Coffee and Sleepy Eyes

July 10th

Banos, Ecuador

There was a lot of coffee brewing and sleepy eyes a plenty as we began the last day of camp here at Chacauco. I almost didn’t make it out of bed on time for my basketball session this morning. After showering quickly and throwing on some basketball shorts, I arrived to the Coliseum to find everyone else running twenty minutes behind. Then I remembered, I’m on Ecuadorian time. Even so, I find each day a little harder to get up in the morning. Maybe it’s the non-stop nature of being here at the camp or maybe it’s the altitude, but whatever it is, it’s making me and everyone else on the staff really tired.

Even Ecuadorian time seems to pass quickly though after you wake up and the closing session at noon came quickly. It was a time for last pictures and goodbyes, an end to such a fun week with the kids of the area. I got to see a few kids I had met before on previous trips like Carla from Puatug and Christian from Patate. Even a few of the kids whose parents work here at the camp participated in this week’s activities. As much as I hated for camp to end, I equally couldn’t wait to catch up on some rest.

A group of five of us went to El Refugio in Banos for the Banos de Cajon (Steam Sauna in a box up to your neck) and for their healthy natural snacks and manderines. Afterwards, we ate chicken and shopped for the rest of the night in Banos. Tomorrow, I head to Riobamba with Roberto to visit his family and climb Mt. Chimborazo (from the 1^st base camp to the 2^nd base camp). We won’t be conquering the whole mountain because we don’t have the gear or the time, but if we do get to climb, I’ll have climbed one of the tallest mountains in the world.

Another week and another set of memories to go along with it. From teaching kids how to play trashcan basketball without killing each other to leading the hike up the mountain on that sunny Wednesday afternoon, there will always be a lot to look back on.