I did it. After three years, I finally booked a plane ticket to Ecuador. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. I’ve probably been thinking about it every single day for those three years.
So, how come I never booked a ticket?
There were things going on in my life. Which I probably used as excuses to keep me from doing what I loved most. And feared most.
See, the thing is, I fell in love in Ecuador. With Ecuador, but also with a person. It was an intense relationship, very intense. We’ve met 4 years ago, on the beach, New Year’s Eve. Lots of things happened afterwards – long story.
Never did I expect to fall in love so deeply with someone on the other side of the world. It honestly kind of sucks. Even though he didn’t really have a life plan, I did. To finish my studies I needed to go back home and stay focused for the next year and a half. Believe me, staying focused is hard when you are in love with someone who lives in a different time zone. It’s even worse when he gets through a lot of trouble.
Growing up with Dutch norms and values, it is hard to try to understand the life of someone who grew up so differently. I think I managed to do that quite well.
Until I couldn’t do it anymore. Then all of a sudden it all comes to an end, in theory. In my heart it never did. How can you finish this thing when you are 9500 km apart? How can you know for sure the feelings are all gone? Impossible.
The fear to fall for him again made me avoid the country I love so much. Which made me feel unhappy.
I grew since that moment on the beach four years ago. I grew a lot. I’ve been trying to conquer fears and all. This is one of them. With the encouragement of friends and family I finally grabbed my act together and started looking for tickets. Then I came across a perfect price with my favorite airline – KLM. Even giving me an opportunity for an 8 hour stopover in Amsterdam and see friends there. It can’t get any more perfect.
So here I am. Excited and full of energy.
Finally I’ll be in my beloved country. Being able to enjoy the lovely people, atmosphere, cities, music, fruit juices, drinks, cocktails, FOOD. Everything.
And what will happen with the dude? We will see. Probably not much. The most important is that I finally made it back.
Ecuador – Ama la vida!
