A lot of people believe that routine is best for autistics like me. Having the opportunity to test this theory last week has gotten me thinking that this theory is wrong.
When I heard that we were traveling to Ecuador for one week, I got excited. There are a lot of things I love. Being able to travel out of the country is at the top of the list! My dad’s family lives in Ecuador. I have traveled there in the past, but having the chance to communicate with many of my dad’s family members was not possible in the past.
Poor communication skills have been giving my dad’s family the impression that I was somehow cognitively below my peers. It is always great to demonstrate that this is not true. Getting the chance to visit now that I can communicate was incredible!
This is my 95 year old bis abuela, my abuela and my tia abuelas along with my family.
Awesome Tommi helping the family communicate with me.
It is always hard to be out of your routine, but it is worth it! Our week in Ecuador was interesting and lots of happy memories were made. My days were not boring at all there. Because of my beautiful days in Ecuador I learned a lot that I could not learn in a classroom. Getting my senses and my mind stimulated by having the chance to travel outside of the country was incredible! I spent a lot of time making the hard choice to try to enjoy the experiences. This meant that I needed to learn to go with the flow which usually makes me worried and stressed! However, I tried to let go of all of this and just enjoy all of the experiences.
This fisherman gets to take home some of these fish.
Amazing to watch the fishermen bring in their nets.
Hard work!
It is interesting to be able to see new ways of doing things.
Awesome to be in another country with your best friends.
This feeling of letting go was incredible. I think that it was so magical to be in Ecuador. Our week was so much fun. Having the time to explore like tourists was awesome. Also, it was my Ecuadorian family, whom I love, that made the trip even better.
I loved having some time to explore San Pablo.
After climbing too many steps I was ecstatic to get a great view of Guayaquil.
Artisan market in Guayaquil was too hot, but interesting.
I am trying to make this feeling of letting go last here at home. This will be hard because my routines are so entrenched at home. I am all of the time trapped in my set routines because of my damn motor challenges that have my body do the same things over and over. Trying to do new things is not in my control. I have to do more traveling to help force myself to try a lot of new things. I think traveling would help other autistics too.
It was great to finally meet you! Ariana had a great time with you as you helped her break up with that naughty boy. Good job!! 🙂
I love that you enjoyed your visit to Ecuador and that you want to do more exploration of the world! We have kind of an ongoing conversation in our house on our top 10 travel wish list destinations. What places would be on your top 10 travel wish list?
Keep writing! We love to hear what you have to share!
Just seeing this now, Sue. G will get back to you. I have a feeling she wishes she could be with you all right now!
What a fantastic looking trip!… I’m a bit jealous ~ (especially as we prepare for an ice storm coming this weekend.)
I congratulate you on ‘going with the flow’.. that’s one of the biggest obstacles that limit so many people when they travel – learning to embrace (or at least accept) the strangeness of being out of their comfort zones. I was over 30 when I finally figured it out and it opened up so many adventures 🙂
The fact that you were able to do it at your age (and that you were so self aware!) speaks volumes about your maturity (and awesomeness).. I hope you’ve got a Canadian road trip adventure on the books this summer 😉
**I wonder if moving things around at home might help shake up some routines?
I am so glad you had the opportunity to share your true self with your Equadorian family. Makes me so damn happy!
Also love travelling because of the very reasons you wrote about. Canada is another country. Just sayin’.
Beautifully written, Graciela! I am so proud of you always! Your trip sounded amazing. It is wonderful that you have the opportunity to visit your family in Ecuador. I am sure they loved having you there and getting to know you better and see what a special, amazing person you are. Ecuador must have many interesting places to see and life styles that are different and maybe more colorful than ours. Someday maybe we will have the opportunity to visit there and explore all the things that you were able to experience.
Love you so much, Grandma