Life's a Beach

Again, so much to report! The last few weeks have been quite the whirlwind. Classes are off and running and we have been studying the past tense and the formation of questions. Questions are so tricky! Did you know that every question in English needs a modal (do, have, can, will, could, etc.) unless it has the verb “to be?” What a crazy rule. I’m telling you, I learn so much every day. But my students are doing wonderfully and I am just so impressed with how far they have come since October! We are actually going to learn some sports terms tomorrow and put them into practice at a Ambato vs. Guayaquil game on Thursday night!

I have been getting more and more excited about the UVa Alternative Spring Break trip coming in just 5 weeks to the elementary school in Pillaro where I’m a volunteer a few times a month. I had a meeting with the principal (my student) and the entire faculty to clarify teaching expectations and to arrange housing, food, and other activities for the group. Can you believe that the parents of the school are putting up all 12 of the students for FREE all week? People here really do ooze generosity. I have been scheming with the two site leaders back at UVa too, and they are so on top of things and getting excited as well. More to come on that front soon.

Unfortunately, though, this brings me to a sad confession. Our last trip to the school in Pillaro was Eden’s last visit there because she is leaving the country for good on February 7th. I hadn’t mentioned it before, though I’ve known since November, because she hadn’t announced it to the other volunteers yet (which she did this past weekend). Eden’s mom is sick and Eden made the extremely difficult decision to return home for the rest of the year. I will miss her dearly, but I know she made the best decision for herself and her family, and it certainly takes a lot of courage and love to carry out such a decision. But Eden will forever be a part of my Ecua adventures because she has certainly left her mark not only on me, but this city and so many of its people.

I had a wonderful time with Eden and the rest of the WT crew this past weekend at our Midservice conference (can you believe I’ve reached that point?!). Actually, “wonderful” doesn’t even do it justice. We stayed at an amazing eco-hostel called Alandaluz right on the beach. And even though it rained the first two days, it certainly didn’t dampen our spirits. We ate delicious seafood, slept in bungalows, had a bonfire on the beach with s’mores and a guitar sing-a-long, and some people even went for a late night swim in less-than-standard beachwear, if you catch my drift (I’m pleading the fifth on that one). But most importantly, the conversations that I had with the other volunteers were so fruitful. I loved hearing about their experiences, and it was so great to see how we all share so many of the same ups and downs. So now I feel very refreshed and re-energized. We also stayed an extra night at the beach to have a despedida for our outgoing Field Director, Therese. We all went out dancing and showed her off in style. She is leaving to travel around South America for a few months before she goes back to Chicago to teach. We will surely miss her. And welcome to our new assistant Field Director, Katie!

And I should say that things aren’t always peachy here in Ecuador. I know from my blog it sounds like things are always happy and exciting, but those down days are more common than you might think…today for example. I was just feeling lonely and a bit friend and family-sick. It’s amazing, depending on my mood, how these 5 months seem like they will fly, or they seem like an eternity (though rarely!). But I’m already in a better mood than I was this morning, and I know that I just have to take the good with the bad in this crazy Ecua experience I’ve been given. And I certainly do know, though, that I am meant to be here this year, and that these memories will be a part of me always.

Speaking of things sometimes being frustrating in Ecuador, I very well might be going on strike. SECAP, the governmental school that I work for hasn't paid us volunteers for 2 months. Our contract with them states that we MUST suspend classes if we go without pay for 60 days...so it begins February 6th. The problem is that President Correa has just dictated that all governmental accounts need to be changed into one big account so that he has control over it all. So all the accounts are changing, hence the delay. My Field Directors in Quito have given the National Director of SECAP and all the individual city directors warning, but if we don't get paid this week, we can't work until we get the money. Next Monday and Tuesday are national holidays too, so that just makes things harder. So we were all instructed to talk to our students to get their support, because it especially isn't fair to them because they are paying and might not receive class. It's also not fair to my host family because I can't pay them for room and board until I get that money. My students wrote a letter in class and they had a meeting with my director earlier today. They were like..."Katie, we're a team." So sweet! And I got word from my Field Director today that it looks like we should have money by the end of next week and that if we do go on strike, it will only be for a day or so. I never thought I would have the opportunity to go on strike from a job, but looks like it just might happen!

On a more positive note, there are great things to look forward to this weekend. We have the splendor of the Ambato festivals, so I can’t wait to give a full report back. I’m also going to the town of Guaranda on Saturday to experience Carnival there because they take it to a whole different level. People throw water, eggs, and flour at everyone in the street, so it should be interesting! After Midservice my new goal is to really make this experience my own, so I am going to extend myself more into the Ecuadorian culture. I am hopefully going to start helping the Peace Corp volunteer with her project at the hospital, take private salsa lessons (I have my first this Friday), and just put more effort into my host family experience, my Spanish, and my classes.

So until next time, enjoy Mardi Gras and take care. Mucho amor! xo

Back in the Swing

Happy 2008! So I've been back in Ecuador for 2 weeks now and I am finally getting around to my blog. It's been busy here settling back into my routine and starting up the new semester with my students. I loved being able to go back home for the holidays, and I spent a lot of time with loved ones and finally got to eat those Reese's Cups I had been craving. I got to visit UVa twice (that's where I rang in the new year), had a wonderful Christmas, caught up with high school and college friends, and was honored to become an official Godmother of my beautiful, sweet Goddaughter Caroline. Really, going back home made me appreciate even more all the wonderful, supportive, and loving family and friends I have. It's so comforting to know that although I am so far away, I have so many people thinking of me back home. So thanks!

I found it so surreal when I landed back in Ecuador and somehow knew how to get myself to the bus terminal, get myself to Ambato, and then find my way to my "home." Had I not known how to do all that just a few months before? What a strange feeling it was to feel so comfortable in a different country. The first few days back were spent catching up with the other volunteers and all their escapades over the past few weeks. And of course I had to catch up with my host family as well. But now things seem just as they always did, and in many ways it feels like I never left.

Classes began last Monday, January 7th...or at least they should have. There was some confusion in the office as to when my first day of classes would be. Some of this was my fault because I told the director that I might be traveling until the 9th, but I never confirmed it. But somehow things got misinterpreted in the office, and different administrators told my students different starting dates- the 9th, the 11th, the 14th. I can't tell you how frustrating it was to show up the first day, all jazzed for a new semester, and to only have 2 students show up! And then that repeated for the next two days. But I finally have 2 solid classes again, and hopefully after a rocky start the rest of the semester will continue smoothly. I am so excited for the topics ahead! Since my students now know the basic tools of the English language, I'm hoping we can play around with it a bit more. We are going to discuss more complex issues such as social relationships, literature and the arts, world issues such as different cultures and religions, and controvsial issues and current events such as pollution, the position of women in society, and global poverty. So it should be interesting...and of course I'll keep you posted along the way.

And since I've been back there are two things that everyone is talking about- taxes and Tungurahua. Apparently President Correa and his party passed a new law in the Constitutional Assembly that will basically raise taxes on everything- housing, education, store-bought goods, you name it. Everyone is all riled up about it! The purpose is supposed to aid in distributing wealth in the country more evenly...and while that is a fabulous idea, people are irritated that they had no say in the decision. Aubrey's family is so upset and worried about their financial future that they are seriously considering selling everything and moving to the States. Trust me, I can't overstate how angry and worried everyone is about their financial security.

The other great worry on everyone's mind is the Volcano Tungurahua. It is erupting now in great fury, and hundreds of people have been evauated from the tiny towns on the side of the mountain. We are safe here in Ambato from any danger (hopefully!), but there is a very real possibility that we might get inches of ash in the city, which would cause everything to shut down for a few days. But no worries, I am armed with my face mask, and the other girls and I have planned to meet in my house if ash falls because my houses is equipped with internet and plenty of sitcoms on DVD (which is all one really needs, right?). I have been able to watch the volcano smoking like crazy all day, every day from my classroom (though it's over an hour away). A few nights ago the family that drives me home took me to an overlook closer to the volcano and we watched tons of lava spurting over, truly an incredible thing to watch. My mouth was wide open the entire time. Sadly, though, the lava does endanger people, homes, and crops on the mountainside, so it's hard to enjoy nature's magnificence when there is a downside as well.

Eden, Aubrey, and I had a wonderful weekend last week and I have been wanting to share it with you all. Some background first, I just finished a wonderful book called Eat, Pray, Love, and it tells the story of a women who travels to Italy, India, and Indonesia searching for pleasure, spiritual devotion, and ultimately overall balance in her life. I found it to be a really inspirational book, and I had it in the back of my mind throughout our adventures last weekend. It turned out to be such a perfect, balanced weekend, and one of my favorites here in Ecuador. The girls and I headed to Laguna Quilotoa, which is a lake in an old volcano crater, and it's only accessible after a 2-hour drive through breathtaking Andean scenery. I had actually visited the lake with my ASB group in March 2006, and I remembered it as one of the most awe-inspiring sights I had ever seen. So needless to say, I was excited to show it to the girls! They absolutely loved the lake and its gorgeous green water, surrounded by the crater wall, and it was just as amazing the second time for me! Then we decided to be adventurous and we hired a guide and the four of us went on a 3-hour hike in the Andes to the small town of Chugchilan. So with our guide Jorge, his faithful horse Don Miguelito, and two dogs, we traversed the Andes mountains and took in the incredible views. The mountainous grandeur, great conversation, and lots of exercise made the afternoon a very enjoyable one.

We finally reached our destination at around 4:30 that evening- a well-known eco-hostel called the Black Sheep Inn. We had heard so many great things about this hostel, but little did we know how much we would enjoy our time there! This hostel is completely eco-friendly- compostable toilets (you drop mulch in after you "go"), greenhouses on site, recycling, vegetarian food, and the owners have given a ton back to the local community in the form of education, conservation efforts, and money as well. Our room had a loft and a wood-burning stove, and such a cozy feel. The best part of our experience, though, were the people we met! We ate dinner family-style (and the food was amazing!), and we really chatted it up with a couple from Quebec, a couple from Ireland and Wales, and independent travelers from the US and Belgium. I loved swapping travel stories and hearing about all their exciting adventures. So after some great conversation, we spent the rest of the night reading in front of the fire. What a treat!  I was lucky to be able to spend such a unique and special weekend with Eden and Aubrey, and hopefully the rest of my time here will carry on in the same trend.

So I am really positive while looking ahead to my next 6 months in Ecuador. There are so many wonderful things to look forward to! All the volunteers in my group are heading to the beach next Wednesday for our Midservice conference for 4 days. So I can't wait to catch up with them and soak up some sun. I'm also giving a presentation on Cross-Cultural Appreciation between the States and Ecuador to the rest of the volunteers, so I am excited about that. Then, we have the Festivales de Frutas y Flores in Ambato to come home to! The festivals are a HUGE deal, and they prepare for them all year long. Markets, exhibitions, art, music, bull fights, parades, and more! We are actually going to a jazz fest tonight because the festivals are slowly beginning. I can't wait to take full advantage of all the events. Then in March I'm helping to host an Alternative Spring Break group from UVa for a week, and then my dad and his girlfriend are coming in late March as well. It will be so much fun to play tour guide and to share this beautiful country with others. Besides all that, hopefully I can put my all into my classes, study and practice my Spanish more, travel on the weekends, and just get as much as I can out of the rest of my experience here. Thanks for all your love and support and please keep me updated on all your 2008 adventures as well!