Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hi again friends!
So this weekend I had big plans, but I didnt end up going on adventures because there was a death in the family (the family Im staying with) so Friday and Saturday were spent preparing for the velorio (a day and night long vigil, traditional in Latin American countries) and funeral. Sunday, Margoth (the project leader and mom at the house Im at) was going to take me to the cloudforest but they had a minga in the morning, where all the people of the village come together to help build something, and then mass in the afternoon, so she ended up not having time. She totally treats me like her daughter, and she doesnt want me travelling alone, so she always offers to come with me. She had her husband bring me the tv from her sons room, since he is out of town, and always makes sure I have eaten and that I have everything I need. Next weekend hopefully we will make it to both the cloudforest and the ruins on the equator that I am dying to see. There is also apparently a museum where they show you different proofs that the equator is right there, such as toilets on either side of it that flush in opposite directions. Check that off the list of things to see before I die. So, if Margoth cant make it I will just go alone, or see if the other volunteers want to come. Since it is their last weekend, though, Im sure they already have plans.
BEARWATCH! (Christina if you cant name what movie thats from, we cant be friends anymore.) Apparently there is a spectacled bear reserve in Loja, really far south here. It turns out that it is at least 14 hours away, so my dreams of seeing a bear here are slowly dying. There is also that Andead bear project in Intag, very close by, but I am told the roads there are treacherous and some were recently wiped out in a mudslide. So no go on that. My last hope is that I will get very very lucky when visiting the cloudforest this weekend. Maybe Ill cover myself in honey and berries and spend the night there to increase my chances.
So today I am in Otavalo again because I didnt end up teaching here last Friday, due to the funeral. Ive decided I hate teaching first grade (the equivalent of Kindergarten here) considering my only experience consisted of two runaways, kids that wouldnt sit at their desks, and me getting so fed up I told them if the room wasnt clean by lunch, no one got to eat, which was followed by frantic sweeping, picking up, organizing, etc. Except for the few rebels who started throwing beads at each other. No pictures today, I only have a couple of new ones and most of them are of the cute little pooch at the house.
Lastly, the coke tea was a bust, I was sleepy by noon. Weve decided it is probably more effective if we bust open the tea bag and snort it.
Miss you guys!!!
- comments