Sunday, December 11, 2011

Some Jungle Photos...more to come!



Jungle-Monday and Tuesday

Monday-I knew I shouldn’t have waited to write…now I’m forgetting all the rich details, but I’ll attempt to remember…

Early morning again, 6AM breakfast of granola, yogurt, homemade bread, mermelada and eggs. Lots of fuel for an 8km hike. I’m actually glad we got an early start, because it was oppressively hot and humid. The air felt so thick, even at that early morning hour. Our guide assured us that it would rain later that day (and it did!) On our hike we saw lots more wildlife and interesting plants. They say there’s a medicine for any ailment that can be found in the jungle and I believe it. Javier (guide) explained many many plants that his people have been using for thousands of years for illnesses. Also the leaf cutter ants were amazing, carrying their leaves on their backs many miles, some of the smaller ones get a ride on the backs of the bigger ones.  After the hike, we headed back to the lodge for a delicious lunch of shrimp, rice and tomato salad. Then it was resting up in the hammock and swimming in the lagoon. We did another 8KM hike later in the day and got caught in a huge rainstorm. But the amazing thing was that…we hardly felt a drop as the rainforest canopy was so thick. But even though it was just 4:30 pm, it got so dark I could barely see. We waited for the rain to subside and hiked out back to the lodge just before the real darkness set in at 6:30pm. One thing I really noticed on my Amazon trip was how the noises change according to the time of day. SO noisy! I’m realizing that Quito is kind of absent of noise. But in the jungle, the birds are up so early, then in the afternoon it’s the cicadas and the evening is the toads and frogs and bugs. Amazing.

Tuesday-Time to go! We departed in the rain in our huge motorized canoe. It actually got a little chilly because the rain was beating us from the sides as we zipped down the Napo River to Coca to catch the flight back to Quito. All in all, it was a trip of a lifetime. So much nature, so close. At times I felt as if I were inside a National Geographic Magazine on the Wonders of the Amazon. The lodge was so comfortable too. Great meals and accommodations. Check them out at Sanilodge.com

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Jungle-Day 2

Day 2 was an early of a morning…5:15am breakfast in order to leave on our paddle canoe to see the illusive pink river dolphins (which we never did see). Our guide told us that the pink river dolphins ended up in the Amazon river during the last ice age, then when the Andes formed, the dolphins got trapped and adapted for their fresh water habitat. On our journey to the lagoon to see the dolphins, we did see at least one hundred parrots flying in pairs for morning feedings, giant caimans (river crocodiles) and lots and lots of other migratory birds who come down to the Amazon for their winter break.

Probably the highlight of this day was piranha fishing with homemade fishing lines. I wasn’t successful, but my companeros caught a bunch! Luckily the guides knew how to release their saw-like jaws from the hooks. (I actually went for a swim while everyone else was fishing…I was assured the piranhas weren’t interested in me-and they weren’t! Not one piranha bite J)

Next was a cultural visit to the Sani Isla community. Then women of the village are slowly but surely organizing themselves to sell beautiful jewelry made of jungle seeds. They also cooked a typical meal for us. (I’ve tried it all before as I’ve got friends from the jungle, but the rest of the guests might have been slightly horrified at the roasted tree larvae) But there was also roasted fish, roasted hearts of palm (wrapped in banana leaves and roasted over the fire) baked yucca and plantain. The women spread the food out on a giant banana leaf and we ate with our hands.

After the community visit, time for hammocks and reading back at the lodge. The day ended with a delicious shrimp dinner and cards.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Day 1-Welcome to the Jungle

Welcome to the Jungle…Part 1 (Slowly, but surely. I WILL catch you up on my jungle adventures. I plan to post one day at a time! (I was without a computer for 4 days, hence the drawn-out posts)

I’ve been in the Amazon, traveling for the founding of Quito holiday. (Lots of short little breaks are wonderful for recharging my batteries!)

I traveled to Sani Lodge, deep down the Napo River. a tributary of the Amazon. Just some background on Sani Lodge. This community of Kichwa indigenous people is called Sani Isla, hence the name Sani Lodge. It’s one of the only lodges in the province completely run by the community. EVERYONE, from the bar tender, to the house keeper to the chef to the excellent guides are indigenous. Sani Lodge was built about 12 years ago with lots and lots of funds from the oil company, in return for drilling there, or using their territory so the pipeline can pass through. Oil companies have so much money, that building a luxurious jungle lodge is just pennies for them. The community agreed and the lodge was built. However, it took much longer for them to get the lodge up and running, there are so many logistics. Many outside consultants from Quito and the US came to help them get their feet off the ground. Now they have a very smooth operation. I was impressed every step of the way. They have an impressive website, if you’d like to check it out-www.sanilodge.com

Saturday, my friend Heidi who teaches 4th grade at Academia Cotopaxi and I boarded the plane in Quito for our 30 minute flight to Coca the provincial capital of the Amazon province, Orellana. I noticed on our flight that really the only people on there were tourists and men. Lots of folks work in the oil industry or as tour guides….two competing interests. We got to Coca, were met by a man from Sani and we then boarded a long canoe with a double motor on the back, sunshade and comfy seats for our 3 hour motorized canoe ride down the Napo River to the lodge. The Napo is so very wide at most points, kind of like a highway. On both sides of the river, the gigantic jungle just towers over. Although it was steamy and hot, going about 35 miles an hour created a nice (coolish) breeze. Our driver was amazing, he would go really fast and then slow down for some reason that none of us could see (probably a sand bar) and then navigate around it. I enjoyed seeing the trees, thatched roofs of different communities along the way.

After three hours on our big canoe, we disembarked at the entrance to Sani Community, walked about a mile through the jungle, then boarded a smaller canoe and were paddled down a very small river/lagoon/lake to the lodge. Along the way we saw turtles, scarlet macaws, parrots, squirrel monkeys and caimans. After such a long journey, we were finally to the land, and greeted by the bartender with passion fruit martinis. It was a bit bizarre but a nice effort to make us feel welcome! Heidi and I stayed in the camping area across the lagoon, but camping luxurious style with mattresses, running water and platform tents.

Saturday, day 1 they went a bit suave on us and only took us for a few miles hike through the jungle to the tall tall jungle tower built on the Ceiba tree. The ceiba tree itself is spectacular, kind of like the giant redwoods in California…the indigenous people believe that the ceiba tree is sacred-it connects the ground world to the spirit world and only shamans and other really strong people can come near it because it has so much power. Absolutely massive. We climbed up and up and up and up until finally reaching the tippy top of the platform, where we could view the entire rainforest. As you’re climbing you notice all the different layers of the forest. Once at the top, our guides set up a long viewing scope and we were able to see a troop of red howler monkeys. Babies on their mom’s backs, the big males, all just hanging in the trees. These monkeys get their names because they mark their territory by making a deafening howl. It can be heard several miles away, which we did from the camping area. It almost sounds like thunder.

Climbing down the tower, the light was noticeably changing, just because the layers of plants was so thick in each layers. By the time we got down it was almost dark at 5:00pm, not because of the sun but because of the thick tree canopy.

After a delicious dinner, we went on a night hike. I felt as if I were in one of those nature shows of the wonders of the Amazon at night. Armed with rubber boots and head lamps our guides showed us so many cool creepy crawlies at night. We saw the camouflaged walking sticks, and leaf bugs. Also the orb spider with its 4 foot web-I saw a fly get trapped in the web and then the orb spider went to work wrapping it up, probably for a snack later on. The bright green chameleon was also fascinating to see, just as still as could be with lots of knobs on its body. And then there were the teeny, tiny tree frogs, less than in inch long.

The sounds in the jungle at night are just an orchestra of nature, the tree frogs, toads, all the bugs even interrupted by the screaming red howler monkey. These sounds sung me to sleep my first day.

(Day 2 coming soon!)

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Lots going on

I am staying busy as ever which is a good thing! One of the nice things about Academia Cotopaxi, is that Ecuadorian teachers really try and introduce the American/Foreign teachers to their country…lots of trips on the weekends. This Saturday, we journeyed up to Otavalo. Even though I’ve been there a million and ten times, it’s always fun to go again, especially with my colleagues, getting to know them outside of a school context. The woman I sat next to on the bus is an Ecuadorian, Spanish teacher at Academia Cotopaxi. She’s in her early 50’s and is a wonderful teacher! Patient, fun, energetic. And she has used a cane for awhile, I never knew why…

Well it turns out she used to be a tour guide (since she grew up in the US, she’s perfectly bilingual). She guided foreigners all over Ecuador. When she was 33, a young bride with 3 kids, the tour bus the she was guiding on crashed…17 people died and 13 were severely injured like her. She broke her back and is pretty much paralyzed on one side. She also had a life-saving heart surgery. She was bedridden for one year, absolutely immobile and suffered severe depression,. After the accident…she became a teacher and it saved her life. Now days, she swims every day and even though she walks with a visible limp using a cane, she gets around really well! She confided in me that recently her son had his first child (her granddaughter) and the baby was born with Down’s Syndrome. So, this lady, almost paralyzed on one side did a mile long charity walk for funding against Downs. Amazing.

So, it’s folks like this that make it really rewarding to teach where I do! On our way to Otavalo, we stopped in Cayambe (the town I lived in for my Peace Corps Training) for views of the snow covered volcano (which we passed many and it was a perfectly clear Andean day! Bright blue skies….I counted at least 5 snow covered peaks). Then we continued onto Parque Condor, a place founded by a Swiss couple to rescue large birds of prey. We saw condors, falcons, (even a bald eagle, donated by someone), plus a few really cute owls (one looked like Hedgewick in Harry Potter).

Then we made our way to the Saturday market in Otavalo. Always overwhelming with stall after stall of crafts (many looking the same!). We only spent a half hour there because…we had a boat ride/lunch waiting for us at Lago San Pablo, a beautiful lake. Lunch was a plato typico of Ecuadorian food…fritada which is marinated pork, empanadas, avocado, tomato and onion salad and fried potato pancakes. Yum! We arrived late to Quito because…

the annual pilgrimage to the Virgin of El Quinche was in full procession on the Pan American highway. Folks journey to the hamlet of El Quinche each year, mostly to repay the Virgin of El Quinch for a miracle she has granted them. They walk all through the night in order to arrive for the 6AM mass. Sometimes they go for healing as well. I saw women carrying sick babies, people limping (but this could have been because of blisters), even people with their pets. It’s about a 30 mile walk. Sometimes, along the sides of the roads, people give out free water, fruit, etc. But most times, the stalls on the side of the road are for business…the funniest stall I saw, next to the stalls selling water, food, ice cream, etc was the Band Aid/Orthopedic Shoe Insert stall. Also, there were random musicians trying to motivate the pilgrims along the side of the road. All in all, it was quite moving to see such a mass of people with such devotion. A fellow teacher on the bus said, Hey next year, let’s organize an Academia Cotopaxi group to walk with the pilgrims to El Quinche. While I think the physical challenge would be awesome, somehow I don’t think I’d do it…I have no devotion to the Virgin of El Quinche and would fell like a total imposter. We’ll see…

and speaking of embracing physical challenges, I had my first race at altitude this morning. The half marathon, mitad del mundo. I finished in 1:56 which I was really happy about, especially since it’s really hard to breathe so high up! The course was ok…lots of outs and backs, which can be a blessing and a curse. I did enjoy seeing the super fast runners booking it while I was going at my long run pace…but seeing them reminds me of how much further it is! The weather was perfect, chilly at the start, but warm enough to wear shorts and a tank top. All in all, I was impressed by the race organization, roads were shut down, there were plenty of water/Gatorade and food stops and it started and finished in Quito’s bull fighting ring…

bull fighting reminds me that Fiestas de Quito are coming up December 6. They actually start partying a few weeks before hand. These fiestas celebrate the founding of Quito with parades, dancing, drinking and bull fighting. The interesting thing is that recently the government decreed that bulls can no longer be killed in the bull fight (only afterwards). So the poor animals are tortured for sport then finally put out of their misery after the event. I’ve had several invitations to go to a bull fight. Despite how culturally appropriate it would be for me to go, I refuse. No way would I ever sit through the slow torture of an animal. It really, really makes me angry.

But just because I turn down the bull fight invitation, doesn’t mean there’s not other stuff I’ll participate in. One is a chiva which goes through Quito at night. Really a beautiful city, especially the historic district. The school rents a chiva, which is an open bus. You’re supposed to drink and dance while enjoying the night views. We’ll see! Also, Thanksgiving is coming up, and I’m not sure what I’ll make for our celebration. Last time I tried to make Ecua version of green bean casserole (frying the onions myself and substituting mushrooms for cream of mushroom soup) it was a disaster! Maybe I can make mashed potatoes…we sure have plenty of those!

Lots and lots going on! Happy Thanksgiving to you too! I am so thankful to have all of you supporting me from afar. I love you all.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Soccer Mania



I’m sure you all know because you’ve seen the TV shows and movies, but soccer is HUGE here! It’s almost hard to desribe the feeling in the city when the national team plays. I live just a block from the Estadio Olimpico where the Ecuadorian soccer team plays. Right now, they’re in the midst of World Cup play offs for Brazil in a few years. Every time there’s a game, the whole city dresses up in yellow jerseys, the color of the Ecuadorian soccer team. So far, the Ecuadorian National Team has played against some other S. American teams like Venezuela and yesterday, Peru. I had to leave right after school to get to the bank before they close at 4PM. Traffic was horrible! I’d have probably gotten there faster walking….fans had been at the stadium since at least 7:15AM when I went past the stadium on my way to school! So, I took care of business at the bank and was walking home. Just walking through a stream of yellow jerseys is an amazing experience….they say that team sports really bring people together and that is certainly true in Quito! (Sure, everyone has their LOCAL team which they support and this is often a source of conflict, but when the NATIONAL team plays, you’d better bet, everyone pulls together and puts on the yellow shirt). Ecuador scored TWO goals as I was walking. Each time, I heard it first from the stadium, next from the honking horns on cars and third, everyone ran to the nearest store to crowd around a TV and see it. Pretty cool. Even though I’m not at all into soccer (or any sport for that matter!) it gave me a nice feeling of being part of something big. Next time, maybe I’ll wear the yellow!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

It's November...

Good Morning! School is going well-it was nice to have a long November holiday, but now it’s good to be back at work. Because I have such a small class (just 11) plus a full time aide, work is much less of a challenge than I’m used to! That’s not to say that my students don’t have things they’re working on! For example, most of them are second language learners so I’m using a ton of ESL strategies. Also, many of my students have been raised with loving parents and also with a loving nanny, maid and chofer. I’m having to use lots of patience when they leave stuff all over the place expecting someone to come behind them and clean it up. One of my new phrases here is, “We don’t have maids at school! Clean up your own mess!” I need to remind myself that they’re not being malicious, it’s just what they’re used to. That being said, it’s nice to be able to have a life outside of work! I’m feeling the need to get involved in the community…I’ll let you know how that goes! There’s a women’s shelter in Quito for single moms and their kids-I’m going to check out that place to see if I can help with after school activities or focus groups or something else like that! Also, perhaps Special Olympics, which is very active in Quito. I’ll keep you posted…and speaking of sports, I’ve got a half marathon coming up next weekend. Some girlfriends from school and I are running the race. The distance is no problem…it’s the altitude! I’m not expecting a PR, just a nice long run at over 10.000 feet. These days, I’m also just so grateful that I am able to run and mostly grateful for my health. It was scary last year thinking I was having a heart attack every day, horrible heart palpitations, sweating, feeling as though I had drunk 20 cups of coffee, insomnia.

Just being able to slow down and breathe is a blessing.

I’m trying to remind myself of that every day, not just on Thanksgiving…which, by the way, of course, is not celebrated in Ecuador, but rather at my school. We have a big Thanksgiving potluck, which will be nice. But I will miss the gathering in NY!

And then it’s Christmas! Where has the year gone? They’ve decorated the lobby of my apartment in Quito with nativities, Christmas tree, garlands with lights. The malls are playing Christmas music. I will need to adjust my thinking….because the weather is pretty much spring/fall like all year round, it just doesn’t seem like December is almost here! But I’m trying to get into the Spirit J

Love to you all, Rachel

Vilcabamba Photos and Reading Aloud






Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Grateful for my health


Most mornings I start my day with a run around Parque Carolina. It’s a 2.2 mile loop around the park. I’ve written before about this place…I love it because I can go as long or as short as I have time for, it’s well lit and there are tons of folks at all paces. Some out for a morning stroll, others training hard at race pace. Most times I’m in a good mood, but of course, we all go through running phases where we think…why am I doing this? Why does it hurt? Why do I feel like this?

Yesterday was sort of one of those days. I was just sort of slogging through a run, thinking more about the million and ten things I wanted to get done at school before the kids came. My pace was slow and I was feeling sorry for myself. Imagine!

Then a handicapped man with a CP-like affliction came loping towards me, hopping, stumbling, arms flailing. I almost asked him if he needed help before I realized that he too was out for a morning run. Enjoying the fresh, cool morning air, taking in the birds’ songs, breathing. As he flailed and stumbled and jogged I choked back tears. What in the world do I have to feel sorry for myself about?

Wow. What a good reminder of how fortunate I am to have my health, my life and even the ability to go out for a morning jog. I am grateful.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Vilcabamba

It’s the November holiday. I’ve got three days off of work. Officially, the holiday is for the founding of Cuenca (an important city in the south of Ecuador). But unofficially, the holiday is for “Dia de los Difuntos” or Day of the Dead. This is when families get together, make a delicious purple corn drink called Colada Morada and visit their ancestors’ graves, usually with a picnic for themselves (and sometimes leaving food for the deceased). I’ve been planning my trip to Vilcabamba for a while now, and it’s a good thing! Everything is booked here in Ecuador-some of my friends couldn’t get a bus ticket or a hotel at the last minute. Especially, the beaches are so crowded this time of year.

I’m in Vilcabamba in the very, very south of Ecuador. It’s a quick 45 minute plane flight from Quito, then an hour drive from Loja, the provincial capital. Vilcabamba is known as the Valley of Longevity, because many Vilcabambenos live well into their 80’s and 90’s. The water is pure, the air is clean, the climate is spring-like all year round, the hills are not as steep as what I’m used to in Quito, more gradual rolling hills. Because of all these qualities, many American retirees have made Vilcabamba their home. The town center is a nice mix of older retired American ex-pats, hippies selling their jewelry and Ecuadorians enjoying the weather and strolls around the town square.

I’m staying at Madre Tierra, a hotel, resort, spa about 1KM outside of town.  It sits on a hill, overlooking the highway. Not the very best location, but there’s lots of plants around, tropical flowers, palm trees, etc. so it makes it feel more jungly than it actually is. The room I was assigned to is affectionately known as “The Hobbit Room.” You have to crouch down when entering…good thing I’m short because my head actually scrapes the ceiling! It’s very quaint and fine for a few days…but long term here I think I’d go crazy! The family that runs the place is from Washington State. A bunch of blonde kids are running around playing with the dog, laying in the hammock, mom and aunties prepare the food, dad and uncles keep the place in tip-top shape. (Kind of reminds me of Meryl Streep in Mama Mia). I’ve been traveling a lot around Ecuador, so I know what to compare this place to. The food is ok, not great. Breakfast is usually some homemade nutty bread, small portions of fruit and lots of eggs, usually overcooked and not very flavorful. The coffee is excellent, grown in Loja province, the fresh squeezed OJ is the perfect balance between tart and sweet. After a filling breakfast, guests can choose from lounging and reading in the many hammocks around the hostel, going for a relaxing (and cheap!) SPA treatment (massage, facials, etc. are around $20 per hour) or walking and hiking through Vilcabamba’s hills. There’s also horseback riding for exploring the back country. I’ve been doing a combination of all! Over all, Madre Tierra is a good value (just $15 per night including breakfast). But if/when I return to Vilcabamba, I’d probably not stay here again.

So yesterday, my last day, I wanted to try something I haven’t done since I was 10 years old out on a dude ranch in Colorado. Horseback riding! It’s a great way to see the countryside. We climbed up, up, up and had the most spectacular view of two valleys. Lush, green rolling hills, the volcano that looks like an Indian lying down (kind of like the view of the Front Range in CO, minus the snow and rocks). I’m glad I pushed myself and tried riding again, but now that I’m an adult, I’m realizing that I really do not like horseback riding! I’d rather see things on my own two feet (or two wheels!). (Now, I’m in good shape-a runner and all-but today I’m so sore I can barely walk! Guess I’m glad I saved this for my last day) I feel very unbalanced on a horse, especially when he takes off on a jog down a rocky hill!

Now, it’s back to Quito and reality. I’ve heard it said that you know you’re content in your life and your job if-when you return from a vacation you actually look forward to coming home. This is me! Vilcabamba was a wonderful escape for a few days, but I really am looking forward to being back in my own routines in Quito, having my own space to spread out (minus the head scraping in the Hobbit Room) and seeing my students.
PS-I'll post photos as soon as I have a fast internet connection

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Go Dad Go!

No big news…Life is good. I’m so proud of my dad who’s running the MCM today! Go dad!

I just finished an intense three day training on the PYP program that I’m teaching this year. I was with a wonderful group of international teachers from schools all over Ecuador and South America. It was nice for me to connect with them professionally. I also got some new strategies and reminders of old ones I had forgotten.

(But I had to miss the Halloween parties at school)

Let’s see what else I can update you on…We’ve got just two days this week, then I head to Vilcabamba. Very excited about that. End of the month is a half marathon that a few friends from school and I are going to run.

Enjoy the snow! J

Love. Rachel

Sunday, October 23, 2011

I’m so lucky to have a wonderful family in Puyo to visit every so often. I’ve written about them a lot. This weekend, my teacher friend, Natalie and I are visiting them.

I’ve written before about Sara, a young woman graduated from medical school in Cuba, wonderful person. We’re all really, really sad because Sara’s baby died in childbirth, strangled by the umbilical cord just a week ago. Sara and the baby boy were perfectly healthy through the whole nine months. Such a tragedy. Sara’s a doctor, graduated from Cuban University, some say the best in Latin America. She’ll have to do a year of rural health, to give back to the Ecuadorian government and then she’ll be able to be a doctor here in Ecuador or in her husband’s country of Cuba (which I doubt she’ll go back to), Sara is so devastated right now, and I can understand why. So much hope these nine months, all the preparation for a new baby. It’s a really hard time right now for her.

And the baby’s death comes right before the November holiday of Dia de los Difuntos. We made the typical Colada Morada purple thick hot drink with the family. I’d love for all you readers to be here with me, so I’ll try to describe the process of making the beverage, a tradition for all of Ecuador (and I think even in Peru and Bolivia): All the peeling of the fruits (pineapple, babaco, blackberry, blueberry), the purple flour (from purple corn), the spices (cinnamon, cloves), the sugar, the hot water. Simmering away over the open fire for hours and hours. Chatting about everything and nothing in particular, cumbia music playing in the background, So we had some happy moments, Sara was able to distract herself being with family, cooking and enjoying this hot drink.

In other, happier news, we’ve got Halloween coming up at school. Even though Ecuadorians don’t celebrate it, at my school we get to do the costumes, candy and Halloween stories. Fun! I’ve been teaching in the States where this holiday is kind of frowned upon. But I think it’s all in good fun, especially with 2nd grade boys who love this sort of thing J. There won’t be any pumpkin carving (hard to find here!) or caramel corn (unless a US mom brings it in) but I’m sure there will be plenty of little witches and ghosts. As for me, I’m not sure yet who I’ll be…perhaps Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus or Ms. Viola Swamp from Ms. Nelson is Missing.

Trick or Treat!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Hi! Greetings from Mitad del Mundo. I’m really busy but enjoying life J. My students are a joy to teach. Such curious children, it makes teaching really fun. We wrapped up our weather unit and now we’re starting migration. We’re going to be interviewing people from the school, finding out what it’s like to be a migrant-what do we keep from our culture, what do we adapt living in another place, what do we maintain. Plus the kids are going to do a country study. The social sciences are much more up my alley than natural sciences, so I think this new unit will be a lot more fun for me to teach than weather.

Although I’ve settled into life here in Quito, there’s still so much I haven’t done…sometimes I feel like a tourist in this country and that’s OK!

Last week, some friends and I went to the National Georgia Ballet in Quito. They did really acrobatic dancing, it was more folk dancing than ballet but still really neat to watch.

Friday night was an outing to La Ronda, one of Quito’s most famous streets in the old colonial part of the city. Cobblestone streets, white washed buildings, lots of hills, closed off to cars. Beautiful to walk around in at night. The typical thing to do at La Ronda is drink canelazo (a hot cinnamon/lemon drink w optional alcohol) It really warms you up on these cold Quito nights. Also there are strolling musicians playing old Spanish guitar music, dancing in the streets and typical old Quito foods: empanadas, potato soup with avocado and cheese. A fun evening.  It also happened that the Mama Negra festival was going on at the same time as this, so we got to see a really cool parade through the streets of La Ronda. Mama Negra actually happens in Latacunga (a town about an hour south of Quito). But the folks from Latacunga were offering their gifts to the Quitenos, that’s why they came. Folkloric dancing, kids on horses, the mama negra (a man with his face painted black) leading the parade, men dressed as Spanish conquistadores, indigenous people…there’s a ton of history behind this parade, a cultural anthropologist would have a grand time dissecting it all.

So, everyone in the US is gearing up for Halloween. Here in Ecuador, we’re gearing up for Day of the Dead. Some folks visit the gravesites of loved ones and put food offerings for them. Everyone else who doesn’t do that does make the Colada Morada and Wawas de Pan. Colada morada signs are everywhere in Quito. You stop into a little restaurant and ask for a big glass of the drink. It’s made from blackberries, pineapple, cinnamon and other spices and served hot with sweet bread babies all decorated with frosting (wawas de pan). It’s a fun tradition and I’m glad it lasts a few weeks before the actual day!

We get a few days off of school for Dia de los Difuntos so I’m going to go down to Vilcabamba in the province of Loja which is the most southern province of Ecuador. It’s known as the Valley of Longevity in Spanish because people in this valley live a really long time. There’s fresh air, really healthy lifestyles (kind of like the Colorado of Ecuador) I’ll do some hiking to old Incan ruins, maybe horseback riding, hot tub soaking and exploring. Should be a nice get away.

I love to take little short breaks from the hectic life of Quito, so I’m here in Casa Mojanda (do a google search for them and check out the website for photos-they’re breathtaking!) I feel like my descriptions of all these places don’t do them justice. This morning I took a long walk in the hills. It was so peaceful, very foggy, I smelled the eucalyptus trees, and fires because families in these parts cook a lot over the fire and use them to heat their homes. The place itself is a bunch of cottages and then a big open house where all the meals are. The whole place is filled with folk art from Ecuador and the Otavalo region. Just a really nice atmosphere to relax and recharge.

Hope you all are doing well and enjoying October and pumpkins (Ecuador does have a lot of amazing fruits and veggies, but no pumpkins, so enjoy some pumpkin pie for me J)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

30 de Septiembre

One year ago on September 30, here in Ecuador there was an attempted coup against President Rafael Correa. The national police force tried to take power. There was violence and attempted kidnapping and coup.

So this September 30. 2011, President Correa organized a “Dia de la Deomcracia” commemorating the day. He reportedly paid folks $10 each (a large amount of money if you’re poor) gave them a free bus trip to Quito and a T-shirt  to come to the HUGE demonstration in the city’s park, Parque Carolina. When I say huge I mean enormous! There must have been thousands of people there. Of course, as Americans, we were warned to stay away, but it was just blocks from my house so I went.

There were indigenous groups from all over the country in their proudest moment. There were also mestizos from the coast, from the southern part of Ecuador and from the north. These are people, some of them had more than a 20 hour journey to get to the capital. From what I could tell, it was really quite peaceful. Lots of music, laughing, videos of the day a year ago displayed on a huge screen. In my opinion, it was an awesome display of national unity-Afro-Ecuadorians from the coast, little old indigenous women from the highlands, tribal chiefs with feathered head dresses from the jungle.

I’m not quite sure yet what I think of Rafael Correa. I know he’s a leftist and that a lot of Ecuador’s elite are not happy with what he’s done with the country (these are my friends from Academia Cotopaxi). Yet, when I talk with my poor friends from the jungle and from Chimborazo they are thrilled with how empowered they feel. It’s the first time that they feel they’ve got an elected leader who represents them. They feel they have a voice. I’m not sure Correa is a wack-o as the press makes him out to be. But, I suppose I don’t have to make up my mind about him right now…

Let’s see, in other news, I’m trying to take advantage of the weekends to get out of the city and take my new friends to beautiful places. So, even though I’ve been to Mindo lots, I’m here again with a new friend. She and I are staying at El Quetzal, a local chocolate factory and coffee roaster. The aroma is amazing! Today will probably be a hike through the cloud forest, some bird watching and a tour of the chocolate factory with a tasting at the end J

Keep in touch!

Love, Rachel

Friday, September 30, 2011

"Civil Unrest" days

So, in the US, we have snow days. Here in Quito, we get “civil unrest” days! For example, Wednesday was a half day just for professional development purposes…we had trainings to attend, etc. Fine, normal.



Yesterday, I get an email at the end of the day saying that today, Friday we will also have a half day. But this time because the director wants everyone home (students and staff) before 2PM when marches and protests are planned. Apparently, a year ago there was an attempted coups against President Correa. Could it happen again a year later? Anything’s possible here! I, for one, am not complaining about starting my weekend just a few hours earlier J

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Photos of Posada del Arte

Hostal Posada del Arte in Banos
Dining Room
Posada del Arte Common Room

Feeling Blessed in Banos

It seems like awhile since I’ve posted, so let me catch you up…

School is going wonderfully! I’ve got 11 beautiful children, a full time assistant and parents who come in and help. A teacher’s dream J. We had back to school night last Thursday. I was a little nervous to meet the parents, but all were very complimentary and supportive. I’m looking forward to working with them this year.

Yoga is something new I’m trying this year. A fellow teacher gives classes after school. What a wonderful way to stretch and bring more awareness. I really enjoy these hour long sessions. With this same woman who teaches yoga, I’ve been doing some long runs because we’re running the Half Marathon Mitad del Mundo. We run from Quito to the equator line. This comes up later in November…we will be very proud of ourselves for running so long at altitude! Our long runs are in Parque Metropolitano a wooded park with lots of dirt trails, trees and hills. Beautiful for long runs.

        I haven’t forgotten my former students. I’ve written them each postcards and even got some back. That was wonderful! Thank you J

This weekend, I took some new friends to one of my favorite places, Banos. Staying at Posada Del Arte which is a hostel filled with brightly painted walls and art EVERYWHERE. As I’m writing this post, I’m sitting in the cute little dining room surrounded by candles, there’s a fire in the fireplace, the waterfall outside the window is audible with some relaxing music playing in the background. It’s almost too good to be true! Just finished the banana nut pancakes with fruit salad and deep rich coffee. Later on, we’ll hike up to Bella Vista to see the whole town of Banos and perhaps go to the volcanic hot baths.  In back of the hotal are beautiful gardens with hammocks…so you can lay in the hammocks and you’re surrounded by the lush Andes. Right now it’s a bit overcast and rainy, but the fire is warm. A good relaxing in front of the fire, catching up on reading type day. By the time I arrive in Quito later tonight, I’ll be completely recharged and ready for another week with the 2nd graders J

Some Photos

Hand Made Weather Stations
They can record wind, temperature and rainfall.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Earthquake Drills and Danny Glover...kind of random, huh?

So…in the US, we practice code red, code blue in case of a school shooting. Guess what we practice here in Ecuador? Earthquake drills! Yes, that’s right. We had one for the first time a few days ago. The kids were in their first recess of the day and we hear the siren, warning us that it’s an earthquake drill. Of course, when it’s just practice, the kids think it’s fun. We had to crouch down in the middle of the soccer field. I think that’s the safest place to be if the buildings start to fall. Now, if we were in the classroom, we’d have to get down under the desks and hold on. I hope it doesn’t happen, but if it does, the kids in Ms. Rachel’s room will be prepared! Another difference is HATS. Since we’re right on the equator at high altitude the sun’s UV index is extreme (26 the last time I checked). So, in addition to wearing 50 SPF sunscreen the kids are required to wear hats every time we leave the classroom. (The way the school is laid out, it’s all outside hallways). That’s something that I’m always forgetting but the kids remind me, “Ms. Rachel, what about our hats!”

On a non-work note, Yesterday was just what I needed after two weeks of school! Two girl friends and I took the bus to Papallacta, a spa town about an hour east of Quito, heading towards the jungle. I soaked in the volcanic hot springs (with my obligatory bathing cap!), had a wonderful (and I mean WONDERFUL) massage to work out all my kinks. While I was relaxing in my massage, two of my friends were sharing a tub with Danny Glover. They said to me after my massage to look outside and yes, there’s no mistaking him, especially when he speaks…turns out he was at Papallacta with his family on vacation. Kind of random, huh?

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Owl Moon Read-Aloud

Story Time (Owl Moon!) and Math Lesson

Teaching's going great! The students are fun and curious and it makes my job as a teacher really interesting-each day's different :-)

If you'd like to know what I'm doing in the classroom, you are welcome to follow my class blog at: msrachelcotopaxi.blogspot.com

Enjoy the change of seasons! (That's something I miss about the US-life on the equator has it's benefits, but we don't have the changing of the leaves...)

Take care,
Rachel

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Week 1 is Done!

Whew, week 1 is done! It always seems like the LONGEST week of my life...we do this thing on the calendar...OK, my friends, how many days have we been in school? When they say "2" it's like, "really???, I"ve only known you for two days????"

So now I've got 11 students, a good mix of boys and girls, native and non-native speakers, and different types of personalities. I had the kids do an assignment where they gathered items into a "Personality Bag" at home and then brought it into the classroom to share. It was really fun to see the kids reveal each item one by one and then call on their classmates to guess.

We've also been doing a lot of independent writing. I put on tranquil music, turn down the lights and let the kids choose a comfy place in the classroom to settle down and get their thoughts on paper. It's a favorite time for 2nd graders.

Something that makes me smile each day is UNIFORMS. It's very cultural here in Ecuador that everyone wears a uniform. Now, in the public schools, this is enforced. But here at Academia Cotopaxi, as long as the kid has on a polo shirt with the Academia Cotopaxi logo on it, everything else is his or her choice. So I've got my little fashionista girls coming in with striped leggings, cute little jean skirts, fancy sandals, a sparkly long sleaved shirt and of course their uniform on top of this...the point of uniforms is to level the "clothing field"...or I've got this one kid, big, burly, lots of personality who reminds me of a man in a boy's body. You know the type. He wears his work jeans, shiny white sneakers and red suspenders every day (and of course the school shirt). In a way, I'm kind of glad the strict uniform policy isn't really enforced. For me, at least, clothing is a way to express how I'm feeling on a certain day, I think kids should be able to express that too!

I know you're eager for photos...they are coming soon, I promise!

This weekend will be for relaxing and recharging! Maybe a massage is in order...these 7 year olds are wearing me out! (But in a good way :-))

Love,
Rachel

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

A Joy to Teach

So, it's the third day of school...we're still in the honeymoon stage.

I have 10 beautiful children as students, very well behaved, studious, curious. It's really a joy to teach them :-). We've been reading stories together, getting to know each other, doing some math and getting the routines down. So far, so good!

Will post photos soon!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Whew, the first day of school was great! But I'm wiped out...
I'm supposed to have 12 students, but 3 were absent yesterday. I've got a good mix of boys and girls (6 each) from many countries around the world! Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina, Spain, US, Korea and Iran. (Most of my kids do not speak English as their first language, so they say funny things or mix up the order of their sentences). In this respect they are not so different from my Gaithersburg students! However, these kids are very wealthy, so their parents have the economic resources to support them. Yesterday, I found them all to be kind, caring (if not a bit chatty! I suppose it's catching up with friends they haven't seen all summer)

My students all wear uniforms, although they are a bit more informal than a typical Ecuadorian public school where kids would probably wear blouses and jumpers or dress shirts and slacks. At my school, kids wear polo shirts with the Academia Cotopaxi logo and then jeans, pants or if they want, skirts. WHere they express their individuality is in their shoes! Lots of cute 2nd grade girls in new pink sneakers and boys in their new sneakers too! (I gave lots of shoe compliments yesterday)

The first week of school is all about getting to know each other and getting classroom routines down. These are SO key to a well functioning classroom...yesterday we spent 30 minutes alone going over how students will come in in the mornings, put away their things, do their morning jobs, settle down to their desks. We practiced 5 times. I'm sure today will be more of the same. Once we've got the rountines down, they we can start the academic learning! I'll let you know how it goes :-)

Monday, September 5, 2011

Happy First Day of School!

Happy New Year! The pencils are sharpened, the binders are ready, the lessons are planned...now I just need the students! (I'll meet them today :-)) I've got a great international mix...the US, Ecuador, Iran, Spain, Korea, Argentina...Once I meet them, I'll write more. Keep me posted on how you're doing.
Love,
Rachel

PS-I'll probably update every week or so...not as much as in the beginning because I'm very busy with school. My apologies!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

OTAVALO/COTOCACHI


Hope everyone is staying safe! The hurricane is all the news here. I’ve been super busy at Academia Cotopaxi getting ready for the new school year, attending orientation meetings and setting up my classroom. It’s huge! I have a SMART board in front, an entire wall of windows with a million dollar view of the rolling Andean hills and volcanos, lots of little nooks and spaces that 7 year olds will love! We begin September 5…so much still to prepare!

But, I’ve really been getting the royal treatment here. Yesterday, the school took us to the market in Otavalo, stopping along the way at the “real” equator site. (Yes, there’s some debate as to the location of the actual line!). The best part was the Hacienda where we stopped for lunch. Just an exquisite presentation of all the food…for all my foodie friends let me describe it. For those of you not interested in these sorts of things skip to the next paragraph! So, we arrive, the doors are held, we are greeted with hot towels. The starter was ceviche in a music box! Then a delicious rich plantain soup followed by  a palate cleanser of basil sorbet. The entrée was coconut shrimp and fish. Really flavorful. Followed by passion fruit mouse.  Yum. Apparently foreign dignitaries and other wealthy travelers stay in the Hacienda which also includes a full spa.

Cotocachi was after lunch…it’s a town full of leather. I got a nice light brown satchel. I’ve just been go go go-meeting new folks at social events, arranging the room, reading a new curriculum. It will be nice to relax today!

Stay safe!

Rachel

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Pictures of My Room


Wow! I’ve been so busy lately, haven’t taken the chance to update my blog. I have a feeling that it’s going to be this way for the next couple of months while I get my feet on the ground, so I apologize for that.

I’ve been busy getting my classroom all set up. I have a HUGE room with a million dollar view of the Andean landscape. I’m really happy with the layout and space.

We’ve got orientation and in-service week these next two weeks, so I’m busy with that. I’ll give you more details once I know them. For now, enjoy the pics!









Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Llfe Since Peace Corps

The following is a newsletter article I wrote for Peace Corps Ecuador Volunteers about my life since the Peace Corps. I thought you might be interested:

Life Since Peace Corps

I was a Rural Public Health Peace Corps volunteer in the province of Chimborazo in the years 2004-2006. I lived high up in the Andes in a little village called Pulucate. Most of my work was with women and children, so I became pretty good with Quichua. Every day I wore the clothing of the women of Pulucate. Long anakus wrapped with a chumbi, lots of brightly colored shawls, gold necklaces and of course the fedora hat. I taught family planning courses in the health clinic, invited women over for cooking classes in my home (banana bread was a huge hit), started a peluqueria with a SPA grant for the young people of the town, volunteered my time in the health clinic for patient intake and such.

But what really changed my life was teaching the children and teenagers in the schools and high schools. Even though I was not an “English Teacher” volunteer as such, I still taught English and this was what allowed me to also teach health-the importance of hand washing, eating a balanced diet, taking care of yourself, recognizing abuse, how to say no, and even more serious issues.

As a child, whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never pictured myself as a teacher. I think I wanted to be a social worker, but honestly, I really, really come alive working with children. Teaching is my life’s calling and I’m lucky to have found it. Especially the younger kids, they really appreciated my lessons, begged me to come again, loved my energy (I got it from them) and having so many young people depending on me filled what could have been long, lonely afternoons and evenings. (And, of course, working with children is the best way to break into a community and get to know parents too).

After two years of teaching, I had formed many relationships with the children of my village and had seen how education can really make a difference. Most of them who were serious students would leave Pulucate and study in Riobamba ( where the schools are much better). This was discouraging to me because only the kids whose families had a little more money could afford to send their kids away to school. So, I formed a life goal one early morning towards the end of my Peace Corps service. My life goal is to start a high quality school in the rural countryside so that children and young people can receive an outstanding education in their own village. Now that I had my goal in mind, it was very exciting because I could see the exact steps I needed to take to reach it.

After my Peace Corps service I enrolled in a program sponsored by Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. I took evening classes to obtain my teaching certificate and Master’s Degree while working as a paid teacher’s aid in a 5th grade classroom. After those two years I was ready to conquer my own classroom and began teaching 2nd grade. The school where I worked was wonderfully diverse, filled with children from all over the world, mostly Central America but also Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East. It was wonderfully challenging to teach children for whom English is not the maternal language, but rather the common language for instruction. (I loved the children who would translate literally from Spanish and say, “Ms. Howard, can I broom the floor?) Or one boy who wanted to complement me on my fashion as I was wearing a big belt and said, “Oh, Ms. Howard, I just love your new seatbelt.) Because our school serves children in poverty, we received federal funding to reduce class sizes, hire extra teachers for academic interventions and give all the kids free breakfast (many received free lunch too).

My Peace Corps experiences were so valuable working with kids in poverty and kids from other countries as well as their parents. I understood exactly why sometimes parents didn’t feel comfortable coming to after school or evening meetings because they felt embarrassed by their own lack of schooling or were working two, three jobs trying to hold it all together. I also understood that I was the teacher and many parents saw their jobs not to help with homework, but rather to provide their kids a safe place to sleep, food to eat and clothing to wear.  (Not to mention, the Spanish language was invaluable working with ESL kids and parents).

Every summer since my Peace Corps service ended, I continued to travel every summer to Ecuador to visit my godchildren, my friends and just to soak up the sun. So, I maintained close contacts with Ecuadorians. Just last summer, August of 2010, when I was visiting I dropped my resume and portfolio off at Academia Cotopaxi, an International American school in Quito. It was something I had been thinking of for awhile and in February of this year (2011), after many long Skype interviews, I was hired to teach 2nd grade. This placement is ideal for me because it allows me to teach at a high quality school, have a standard of living that I’m used to (no more latrienes, dirt floors and fleas!), yet still be in a country where I can travel just a few hours and be in a completely different world. I’m so thrilled to be back in Ecuador, although in a very different experience than my Peace Corps experiences, I know this one will be equally challenging and rewarding as well. I wish you all the best of luck with your service.

If you’d like to ask me other questions, please feel free to email me at: rachelhoward82@yahoo.com And you can follow my blog at rachelsecuadoradventures@blogspot.com

Monday, August 15, 2011

Nuevos Companeros


Whew, it’s been a busy few days…haven’t blogged in awhile. Finally met some new teachers that I’ll be working with for the upcoming school year (Sept. 5). They are a great group of folks with so many different life experiences. For example, I met several young women who have been teaching at international schools in Thailand and one in Beijing, China. Then there’s a couple, from Alaska. They both taught together in Managua, Nicaragua and have two young kids. Then there is the new art teacher. He is Belgian, but has been teaching in International Schools in Africa for awhile. He’s married to a Tanzanian and she will come to Ecuador in a few months and hope to find a job in Hotel/Restaurant management. Then there’s two more young women who’ve been teaching for awhile in the US and are embarking on their first overseas adventure. It’s a fun group of people.

I was lucky to have my apartment fully furnished, (thanks to my contacts with Ann J and her wonderful parents). But lots of folks have been having to go out and buy everything to furnish their places with limited Spanish. That’s really hard.

Let’s see what else is new…I’ve got just a few more free days before we start orientation on Thursday. 

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Adopt a Tree-Save the Paramos


Adopt and Tree-Save the Paramos www.fundetecuador.org

It’s funny how small the world is! My second cousin, Gail taught school for years and years in Vermont. She rented out a room in the home of a lovely older couple. This couple has a granddaughter, Lindsay, working here in Quito on her PhD in anthropology. I met with Lindsay the other day and she invited me to a meeting of a program that her boyfriend, an indigenous leader from the province of Cotopaxi started called, “Adopt a Tree, Save the Paramos.” Now you know all the background.

I went to this group’s second meeting, -a really neat group of young people, passionate about saving their environment. I love being around folks who have a vision, an idea and are doing concrete things to solve problems. So many times folks just talk talk talk about global warming or erosion or water problems. But what’s a concrete thing you can do to solve the problem? Well, this group found a solution-plant native trees. They encourage folks (from Quito or the US/Europe) to pay $10.00 and adopt a tree. Then they (the group of young people, along with friends and family in the rural communities) reforest the eroded paramos. This is important because when there are no trees, the wind causes crop problems (and leads folks to use many dangerous chemicals in their farming practices), and having a tree line helps confront global warming because the trees store atmospheric carbon.  

They also educate members of the rural communities about using organic farming practices, and have begun the idea of starting an eco-tourism project. They are also organizing ecotourism project where they will bring folks from Quito for a weekend trip, take them to waterfalls, hiking, camping and finally to plant the trees on the weekends.

Right now, the project is just getting off the ground. I might go with them one weekend, soon to help lead an environmental education workshop and help plant some of the trees they have donated so far. I’ll post photos when I do! This idea, “Plant a Tree, Save the Paramos” is a simple program that one group of young people has started so try and solve the complicated problem of global warming. If you’d like to contribute to their project, please check out their website (www.fundetecuador.org). They have a link for PayPal and some wonderful photos. Muchisimas Gracias, 

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Quito by Bike

Ciclopaso

I love this city! I’ve never lived in such an urban area before…there is so much going on at all times, yet it doesn’t feel chaotic, crowded or noisy.

Every Sunday, the main street of Quito (going from North to South) is closed to all traffic and open to bicyclists, runners, walkers. It’s known as the Ciclopaso. Yesterday, I rented a bike with a friend and we rode a large length of the city. Quito is very long but narrow, stretching about 40 miles or so. Most of us on the ciclopaso are not really bicyclists, more just going along for a Sunday stroll without having to worry about cars or busses. But there are a few cyclists in their spandex and cycling shoes, zipping past us slow pokes! The cool thing about exploring a city by bike is passing through all the little neighborhoods, people watching and just taking it all in. One of the funniest things I saw was an older man on his bike with his frou-frou doggie sitting in his lap. The doggy was wearing bright red aviator-style sunglasses. It made me laugh out loud.

So, the ciclopaso starts in the north of the city, beyond the airport. This is Quito moderno, where I live. There are nice restaurants, shopping malls, modern apartments, basically middle to upper class living.

Then after 10 miles or so, you get to the Centro Historico, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Sight. I haven’t spent too much time in Europe, but Centro Historico de Quito reminds me of what I think a European city is like with cobblestone streets, white buildings, balconies. Every Sunday, since the main street is closed to cars, people come out and stroll the city streets. There are artisans, musicians, dance troupes. I love the atmosphere.

Further past the Centro Historico is Quito Sur. This is more industrial, working class, dirty, etc. Not really a place for tourists. Just nitty-gritty life. I turned around at Centro Historico for the hilly ride back to Quito Norte.

The ciclopaso is well organized with water stops along the way, folks in neon green outfits to guide you incase you get lost, well marked signs, police directing traffic, etc.

Just another great thing about Quito is all the cultural events that are happening. For example, right now in the large city parks there is an outdoor exhibition of photography. The themes vary-I think there are about 500 pieces on display at parks around the city. One very impressive exhbit is photographs taken by a woman of life in South Quito, the working class neighborhoods. Her photographs of daily life were on display at Parque Carolina (the main park near where I live). Really beautiful pieces of art, on display for all to see.

This week, I’ll probably be taking care of stuff in Quito, maybe climbing a volcano or two (J). Love, Rachel

Monday, August 8, 2011

Poverty and Happiness


Poverty and Happiness

Some scientific studies make you say, “duh!” For me, it was the study that came out between the relationship between income and happiness. Basically, the scientists found that people need a certain amount of money for happiness (to pay for food and other life necessities). But beyond that income level, more money does not equal more happiness.

Now, I don’t want to romanticize poverty, but I do think there is something to be said for having less stuff, for living simply so that others may simply live. Staying with Adrian’s family in Puyo for several days reinforces this study for me.

This family is poor…but happy.

They do not have internet in the house. Instead of sending emails to family members to say hello, they walk three hours and visit them.

There is no dishwasher. The kids splash water and play while taking time to hand wash each dish outside in the sun.

There is no washing machine. Two women spend hours scrubbing clothes, slapping them against the concrete slab, hashing out their frustrations and conversing about life.

There are no video games. Kids spend hours outside, climbing trees for fresh guavas and mandarin oranges, playing soccer, inventing their own games. After dinner, cards are brought out for hours of games.

There is no microwave, fridge and prepackaged food is expensive. Women shop for fresh ingredients daily. They spend hours preparing a huge midday meal where the entire family gathers. Naps are normal after a big meal. People are not sleep deprived.

There is one TV for the whole house. Everyone watches TV together. They discuss the news, or the soap opera or the cartoon programs. TV is a social occasion.

There is no alarm clock. Roosters will wake up starting at whatever hour they feel is appropriate (this does not make me happy!)

I think I will keep adding to the list as I experience more examples of simple living. Feel free to add some too!


Saturday, August 6, 2011

Puyo


Puyo

I’ve spent most of my time in Ecuador so far settling into Quito and staying at really beautiful lodges, traveling around, resting, relaxing, healing. IT’s pretty much been me time. Now for family time…

This week I’m staying with my ten-year old godson, Adrian and his family in the jungle in Puyo. (Priscilla is Adrian’s mom). I have know this family for ten years…I first met them because I dated Hector, Adrian’s uncle. This family has always taken care of my like a sister, a daughter, etc. Now that I am Adrian’s godmother, we have ties that will last forever. (They are so generous despite their poverty that I have my own room here for whenever I come to visit. They have decorated it with photos of me and keep it empty and very clean).

This is a family that is poor. But I don’t feel sorry for them for one instant (except I wish they had money for Priscilla’s thyroid operation). Why don’t I feel sorry for them? Because Jimmy (Priscilla’s husband and my compadre) works from home installing windows and constructing doors and other metal parts. The four kids are all in school and when they aren’t they play soccer, climb trees, bother each other, run around like crazy people and blast music at todo volumen! The house is always loud, noisy. The kids are so incredibly affectionate. They all sleep together and can’t imagine why I don’t want to get in the same bed with them too! This is a family that loves each other, takes care of each other and spends all their time together.

Breakfasts are prepared by Priscilla or Christian, the oldest son-rice with eggs and too sweet boiled tea, maybe a hotdog split between all if there is any extra money. Prepared with love. No running water, electricity “stolen” from the power lines. Chaotic. Roosters crowing, radio turned up. Clothes being scrubbed before the day’s heat and humidity make it too hot. Days here are so unscheduled…it’s good for me. Getting up when I feel like it, helping to prepare a big midday meal, hanging out with the kids, being lazy, watching movies during the day, helping the kids with school work, singing songs in English, Spanish and Quichua. Conversing for hours about nothing significant…They, of course, are thrilled that I’m going to be in their country for two years. Quito is a bit far (6 hours by bus), but I’ve invited them to come stay with me any time they have a free moment. I’d like to return their generosity.

The rain is another thing…we are, after all in the Amazon RAIN forest. The home is simple, made of wood slabs and a sturdy tin roof. The rains come mostly in the afternoon and evenings and they are deafening against the tin roof. There’s no way to keep talking or keep watching TV or really do anything except appreciate the power of the rain. I love to just lay down and listen.

Today, we’re going to spend all day at the swimming pool. This is a real treat for the kids, they look forward to it all year. Let’s hope the rains hold off!