Sunday, March 5th, 2023
I got up as in any other normal day.
Shower, breakfast, and a walk to my favorite place until then.
Manna Project International.
I walked through the hall, said hi to my friends, and then said hi to the group.
“Welcome to Ecuador. I hope you enjoy your time here.”
A normal greeting for another normal group I met through MPI.
Or at least that’s what I thought at that moment.
The pizza arrived, and everyone started eating, under the sunlight, on their first day in Ecuador.
—Tell them to get some sunscreen —I asked Sandy.
—I already did —she said.
By the end of the day it was clear not everyone did.
Short tour around Sangolqui.
I had been thinking where to take them, what to show them, and what to say about those places.
I forgot to mention half of the things I had prepared, but it was fine, the goal was walking around the city, not getting a class about Sangolqui.
We stopped by the corn statue.
—Photo —they said.
Who wants a picture in front of a huge corn lol?
That group, I guess.
It was my first picture ever with the symbol of my city.
And I didn’t know it yet, but that picture was more special than I thought.
It was the first picture with a person who would become a really important part of my life.
And I wish I had known it, because I would have asked the person who took the picture to send it to me.
That week was really fun, and lucky me, when she went back to the US, we kept in touch.
Monday, May 22, 2023
I was nervous, waiting at the airport.
This time I was not waiting for MPI people. This time I was waiting for a person who, in just a couple of months, became a very special part of my life.
This is a message I got from Eliana.
She knew how excited I was, and was checking if I got to the airport on time.
And of course I was. Like half an hour before lol.
Next day, I got this picture while we were walking:
—SPOTTED! —The message said.
It was Eliana again.
Technically our first picture without other people was taken by a paparazzi.
And later the same day:
The first official photo.
I didn’t know it yet, but although I struggled to smile in that picture, it would become much more natural in the future.
I wonder what (or who) happened :p
In a couple of weeks from now, it will be two years since that day, and so many things have happened and changed in that time.
But one thing remains unchanged:
I still consider you the most special person I’ve had the pleasure to meet, and I feel fortunate that you are still part of my life.
And today I want to say Happy Birthday to you 🙂
Happy Birthday to mi chica favorita en el mundo.
Happy Birthday to the person who makes me smile more than anybody else 😀
I hope you have a wonderful day!
And I hope you save some birthday energy to celebrate the second part in Ecuador.
Can’t wait to see you here soon.
Andrés
PD. This is not your official birthday present. It didn’t get here on time, but it will by when you get to Ecuador 🙂