Yesterday I had sort of planned to send a little message out after my school (and a bunch of other schools) went to Juan Montalvo (another little community near the city, Cayambe) to play in a soccer tournament. The other Intercordians that are teaching English were at the tournament with their schools as well. After the tournament was over, around noon, Marian and her host sister and I walked to Cayambe. About a twenty minute walk from Juan Montalvo. We were then waiting at the bus stop with Marian´s host brother who had gotten out of school, when Marian´s host mom, now joined with the sister (a few things happened which moved people around) asked if we wanted to see the school that the sister went to. We said, ok. On the way, they asked if we were hungry, it was now around 12:50 or so. We said ¨Poco¨. So they took us to a restaurant and we had lunch (this was unexpected). Then we rushed to the school to get there at 130. And then we were beckoned in...It was an all girl school and it looked like they were preparing for some sort of party. Which, turned out, was a mother´s day celebration. So...we were there for the rest of the afternoon, till close to 6. Haha, was not what I expected to be doing when I woke up that morning.
"Well, yeah, you´re going to get hop-on´s"
To get into town yesterday morning, a ride had been arranged for me with one of the familys of students. But, they didn´t show up. So, my host mom, after getting back from the early morning cow milking, grabbed her walking scarf and said ¨Vamos.¨ We started walking up the road which goes up the hill behind our house. On the way, the milk truck I hitched a ride on last Friday to get into town (going in the opposite direction before going back the way it took me then) picked us up to get to the top of the hill. Then, at the top we got on a different milk truck going down the other side of the hill (its a big hill) and down into Juan Montalvo.
To get home that night, I took the bus with the others to Santa Isabel (they stayed on till Convalcencia). The sun was setting at this point, 6:40, and I then climbed the hill (the same one I mentioned above) in about 5 minutes and the sun had set. A couple of the other Intercordians live in Santa Isabel as well. I visited them on Thursday, I think, and ended up playing soccer with them and the neighbourhood kids on their little dusty soccer area (which is a step above our playing on the rough cobblestone road outside my house)...and with the chickens and dogs.
This last week was the first week to start teaching, though I only taught for three of the days. On Wednesday there was a march in Juan Montalvo, that all the students from the...school district?...took part in, and, as I said, there was soccer yesterday. The march was something else. So many kids from all the schools, in their uniforms, marching their school flags (they, at least on Monday, practice marching and sing the national anthem before school starts) with one school up ahead drumming and spinning sticks and stuff. Basically, it was a parade, I guess. Lots of people were watching. The school´s director and I were the only teachers there, and we walked at the first line of students that were not carrying the flag. Which basically meant the youngest ones. We walked along to keep their pace and the line straight. I picked up the step and so, marched most of the time as well. Which was kind of fun. Don´t worry though, it hasn´t made the army more appealing. At the end of the march I had my first dairy product since getting to Ecuador. Yoghurt, which was passed out to all the kids with a bun. Because of the sun, I needed something to eat, so I took the "risk". It was no problem. That afternoon was the one I walked into Cayambe on and sent my last message. It took me an hour to get to the city, and 10 minutes longer to get back. It was a bit crazy, that walk, as the family´s dogs followed me in all the way. I thought I had lost them in the city and so, after a couple hours typing and looking for paper, for flash cards, I was definitely hoping and praying that when I went out of the mall at the north entrance (where some students had told me the dogs had gone), they would be there. I was not looking forward to explaining to my family that the dogs had followed me in to the city and I had lost them. But, they were there across the street and saw me immediately, jumping up and runnning to me.
Drink beauty, lose 10 pounds; come to Ecuador
The walk back was more difficult. There is a long climb out of Cayambe. It is tiring and works your legs. Then you walk past a number of rose plantations and small farms until you get out into more open country. There are large fields where cows are grazed and if you look up, the mountains are all around. Such a view. Once you get to the top of the climb, you can look out over the field, see Cayambe and the mountain range that surrounds the whole valley. Turn around and look up and you see the mountain. That is, Mount Cayambe. If it is a clear day, you can see the rocky lower part of the mountain and follow them up to the snowy peak.
Anyway, I´m in town today with the others who are in the Cayambe area. Its been a week now, so, we´re ¨checking in¨with each other to see how things are. Some of them are also having a tough time with the food. They´re tired of potatoes. Which are in most meals. I don´t mind yet though. Lunch typically consists of potatoes, rice, maybe some corn or other vegetable mix, and then some sort of meat. Since we bought hot dog wieners at the grocery store, often there is one on top. An interesting take. Dinner is usually a soup, which contains many of the same things. Cilantro is also an ingredient often used. I´m basically being forced to develop a taste for it I guess. Its alright. Anyways, its lunch time...which means, burgers I think. Haha.
Peace,
Jordan
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