School’s Back in Session

Summer vacation has been tough but I made it through. As my amount of blogging can attest, I have been on the road. I have traveled far and wide over the past month enjoying this magnificent country that I call home. I sprinkled in some work in Quito at a TEFL seminar and worked a summer camp for the US embassy.

Fire Starting Competition

Singing campfire songs

The English intensive embassy camps are the best. I really enjoy working in these types of non-formal educational settings. This year we camped in the jungle and we appropriately themed our camp “Extreme Jungle Survival”. We took inner-city kids camping in a remote area of Ecuador. The high school students, as well as the university volunteers, had never been camping. It was a real treat to see them experience the real outdoors for the first time. Campfire building, s’mores, knot tying, campfire songs, and ghost stories ranked high on the students lists while the spiders, ants, mosquitoes, jungle bees and sleeping on the ground were all at the bottom. All in all it was a great trip and I hope I get the chance to participate in one more before I am out of here.

Goal 2 of PC: Share American Culture

BIG NEWS!!

Fundraising for the English Area Audio/Visual Laboratory is finished! I want to thank each and every one you that donated to this project. My teachers were elated to hear that funding came so quickly. You are a part of something that has the potential to change the future of my high school, my students, and especially my teachers. Thank you so much! In the coming months we will buy the materials, set up a schedule of usage and finally implement the lab.

English Area cleaning up the room for the lab!

I want to preface the implementation of the lab with a disclaimer. This lab will be considered very low-tech by first world standards. We are starting from scratch and our budget is small. The lab will consist of a desktop computer, a speaker system, a projector, a printer/scanner, and a whiteboard. While this doesn't sound like much, it is more than these students have ever had in an English class. My teachers have not had the opportunity to teach with the type of technology that this lab will provide.

This year my largest goal is to work on the English lab with my English teachers. I feel that if this lab is implemented correctly it can remain sustainable after I am gone. The goal of Peace Corps is that our job will be temporary and our impact everlasting. Sustainability is a lofty goal but one that I desire to achieve. I do realize that the lab won’t be there forever. Computers break, things are stolen, and school goals change. However, maybe through the technology that the lab will bring to our English classes our students can envision, and in turn achieve, a brighter future. I will try my hardest to get my teachers to see the benefit of using alternative teaching methods rather than relying solely on the book that the Ministry of Education supplies. These are my hopes.

Panoramic of the room

Well the last school semester of my service starts tomorrow. Just writing that sounds crazy. I cannot believe I am more than three quarters through this experience. I am going to work hard this year to push my English teachers out of their comfort zones and prepare them for when I am no longer here. I am optimistic about my remaining time and the possible outcomes. If I weren't, I wouldn't have made it this far.

For my birthday a friend made a dream of mine come true. I shot at at map blindfolded to determine our next trip. 

Camping on vacation

Mojandas (wildfire damage on the the left)

Livin' the Life

Ecuadorian Hospitality and Climbing Putzalahua

This past weekend held yet another lesson on culture for one of Ecuador’s newest and whitest residents. After the two days were finished I was physically exhausted, full to my eyeballs with Ecuadorian food and a bit red from the ever penetrating sun. I am just now beginning to recuperate.

Last week I went to an all day birthday party where I met a very nice family that invited me and a fellow volunteer to their house “anytime we wanted”.  They were very kind and seemed to be good contacts to have. Seeing as how we had nothing to do in the upcoming weekend we decided to call and accept the invitation to come to their house only six days after meeting them. I felt that it might have been an empty promise and was worried we might be calling a bit too soon. To my surprise they were ecstatic to have us come visit and so soon! We got the address of the house and a few more contact numbers and prepared for our whirlwind one day trip to Quito.

The family actually lives in Cumbaya, a suburb of Quito. Much like the song, Cumbaya is a very calm and relaxed. Oh and did I mention it is where some of the wealthiest people in Ecuador live? Yeah, after we realized where we were going I began to wonder what kind of experience was in store for us.

We left early in the morning on Saturday and embarked on our 3 hour trip. We arrived in the much warmer city of Cumbaya and waited in front of a large megastore for the family to pick us up. A man walked up and asked if we were Todd and Chelsea. Awkwardly we responded that we were and were quickly whisked into a nice car where the grandparents and the daughter were waiting for us. I realize that we as white folk stand out here but when someone comes up and already knows your name and who you are, it is a bit unnerving.

We made it to the house shortly thereafter. This house was amazing. It was in a guarded compound and the first thing I saw was the pool. We weren’t in Kansas anymore. We parked in the garage. That’s right, I said garage. I have not seen one here before this Saturday. Then we were escorted into the house. It was beautiful. The house had hardwood floors, three stories, and a magnificent view of the suburbs of Quito and the surrounding mountains. I tried to keep my jaw off the floor. What kind of Peace Corps experience was this.

View from the 3rd floor

Lunch was prepared for us and the rest of the family was about to arrive. We ate sandwiches and drank juice. I was happy that they didn’t go out of their way to make us a large meal. The parents arrived after lunch and we chatted for awhile. My friend had made a pie to give to the family. I made… drum roll please… Doritos. The family thought that was hilarious and because men here do not cook it was acceptable. They were very happy that we had accepted their invitation. We were asked if we had brought our swimsuits because it was time to swim. I packed my trunks in the anticipation of this offer. We were ushered to the pool and sauna both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.

After swimming we were told to shower and come downstairs for lunch. I had assumed that we had had lunch two hours earlier but as usual I never know quite what is going on here. An enormous meal had been prepared for the whole family. We ate a large cheesy soup followed by salad and fresh shrimp. Then we had the main course of spaghetti and French bread. Dessert was fresh fruit and whipped cream. It was all delicious and I was stuffed by the second course. I must admit that more than once I had to watch the family to decide what piece of the large array of silverware to use. This was a piece of knowledge that I did not think I would need to employ while in a developing country.

At the end of lunch we sat and chatted for about an hour. They, along with most Ecuadorians, love hearing about my family and where I am from. Both topics I am happy to talk about. I love the looks on their faces when I describe my city in Texas. They simply cannot believe people would live in a city that is flat, dry and dusty. When it was time to leave we let them know how grateful we were for having us there. They were pretty sad that we were not staying the night with them. They continually insisted that we could not leave. We promised we would return and stay the night at a later date. They turned this into a plan for us to stay a whole weekend and have the whole family together. They offered to drive us to the bus stop and we were happy to accept. Of course this meant we had to stop and get ice cream to delay our departure from the family. I offered to pay but they would have none of that. They then took us to the stop and we said goodbye and thanked them many many times.

I was amazed at the hospitality of this family. They had met me only a week before but I felt as if I was a member of the family. Despite the fact that this family was obviously very well off they still behaved like any other Ecuadorian family. They were very close to one another and were not arrogant or prideful. I am very proud to say that they are one of my new good friends. The grandmother kept hugging me and telling me how happy she was for us to be there. Ecuadorians walk arm in arm with people they are very close with. The grandmother walked with me in this fashion after only having known me for 3 hours. After she found out that my mom is coming to visit in October she insisted that we all stay with her. I thought she was just being nice but after the third time she mentioned it I knew she was serious. If her house is anything like her son’s I think my mom would rather enjoy that. She continually called me “my boy” when addressing me, in Spanish of course... This could also have been due to the fact that Todd is a ridiculously hard name to say in Spanish. I am hoping she just really liked me.

We got back very late in the evening but the bus trip was not very bad. My friend and I spent the ride chatting about how great and hospitable the family was. In the back of our mind I kept remembering that we had yet another very large day ahead of us.

On Sunday I woke up early without much rest and prepared a large strong cup of instant coffee. “Coffee, if it ain’t instant, it ain’t Ecuadorian”. Ecuador produces some of the best coffee beans in the world but for whatever reason, instant coffee is the craze. At my school the teachers use the drip coffee maker to make hot water to put into a cup and then add the granules of instant coffee. Appalling to all coffee drinkers, but it is what it is.

I headed to the central park of Latacunga at 7:30 in the morning. I walked around until I saw the man I was looking for. I recently met this guy and his wife at a literature night here in Latatcunga. While the poems and songs are in Spanish I can still appreciate the artistic prose. I told the guy that I wanted to climb a nearby mountain but didn’t have much information on it. In true Ecuadorian style he “Ok, let’s go this weekend.” So five days after having met this guy and his wife, I and another volunteer were about to be taken, by car, to the trailhead. The fact that we were taken by car was great. We assumed we would all take a bus but the guy told me that his father-in-law would be happy to take us. We all piled in to a very small car and headed off. We drove for about 20 minutes before arriving at a house on a hill. We all got out and were told to wait. Like always, I had no idea what was going on or about to happen. Then a large GMC 4x4 came rumbling up. We all piled in and headed off again. The man, my new friend, told me that the road is only passable by four wheel drive vehicles. I didn’t know it at the time, but we were going muddin’.

Cruising in the GMC. Can't beat 'Merican muscle.

The road got narrower and narrower. The rain didn’t help much either. We slowly crept up toward the mountain. The family kept calling the truck a “spider” because of the way it would lurch ahead with each touch of the gas. Other folks were making the same climb towards the mountain. Quickly we ran into a traffic jam. Trucks were stuck everywhere. It was very scary seeing the trucks slipping and sliding down the muddy road with large drops on one side. I was happy to get out of the truck and begin the hike.

We hiked for about 2 hours up the mountain, Putzalahua. I chatted with my new friend throughout the trip. He is somewhat of an intellect and enjoyed speaking and debating about socialism versus capitalism. He made some very valid points for his side and I feel that I did the same. It was refreshing to have an intellectual conversation in Spanish. The views along the hike were great. There were many indigenous people living high in the mountains and seeing them work in the fields and the housing always gives me a sense of humility. We made it to the top and soaked in the beautiful views. All around us the Andes rolled their hills out beneath us. I had yet another feeling awe when I thought of how lucky and blessed I am to live in such a beautiful place with such great people.

View from the top of Putzalahua

We had a picnic on the peak of sandwiches, chips and fruits. We took plenty of photos and then decided it was time to head down. When we got in the truck I realize just how exhausted I really was. I was struggling to keep my eyes open as my friend wanted to chat more. My weariness was a topic of conversation and great laughter in the truck as we drove back to Latacunga. We arrived back at his house and all piled out. I hugged each of them and thanked them profusely for taking us. I offered to help pay for gas but this family also would not have any of it. We are making plans to travel to another remote and beautiful spot 5 hours away next month.

Danilo and I

It is crazy to think that neither of these two families had not planned to host or hang out with two gringos this weekend but were more than happy to plan their weekend around us. The father-in-law most certainly could have spent his Sunday a better way than spending his time, money, and energy taking a friend of his son-in-law up a mountain but he was delighted to do it. The hospitality and genuine acceptance of new acquaintances here is incredible.

Couldn't resist taking a picture with this girl and her llama.

This is usually where I try to think of something witty or wise to say but honestly I am still too tired to think. So catch you on the flip side.

"Planting seeds”

I thought I would write a quick post about my second week and what I have been up to. The Peace Corps and other volunteers had warned us that there may be significant times of boredom or feelings of uselessness in the first few months of service and even throughout our two years. I have found this to be true.

I have created a work schedule that I will follow during my first three months. My schedule states that I attend/observe classes of my English teachers, work with my English teachers individually two hours a week, attend weekly English meetings, and spend time in the “Sala de Ingles” doing “personal planning” thirty minutes a day. From that list I have actually only attended/observed classes and spent time in the “Sala de Ingles”. At this point I believe that my English teachers don’t quite know what to think of me. Don’t get me wrong, they love me. We can chat for an hour about the kind of food I ate in the States and how it compares to here. They loved hearing how I have eaten “Cuy” here in Ecuador and yet I had a guinea pig when I was a kid. Another great topic of conversation is family life. My teachers are very curious about my family and my ability to leave them for so long. They think if you move ten miles away from you family you might as well be dead. 

If you know me well then you know I love to talk. This has been a tool for me to work my way into my school community and especially with my English teachers. The problem with all this idle conversation it that it is all in Spanish. While I do want to improve my Spanish as much as possible, I want my teachers to feel comfortable speaking in English in front of me. One of my main goals here is to improve the capacity of my teachers. This includes improving their English. I hope that after a period of time I will be able to break down that barrier but for now I guess we can keep talking about strange foods that I have never tried in Spanish. Whatever makes them happy.

I have been trying to find ways to keep my mind occupied and my days full. The weekends seem to be a lull in activity for me. Perhaps that is why I am writing this post on Sunday. During the week I have things to do and specific times that I need to do them, even if that means going and sitting in the English lounge and reading a book. Because I am so new to the city I don’t really have a grasp of what there is to do nor do I really even know many people. To pass the time I have began reading a good amount. I have read more books for pleasure in the last three months than probably I had in the whole year leading up to my service. Not always having internet has forced me to look elsewhere for entertainment. 

I decided to chart my path yesterday

14.5 km and 4 hours later

Even more than reading, I pass my time walking around the city and running at a small park nearby. Now when I have free time, more than I would like to admit, I walk. After classes I make a point to walk to a store that I haven’t visited yet to check it out. Most of the places I go into I simply look around and don’t really buy anything. I am sure I am a disappointment to many store owners who recognize Gringos as a source of moola. After two weeks of walking literally around the entire city, I feel that I am spatially aware of my surroundings and a few Ecuadorians are beginning to recognize me as not a typical tourist. This will probably become a source of frustration for me. While a few Ecuadorians may know who I am and what my cause is, I feel that most people of Latacunga will just assume I am another Gringo tourist passing through.

English Teacher Workshop

I am thankful however, that the Ministry of Education Coordinator on my province is on top of her game. She informed me and a colleague that we would be holding a three day English workshop for teachers of a nearby high school. When we first received this news we were flustered. We had just arrived at site and were not supposed to begin hosting workshops similar to this one until three months into our service here at site. We cautiously agreed and spoke to other volunteers that had given the workshop the week prior. We did not have to plan the workshop but simply needed to follow the outline provided to us. I am a king of improvisation and I took on the challenge. My colleague wanted to practice and have everything down before we started the “show”. I am thankful for her dedication and OCD tendencies toward perfection. If I were in charge of the preparation side, things would not have gone as smoothly as they did. Thank you for being anal-retentive, Chelsea. :D

Teacher demonstrating how to prepare "Pineapple Cheese"

The workshop went off without a hitch. The teachers were very appreciative and showed this by bringing us food every day. On the last day of the workshop the women gave a “how-to” presentation over anything they wanted. Of course, they almost all chose food preparation. You cannot imagine how many fried things were put on my desk during those presentations. I hope the women did not mind a few grease stains on their grading rubrics that we were frantically were filling out during their presentations. After they presented they took us out to eat. Nothing beats free food. The cherry on top of the experience came when three of the ladies from the workshop asked if my colleague and I would hold a workshop once a week with them. This was music to my ears. SOMETHING TO DO! We agreed and will begin next week. 

I am learning to be more patient. Even though I have only been in site for two weeks I am beginning to realize that my job here must come second. I have to build relationships and continually try to be a part of the community before I can consider getting to work and being a catalyst for change. After explaining my feelings of uselessness and boredom to my mother on the phone yesterday she hurried to grab her one of her favorite magazines, “Guidepost”, to read me a quote she thought might be of help. 

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant”. 

Good words Momma.