Hola! from Bolivia (Where Emma is).

Wow, what an experience. I can't put into words how awesome I feel to have been a part of this program and my job at "Educar es Fiesta." The people I've met here in Bolivia will stay with me forever. They were part of my life at one of its most pivotal moments and influenced me so much. As this is in English, chances are they will never read this but a shout-out is warranted nevertheless -

First, my boss Edson "Queso" Quezada for founding such a wonderful organization 8 years (mas o menos) ago. During my three months here, I have seen a world of good, hard-working people changing the world. Never anything less - an impressive feat. So gracias, Queso!

Second, to Gris, Jime, Nicole, Saraid, Alejandra, Hernan, Danilo, Favi, Daniella, Vivi, Edwin, Willmer and Benjo for never ceasing to amaze me with the good in their hearts. Wonderful people all. Working with them was a dream first job, though the hours were murderous. Their dedication and energy was inspiring - a model for living that I will never forget. Les quiero!

Third, to Teresa and Ceci for being my adoptive mothers and good friends. Forgetting their love and care will be impossible. If I am taking part of their souls with me, then they for sure have part of mine. It is so hard to leave!

Fourth, to Bruno and my kids (that I worked with) for teaching me patience, love and acceptance. For cheering me up, for listening to me, for sharing their lives, for smiling, for laughing (not for jumping on me, Jose!), for playing with me, for knocking over my domino tower (yes you, Ronaldo!), for being excited, for making me special, for letting me love them. I wish them all the best life has to offer and will miss them muchisimo!

Finally, to Bolivia. For opening my eyes and welcoming me. I will miss the culture and the food. The FOOD - saltenas (pastry with the ingredients of meat, egg and delicious inside), mandarinas (an awesome slightly acidic fruit that I adore), tucumanas (sort of like saltenas but served cold) and more mandarinas. This country is underrated; it has everything (except an ocean border, darn Chileans).

Leaving is one of the hardest things that I have ever done. Many thanks to Carpe Diem for helping me find a place that I feel so connected to and in love with. Someday, I want to return to this second family I have found. In the meantime, I anticipate frequent email communication and know that this love can cross the distance.

For now though, it is off to Chile for me! I am meeting my mother there and am really excited to travel with her.

I hope everyone else in Latitudes had a rich experience as well. Good luck to all!

~Emma

I have fallen so in love with Ecuador. The farm I work on in the Rio Muchacho river valley as well as the places I visit on weekends or when I have time off. The seasons are changing now so we are making over the garden, preparing seed beds and planting lots of new things. It is so satisfying to see the tiny little budding leaves of the seeds you planted a couple days earlier. How a sesame can go on to make thousands of itself is so amazing. I love to see the little sweet red peppers I harvested in the morning used in the salsa we eat at lunch. The Rio Muchacho school is a great place to get to know the kids of the community. I have been teaching English two mornings a week, It is exhausting but satidfying work. I am more tired after trying to keep the energy and attention of a group of kids in an outdoor classroom than I am after working in reforestation or making cement. It is so nice to enter the class and ask what day it is and hear the class say together Today is Thursday! when only a week before this was so difficult for them to learn. To see familar faces because in this small community I work with some of their uncles or fathers, their cousins are married to somebodys sister. The roots are so deep, the connections impossible to map out. On the weekends there is a little time to travel, so I have been going to other places for a few days of relaxation and sitting on the beach or to hike to see certain reforestation projects. I spent last week on a short vacation to another farm a couple hours inland. It was great to see the differences between the farm I am working on now and how they do it somewhere else. There were also howler monkeys and sloths in the trees above us, which was almost worth the mosquitoes munching on my entire body day and night, including the soles of my feet. I think my irrational fears of spiders and insect will be gone when I return home and the spiders change to normal sizes. the ones here that are the size of my hand only make me feel a little on edge now when I used to cry and scream and just generally panic. I think traveling can make us all a bit tougher in different ways. I have fallen so in love with this place that it hurts to think about leaving, I have caught the travel bug bad and I definitely want to explore the rest of South America. But I guess college is next on my list...ugh, the transition from this ropical heaven will be tough. Buena Suerte to the rest of the Latitudes crew!

From Rachael Smith at the Rio Muchacho Farm in Ecuador