Ecuador 8: Goodbye

I really loved Juanita's brother Nobardino and his wife Nuvia. I guess you could say I just adore the whole Piuri Vivanco family. Nobardino was not around much because he works as a topographer in the city of Loja. When he does visit, he is the life of the party- the fun uncle who holds all the kids upside down and waves 'em around. Even though he is employed in a specialized field, he still only makes $400 per month. Nuvia, as president of the parroquia of Yamana, earns a meager $200 for basically running the town. For years, they had been paying $50 per month in rent for a dilapidated two-room house with only a few dangling lightbulbs to light the house. They were very meticulous with saving money however, and managed to save enough to begin construction of a new house, just a short walk away on the town square. Little by little, over the course of several months, N and N have been adding on to their house- taking a break when money runs out, building more if Nobardino brought home a little extra pay. Their house will be beautiful and they say it will be finished the next time I visit.

The last day felt heavy, quiet and sad. I had really settled in in Yamana. I shucked peanuts for awhile with Pancho and Francisco and watched as some girls carried a giggling potato sack (Cristian! my favorite laughing 5 year old). The boys' mother Lilia gave me yerba luisa so I could make my favorite aromatic drink and I gave them those expanding capsules that turn into dinosaurs. Right before I went to bed the last night, Emelina's granddaughter knocked lightly on our door and was too shy to come in. I met her outside and she gave me a pink cloth rose, delivered on behalf of her grandmother. I couldn't understand her words, but it didn't matter. I knew what she said.

As I sat on the airplane and saw the volcano Tungurahua erupting above the clouds, I felt the pain. I left part of my heart in Yamana, and I can't wait to return again.