I truly believed our lives in Ecuador were over two years ago, when we packed up everything we owned in two duffel bags each, and moved back to Baltimore. Ecuador would always be a part of our lives, not just in memory; we returned with our student groups in January 2011 and again in 2012, and spent one glorious long Thanksgiving weekend at the base of Cotopaxi wandering on horseback through the paramo; but I never imagined we would return to live at 9000 feet again.
Nothing was planned. In fact, our lives did not quite work out. It was challenging to adjust to our lives in Baltimore. We learned soon after our arrival that Eric was unlikely to get tenure. I did not believe it possible. He was writing a paper about the work he did in the cloud forest on 'plain tailed wrens' and was ecstatic when it was published in a reputable journal. I was so impressed when reporters interviewed him for radio and newspaper, and the New York Times featured him in an article in the Science section. I was convinced that Johns Hopkins would reconsider and a successful appeal for tenure was imminent. So I continued building up my practice and planning for our lives as if nothing would change.
Later, when the 'termination' letter confirmed that Eric would no longer be employed as of June 30, 2012, reality began to sink in. Eric interviewed at a handful of institutions, I visited Newark and Blacksburg and Morgantown. I was incapable of making a decision, and so when there was no possibility of stalling any longer, I agreed to move to New York City (not Newark!). I am supposed to be excited and happy about the move, but I am mostly worried that we cannot survive there. And thankfully, there is a reprieve for now. Eric's lab will not be ready until January next year.
So we are moving back to Ecuador. And we are all excited and anxious to return to Quito and the jungle and the cloud forest. Maya will return to Alberto Einstein, I will take more Spanish lessons, Eric will continue his work with electric fish and duetting birds, and we will reconnect with our friends and this country that has entranced us.
Nothing was planned. In fact, our lives did not quite work out. It was challenging to adjust to our lives in Baltimore. We learned soon after our arrival that Eric was unlikely to get tenure. I did not believe it possible. He was writing a paper about the work he did in the cloud forest on 'plain tailed wrens' and was ecstatic when it was published in a reputable journal. I was so impressed when reporters interviewed him for radio and newspaper, and the New York Times featured him in an article in the Science section. I was convinced that Johns Hopkins would reconsider and a successful appeal for tenure was imminent. So I continued building up my practice and planning for our lives as if nothing would change.
Later, when the 'termination' letter confirmed that Eric would no longer be employed as of June 30, 2012, reality began to sink in. Eric interviewed at a handful of institutions, I visited Newark and Blacksburg and Morgantown. I was incapable of making a decision, and so when there was no possibility of stalling any longer, I agreed to move to New York City (not Newark!). I am supposed to be excited and happy about the move, but I am mostly worried that we cannot survive there. And thankfully, there is a reprieve for now. Eric's lab will not be ready until January next year.
So we are moving back to Ecuador. And we are all excited and anxious to return to Quito and the jungle and the cloud forest. Maya will return to Alberto Einstein, I will take more Spanish lessons, Eric will continue his work with electric fish and duetting birds, and we will reconnect with our friends and this country that has entranced us.
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