As I write from my dining room table, I can see the clouds lying low on the mountains and hear the thunder crash nearby. It's been raining most of the morning, and I'm happy to be warm and dry in my apartment. Last night I got back from my trip to Mindo with the 7th graders. Here are some highlights for you: -Mindo: a small town on the other side of Mt. Pichincha (which I can see from my window), began turning itself into an eco-tourist hotspot a couple decades back. Until that time the people there had been harvesting the forests and raising cows. Now there are lots of tourist attractions, like zip-lining, tubing in the rivers, waterfalls, a butterfly conservation place, and lots of hostels. It's still a little place, though, and definitely out in the sticks.
-Our Group: We were six adults (three teachers, including Janelle (science/math teacher and trip leader), Andrew (history/English teacher), and me) and three volunteer sponsors (Mari- school counselor, Len (my pastor here and a parent), and Brett (my neighbor and a parent). We busied ourselves with 34 7th graders.
-Activities: We left at 8:30 Thursday morning and got back about 6pm Friday. We visited the butterfly farm, tubed down the river (I actually got out of that by volunteering to drive the bus back to the hostel- first chance to drive in three months!!), took three hikes, played games, and went swimming in a river.
-Funny stories:
Medicinal Plants: On one of our hikes we were split into groups, so I was with my 9 kids and our Ecuadorian guide, Alfredo. Alfredo led us up a slipper mountain side (it rained the whole time), stopping regularly to point out special plants that the locals use (or have used in the past) to remedy various ailments and for other practical purposes. It was really interesting. I managed not to fall down or step in any cow droppings (unlike several of my kids) and was happy NOT to have met up with any of the snakes that Alfredo told us we might see.
So the trail was narrow and we were walking single-file, Alfredo in front, me at the end. Whenever he told us about something, one of the kids in the middle would holler back to us what he said, because we couldn't hear in the rain. As Alfredo was talking about a specific plant with green leaves and pink tips, he told us that it was used for medicine. "What kind of medicine?" asks Levi. Alfredo looks at me, which was odd, and finally says, "Problemas menstruales." As this information filters to the end of the line, a hilarious variety of reactions follow it- from confusion to embarrassment to innocent oblivion. Levi (an MK and Spanish learner) says, "What's that?" Giggling and awkward silence. Finally I answer him, "Girl problems." Levi promptly turns red and I tell the kids to keep moving. Alfredo (also a little pink) has started moving again.
Leslie and the River: Friday's main activity was hiking up to and swimming in the river. By the time we got to the river I was really hot and pretty excited about getting into the water, although I had been warned that it's cold.
Cold it was. Cold enough that eventually I had to get out because I was losing feeling in my feet. But I didn't care. I love to swim, and it was a fun place. The current was strong enough that I ALMOST couldn't make progress against it when I tried to swim upriver. It quickly became evident that I was the only adult who was going to swim. Two others, Janelle and Len waded in to catch any kids who were floating too far downriver.
So I bit the bullet and stripped down to my bathing suit in front of the entire 7th grade class and waded in. COLD. But it was refreshing cause I was hot. And it was clear that the kids were impressed. Everywhere I went I heard kids saying with astonishment, "Meese Fohstehr! You are sweemmeeng!!"
Thank you, Captain Obvious.
There was a place on one bank where you could climb up to a jumping-off point. Eventually I decided it looked like fun and that I needed to try it. So I made my way over (you had to hold on to something or get washed down the river) and started up the little rock cliff. The whole thing was a flat, smooth slab of rock. Nothing to hold on to. I was barefoot. And by now, the whole rock was soaked from a ton of kids going up. Wet and slick. I was almost to the top (basking in the chorus of amazed comments from the kids from the top) when my feet slipped out from beneath me. The amazed voices became startled. And then terrified. I slipped more, and eventually, with nothing to hold onto, slid, in my bathing suit, spread-eagle, all the way back down the rock.
Above me, kids are screaming out, "Meese Fohstehr!!! Are you ok!!?!?!?"
I calmly picked myself up, assessed the damage (scraped and bleeding knee and arms; nothing serious) and started up the rock again. Now it was personal. This time I made it without incident and managed to convince the kiddos that I would likely live to tell the story. What's that they say about pride and falling? Yah.
-Conclusion: I think most everyone had a good time. I was glad to get to interact with my students outside of the classroom. Even my challenging students behaved admirably. I am glad that the trip only happens once a year, but I'm also glad I got to go.
-Other tidbits of info from me:
-it doesn't rain as hard here as in China during rainy season. But I still seem to be wet more often. How does that work?
- the potato chips here aren't very good, so I've taken to eating Doritos instead. They are just like home (except cheaper), but for whatever reason they're always smashed to smithereens. I can't figure out why. They're not being shipped from the states; the bags are in Spanish. It's annoying.
-Today is November 1st, and this is the first year since my mom died that my back didn't start hurting in October (when she was diagnosed as terminal). I don't know if this is coincidental, or a weather thing, or what. I DO know that I am immensely thankful to be entering November with no back pain.
-It's November!! This week I've been here for three months. Crazy. And Friday was the last day of the first quarter. Time is flying. Still no culture shock or homesickness, but I'm on the defensive. It will come. The question is, when?
-I'm debating about the possibility of getting a driver's license here. I've never had the SLIGHTEST inkling about doing that anywhere else that I've lived. But it would be really nice...if I can muster the courage to do it. Driving here is like in any other non-US country- a bit on the psychotic side. And lots of stick-shifts. I HATE driving stick. We'll see.
-I found out this week that there's an orphanage here that takes babies, and that I could probably go hold babies there if I wanted to. I am beyond excited about that. Babies! So soft and squishy and little! I hope it works out!
-I am very nearly totally out of groceries. But I hate to go shopping in the rain. Sigh. Many things are easy here, but grocery shopping is just a hassle.
-The end. Oh, except here are some pictures from the Mindo trip:
-Our Group: We were six adults (three teachers, including Janelle (science/math teacher and trip leader), Andrew (history/English teacher), and me) and three volunteer sponsors (Mari- school counselor, Len (my pastor here and a parent), and Brett (my neighbor and a parent). We busied ourselves with 34 7th graders.
-Activities: We left at 8:30 Thursday morning and got back about 6pm Friday. We visited the butterfly farm, tubed down the river (I actually got out of that by volunteering to drive the bus back to the hostel- first chance to drive in three months!!), took three hikes, played games, and went swimming in a river.
-Funny stories:
Medicinal Plants: On one of our hikes we were split into groups, so I was with my 9 kids and our Ecuadorian guide, Alfredo. Alfredo led us up a slipper mountain side (it rained the whole time), stopping regularly to point out special plants that the locals use (or have used in the past) to remedy various ailments and for other practical purposes. It was really interesting. I managed not to fall down or step in any cow droppings (unlike several of my kids) and was happy NOT to have met up with any of the snakes that Alfredo told us we might see.
So the trail was narrow and we were walking single-file, Alfredo in front, me at the end. Whenever he told us about something, one of the kids in the middle would holler back to us what he said, because we couldn't hear in the rain. As Alfredo was talking about a specific plant with green leaves and pink tips, he told us that it was used for medicine. "What kind of medicine?" asks Levi. Alfredo looks at me, which was odd, and finally says, "Problemas menstruales." As this information filters to the end of the line, a hilarious variety of reactions follow it- from confusion to embarrassment to innocent oblivion. Levi (an MK and Spanish learner) says, "What's that?" Giggling and awkward silence. Finally I answer him, "Girl problems." Levi promptly turns red and I tell the kids to keep moving. Alfredo (also a little pink) has started moving again.
Leslie and the River: Friday's main activity was hiking up to and swimming in the river. By the time we got to the river I was really hot and pretty excited about getting into the water, although I had been warned that it's cold.
Cold it was. Cold enough that eventually I had to get out because I was losing feeling in my feet. But I didn't care. I love to swim, and it was a fun place. The current was strong enough that I ALMOST couldn't make progress against it when I tried to swim upriver. It quickly became evident that I was the only adult who was going to swim. Two others, Janelle and Len waded in to catch any kids who were floating too far downriver.
So I bit the bullet and stripped down to my bathing suit in front of the entire 7th grade class and waded in. COLD. But it was refreshing cause I was hot. And it was clear that the kids were impressed. Everywhere I went I heard kids saying with astonishment, "Meese Fohstehr! You are sweemmeeng!!"
Thank you, Captain Obvious.
There was a place on one bank where you could climb up to a jumping-off point. Eventually I decided it looked like fun and that I needed to try it. So I made my way over (you had to hold on to something or get washed down the river) and started up the little rock cliff. The whole thing was a flat, smooth slab of rock. Nothing to hold on to. I was barefoot. And by now, the whole rock was soaked from a ton of kids going up. Wet and slick. I was almost to the top (basking in the chorus of amazed comments from the kids from the top) when my feet slipped out from beneath me. The amazed voices became startled. And then terrified. I slipped more, and eventually, with nothing to hold onto, slid, in my bathing suit, spread-eagle, all the way back down the rock.
Above me, kids are screaming out, "Meese Fohstehr!!! Are you ok!!?!?!?"
I calmly picked myself up, assessed the damage (scraped and bleeding knee and arms; nothing serious) and started up the rock again. Now it was personal. This time I made it without incident and managed to convince the kiddos that I would likely live to tell the story. What's that they say about pride and falling? Yah.
-Conclusion: I think most everyone had a good time. I was glad to get to interact with my students outside of the classroom. Even my challenging students behaved admirably. I am glad that the trip only happens once a year, but I'm also glad I got to go.
-Other tidbits of info from me:
-it doesn't rain as hard here as in China during rainy season. But I still seem to be wet more often. How does that work?
- the potato chips here aren't very good, so I've taken to eating Doritos instead. They are just like home (except cheaper), but for whatever reason they're always smashed to smithereens. I can't figure out why. They're not being shipped from the states; the bags are in Spanish. It's annoying.
-Today is November 1st, and this is the first year since my mom died that my back didn't start hurting in October (when she was diagnosed as terminal). I don't know if this is coincidental, or a weather thing, or what. I DO know that I am immensely thankful to be entering November with no back pain.
-It's November!! This week I've been here for three months. Crazy. And Friday was the last day of the first quarter. Time is flying. Still no culture shock or homesickness, but I'm on the defensive. It will come. The question is, when?
-I'm debating about the possibility of getting a driver's license here. I've never had the SLIGHTEST inkling about doing that anywhere else that I've lived. But it would be really nice...if I can muster the courage to do it. Driving here is like in any other non-US country- a bit on the psychotic side. And lots of stick-shifts. I HATE driving stick. We'll see.
-I found out this week that there's an orphanage here that takes babies, and that I could probably go hold babies there if I wanted to. I am beyond excited about that. Babies! So soft and squishy and little! I hope it works out!
-I am very nearly totally out of groceries. But I hate to go shopping in the rain. Sigh. Many things are easy here, but grocery shopping is just a hassle.
-The end. Oh, except here are some pictures from the Mindo trip:
The whole group. Mari took this for me...
Jennifer holding a butterfly at the farm.
Crossing the "bridge" on the way to swim
Our river...
2 comments:
I was hoping for the photo of you sliding off that rock. Oh well.
And you totally should get your drivers license! At least do it for all of us (well, me) who can't drive in other countries (namely one country).
oh...and ps. some of us were talking today about how much we miss you. it came up in two separate conversations! You're loved Leslie. :)
Thanks for passing on the second-hand compliment. It makes me happy to know I'm missed! Especially with the transient lifestyle I've been living. So thanks.
PS if you moved to Ecuador, we could get our licenses together... :)
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