because we're wonderful |
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| Graffiti in front of my apartment. "Assault zone" |
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| Johnny and I |
