Well, as it turned out, my internet access this weekend was limited. But I'm back home in Quito now, and ready to think about being thankful. Here is my current list of things to be thankful for:
-A fantastic, cheap trip to the beach
-A family that makes me prefer being home for the holidays over the beach
-The fact that my 34 bug bites and painful sunburn will be fade before long
-A mom that was so great that thinking about her brings me to tears, four years after her death
-A job that I love and that is significant and fulfilling
-The hope of visiting the US this summer
-Christmas music
-Friends on five continents
-A dad that loves me and is regularly sacrificial in showing that love
-A whole suitcase of stuff from the states after Christmas!
-No mosquitos in Quito
-My digital camera...a gift from my family at Union Chapel
-My sister, who loves me in spite of how different we are and all we've been through
-Access to an English library
-Spanish is easier than Mandarin
-My brother, who send me pictures of his kids...and his hunting trophies
-Christmas Eve with the Olsens
-Email, Vonage, Facebook, and Blogging
-A relationship with the God of the universe. who loves me enough to save me from myself.
Happy (belated) Thanksgiving, Everyone!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Giving Thanks
This is the generic Thanksgiving greeting that shall be replaced with something more meaningful, possibly even amusing and/or profound, at some point this weekend. If I have access to internet. And if I can drag myself away from the beautiful beaches of Ecuador.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Autointerview
In which the author is again interviewed...by herself.
Interviewer: So Les, it's Friday again. How was the week?
Leslie: Not too bad. We had so many shortened weeks in a row that these past couple normal weeks have been a little rough. But now we're a 2.5-day-week away from Thanksgiving break!
I: Right, Turkey Day's around the corner. Any plans?
L: I'm so glad you asked! I'll be hopping an 8-hour public bus to the beach for Thanksgiving. I'm pretty excited because I've heard the beach here is awesome, and because it's a chance to escape the city. Plus, I've never been west of Quito, so I'll get to experience another region of the country. Did I mention we're going to the OCEAN???
I: Yep, I think we caught that. So who's "we"?
L: I'm going with the girls from my Bible Study; basically most of the single women at school. And a couple of boyfriends for good measure. :) I mean, the boyfriends are attached to specific girls; not like, "a couple to share around". :)
I: You've been in Ecuador for about 3.5 months now. Is anything about the place starting to get on your nerves?
L: Well, let me begin with the qualifier that I LOVE living here. It's pretty easy. I mean, for a foreign country. Lots of things I really like...
I: I feel a "but" coming on.
L:...but, I'm about to go crazy over the STINKIN' CAR ALARMS!!! When I first arrived, a neighbor jokingly mentioned the car alarm as the national anthem of Ecuador. She was not kidding. Every morning. Every night. Every afternoon. I cannot for the life of me figure out the reason. Are they checking to be sure their alarms work? Do they abhor the silence? Are they not able to figure out how to prevent the alarm from going off? No clue. So far this remains the annoying mystery of Quito. If I ever find out the answer, I'll let you know.
I: How's the orphaned visitation going?
L: Great! This week I went for my second visit. We took the bus this time so that we can learn how to get their on our own. Busses here, as in many developing countries, are more an art than a science. You have to know where to wait for one (there are rarely marked bus stops) and where to ask to be let off. But it's much cheaper; the trip by bus is 25 cents; by taxi is about $3.50.
I: Were the babies as cute and squishy as your first visit?
L: Definitely. I worked mostly with the bigger babies this time, so I was more tired at the end. But it's also fun because they are starting to be able to respond. I love to cuddle the itty-bitty ones, but it's pretty hard to beat the feeling when a baby holds up her arms, asking you to hold her.
I: On Thursday evening you went to the high school play. How was it?
L: I was really pleasantly surprised! This was my first Alliance performance, and you know how high school plays can be; one doesn't hold one's breath. But I was impressed. It was funny. A lot of that humor comes from the multi-cultural makeup of the student body (and therefore of the actors). Sometimes they mixed Spanish in with the English script. The Asian kids purposefully switched their pronunciation of "r" and "l". The Hispanic kids hammed up their accents. At one point, one actor asks the other one, "How do you say 'parade' in Spanish?" The reply was, "I don't know....'parade-o'?" This line was met with uproarious laughter; hilarious because in the American-school-in-Ecuador, ex-pat, MK, TCK- filled auditorium, we all can relate far too well to this sort of grasping at linguistic straws. In all, it was a fun couple of hours. AND at intermission the sophomore class was raising money by selling STINKING AWESOME rice crispy treats and chewy, delicious molasses cookies. Mmm-hmmm.
I: Have you tried anything new recently?
L: Just today I cut up my first fresh pineapple.
I: Really? That seems like something you would have already tried. After all, you could do that in the U.S., and in China.
L: This is true. But, uh, nope. Maiden pineapple voyage was tonight.
I: How'd it go?
L: Not too bad. I ended with the feeling that perhaps a bit of instruction would have produced better results. But in spite of my distinct lack of pineapple-carving finesse, it still tasted good.
I: I know that you usually develop an intense craving or two when you live abroad. Has any particular desire risen to the surface yet?
L: Well, one of my roommates keeps getting packages from home that include a ridiculous twist on Cheetos, called Flaming Cheetos. They're so hot that they burn your mouth, but the worst part is that they're so maddeningly close to the real thing that it's torturous to refuse. So as a result, I've developed a pretty healthy (or perhaps more accurately, unhealthy) craving for crunchy Cheetos.
I: Wow, that must be rough. And yet you soldier on!
L: True. I come from tough stock. No Cheetos craving is going to get me down!!
I: (ahem) Well, that is most encouraging. I'm sure we all admire your...fortitude.
L: As well you should.
I: Anything else noteworthy before we close?
L: Yes, two things. First, it's annoying to me that, for whatever reason Blogger refuses to spell-check my posts. And secondly, it's almost "the holidays", which is the traditionally accepted time to start wishing you were able to be together with family. Of course, I've always been an early-bloomer in the area of missing family. So far it hasn't been too bad. But I'm sortof bracing myself for the onslaught.Therefore, may it be known that if anyone is bored and needs holiday plans, feel free to come visit me in Quito.
I: Ok. I'll pass on the news. Thanks for talking to me, Leslie. I hope you have a good weekend, and a good time at the beach.
L: Thanks! Over-n-out.
Interviewer: So Les, it's Friday again. How was the week?
Leslie: Not too bad. We had so many shortened weeks in a row that these past couple normal weeks have been a little rough. But now we're a 2.5-day-week away from Thanksgiving break!
I: Right, Turkey Day's around the corner. Any plans?
L: I'm so glad you asked! I'll be hopping an 8-hour public bus to the beach for Thanksgiving. I'm pretty excited because I've heard the beach here is awesome, and because it's a chance to escape the city. Plus, I've never been west of Quito, so I'll get to experience another region of the country. Did I mention we're going to the OCEAN???
I: Yep, I think we caught that. So who's "we"?
L: I'm going with the girls from my Bible Study; basically most of the single women at school. And a couple of boyfriends for good measure. :) I mean, the boyfriends are attached to specific girls; not like, "a couple to share around". :)
I: You've been in Ecuador for about 3.5 months now. Is anything about the place starting to get on your nerves?
L: Well, let me begin with the qualifier that I LOVE living here. It's pretty easy. I mean, for a foreign country. Lots of things I really like...
I: I feel a "but" coming on.
L:...but, I'm about to go crazy over the STINKIN' CAR ALARMS!!! When I first arrived, a neighbor jokingly mentioned the car alarm as the national anthem of Ecuador. She was not kidding. Every morning. Every night. Every afternoon. I cannot for the life of me figure out the reason. Are they checking to be sure their alarms work? Do they abhor the silence? Are they not able to figure out how to prevent the alarm from going off? No clue. So far this remains the annoying mystery of Quito. If I ever find out the answer, I'll let you know.
I: How's the orphaned visitation going?
L: Great! This week I went for my second visit. We took the bus this time so that we can learn how to get their on our own. Busses here, as in many developing countries, are more an art than a science. You have to know where to wait for one (there are rarely marked bus stops) and where to ask to be let off. But it's much cheaper; the trip by bus is 25 cents; by taxi is about $3.50.
I: Were the babies as cute and squishy as your first visit?
L: Definitely. I worked mostly with the bigger babies this time, so I was more tired at the end. But it's also fun because they are starting to be able to respond. I love to cuddle the itty-bitty ones, but it's pretty hard to beat the feeling when a baby holds up her arms, asking you to hold her.
I: On Thursday evening you went to the high school play. How was it?
L: I was really pleasantly surprised! This was my first Alliance performance, and you know how high school plays can be; one doesn't hold one's breath. But I was impressed. It was funny. A lot of that humor comes from the multi-cultural makeup of the student body (and therefore of the actors). Sometimes they mixed Spanish in with the English script. The Asian kids purposefully switched their pronunciation of "r" and "l". The Hispanic kids hammed up their accents. At one point, one actor asks the other one, "How do you say 'parade' in Spanish?" The reply was, "I don't know....'parade-o'?" This line was met with uproarious laughter; hilarious because in the American-school-in-Ecuador, ex-pat, MK, TCK- filled auditorium, we all can relate far too well to this sort of grasping at linguistic straws. In all, it was a fun couple of hours. AND at intermission the sophomore class was raising money by selling STINKING AWESOME rice crispy treats and chewy, delicious molasses cookies. Mmm-hmmm.
I: Have you tried anything new recently?
L: Just today I cut up my first fresh pineapple.
I: Really? That seems like something you would have already tried. After all, you could do that in the U.S., and in China.
L: This is true. But, uh, nope. Maiden pineapple voyage was tonight.
I: How'd it go?
L: Not too bad. I ended with the feeling that perhaps a bit of instruction would have produced better results. But in spite of my distinct lack of pineapple-carving finesse, it still tasted good.
I: I know that you usually develop an intense craving or two when you live abroad. Has any particular desire risen to the surface yet?
L: Well, one of my roommates keeps getting packages from home that include a ridiculous twist on Cheetos, called Flaming Cheetos. They're so hot that they burn your mouth, but the worst part is that they're so maddeningly close to the real thing that it's torturous to refuse. So as a result, I've developed a pretty healthy (or perhaps more accurately, unhealthy) craving for crunchy Cheetos.
I: Wow, that must be rough. And yet you soldier on!
L: True. I come from tough stock. No Cheetos craving is going to get me down!!
I: (ahem) Well, that is most encouraging. I'm sure we all admire your...fortitude.
L: As well you should.
I: Anything else noteworthy before we close?
L: Yes, two things. First, it's annoying to me that, for whatever reason Blogger refuses to spell-check my posts. And secondly, it's almost "the holidays", which is the traditionally accepted time to start wishing you were able to be together with family. Of course, I've always been an early-bloomer in the area of missing family. So far it hasn't been too bad. But I'm sortof bracing myself for the onslaught.Therefore, may it be known that if anyone is bored and needs holiday plans, feel free to come visit me in Quito.
I: Ok. I'll pass on the news. Thanks for talking to me, Leslie. I hope you have a good weekend, and a good time at the beach.
L: Thanks! Over-n-out.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Babies, Babies, Babies,,,
So yesterday I finally got to go to the babies house at a local orphanage. It was so wonderful! I can't even express how amazing it was. The house has 16 babies, all of them young enough that they can't walk yet, or are just starting. I saw three workers while I was there, so it wasn't like the horror stories you hear about in government-run orphanages. The babies seemed to be clean, happy, and healthy. But still; a ratio of 1 adult for five babies isn't great. So we (two friends and I) walked in, and basically just started picking up whichever kid we wanted.
There were three rooms, with about five babies per room. I got to hold and feed and talk to two little tiny babies- I know one was only two weeks old, and the other looked younger than that, even) and three other, older babies. They all seemed really healthy and happy- responsive and active, although several of the kids clearly had some medical or developmental problems. No doubt, those issuess played into their being at the orphanage in the first place.
All that to say I can't wait to go back.
Can't.
Wait.
Can you even imagine?! Just babies, all of them needing love and attention! It was heavenly.
Babies are the best. So soft and squishy and trusting. Their little eyes say, "Really? You're here to hold me and play with me? Ok!" Holding babies must be the world's easiest ministry.
Except the leaving part. I know that crying isn't necessarily bad for babies, but the sound still grabs ahold of your heart and yanks. Leaving was terrible. But at least I can go back. I'm hoping to go regularly; once a week. I'll try to remember to get some pictures.
Ah, babies. They make my heart happy.
There were three rooms, with about five babies per room. I got to hold and feed and talk to two little tiny babies- I know one was only two weeks old, and the other looked younger than that, even) and three other, older babies. They all seemed really healthy and happy- responsive and active, although several of the kids clearly had some medical or developmental problems. No doubt, those issuess played into their being at the orphanage in the first place.
All that to say I can't wait to go back.
Can't.
Wait.
Can you even imagine?! Just babies, all of them needing love and attention! It was heavenly.
Babies are the best. So soft and squishy and trusting. Their little eyes say, "Really? You're here to hold me and play with me? Ok!" Holding babies must be the world's easiest ministry.
Except the leaving part. I know that crying isn't necessarily bad for babies, but the sound still grabs ahold of your heart and yanks. Leaving was terrible. But at least I can go back. I'm hoping to go regularly; once a week. I'll try to remember to get some pictures.
Ah, babies. They make my heart happy.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Jesus and The Woman
I'm memorizing John 7:53-8:11 right now. I picked this particular passage because I love the story, and more specifically the way Jesus deals with this woman.
In my years of listening to sermons, chapels, devotionals, etc., I've heard a lot of different parts of this story brought out, but tonight as I was reading something new caught my eye.
The final two words of the story: "of sin".
Jesus has already done a stellar job of telling off the religious leaders who have tried to use this woman as a pawn to trap him. "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
Shazzam! Even the elders took that to heart, dropped their stones and left in shame.
They've all gone. All of them. Only Jesus and the woman remain, in a silent tableau; Jesus, by now a famous teacher, prophet, and teller-off of the religious leaders; and the woman. Caught in the act of adultery.
No doubt this day would go down in the woman's list of Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Days. Did she love the guy? Was she selling her body to feed herself or her family? Was it even her choice?
We don't know any of that. What the scripture says is that Jesus, who'd been intensely interested in the dust for the past couple of minutes, straightens up, tells the woman that he doesn't condemn her, and sends her on her way, with one last, significant instruction:
"Go now, and leave your life of sin."
POW! There it is. She was guilty and Jesus knew it. And yet he did not condemn her, neither in public or in private. In fact, he defended her!
I mean, seriously. I could see him standing up for someone who really was innocent. But this? This is revolutionary. He knew, and still he saved her life.
He knows me. Better than any of you. I can put on a pretty good show, but He knows me. He knows the things I keep hidden. The sins I excuse or hide or pretend aren't there.
He knows I'm guilty, but still he saved my life.
Don't rush past this miracle of miracles. Stop and ponder; savor it for a minute: Jesus knows, but still...
Still, day after day he intercedes for my dirty, unworthy, sinful soul before his Father. Not because I deserve it, or because I'm sorry. Not even because he thinks I won't do it again. He knows. But he does it because he loves me THAT MUCH. Me! He loves ME!
And not just me- he does this for all of us who will let him. He wades through a landslide of sins. A mountain of filth. Our filth. A garbage dump of our fallenness.
He knows. And he loves us still.
John 7:53-8:11
Then each went to his own home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
In my years of listening to sermons, chapels, devotionals, etc., I've heard a lot of different parts of this story brought out, but tonight as I was reading something new caught my eye.
The final two words of the story: "of sin".
Jesus has already done a stellar job of telling off the religious leaders who have tried to use this woman as a pawn to trap him. "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
Shazzam! Even the elders took that to heart, dropped their stones and left in shame.
They've all gone. All of them. Only Jesus and the woman remain, in a silent tableau; Jesus, by now a famous teacher, prophet, and teller-off of the religious leaders; and the woman. Caught in the act of adultery.
No doubt this day would go down in the woman's list of Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Days. Did she love the guy? Was she selling her body to feed herself or her family? Was it even her choice?
We don't know any of that. What the scripture says is that Jesus, who'd been intensely interested in the dust for the past couple of minutes, straightens up, tells the woman that he doesn't condemn her, and sends her on her way, with one last, significant instruction:
"Go now, and leave your life of sin."
POW! There it is. She was guilty and Jesus knew it. And yet he did not condemn her, neither in public or in private. In fact, he defended her!
I mean, seriously. I could see him standing up for someone who really was innocent. But this? This is revolutionary. He knew, and still he saved her life.
He knows me. Better than any of you. I can put on a pretty good show, but He knows me. He knows the things I keep hidden. The sins I excuse or hide or pretend aren't there.
He knows I'm guilty, but still he saved my life.
Don't rush past this miracle of miracles. Stop and ponder; savor it for a minute: Jesus knows, but still...
Still, day after day he intercedes for my dirty, unworthy, sinful soul before his Father. Not because I deserve it, or because I'm sorry. Not even because he thinks I won't do it again. He knows. But he does it because he loves me THAT MUCH. Me! He loves ME!
And not just me- he does this for all of us who will let him. He wades through a landslide of sins. A mountain of filth. Our filth. A garbage dump of our fallenness.
He knows. And he loves us still.
John 7:53-8:11
Then each went to his own home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Memories of Mindo
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...
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