I’m one and a half years late, but I finally made it to South America. This blog entry is structured a little differently than those in the past, largely because my circumstances are quite different. Those of you following my sabbatical adventures might remember that my journey was cut short as the pandemic exploded in March of 2020. In fact, I was lucky to board a flight on the day before Guatemala’s borders closed for over six months.

Since then, I got divorced and lived by myself for the first time in my life. In fact, last week would’ve marked my 24th wedding anniversary. I’ve always been independent, but last year I learned how to be truly alone – and this during an already solitary year shaped by quarantines and lockdowns. But as I adapted to my circumstances, I started to embrace the opportunities they afforded, which led me to accepting a teaching position at an International Baccalaureate school in Quito, Ecuador.

This post is mostly a slice of life of my transition to Quito. And part of the reason for that is, quite simply, a reflection of the theme of this post: bureaucracy.  

I feel like I’ve become pretty adaptable when immersed in other cultures, but I’m quickly learning that living in a foreign country creates its own set of challenges. Ecuador has a reputation for cumbersome bureaucratic systems for nearly every facet of everyday life, and I spent my first week navigating these systems to complete, among other things, my visa paperwork, signing a lease on an apartment, and opening a bank account. Each step had its own complications, even though I was fortunate to have a team helping me through the process.

The school where I’m working is lovely, and my colleagues are wonderful. Still, this environment has its own share of challenges. The IB program is well-designed but complex. The curriculums for each discipline are largely interwoven, so I’m on many teams to coordinate all of the pieces. In addition, the National Ministry of Education has its own set of complex bureaucratic hoops students need to jump through, so we as educators have to navigate that as well. 

And then there’s my schedule: 

Make sense? I’m still trying to figure it out myself, but I’ve somehow managed to be in the right place at the right time so far. I’d love to know what you think – leave your comment below with your interpretation. 🙂

Yet I have also witnessed some genuinely positive outcomes of bureaucracy. Ecuador inaugurated a new president in May, and his response to the pandemic has led to the most ambitious vaccination program in the world at the moment. Everyone is required to wear a mask everywhere outside their home unless they are exercising at least 2 meters away from everyone else or actively eating and drinking. Supposedly, people have even been ticketed for not wearing their masks in their own cars! So, I actually feel quite safe in this regard, and it’s been refreshing that no one challenges these laws. 

Since my arrival three weeks ago, I’ve started establishing my routine and enjoying the simple pleasure of discovering interesting places in my neighborhood. I live next to Parque La Carolina, Quito’s equivalent to Central Park. I love running there a few times a week and have developed the habit of buying roses at the flower stand on the way home (fun fact: Ecuador is one of the world’s leading exporters of roses, and a bouquet of long-stemmed roses here costs $1!). In addition, I enjoy spending time in coffee shops, observing (and eavesdropping on!) the locals, and buying croissants from one of the many amazing bakeries within a three-block radius of my apartment. Figuring out the best place to go for each type of errand remains a challenge but also a good opportunity to practice my Spanish.

I’ve learned so much about myself over the past several months, including a greater understanding of the bureaucracy of my own mind and emotions. In addition, I’ve become a lot more zen, and I continue to find my inner strength. Opening yourself up to change is scary. But I believe that when I set out on my sabbatical two years ago, it set me on a course that was right for me. While there are still plenty of uncertainties, I’m finding my way while staying true to myself. I believe this is exactly where I’m supposed to be right now. 

My journey continues. And I can hardly wait to start exploring!