Reason #1
Tejido (Weaving)
I am taking a basic weaving class. This is my uncompleted first weaving where I was learning the basic techniques.
Reason #2
Andinismo (Trecking/Hiking)
One of the requirements for my Andinismo class is that I go on three weekend "paseos" or hikes. I went on my first hike the other weekend to a dormant volcano named Cerra Puntas. The picture on the left is our campsite (bottom right corner) while the other picture is myself with Cerra Puntas (The pointy looking mountains) in the background. We left on Saturday morning and arrived at our campsite just as it was starting to pitch down the rain. Later that night we watched a lightning storm, saw some incredible stars, and drank cinnamon tea. The following morning we walked to the base of Cerra Puntas. To actually climb the points you have to have rock climbing equipment which we did not have.
Reason #3
Alta Cocina 3 (Spanish and South American Cooking)
First thing I had to do for this class was buy a uniform which includes a hat, jacket, apron, towel, and black and white checkered pants. Second thing I had to do was buy a large chefs knife. I have this class once a week for 3 hours. For the first 2 hours or so we split into groups, are given recipes, and cook. For the last hour we get to "probar" or taste everything. This past week the main focus was meets. We cooked a pig, cow tail, rabbit (my group made the rabbit and the recipe included chocolate so you know it was good!), lima bean salad with sausage slices, eggplant, zucchini, asparagus, stuffed peppers, and some flan to finish it off! I am the only non ecuadorian in the class so I have really enjoyed getting to know the other students. In addition they are all like legit cooking students so will give me pointers on the best way to cut things up or how to wield my large knife :)
Reason #4
My Internship (Teaching English)
I am working in the small town of Lumbisi which is a 20 cent and 15 minute bus ride from my University at an afterschool program 3 days a week. Life teaching English in Lumbisi is never dull! The first day we had about 10 -15 students. That number has steadily increased until now we have 30-40 students in a day and have had to say we will not take any more kids. For the first week and a half we had one room, not enough chairs, very few resources, and were told to create our own curriculum. Nothing like being thrown right into things! We also had a bathroom door that was broken so it wasn't uncommon for children to get stuck in the bathroom during class. Now we have gained access to another room, enough chairs, are gaining access to a few more resources, and are getting the bathroom door fixed! The ages of the kids range from 4-14. I have been teaching the younger group which is about 15-20 4-9 year olds. Many of the kids are eager to learn and it is so fun to watch their faces as they struggle to remember how to say something and come up with the right words. Although I technically am the teacher many times it feels like they are my teachers as they help me as I struggle to find the spanish words I need during class. The program is 2 hours long, the first is English class while the second hour we help students with homework as well as have games available. Not every day is good but on those days I remember something my friend once told me, "Courage does not always roar, sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow." On those days when things don't go well, if the others on the bus on my way home listened carefully they would hear me under my breath saying, "I will try again tomorrow." Some days the kids will walk with me to the bus station and as the bus pulls out they all wave and yell "Goodbye Teacher" I open my window and yell Goodbye back to them. I get quite the looks from the other passengers on the bus when this ritual occurs but I just smile and think of the smiles on the faces of my students.
