Ultima Semana

It’s Time To Go Home

I have to be honest, I knew I would have had a good time but I seriously did not realize how much I would come to enjoy and love this country. And its people. When I say its sad to leave I truly mean it. This past week the students have read letters sang songs and had dances in their classrooms expressing their appreciation for us being here helping them with their English. This show of appreciation started at the beginning of the week and to be honest it was something I was not really expecting. Along with their letters in English the students had presents that they made and some of their letters, it’s sappy to say actually made me cry.

Apart from all that, we did do some fun things like going to the Botanical Garden, having a fun lunch with the English teachers at Calderon School,dinner in La Ronda and for some of us, re-visiting places in Quito that we had previously enjoyed.

Friday was our last day with the students. Every classroom you walk into they stood up to greet you and say good morning teacher. They have been doing that for the past few weeks but to day it’s a bit uncertain. Smiles are a bit wobbly but we make it through class at the end taking lots of pictures. Even the guys getting excited over selfies! A lot of hugs and stay a bit longer, or do you have to go or please come back next year. Maybe these are the same things they say to past Canadian students, I don’t know, but in this moment, I know that my five weeks here has meant something.  That way down south a bunch of kids appreciated my accent for a short while and tried to mimic it!  Either way these kids are also the same kids whose parents had cooked up a storm for me Ecuador style for the last three weeks . So I will leave Ecuador feeling glad that I met a few young people with names such as Stalin, kevin, Melaine, Jennifer, Lennin, Salvador, Angela, Sharon, Rosa, Maria, Ariana and Santiago.... the list could go on

The teachers, students, strangers in the streets and pretty much everyone we came into contact with in Ecuador, has made our time here exceptional.

Week 4 getting into week 5….. Fine..... Pre departure, I just did not want to call it that!

Our time here seems to be rushing by, I am not sure what the hurry is but, there is a saying ‘that time and tide shall wait for no man’, and I guess that can be applied to us.

Religion is a very big part or the dynamics of Ecuador. Especially, the Roman Catholic religion, which makes up the highest percentage. There are many beautiful churches here. And we have often entered just to admire the interior to ooh and ahh and sit for a while or to take photos if we can because the inside and out side are astounding.

My roommate Alana and I attended church during one of our free weekends and it was great. Working with the students at Calderon continues to be a joy, no two days are the same and they have been tiring really hard to improve their English. I will be hard to leave them for sure.

This past weekend we went to Banos .I get the sense that you cant come to Ecuador and not visit Banos. Prior to going, a lot of people asked if we had gone and many of the students at the school we volunteered at were very excited when they heard we were going there. Any ways we went, we saw, and we conquered the Falls. Our group decided to try canyoning, yes. Or, in laymen terms, this means climbing down the water falls .Yep! …Not one waterfall or two but about seven with varying level of heights, difficulty and different forces of water flowing over, Yeh!  We Canadian chicks did that, what a blast and we have the movie to prove it! Piece of cake, no problemo .We had a crash course and were properly harnessed ……but there were times I did ask my self why I was doing this… but it was a ton of fun. There are lots you can do in Banos such as bar hopping (lol), shopping, people watching, hiking, zip lining …anything. The people we met came from all around the world, Australia, the United States, England, Netherlands, Spain and Germany all there to have a great time. We enjoyed ourselves….some more than others before heading back to our home base in Quito

week cinco !

Week five is almost over and that means it's time to go home. It's bitter sweet. I have enjoyed my time in Ecuador so much and made so many friendships that I hope to continue once I return to Winnipeg. 

This week Alana and I said goodbye to all our students. We got to be apart of their open house, and were featured in their school paper. It was amazing to see the motivation that Alana and I brought to the classroom over these 5 weeks and I hope we encouraged some students to continue practicing English. From this experience I also gained an enormous amount of knowledge about the Ecuadorian culture, school systems and learnt to speak some Spanish. 

After being in Ecuador for these 5 weeks I have revised my thoughts towards my initial statements about Ecuador and the way they may perceive Canadians. In Canada English is the primary language and then French, in Ecuador Spanish is the primary language then English. Ecuador and Canada are not that much different because they both value programs that promote language and cultural exchange but these aspects are not reveled until you dig deeper into both cultures.  My initial statements behind Ecuador being poor and Canada being wealthy were also rejected when I experienced the system and order that Ecuador does have in place. With their well developed highways, beautiful parks, and organization of their city I kept finding more similarities toward Canada. This is not to says that Ecuador does not experience poverty and after discussing with my teacher and the United Nations presentation many people in Ecuador do live in poverty but the country as a whole is striving for improvement and hopefully in the next few years will be able to reduce their numbers.

I'm so thankful for this experience and am so happy to have meet such amazing people on this journey. 

Week Cinco!

OH MY GOODNESS. It is week five already. I can't believe it is our final days in Ecuador. I feel like I have done and seen so much over the past month, that time has just flown by!

Just over a month ago, as I was preparing for Ecuador, I was not really sure what I was getting myself into or what to expect. I thought that Ecuador was fairly impoverished and underdeveloped, and that living conditions would be much different than Canada. Now that I am in Ecuador, and have lived many different wonderful experiences in this country, I am now walking away with a much different perspective.

I was not expecting Ecuador to be so developed. Downtown Quito is in many ways, much more advanced than downtown Winnipeg. Our homes have warm water, plenty of food, a washing machine, and many other devices and luxuries that we would find in our very own homes. That is not to say that poverty and development don't exist in Ecuador, they do, and through talking with our colleagues and students at the schools, I have gained some insight of the different challenges that exist around these issues, but these issues are less visible than I initially thought they would be.

In many ways, this makes Ecuador quite similar to Canada. At a first glance, Winnipeg is a developed, innovative, and progressive city, will tall buildings, bus routes, paved roads, McDonald's, schools, universities, hospitals, etc. But Quito also shares these same qualities as Winnipeg. As I have become more involved with my community over the years, I have become involved with initiatives surrounding homelessness, exploitation, and gender issues in Winnipeg - which are areas in which there remains work, progress, and development that we still need to do.

Thus, although Ecuador, like Winnipeg, is still developing and progressing and working on combatting  various human rights and human security issues that exist, from my experiences and conversations, I believe that a lot of positive progress is being made. I think that Ecuador is experiencing an exciting time of transitioning and developing, and I feel so thankful for having seen and heard some aspects of this development, and for gaining an experience that has truly and genuinely touched my heart and that I will never forget.

Week Cuatro!

Each week here in Ecuador seems to be even better than the last. This week Madi and I had an incredible time working at the schools. The students are getting so comfortable with us, and it seems as though we are spending each day laughing and giggling as we teach English and attempt to learn and speak some Spanish. Our students taught us 'ah cha chi' and 'ah ri ri' (excuse the spelling) expressions this week, and we must have completely butchered the pronunciation, because they couldn't stop laughing when we said it. It's a beautiful feeling knowing that our teaching and learning relationship with the students is mutually beneficial, as we learn the Spanish language and Ecuadorian culture, and teach the English language and different aspects of the Canadian culture. 

This week, we practiced vocabulary with the students using flash cards, and we got them to write the words with chalk in the school yard. None of the students had seen or used chalk before so it was quite the experience. Watching their eagerness and motivation to learn grow more and more as the weeks progress continues to be so inspiring. We even taught the students the song 'if you're happy and you know it' this week. They were really into the song and sang so loud and excitedly! Being in front of the classroom, sharing my knowledge and different songs with the students definitely brings an overwhelming feeling of joy through me. I can't believe that we only have one week left here. I'm not ready to go!!!! There hasn't been a part of the trip that I haven't loved, and I am so thankful for this experience. 

Week Tres!

Week three has been awesome!!!! We continued teaching in the classroom and woooot has it ever been fun!! Had you told me a few weeks ago when I was back in my bed in Winnipeg that I would be waking up at 5:00am to go to school, I probably would say that that would not be at all possible and reconsider the trip all together ;). But now that I am here, I am absolutely loving being in the schools, and waking up this early is not a chore, it is a treat. Each morning I wake up before my alarm is off, excited for the day ahead. And I think this indicates that I am doing something that I really love, because I must say, I am not a morning person, and usually try and sleep every extra minute (and second!) possible. At school this week, we taught the students how to ask and say different questions using who, what, where, when, and why; while also teaching about Canadian culture and holidays (including Louis Riel Day!). One of our students even brings Madi and I chocolate every class (so yummy) and Clara often buys us cookies. Needless to say, this experience is sweet, and touching, not only from the special treats we get everyday, but also from interacting and building relationships with the students, who we are learning so much from. We are so lucky to be here, and are touched by everyone's generosity and kind spirits. There are a lot of students who have retired from school which worries us, and makes us want to learn more and somehow help these numbers decline and diminish. As we investigate this topic we gain insight of the different challenges facing Ecuadorian youth and the education system. I never imagined to learn so much on this journey, and the more I learn and discover, the more I want to continue to learn and discover. 

week 4

Week four is almost over and I can not believe that we have only one week left. There was some confusion this week with certain students not being in classes because they were preparing for exams. As the week went on though we were able to figure out the confusion and able to enjoy our time in the classroom. 

This week Alana and I introduced the song "If You're Happy and You Know It", made questions based around the 5 w's and showed the students sidewalk chalk. All of these activities allowed us to connect with the students and enjoy our time in the classrooms. I enjoying showing the students sidewalk chalk because they had not seen this before and it was a fun new activity for them to try. They were able to practice writing words in English based on picture cards that we showed them.

This week we also visited the presidential palace, went to the Guaysamin Museum and this weekend we are going to Banos. I can not believe there is only a week left on trip it has gone by so fast. I can't wait to see what next week brings for Alana and I at school but it will be really hard to leave at the end of the week.

Semana Tres

Wow! Our third week has come to an end and what a third week it has been! For myself, I think it is safe to say I have done Ecuador! Seriously, and I know there is still so much more left to see and experience. Last week during one of my classes, a student asked what was my favorite Ecuador dish. I replied that I had not really tried any typical food from Ecuador as yet. With that one sentence I believe I created a monster. I have four classes and each class has about thirty to forty students.Everyday for the past week students from each of these classes has been presenting me with food. Yes. Seriously. As these are english classes it was decided that the students would get grades by making a presentation in english about the name of the food, what region of the country it was from and the preparation involved. The students brought in foods from the coast, the amazon and the mountain regions.These dishes comprised of various types of plantain pressed or roasted with cheese,green plantain dumpling with cheese in the middle and others with pork and cheese in the middle, pan de yuca or yuca bread with cheese, potato patties, sugarcane pieces as well as sugarcane juice was brought in. Large roasted corn grains or choclo was brought in as a snack or I was told I could put it into a shrimp or ceviche soup that a student brought in. Empanadas, pork,lentil and rice from one student, arroz con leche or rice pudding, pork prepared different ways served with potato or rice, beef served with tomatoes and onions, different salsa sauce to put on the pork,shrimp,with tomato, onion and peppers,tamales, a corn drink called chicha, I have had coffee brought in to go with the patties and last but by no means least I have had Cuy from a student .Yes cuy. Translated ....Guinea Pig. A whole roasted guinea pig , head intact laying on some potatoes to finish of my week. All I could do was smile and say thank you, to say I was surprised would be putting it mildly.

Our group has also enjoyed many activities this past week which included Mitad Del Mundo- middle of the world, Pululahua Volcano and Papallacta Hot Springs. It was a surreal feeling to believe that you were standing in the middle of the world. In between our spanish classes we met with GIZ Germany, a group that is involved with assisting the government of Ecuador with various projects. We ended this week with a trip to Mindo which is north of Quito. There we visited an area where butterflies are being harvested. The only simple rule to follow was no insect repellent, or the butterflies would die. We spent about thirty minutes or more taking pictures and being totally enchanted by the large beautiful butterflies before going tubing.
Yeh, they called it tubing, personally I think it should have been called whitewater rafting! Either way it was amazingly cold but still a lot of fun. We hiked , and I mean hiked to a couple of waterfalls, took some great photos then dragged our tired aching legs (well I did), back up the mountain to take the cable transport back to the waiting pickup truck.
My favorite activity this week, well besides tasting all or most of Ecuador's foods was the cable car ride or teleferico. The cable car takes you high above the city. I loved it because you get to see most or all of Quito spread out before you as far as you can see and it's absolutely beautiful. It was a definite double, no triple wow moment.

H.

Week three :)

Hola amigos!

Week three was fun! The first couple days I continued to prepare my student (Adrian) for the spelling bee which took place on Tuesday morning! Adrian placed 4th out of 30 in his category! It was an exciting event for all participants, English teachers, judges and spectators. 

There were several events being held at the school last week including a MATHLETES CONTEST! But unlike Mean Girls the participants were all from Calderon, the buzzer was an actual light bulb on a table in the middle of the stage (which participants would race to once they figured out the answer to the math question) and no one won a matheltes jacket. The event also incorporated participation from audience members which was pretty fun. 

Another event at the school included an afternoon of cultural displays of different South American countries put on by the primary school students. They were very cute singing and  dancing in their costumes reciting facts about which ever country they were assigned. There was lots of different  food to try! My favourite has got to be plantain with a slice of cheese on top! At one point I'm pretty sure one of our English teachers (Betty) said she was eating genital soup... Like I said lots of different things to try...

THE WEEKEND! We went to Mindo where we visited a butterfly farm and got to feed them. We also witnessed some hatch from their cocoons! The best part was the tubing in the rapids which we did not expect to do at all. It was basically white water rafting but on huge tubes tied together with a guide of course (no waiver signed lol). We initially understood 'butterfly tubing' on our itineraries to be chilling in a tube while going through parts of the river with lots of butterflies hahahaha silly us. Then we did some hiking and stopped to take pictures next waterfalls! 

Banos next weekend!

M

week 3

Week three has finished and it has been very busy! This week Alana and I was able to prepare lesson plans for our students. We started with basic conversation skills and then moved on to some presentations that discussed Canada and focused on Winnipeg for topics such as animals, seasons/ weather and temperatures. I brought my iPad that had pictures which helped the students to understand the English words.

We also had the spelling bee on Tuesday at Calderon. I was happy with how well the two girls that Inca sent. But in the end they didn't place because the spelling bee went into extra words.  The extra words were very difficult and impossible to sound out as English is not their first language.

On Wednesday we also went up the mountain in the cable car. This was an amazing experience as we were able to over look Quito. When you are at the top the altitude can for sure start to mess with your head and stomach. I did start to feel light headed but felt ok again once we reached the bottom. We also went to Mindo on Saturday where we we able to go to a butterfly farm. They have many different kinds of butterflies here and you are able to feed them. The butterflies are beautiful colors and I could spent hours watching them all. After that we went tubing. But it was more like white water rafting! The current was strong and the water was cold but it was an experience I will never forget. In the afternoon at Mindo we went hiking to see two waterfalls. These were beautiful and made for excellent pictures. The hike was tiring though and I'm sure everyone slept well that night.

Week Dos Presentations!

This week has been filled with eye-opening, insightful, and inspiring presentations!!!

We got to hear from the UNCHR: the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and VVOB: a Belgian organization that works in partnership with Ecuador's Ministry of Education to strengthen the education system here in Ecuador.

As the employees of both organizations discussed their work - their passion for human rights and equality, determination to make a difference, and commitment to their work shone through. It was so beautiful to hear about the incredible work going on in our world, and gives me hope that through working together, towards worthwhile causes, we can make a difference.

I am thoroughly enjoying all of our presentations here in Ecuador, in addition to our work in the schools. I am getting such an incredible perspective of work 'on the ground level' by being in the classroom as well as the structural and political challenges that exist, by hearing from these various organizations. I am so excited to learn more!

Week dos!

Wow! Two weeks in Ecuador have flown by!

This week was really busy (and beautiful). It was our first week in the classroom, and although it was a little overwhelming at first: the new environment, all of the new faces, and our inability to instill order; the week quickly transformed as we became familiar with the atmosphere, built friendships with the students, and gained respect and trust from the students. From the beginning to the end of the week, we found a real change in the classroom atmosphere: from, somewhat 'chaos', to 'order' and excitement to learn and talk in English. The positive progress made throughout only a few days is truly inspiring, and so motivating for the upcoming weeks. 

All of our encounters with Ecuadorians have been really touching. The teachers and students' willingness to include us, make us feel welcome, and extend selfless acts of generosity is so incredible and inspiring. It makes me think about how I act towards others, and motivates me to extend this same attitude and kindness to those whom I encounter too. 

Our school had an intra-school Spelling Bee of 14 students in order to select the two students who would compete at the Calderon Competition. It was amazing to watch the students practice and put their whole heart into the competition, while their fellow classmates cheered loudly to encourage their success. We are so excited for the Spelling Bee next week, where our students will have the opportunity to showcase their talent and intelligence!

Our journey in Ecuador has been so eye-opening and touching so far. I'm excited for the weeks ahead! 

week two!

Week two has wrapped up and it was our first week in the schools. I have enjoyed this week so much because the school I'm at is small in size but it  has two campuses which contain different students. The first campus Inca has around 80 students and Zambiza the second campus has 50 students. I have felt that Alana and I will be able to make an impact on the school by being motivational influences to the students. For many of these students this week was the first time that they communicated with foreigners. The students were shy on Monday but as the week progressed have warmed up to our bubbly personalities. The students have also shown that they are eager to learn English and try their best to communicate with us. We are excited to start our lesson plans that will hopefully help the students to feel more comfortable communicating in English.

We have also been preparing for the spelling bee at Calderon next week and had an internal spelling bee between the two campuses to determine who would compete next week. Alana an I were both shocked with the effort that Clara our English teacher and the school put into their spelling bee. It was held outside and Alana and I were judges along with Clara to determine who would move on. The organization of their spelling was amazing compared to what we had witnessed with the schools structure earlier that week.

We also had a few activities as I mentioned the VVOB presentation, and on Saturday we went to the middle of the world and the Papallacta Hot Springs. From this week my favourite activity was for sure going to the middle of the world. They showed us many experiments to demonstrate the equal pressure from both hemispheres( North and South). I also was one of two egg master in our group; which is someone who is able to balance an egg on a nail on the equator. The difficulty with this is getting the raw eggs yolk to run directly down the middle of egg to allow it to balance. This was a great experience and I'm so excited for what the next week has in store .

Active living/ transportation in Quito!

A bit of active living/ transportation in Quito!

I always get really excited when I see parks in urban areas or see people being active! In the short time I've been in Quito I've noticed several differences in this city's approach for active living/ transportation compared to Winnipeg. Although the year round generally hot weather is an advantage, Quito is definitely winning the active living card I'm my mind.

The use of bikes to get place to place in the city is free!  Grab a bike, get to where you're going and drop it off at the nearest bike rack. It's a great way to promote sustainable transportation, something Winnipeg lacks (don't get me started).

The new highways have very nice and roomy bike lanes. It would definitely suck biking up a mountain but I love that the possibility is there for those who wish to cycle safely on these highways. I don't know why highways in MB don't have them.. Highway 59 going south is still relatively new in my mind why didn't anyone consider legitimate bike lanes?!

Carolina Park in Quito reminds me of Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg. A really cool feature in the park includes what looks like a motor cross track, except for bicycles. I watched several kids enjoying the track and it's good exercise! I definitely think this is something that could be added to a park in Winnipeg. It would definitely attract users and is safer then a skate park. Less injuries and more active kids!

The park does have an area for skateboarders that is relatively nice. The perimeter of park also has a very nice paved trail for runners. On the weekends there have been cultural activities, which is always good for the community members to gather.

Yay for active living! More to come!

M

Week two :)

Week two!

We started school this week! I will be assisting an English teacher in all grade 9 sections and a couple grade 10 sections at U.E.M. Calderon. The teachers are happy to have us and the students are very curious about what the heck were doing here. They are always asking me about what I think about Ecuador, the places I've visited, and how much Spanish I know. (They laugh at me when I do attempt to speak some Spanish.) I'm preparing a student for a spelling bee taking place early next week! Pretty sure he's a winner!

We also had a meeting at the UN! That was cool! The following day we had a meeting regarding the educational system in Ecuador, which was also interesting.

On the weekend we visited the middle of the world. We toured a museum with a guide and visited a monument. We took many pictures of ourselves straddling the line that divided the Northern and Southern Hemisphere (nerds). We also met an elderly couple from Lorette, MB! Pretty cool!

My favourite part of our weekend excursion would have to be our visit to the hot springs. The drive was beautiful (impressive highway by the way). Driving through the clouds felt like certain death sometimes but the other side always had an amazing sight.

At one point this week I was walking down the sidewalk and suddenly both sandals broke. After many attempts are repairing them with staples it was hopeless. I decided to walk to the super market barefoot. Quito's sidewalks: 0, Meghan: 1.

M

Week One :)

Hola! I'm a week behind on blogs friends. I apologize!

My oh my Ecuador is beautiful! Our first week was jam packed with Spanish lessons (I now kinda get what Enrique Iglesias has been singing about all these years), sightseeing, getting to know our Ecuadorean families, a couple salsa lessons and of course a bit of shopping in markets. Time is flying by!

I am grateful that this program is set up so that we get to live with a an Ecuadorean family. This allows for greater cultural exchange. My Ecuadorean mama (Sandra) is the bomb. She's hell of a cook, and encourages me to speak the little bit of Spanish I'm learning everyday. Whenever she goes out, she encourages us to go with her so that we can experience part of her everyday life in Ecuador. For instance, instead of buying rice, nuts and avocados in the same place, we zigzagged through the streets and bought the individual items from different vendors. That was fun! She also insisted that I go to her daughter's school for a Mother's Day celebration. It was probably the first time I've seen musical chairs played right. They actually danced around the chairs instead of walking around the chairs like we do in Canada.

We've had a couple of salsa lessons already. Pretty sure our instructor thinks we're hopeless. Francisco was a lot of fun, I want to thank him for his patience!

Some of our sightseeing included a visit to the Virgin del Panecillo monument. It was raining but still cool to see. We also visited the archeological museum, also cool. Our visit to Otavalo market was fun! Bartering what much easier than I expected! Bringing home a few different things which I'm excited to share with my friends and family :)

M

Ecuador educational systems presentation

Yesterday we went to a presentation put on by VVOB which is an organization that works with the ministry to create programs for students to learn hands on. Technical programs allow students to find work easier after completion of school. Through the presentation i learnt about the school systems in Ecuador and some of the problems they face. I found this interesting  because I hope to pursue a degree in education. I was able to compare the basic of a Canadian classroom system to what I learnt about the Ecuadorian classroom system.  Today I talked with the teacher I have been working with an asked her some questions about the system. She told me that there are not many teachers in Ecuador and that teachers are very tired. She faces problems with what she is expected to teach due to the many opinions from the chain of the educational system. The presentation  gave me some more perspective as to why the classroom and teachers are the way they are here in Ecuador.

Our visit to the UN in Ecuador

This week we had the honor of visiting the United Nations building here in Ecuador and learning about some of the work that they have been doing. One of the main things that we learnt, is that this office works with the government of Ecuador to find solutions to protect the refugee population. The refugee population we were told is largely made of people crossing the border from the neighbouring country of Colombia. These families leave their country and come to Ecuador for reasons such as conflict in their country or if they felt they were been prosecuted. Whatever the reason, the UN office makes every attempt to help the individuals.We were told that many of the people, live within the urban areas and have but have problems integrating due to different forms of discrimination. Children getting picked on in school was an example used or they can't go to school because they don't have a passport or the stigma attached to the fact that they are from another country. Our group was told that Colombians have difficulty integrating in Ecuador and that part of the role of the UN was to help them integrate and enhance the process by showing the community that not all Colombians were criminals. We were told that they had three options for the refugees, they tried to integrate them in society, or resettle them or give them voluntary repatriation and support from their home country. But they have to decide for themselves if they want to go back. Our meeting concluded with a discussion about a lot having to happen in Colombia such dialogue, community services and health care for people willing to want to return.

H

Week Two, Part One: Weekend Edition (Kasey Rae)

Saturday morning started nice and early at 6:00 a.m, to be ready to leave for the Otavalo Market at 7:00 a.m. We hit the road on time, for a two hour drive that consisted of gorgeous scenic mountains and sporadic naps. The majority of the highway that leads to the city is built into the side of the mountains, and you could see workers in the process of covering the mountainsides with nets, and putting concrete on top. The areas that were finished looked like rocks from video games - and oddly smooth, almost bluish tinge that looked like it didn't belong with the rest of the natural landscape. David explained that it was a precaution against landslides, which I found interesting: humans went out of their way to destroy nature for their own convenience, and managed to circumvent the consequences. Not that I think landslides are a positive thing in any way, but it just kind of forces you to be aware of our impact on the world around us in a drastic way that is normally easy to ignore.

Or maybe that's just me.

But anyways, moving on. When we reached Otavalo, we picked up the leader of the Otavalo Artisan's Union, who contextualized the market for us, beyond being just a popular tourist destination. He brought us to a small family-run shop, where we got to see the process of tapestry weaving on a huge loom, while learning about how the market influences the surrounding communities, and how many things in the market are mass produced and bought wholesale, to be sold in the market. While we had already discussed and read about Otavalo as an international force, it was interesting to hear first-hand how it worked, beyond the surface appearance of a quaint, "authentic" touristic experience (I'm not even going to open that can of worms right now, but it's an idea worth mentioning).

Weaving a tapestry is a two day process with this family's technique.

Spinning wool makes it easier to dye.

From there, we went to the office building of the union to see the market from above. It has over 7000 stalls, reaching beyond the central area into the streets nearby.

Otavalo Market from Above

We then split into groups and tackled the market for two hours, bartering and negotiating to our hearts' content. Maya, Phillipp and I stumbled upon a little shop which happened to have large bags of bracelets and such that some stalls were selling individually for more than 1 USD each, for ridiculously cheap prices. I found it hilarious that we didn't even have to leave the market to find a larger source for the "authentic, hand-made" souvenirs being sold. Eventually, we met up with everyone again to compare our spoils and discuss our fantastic bargaining skills, before heading to the Cotopaxi National Park for lunch, and to visit the Cuicocha Lagoon.

That speck on the left side? That's a boat.

The restaurant area, featuring random people.

Phillip and David wearing their snazzy new sweaters.

 We went on a boat ride around the lagoon, and about half way through the driver (is that what you call a boat guide person?) stopped to tell us about the lagoon. It was an active volcano at one point, and filled with water after an eruption (or at least that seems to be the general gist of it). You can still see gas bubbles coming from below to the surface of the water, and it's more than 200 meters deep. 

After that, we headed home, and were lucky enough to have a relaxing day (and a chance to sleep in!) on Sunday.

Here are more pictures from the Lagoon, because it's stunning:

View from the dock

I believe that's the back of Meghan's head.

Semana Uno

Well we decided,that given the time that we had to get of the plane,claim our luggage and go through security, we could be serious contenders for the Amazing Race Canada. Especially, as we had to go from terminal 3 to terminal 1 with only minutes to spare after we had left Winnipeg and landed in Toronto on Day 1 of this amazing adventure. After taking the mini train to terminal 1 and making a dash to the Copa counter,we arrived in time to find three of their staff members cleaning up and only to be told that we were too late to board the plane and that the next available flight to Ecuador did not leave until Monday!!! Well no panic. Annoyance maybe but no biggie. Copa called their upper management, but still no go, we were not going to be on our scheduled flight.
The travel agency's emergency number, that originally booked our flight was called and thus began our quest to get a flight to Ecuador.Suggestions such as splitting us up and having some of the group go to Atlanta and others go via New York were mentioned. Mexico was even mentioned. Needless to say we ended up spending the night in Toronto and making our way to Ecuador the next day via Houston.

It is difficult to believe that one week has passed since we have arrived in Quito.It seems much longer but it a good way, this I guess is because we have not had time to be bored,we have crammed a lot into one week.Our host families are great and have easily made us an extension of their family. Daily, and with smiles and encouragement they have given us permission to butcher the spanish language.Along with our daily spanish classes,we have visited the Virgin Saint of Quito,gone to the Archeological Museum and visited the Canadian Embassy where we given a crash course on how to be safe in Ecuador. We took time to enjoy the soccer game between Barcelona and Germany, at a local sports bar and on another day my rommie Alana and I ventured out to a local mall where of all things we decide to try their KFC! And fellow bloggers, in Ecuador for the price of $4.99 you can get a two piece chicken meal served with rice ,lentils ,fried plantains, a drink and a cookie. I kid you not!

Our group finished of this week with a trip to Otavalo to visit and shop at it's marketplace. Here our senses were bombarded with woven, embroidered, knitted, leather and other goods. Our day ended with a boat ride on the Cuicucha Lagoon, whose historical fascination stems from the fact that it was once a volcano...........This week has shown us that with practice ,perseverance and determination we can attempt to learn a new language. That for myself, coming to Ecuador with an open mind and mere curiosity, I was very pleasantly surprised by the country's vastness and level of development. By its many paved roads,tall buildings and grand structures.Week one has been wonderful, our families are warm and kind and on more than one occasion have expressed to Alana and I 'mi casa su casa'. I am sure that in the days and weeks to come this cultural experience will be even more than I could have ever imagined.

H

Better late than never

Well the Ecuador adventure is finally here and even though I don't consider myself a procrastinator , I really only started packing when it was crunch time , because it always seemed like I had a million things to do before the trip. I think us ladies are ready to enjoy what Ecuador has to offer. Our Pre-cultural classes have given us an awareness of what to expect and also of what is expected of us. Whoppie! I am looking forward to experiencing the food, the music,the people and all that Ecuador has to offer.

Week one !

Week one has been a very intresting experience. we finally arrived in Quito late Sunday night after our adventure in Toronto. Monday morning we woke up to have breakfast and got to meet one of our roommates Phillip who is from Germany. For the rest of the week we went to spanish lessons every morning and then had activites planned for the afternoon. Such as visiting the Panecillo statue, the Archeological Museum,  salsa lesson and a presentation from the Canadian Embassy. We were kept very busy this first week. we also went to our first Ecuadorian bar to watch a soccer game. All the places we have gone to have had such warm and welcoming people. Making our experience in Ecuador that much more enjoyable.

The home that we have been placed in is so warm and welcoming and today we got to experience mothers day here. It is considered a very big deal and we experienced when we went to buy flowers and a cake for Sandra. Many people are out buying flowers, cakes or gifts for the mothers in their lives.  But I did find that the streets were not as busy as they normally are throughout the week.

Things I did not expect when I came on this trip was to was that my food was plated for me/ i did not serve myself. To me this was very hard to adjust to this week because I can not finish my plate and I am used to the independence of being at home. I also  did not expect the highways to be so well developed. They are smooth and finished better than Winnipeg's roads. Thirdly I expected the weather to be alot warmer than it was at the start of the week. Coming on this trip I expected it to be very warm I wish I had brough some more sweaters and longer pants. That is not to say that it is always cold the last few days have been very warm and as long as you are always in the view of the sun you will feel warm.

I am excited to see what the next week has in store and how the school system operates. I look forward  to what Ecuador had to offer and can wait to keep exploring.


Madi

Week Uno!

Hi everyone!

Our first week in Ecuador has been quite something! While our trip was slightly delayed due to a missed flight, Ecuador has proven to be more than worth the wait! Hollette and I are roomies staying with a beautiful family and a wonderful 'house mama' Aieda. As we were dropped off late at night when we first arrived, Aieda was waiting for Hollette and I on the sidewalk outside of her house, making us immediately feel so welcomed and loved. Ever since our this initial experience of generosity and compassion, Ecuador continues to show us that it is a beautiful country filled with even more beautiful people.

Our first week in Quito definitely brought some surprises. While I was not expecting it to be this cold and rainy, downtown Quito is very developed - even more developed and advanced than Winnipeg - which is something that I was not expecting. The landscape of Quito is deceiving, as it does not appear as a developing country. However, throughout the week, as we traveled throughout the city and to the Otavalo market, insight of the poverty and challenges endured by the Ecuadorian people were revealed.  We saw artisans at work firsthand, and the amazing pride that they take to their work, and their commitment to their culture. We met with the union leader of the workers with stalls at the Otavalo market who explained that as children in Ecuador are becoming increasingly educated, they leave these traditional types of work for other opportunities. It was really interesting to watch this kind of work being done, as well as to see the countless stalls at the Otavalo market. Hollette and I even lost water for a few days at the house, but it really was not as bad as I would have expected.

As I write this post, Aieda's two year old granddaughter sits beside me waving her Canadian flag and pressing buttons on my computer, as Latin music plays loudly in the background. My journey to Ecuador has so far been a beautiful experience, and I am so excited to see and learn more about this country, its culture, and its people.

Chao for now,
Alana



































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Week One, Part Two (Kasey Rae)

Part Two: The Adventure (Actually) Begins

Now that we were finally in Quito, we could carry on with our scheduled activities. We had developed an excellent skill of rolling with the punches - now when there are unexpected changes, it doesn't even phase us.

Monday

Maya and I woke up around 7:20 am, had breakfast, and were picked up around 8:15-30 to head to Spanish lessons. Alanna and Hollette were picked up first, we were in the middle, and Madi and Meghan were last. The first thing I noticed when we were driving around was the traffic. The cars were backed up like crazy, everyone honked their horns fairly regularly, and pedestrians darted between cars. We found out the pedestrians don't have the right of way here, which is something that's hard to get used to. 

At the school, I was paired with Eugenia - we don't have a big classroom setting like expected, but rather one-on-one tutors, which is far better in my opinion. We all get to go at our own paces and work at our own levels. We also got a break about halfway through - four hours of Spanish is a lot to take in at once. On our break, we adopted Meghan and Madi's roommate into our group - his name is Phillipp, he's German, and as we would later find out, hates wearing shoes (#theshoelessgerman). After class, we were driven home for lunch. Having a private driver is both a blessing and a curse - our time is allotted for us, and it keeps us slightly distanced from local culture, in that we only really see what we're planned to see. 

After lunch (soup, rice, avocado, and beef), we went to see the Panecillo - a huge statue overlooking the North end of Quito. It started raining on our way there, so we didn't spend as much time there as we had planned to, We went to Salsa dancing lessons immediately after - needless to say, we weren't very good, but it was entertaining nonetheless. Afterwards, we went home for dinner, and found out that here they have larger meals for breakfast and lunch, and very little for dinner. We had an empanada, an apple, and hot chocolate; it was surprisingly satisfying, and we weren't left hungry.

Also, our host family has three dogs, so it feels more like home than I expected.

Tuesday

Tuesday also started with Spanish lessons, and we went home for lunch again. I had a short nap after eating - we still hadn't really had a chance to catch up on sleep. It rained again in the afternoon, so instead of going to Old Downtown as we were meant to, we went to the Archaeological Museum. It would have been nice to spend more time there, but we only had 50 minutes. We saw artifacts from before the Inca and during their period, but didn't see much more than that. Afterwards, we went for a walk around Mariscal (once it stopped raining), where Francisco warned us about all the many dangers of being tourists in Quito. While I'm sure most of what he said was valid, but in telling us to not draw attention to ourselves, he drew a lot of attention to our group by stopping and talking for a long period of time in the middle of the sidewalk. He let us go on our own for a little bit after instilling fear into our hearts (or trying to), and we went to get frozen yogurt (absolutely delicious - they seem to have blackberry-flavoured everything here). We made our way back to the school to be picked up, and went home to do homework and sleep.

Wednesday

The maids came on Wednesday, and when we asked Paola (our house-mom) about hiding our money and passports (as Francisco told us to), she got very irritated. She was frustrated that in a cultural exchange, Francisco was still perpetuating stereotypes without reason, as she and her boarders had never had problems with her maids. We ended up being a bit late for the van because of this conversation, but it was definitely beneficial to see a bit of a rift between local attitudes and those of tourists and our volunteer organizers.

We went to Spanish, as per usual, but instead of going home for lunch, we ate at the school/office. We had a choice of what to do after, and decided to watch the F.C. Barcelona game with David at a bar. It was packed, and the crowd got really worked up every time either team got close to scoring - it was even more intense than watching hockey in Canada.

At the Bar. Left to Right: Alanna, Madi, and Meghan

It was here that I most noticed how much we stood out. It seemed like there were no other tourists there, and we were stared at whenever we went off to go to the bathroom (which was also quite different - the toilet paper was outside of the stalls and it wasn't as closed off as in Canada). One of the servers also tried to only sell David beer in threes, and said that if we weren't going to buy in groups of three we could leave. However, other tables were only ordering one at a time (they're massive bottles, but with low alcohol percentage, so one beer is good for a couple drinks for three people). We didn't leave until the game ended, and walked over to a market, where most stalls sold very similar items. I noticed that many of the shopkeepers were very pushy, which deterred me from buying from them - the only things I bought were from people who left me alone. David told us that many things that were there and marketed as "authentic" Ecuadorian goods were actually imported from neighbouring countries like Peru.

When we got home we had dinner and asked for the wifi password. As much as I didn't want to be connected to the internet while here, it also provides a weird sort of comfort knowing that I can still communicate with everyone.

Thursday

Thursday started like the previous days, but we went to the Canadian Embassy right after Spanish, and had to eat on the way. Apparently the tiny office on the third floor counts as Canadian territory, so technically we went to Canada for about an hour. We had a presentation where they mostly gave us the same warnings as Francisco had a couple days before. We then walked over to Juan Valdez Cafe, which is even pricier than Starbucks for what you get, and got home early for decent free time. Maya and I took the opportunity to walk over to a nearby mall, which is mostly comprised of designer stores that have the same prices as in Canada.

For dinner, we went to a street cart with Paola, which was really good. The cab was only about $1 each way - unheard of in Canada.

Friday

The morning started with lessons carrying on as usual, ending with a game in Madi and Alanna's classroom.

Eugenia and I - Selfie Time

We went home for lunch. It was the first time I had seen that many people in our apartment - Paola, her husband, Pablo (roommate from Spain), and another Canadian were all there with us. For all the people who live here, you would never know... I still don't know how everyone fits here without being on top of each other all the time. In the afternoon, Maya and I went back to the mall, accompanied by The Canadian (as we call him, as we tend to forget his name), and then had another Salsa lesson at 4:00. It was the last one until the end of the month - I don't think anyone's really heartbroken!

Top Row: Maya, Hollette, Francisco (Dance Instructor, not Coordinator), Madi, Me
Bottom row: Alanna, Phillipp, Meghan 

First Impressions: Quito is most different from Canada in its appearance. Its position in the Andes causes the layout of streets to be different, as they have to roll with the landscape more than in Manitoba or even Toronto. The houses and apartment buildings nearly blend in to one another, hidden by gates which are often topped with broken glass or barbed wire to keep people from breaking in (I assume). Some places have electric fences on top of their gates, and some have metal spikes. Most of the shops are tiny and have garage door type closures instead of regular doors, and there seems to be less distinction between residential and commercial areas.

Also, it's interesting (and saddening) to note that the advertisements for most beauty salons and hairdressers feature white models - it seems to be common for women to dye their hair blonde too. Western influence manifests in other ways too; Quito has the largest McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC that I've ever seen in my life. Most of the cars are Ford and Chevy, although there are also many makes like Kia and Toyota around the city.

I find that it's the small cultural changes that you aren't really prepared for. You expect the language barrier, and we were told about differences in gender equality (or lack thereof in some cases), but small things like wearing your shoes in the house really take you off guard. It's normal for middle class families to have maids, which is also off-putting.