Where to begin? I have been in Tumbaco, Pinchincha Ecuador for a little over a month now. I am about an hour from Quito. Here in Tumbaco, the climate is pretty perfect! Not too hot, not too cold... I have been staying with a wonderful family...two young parents, a twelve year old daughter and a one month old baby girl. These first three months in Tumbaco are strictly training. So far, I have learned Ecuadorians eat Cuy, love family time and gringos! I have learned that I hit the jackpot by recieving placement in Ecuador where you can lay on the beach, climb a volcanoe and hang out in the jungle- all in one day. I have learned there is a wide range of socioeconomic statuses here...some people live comfortably, some live far more than comfortable and some live far below the poverty line. I have learned that people on the coast drop the S when they speak and that the word Chevere is pretty amazing. I have also learned that the more Spanish I learn, the less English I remember...so bare(right form of bare?) with my horrible grammar and spelling please!
All in all, because I am still in training, there is not much to report yet...except that I am feeling pretty lucky to be here, loving learning Spanish and missing home more than I ever have in my life. I also REALLY miss chipotle. Oh yeah...and I guess I kind of miss my boyfriend... ;)
This week was our Tech Trip to the Coast- Bahia, Monabi. Look it up because its beautiful! Soon enough I will be able to post photos. During our trip I got to have some amazing experiences giving charlas to middle schoolers about self-esteem, playing with special needs children (and learning not to confuse love with overprotection), leading a sort of support group for parents of special needs students...and my favorite part-the part of the trip that had the biggest impact on me- the house visit to a family with a daughter who can not speak, see or walk... The mother of this child was actually in my group that I lead...she was the most talkitive, positive woman I met that day...surprisingly, her house was not bigger than my bedroom (minus bathroom) in Riverside. It was completely made of wood...with a couple of holes in the floor so that you could see the earth below. She had three children and her husband all living in this house. Her walls were covered with all of their things- hanging by nails. She had everything she needed! A kitchen/eating area and a bedroom containing three beds. On her walls she also had over fifteen framed awards and diplomas which belonged to her children. She very proudly pointed them out to us. Her daughter with special needs is going through intesive rehabilitation and can now sit up.
I have never seen anything like this house or this family in my life. It was really inspiring...really eye opening. The barrio she lived in had over 25 children like her daughter in it...this shows me theres a strong correlation between poverty and special needs (obviously)...pretty interesting though isnt it? These barrios are really neat... you havent felt a true communal lifestyle until you have been to one. More later! Thanks for reading.
