Remembering our Last Night in Montanita

Yusuf, Nicola - our wonderful trainer, Sarah, Steven, and Misha

Graeme, Natalie, Delia, and Annie our Awesome Trainer

As I waved through the taxi window to Steven, Natalie, Nicola and Andrea, who were standing outside Casa Cacique, I almost started to cry. Being with the same 12 people (well, 11) for 5 weeks, eating every single meal, going out at night, supporting each other through lessons and input sessions and planning sessions, was a life changing experience. Even when we fought over the printer and copier, resource books, tape and staplers, we were all on the same page.

The last night, they threw a big party for us. The students were invited which was really cool, to talk to them one on one outside of class. There were gigantic speakers, a disco ball on the ground by the pool, bottles of rum and mixers, and food.

Misha, Yusuf, Stephanie, and Natalie

We started out ever so calmly, teachers on one side, students on the other, eating and having a few drinks. Suddenly Misha decided to jump in the water. Before anyone knew it, Stephanie, Natalie, and Steven? had been thrown into the pool with their clothes on. (is "had been" a past participle or past perfect? I have NO IDEA!!!)

Misha and Stephanie started eyeing me and I kept close to something with a pole that I could grab onto. At one point, I saw both of them coming towards me so I held onto my doorknob as tight as I could with no success. Before I knew it, I was picked up, carried to the pool, and thrown in. Soon after, many of our students stripped down to their underwear (which are very stylish and colorful in Ecuador -- not those tidy whiteys I remember) and jumped in as well.

It was an absolute blast. At midnight when the party closed down, we hadn't had enough so we went to town to party more. Once I got there, I realized I was done and went back to sleep in my cute little cabana for the last time.

PS This is a grenadilla. You eat the seeds

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