The Elizabeth City group got here tonight and I got to go to the airport with Jerry, Angela, Cameron and Roberto to meet them. We stood around for a couple minutes, and I heard someone behind me trying to get my attention. When I turned around, it was Rodrigo. Even though I’ve been in Ecuador since May, I haven’t seen him for a year, but he came straight at me and gave me a huge hug. Maggi and Lourdes were not far behind, and I was so stoked to have a reunion with some of the Emaus crew before any gringos even came through customs.
Then the gringos did start making their way out of customs. Anna and Betty and Wood rolled out, and soon my adoptive mothers and the rest of the team were out. The airport security guys were yelling at us to get out of the way and stop hugging right where everyone comes out. Angela was trying to do her job and heard us all to the bus. I just enjoyed the fact that I was off and my friends were here and laughed and hollered and hugged with absolutely no regard for “Low American Profile.” It’s my day off. That’s how I roll.
To top it all off, Jorge is their bus driver and he was telling anyone who knows Spanish and would listen about how many goals I scored in soccer the other day.
I’m disappointed that I won’t get to spend a huge amount of time at Emaus, and looks like none at Casa de Fe. But not as disappointed as I would have thought, and being stoked about going to Shandia and meeting 13 new gringos is a pretty sweet consolation prize. And what time I do get to spend with everyone tomorrow will be pretty cool because I don’t have to be responsible for anything while I’m with them and we can just laugh and tell stories and talk about chicken wire while Jerry and Angela do all the work. Sorry, “Jer-Bear.” Also how I roll.
wonderful stuff
hello to jarhead