While the rest of the student teachers were exploring the jungle, Leeanne and I had a couple of days to relax. I wasn’t feeling very well and we spent a lot of time being lazy. We decided to take a day trip to Papallacta, where there are thermal hot springs. After taking a taxi into the valley, we hopped on a bus and were on our way. Unfortunately, about 30 minutes into our trip, our bus broke down! We had stopped for much longer than usual and didn’t really know what was going on… Because we didn’t speak much Spanish we just waited to see what everyone else did. People started getting off the bus, so we followed. We were able to get our money back and there was another bus headed to Papallacta. After a drive on our new bus, we arrived. There wasn’t much around, and we had to get in the back of a truck to be taken up the mountain to the hot springs. It was a $7 entry fee into the public hot springs, which were beautiful! After lunch we changed into our bathing suits and headed to the warmest pool. It was so nice and relaxing to just sit and soak. We tried all the pools before heading back to Quito. Papallacta was great, I wish we had time to return again!
We spent the weekend just hanging out and enjoying each other’s company. Although I don’t leave until next Sunday, some of the group is leaving Friday or Saturday night. So for some, this weekend was their last chance to really go out. It was a great weekend, lots of laughs and awkward moments.
Tomorrow I return to school, which is going to be strange. We only have 5 days left with our students, which is going to be very bittersweet. I imagine it will go by very quickly and be over before I really know what has happened!
Steph Goes Abroad 