"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

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 2^nd graders J

Some Photos

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

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?

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