Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Life as we know it
All is well with the family. Highlights: Tyler, ("15.9") years old, is driving us all around town. We are in full back to school mode (uniforms, book reports). Work is crazy for Joe and I both because it's Back to School season for his university and my world of pre-K consultation.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Enjoying my Final Days in Quito
Today was a lovely day, with partly cloudy skies and a five minute rainshower that ushered in cool, sweet air. I spent most of the day walking around the city, enjoying the dramatic quiet of Sunday afternoon. I'm actually still in the city of Quito because I decided not to go to the orient (jungle) with the others in my class. I turned down the trip due to the fact that I'm still a little sick and I feel safer near Quito. Instead, this week I'll be taking one-on-one classes at the Academia, which I am very excited about. In respect to Rotary, I finished my last Ecuadorian club presentation last week. It has been nerve-wracking but fun to share about my personal goals, family, and career with Rotary members IN SPANISH! I've had the pleasure of meeting with the following Rotary Clubs: Los Chillos Milenio, Quito Norte, and Quito Eqinoccio. Next week I will be giving my final presentation at La Academia. Based on my surveys, I'll be sharing a complilation of what mothers living in and around Quito have to say. I have genuinely enjoyed talking with local moms, who have provided me with inspiring cultural snapshots.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
9 weeks + in Ecuador
As I enter my 10th week of life in Ecuador, I must say, I do feel somewhat changed. I already knew we were fortunate to live in the USA. But now I also know, WITH ALL 5 OF MY SENSES, exactly how profoundly blessed and spoiled I am. Ecuador is not as devastatingly poor as some other countries like Honduras, Guatemala, and Haiti, but many systems here are still developing. I'm thankful for the unique experiences so far and I wonder if/how they will affect the way think or act when I'm back at home. Hmmm... Later this month we'll be taking a trip to the jungle. From March 20-26 we'll be on safari as our language school changes location for a week in "Amazonas". Quito, where I am now, is located in the western mountains. To get to the jungle we'll be travelling to the rainforest more in the center of Ecuador. Stay tuned...
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
"6 Weeks Down, 6 Weeks to Grow"
Currently all is OK here in Quito. During the first part of February, I battled a mean intestinal infection. As of now, I think I've won. The doctor actually wanted to remove my appendix, but I high-tailed it out of the hospital with all my body parts! Here in Ecuador you can buy almost whatever medication you want at the pharmacy without a prescription, and thankfully the antibiotics and other meds worked. Much of everything edible here is potentially contaminated with germs my body just isn't used to, but I'm trying my very best to stay healthy.
The rains have started, so now the weather is cooler and wetter. We really need the rain! Unfortunately the rain is also is also responsible for many dangerous mudslides all around. They clean up one mudslide, and then another, and another, hilly landmass gives way. Such is life here in these severe mountains.
I've been thinking a lot about the preschool in the homeless shelter, "Remar",that I've grown so fond of. I've been having informal preschool with the small children in the preschool room on Tues. and Thurs. afternoons. I'm falling in love with the kids there, and I really want to help enrich their early experiences.I haven't done anything as far as writing letters to companies about helping about Remar yet, but I need to get busy with that. I'm trying to wait a bit to since so many caring companies are deeply involved in a massive effort to help Haiti. -We recently took a donation to the Red Cross office here in Ecuador, to be sent to Haiti. That was very cool!
I purchased some books for the children at Remar, and I've been reading to them, but if we leave the books in the preschool they just disappear. There is no regular teaching staff, there are no regular operating hours. Whenever a volunteer comes, you just gather the children and spontaneously open up the preschool room.(Volunteers from all over the world come and go often.) First, I walk through the shelter grounds to let the younger kids know I'm present, and then they just come. We try to teach them little songs, encourage them to draw, play catch, jump rope, etc...I try to reinforce concepts like up and down, pro-social skills, colors, and counting. Some of the kids are orphans ans some have families.&'s a sad situation, but it's a good place that really takes care of the people. The shelter director, Maria, has a good attitude. The shelter's greatest needs are TWIN MATTRESSES, durable plates, spoons, cups, and supplies for the children. If anyone had any ideas, let me know. I'm thinking about how to help meaningfully, how best to move forward.
At La Academia we are working like crazy students! The pace and demand of our classes still baffle us, but I like the challenge. In culture we are studying the Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamin, and Latin American folk healing beliefs. Guayasamin was an incredible artist that amplified the faces, hands, and silent voices of sufferers worldwide. --Google him and check out some of his amazing paintings, -THEY ARE POWERFUL! We've also watched some videos of native healers that are very interesting. There is often much spitting, and rubbing of eggs and herbs on the bodies of the ill --Intriguing. Last week I spoke about Ecuador's national anthem and next week I have to give a presentation (in front of everyone) on two South American herbs. We speak Spanish almost 24/7 and I'm getting much better. My reading and writing are surprisingly good, and my speaking and listening are coming along as well, but with more of a challenge.(It's funny because on the contrary, reading and writing are more difficult for most second language learners.
Well, that's all for now. Take good care!
The rains have started, so now the weather is cooler and wetter. We really need the rain! Unfortunately the rain is also is also responsible for many dangerous mudslides all around. They clean up one mudslide, and then another, and another, hilly landmass gives way. Such is life here in these severe mountains.
I've been thinking a lot about the preschool in the homeless shelter, "Remar",that I've grown so fond of. I've been having informal preschool with the small children in the preschool room on Tues. and Thurs. afternoons. I'm falling in love with the kids there, and I really want to help enrich their early experiences.I haven't done anything as far as writing letters to companies about helping about Remar yet, but I need to get busy with that. I'm trying to wait a bit to since so many caring companies are deeply involved in a massive effort to help Haiti. -We recently took a donation to the Red Cross office here in Ecuador, to be sent to Haiti. That was very cool!
I purchased some books for the children at Remar, and I've been reading to them, but if we leave the books in the preschool they just disappear. There is no regular teaching staff, there are no regular operating hours. Whenever a volunteer comes, you just gather the children and spontaneously open up the preschool room.(Volunteers from all over the world come and go often.) First, I walk through the shelter grounds to let the younger kids know I'm present, and then they just come. We try to teach them little songs, encourage them to draw, play catch, jump rope, etc...I try to reinforce concepts like up and down, pro-social skills, colors, and counting. Some of the kids are orphans ans some have families.&'s a sad situation, but it's a good place that really takes care of the people. The shelter director, Maria, has a good attitude. The shelter's greatest needs are TWIN MATTRESSES, durable plates, spoons, cups, and supplies for the children. If anyone had any ideas, let me know. I'm thinking about how to help meaningfully, how best to move forward.
At La Academia we are working like crazy students! The pace and demand of our classes still baffle us, but I like the challenge. In culture we are studying the Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamin, and Latin American folk healing beliefs. Guayasamin was an incredible artist that amplified the faces, hands, and silent voices of sufferers worldwide. --Google him and check out some of his amazing paintings, -THEY ARE POWERFUL! We've also watched some videos of native healers that are very interesting. There is often much spitting, and rubbing of eggs and herbs on the bodies of the ill --Intriguing. Last week I spoke about Ecuador's national anthem and next week I have to give a presentation (in front of everyone) on two South American herbs. We speak Spanish almost 24/7 and I'm getting much better. My reading and writing are surprisingly good, and my speaking and listening are coming along as well, but with more of a challenge.(It's funny because on the contrary, reading and writing are more difficult for most second language learners.
Well, that's all for now. Take good care!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
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