Saturday, November 7, 2009
8-14-09 More to come...
an extremely long day of travel starting at 0300 on Saturday morning and arriving home at 0100 Sunday morning.
A few last day photos...
I will always have a place in my heart for Anna Maria
I could never remember her name but she always remembered mine....my laundry lady. $.40 per kilo. What a steal! She even got the mustard out!!! 
Ecuador is the rose capital of the world! Best deal I saw...25 roses for $2.00
Gotta love the Dragon Fly and 2 for 1 martinis! 
8-14-09 Friday...our last day
Made it home safe and sound from the baptism. Tried falling asleep to the music and people partying in the mariscal. A little difficult but it was like music to my ears after a while.
The infamous mariscal as seen from my hostel balcony
The lake
Claire and Claire 
Carrie...FML!
Mojito, mojito!!
The Gang! Missing Jeremy, Katie D, Katie
Went out to....can't think of it right now, but the bar we went to last summer with just adults. It was an American place too. What IS the name?? Anywho...it is Sarah's 21st birthday at midnight and we needed to go celebrate some more.
Oh happy day, my friend!
Kate, Thea, Gracie
Thea, Anne Marie, Gracie
My last night :( Taking one last peek from the balcony
The infamous mariscal as seen from my hostel balconyLast day in Ecuador. It's Friday and we're off to Papallacta (a second time for me). For some, it was not the way they wanted to end their summer in Ecuador...yet another bus trip. For me, it was heaven because I knew how wonderful and special this place is. At least this bus was brand new and very comfortable even by American standards. The ride was not nearly as beautiful as the first time I went ONLY because of the cloud cover. You could hardly see Cotopaxi and Antisana was no where to be found. When we got there it was a little rainy but tolerable, especially in the hot thermal baths. Sarah and I scooted over to the spa and had a massage. It was awesome! Went to the pools and found hardly anyone there. Most were back on the bus and ready to go and we had only been there a little over an hour. Poops! Hung out in the pools with Sarah, Peter and Kate for a while. It was relaxing and a nice way to end the summer. Just wished the weather had been better. On the way back everyone slept but I had homework....a tribute to Michelle. I picked her name and we had to say something about our person at dinner tonight. Ugh...I'm so bad at this stuff. This is the only picture from this trip.
The lakeGot back and had to hustle for dinner at el Cafeton Cubano. I had to re-write my acrostic poem for Michelle. Gosh, I work good under pressure!! We had a great time...lots of laughs and stories. Mojito, mojito!!! My turn to read for Michelle and I'm not sure she liked it. She never said one word to me afterwards. Bummed. Whatever...
Claire and Claire 
Carrie...FML!
Mojito, mojito!!
The Gang! Missing Jeremy, Katie D, KatieWent out to....can't think of it right now, but the bar we went to last summer with just adults. It was an American place too. What IS the name?? Anywho...it is Sarah's 21st birthday at midnight and we needed to go celebrate some more.
Oh happy day, my friend! 
Kate, Thea, Gracie
Thea, Anne Marie, Gracie 
My last night :( Taking one last peek from the balconyI go home at midnitish knowing we had to get up at 3 and leave by 3:30 to get to the airport. Who stumbles in an hour before we're supposed to get up? Sarah definitely had a good night.
Poor girl just about overslept. We managed to get all our shit together and get our sorry butts to the bus on time. ONE LAST BUS TRIP. No more pictures. My camera screen is broken anyways but the rest is just memories. We were all tired, nervous about getting caught with DVD's, and just pictured out. Saying good-bye to the others and exchanging cell phone numbers was enough. Leave it to Facebook, email, and an occasional phone call to keep in touch. I will never forget these volunteers. They rock and I look forward to a reunion some day.
Poor girl just about overslept. We managed to get all our shit together and get our sorry butts to the bus on time. ONE LAST BUS TRIP. No more pictures. My camera screen is broken anyways but the rest is just memories. We were all tired, nervous about getting caught with DVD's, and just pictured out. Saying good-bye to the others and exchanging cell phone numbers was enough. Leave it to Facebook, email, and an occasional phone call to keep in touch. I will never forget these volunteers. They rock and I look forward to a reunion some day.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
8-13-09 Mi nueva ahijada, Evelyn!!
About 3 weeks before I was scheduled to leave, Walter and Evelyn asked me if I would consider being Evelyn's godmother. They said they would be honored, but it was I who was more honored than anyone. Evelyn is 14 and had never been baptized. I did not hesitate as I said, "Of course!!". Thanks to Sunshine (aka Claire), who was also asked to be a godmother to an unborn child in her host family, I had some background with how the Ecuadorians do godparents. We've heard a few different things but supposedly they have four different godparents depending on what is being celebrated...first communion, confirmation, etc. Problem was, that Walter and Lourdes had to go through a parent class and then had to schedule a day that I would be available. This was a little tricky but ended up working out in the end. The only day available was the Thursday before I left.
Walter said he would come pick me up at 6pm at the hostel. We had just gotten back from shopping at Jorge Washington market. I was down in the "lobby" waiting and it was getting to be 6:10ish. Phone rings and it's Maricela (Evelyn's sister) asking where I was. Told her I was outside looking for Walter. Here she comes walking across the street. I ask, "Where's Walter?" and she said he's at the church waiting. Church was for 7pm. We had to get all the way to the south end of the city....quite a long ways, even past the new bus station! We hopped the bus (for $.25) and rode for about a half hour. I can't even describe the traffic...it was horrible. Maricela kept getting phone calls and I had a feeling we were going to be late. We ended up getting on another bus, then into a taxi, and FINALLY arrived at the church at 7:30! I hustle in and didn't realize that there was a second baptism as well. Needless to say...as I walked down the isle, everyone, including the priest, gave me the look like..."we waited all this time for HER?" I felt badly about being late but as usual...it was the traffic. I had a whole new appreciation of getting from one end of the city to another via public transportation (hey, at least we had a seat on the busses!). No wonder my students were late almost every day! Buses are not real reliable as far as time goes.
Whew! Made it...late, but made it!
Isn't she beautiful?! Evelyn w/parents
Her extended family, of which they made me feel part of
They just LOVE to dance!
My gift to Evelyn was a necklace ,$20 and a homemade card written in Espanol! Told her to save it for something special. 
The kids were adorable.
Auntie and cousins of Evelyn
Walter, his mother and mother-in-law
Living room, kitchen to the left
Running medals hanging in the living room
Walter said he would come pick me up at 6pm at the hostel. We had just gotten back from shopping at Jorge Washington market. I was down in the "lobby" waiting and it was getting to be 6:10ish. Phone rings and it's Maricela (Evelyn's sister) asking where I was. Told her I was outside looking for Walter. Here she comes walking across the street. I ask, "Where's Walter?" and she said he's at the church waiting. Church was for 7pm. We had to get all the way to the south end of the city....quite a long ways, even past the new bus station! We hopped the bus (for $.25) and rode for about a half hour. I can't even describe the traffic...it was horrible. Maricela kept getting phone calls and I had a feeling we were going to be late. We ended up getting on another bus, then into a taxi, and FINALLY arrived at the church at 7:30! I hustle in and didn't realize that there was a second baptism as well. Needless to say...as I walked down the isle, everyone, including the priest, gave me the look like..."we waited all this time for HER?" I felt badly about being late but as usual...it was the traffic. I had a whole new appreciation of getting from one end of the city to another via public transportation (hey, at least we had a seat on the busses!). No wonder my students were late almost every day! Buses are not real reliable as far as time goes.
Whew! Made it...late, but made it!
Isn't she beautiful?! Evelyn w/parents
Her extended family, of which they made me feel part ofThe church was lovely as kids were walking all over the place....up by and around the altar. It was a little strange to see that they allowed the little ones to do this but it really didn't matter. They were well-behaved...just curious.
After church, I thought Walter was going to bring me home. Oh was I wrong! I was ECUA-NAPPED!! That's kidnapping Ecuadorian style. In my case, they told me that it would only be an hour or so but in reality...it was a 6 hour ordeal. They think nothing of the time. It is a non-issue. I had such a bad headache and wanted, in the worst way, just to head back to the hostal, but NO! FIESTA a la casa de Walter!! How can I say no to that?? I knew it would be a long night. About 12 of us piled into a pickup truck, most of the kids standing up in the back bed. I wished I had my camera! No rules when it comes to driving. Car seats? Probably never heard of them. Britney Spears gets scolded for having her kid in her lap. That's normal in Ecuador. You should see the little ones on motorcycles! It would make any mother kringe.
Got to Walter's house. I couldn't even tell you what it looked like from the outside. All I know is that I climbed up some cement stairs inside, no railings, no gates for little ones, and inside was what they call home. Chocolates were passed around. I had to make a toast and champagne was shared. They treated me like a celebrity and catered to me all night. (what I could have really used was about 4 Excederin migraine!) Then the MUSIC starts! Oh boy! Can you say SALSA?!! What fun and thank goodness for my lessons with Pato! We all just hung it all out there in the living room and EVERYONE danced, even grandmas! There was so much love in that room. I taught them the Chicken dance and the Hokie Pokie. I laugh whenever I think of Walter saying it....just like Chop, chop and MOVE! (sorry, one of those...you-had-to-be-there moments)
They just LOVE to dance!
My gift to Evelyn was a necklace ,$20 and a homemade card written in Espanol! Told her to save it for something special. 
The kids were adorable.
Auntie and cousins of Evelyn
Walter, his mother and mother-in-lawWalter's mother lives in Cotopaxi on a farm. The next time I visit, I need to go spend some time there. I can't wait!!
Living room, kitchen to the left 
Running medals hanging in the living roomWalter, Maricela, and Evelyn are all runners. He has several medals from marathons. One thing I did not get to do while I was there...run a race. Bummer!
After our huge meal (at 10pm) of chicken, rice, fruit, cake...they bring in a 12pk of Pilsner 22oz bottles. It was a gift to me and a tradition supposedly. I could have stayed there all night drinking and dancing but it was now midnight and I still had to get all the way back. So...I THOUGHT I was getting a ride back from Walter. I don't think he even has a car. Nope. I found them on the phone calling a taxi to come get me. I was getting a little nervous but not too bad. My head was pounding so hard nothing really mattered, really. It took a while to find someone "safe". Said a million good-byes, shed a few tears, gave (and received) tons of hugs, and I was off. The taxi dude was cool and its amazing when there is no traffic. Got back to hostel in 20-25 min. Walter paid for taxi so all was good!! Oh, what a night. It was the best one yet. Too bad I had to wait until 2 days before I left to have it. Trust me, it was worth waiting for. And the Pilsner......crap, I had forgotten it!!! Probably a good thing.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
8/8 Mas Monos...
Once was just not enough. Sarah, Claire and I headed back to the monkey refuge. Claire had not been there yet. On our way, we stopped along the highway to take in a very "do-able" version of bungee jumping. I was so close to being in the harness when Claire said, "let's go!" and we did. I blame her for my reason for not going. It cost a whole $10!!!
Woo, woo!
Woo, woo!
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