Yesterday, Alejha and Marco took us to church with them in the countryside. It was about a 45 minute drive and so beautiful with mountains and volcanos all around. I saw a horse in the back of a pickup truck but I didn´t get my camera out in time to take a picture, it was surely silly looking and I have no idea how they got it in there. Today, we say a lady walking 3 goats like they were dogs. Anyway, the church was AMAZING. It was at the top of a hill, or mountain, I don´t know and had an amazing view of the surrounding city and mountains. The church was a old English style home that was the chapel. It only holds about 25 people so that is where you kneel to pray and then the service is outside under tents. It is Catholic, and very casual. People brought their dogs with them as we sat outside. They had a pretty pond with awesome flowers and plants everywhere. We had to take a toll road there and there were people selling stuff as you waited in line....cool experience.
Today, we are at the hostel. It´s very nice. Our room has 2 beds and a set of bunk beds in it. I think if I come again, I will stay there. It´s pouring rain now and we are trying to get some last minute sightseeing and shopping done with what little money we have. Marco and Alexandria were gone already this morning when we left so we didn´t get to say goodbye. Alejha walked us to the car and we were all crying, even Alejha. She said she loves us, that she will never forget us and that she has a place in her heart for us. Very sweet family and I can´t wait to see them again, we are already befriending on Facebook...ha! We went to the orphanage today even though our last day was on Friday. We couldn´t go on Friday because I was too sick and I didn´t want to leave with out saying goodbye and helping out some more. It´s heart breaking to leave the kids and the people at the orphanage. They are so greatful for our work. Maria said when we come back, that we can live with them at the orphanage. The older kids were very upset about us leaving and were asking for something to remeber us by. We gave one of them my pink watch and melissa gave her slippers I think. They ended up giving us stuffed animals from Rosita, Johan and Nicole to take home... they didn´t buy them, they were from their beds, the ones that they play with. I´ll keep them forever.
When we got back to the hostel today, Marco was there to say goodbye. I am so glad he came because I am really going to miss them and I felt bed that we didn´t see him before we left. It´s pouring rain now and I hope it clears up soon. We´d like to walk around a bit before heading back to the hostel for the night.
My next post will probably be from the US tomorrow night. I can´t wait to see James after 16 days. I am so sad to leave here but so glad to see Jamie. Quito is lovely and I can´t wait to return. We have made so many friends and really, family here. I will never forget my stay in Ecuador and I can´t wait to return to do more work. Hopefully, with the organization that we are creating, we can continue to do some good here. They really need our help guys, so if you want to sponsor a child or donate anything at all, please contact me!
Goodbye Quito!!
Chao!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
The Center Of The World
Today I am feeling a little better and was well enough to do some sight seeing. Marco was gracious enough to drive us to the Equator and to see the famous Virgin Mary statue.
The equator was awesome and so much more than I expected. It was set up like a little village with indigenous shops, restaurants and museums. We saw the monument for the Center of the World and stood on the North and South sides of the hemisphere. I tried to balance an egg on the head of a nail. It had beautiful mountains surrounding it. In the South American bug museum, I held live Ecuadorian beetles and had my photo taken! Oh, there was also Coy (guinea pig) roasting at a vendor there..that is the only place that I have seen it. No, I didn´t try it (it still had it´s teeth) and yes, I took a photo.
After our 45 minute drive to the equator, Marco too us to see the Virgin Mary statue. It is huge! It is a very, very dangerous area to be in because it is such a tourist spot. Patrick says that every single person he has known to walk there has gotten robbed and beat up and that if we go, to take a cab and not walk there. I think Marco was worried about us and that is why he wanted to drive us there...we were much safer with a local Ecuadorian...especially a male. It started to pour raining so I didn´t get a lot of great photos but I wish I had..the view was amazing...you could see most of the city from up there. We paid to go inside of the statue...it is set up like the inside of a lighthouse...spiral stairs and each floor is set up like a museum.
Tonight, we may be checking out the night scene. There is a club area with outdoor vendors and things and I think we are going to walk around. I am not sure that I will be getting my groove on tonight since I am still not feeling well but I would LOVE to experience a salsa club.
Tomorrow I think we are going to just pack our bags and hang out at home. We leave for the Hostel in Quito Monday morning.
Chao!
The equator was awesome and so much more than I expected. It was set up like a little village with indigenous shops, restaurants and museums. We saw the monument for the Center of the World and stood on the North and South sides of the hemisphere. I tried to balance an egg on the head of a nail. It had beautiful mountains surrounding it. In the South American bug museum, I held live Ecuadorian beetles and had my photo taken! Oh, there was also Coy (guinea pig) roasting at a vendor there..that is the only place that I have seen it. No, I didn´t try it (it still had it´s teeth) and yes, I took a photo.
After our 45 minute drive to the equator, Marco too us to see the Virgin Mary statue. It is huge! It is a very, very dangerous area to be in because it is such a tourist spot. Patrick says that every single person he has known to walk there has gotten robbed and beat up and that if we go, to take a cab and not walk there. I think Marco was worried about us and that is why he wanted to drive us there...we were much safer with a local Ecuadorian...especially a male. It started to pour raining so I didn´t get a lot of great photos but I wish I had..the view was amazing...you could see most of the city from up there. We paid to go inside of the statue...it is set up like the inside of a lighthouse...spiral stairs and each floor is set up like a museum.
Tonight, we may be checking out the night scene. There is a club area with outdoor vendors and things and I think we are going to walk around. I am not sure that I will be getting my groove on tonight since I am still not feeling well but I would LOVE to experience a salsa club.
Tomorrow I think we are going to just pack our bags and hang out at home. We leave for the Hostel in Quito Monday morning.
Chao!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
It´s rainy in Quito today
Today I am feeling a little better but still sick. I was able to work today at the orphanage and it was pretty loco. We did have a short time where most of the kids were sleeping and that was nice and peaceful. I don´t know what Roxanna does without us there because with the 5 of us, we are tired all of the time. Sarah was returned to the orphanage today but was not in day care. We don´t know anything other than the fact she was returned yesterday. Rosa was out today too..we are hoping she is ok.
We didn´t do a lot of walking today because of the rain. Katie got us Pizza Hut for lunch and it was the first time I had something from here that tasted like home... it was soo good, especially after a rough few days for all of us. We headed to Super Maxi to get groceries. Tomorrow, we are making dinner for our home stay family and they are soooo pleased. The grocery stores here are much like home...there are a few differences. One is that most things come in bags...like Milk and Juice. We got ground beef today and it was only $1.50 I think. The eggs are not refriderated, they just sit on shelves, even at home. The people that work the registers and bag your stuff, wear little sailor type hats. They don´t actually bag your groceries though..they just stand there...we bag our own. One of the grocery stores, you have to leave your bags at the front of the store...purse and everything. They have an attendent that takes your bags and gives you a little card with a number on it that you exchange at when you leave the store. We haven´t had a problem with it at all.
We are about to head back to the house. It´s cold and rainy today. It´s only the 3rd time it has rained since we have been here...the other two times it was only for a short time and it cleared up but now, it has been raining since last night. We learned how to play ¨bull shit¨last night and are going to teach Sebastian. He´s the sweetest and most polite 12 year old ever. I told him I wanted him to come home with me to the States..I meant that I liked him and that he was a nice boy...I think he got a little freaked out like, ¨this strange person just asked me to come with them to the states¨...lol....oops.
Jamie had a appt with his surgeon today and yesterday...waiting on the results!
Chao!
We didn´t do a lot of walking today because of the rain. Katie got us Pizza Hut for lunch and it was the first time I had something from here that tasted like home... it was soo good, especially after a rough few days for all of us. We headed to Super Maxi to get groceries. Tomorrow, we are making dinner for our home stay family and they are soooo pleased. The grocery stores here are much like home...there are a few differences. One is that most things come in bags...like Milk and Juice. We got ground beef today and it was only $1.50 I think. The eggs are not refriderated, they just sit on shelves, even at home. The people that work the registers and bag your stuff, wear little sailor type hats. They don´t actually bag your groceries though..they just stand there...we bag our own. One of the grocery stores, you have to leave your bags at the front of the store...purse and everything. They have an attendent that takes your bags and gives you a little card with a number on it that you exchange at when you leave the store. We haven´t had a problem with it at all.
We are about to head back to the house. It´s cold and rainy today. It´s only the 3rd time it has rained since we have been here...the other two times it was only for a short time and it cleared up but now, it has been raining since last night. We learned how to play ¨bull shit¨last night and are going to teach Sebastian. He´s the sweetest and most polite 12 year old ever. I told him I wanted him to come home with me to the States..I meant that I liked him and that he was a nice boy...I think he got a little freaked out like, ¨this strange person just asked me to come with them to the states¨...lol....oops.
Jamie had a appt with his surgeon today and yesterday...waiting on the results!
Chao!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Today, not so good
I have been in bed all day, sick. Maria says I should go to the hospital but I think I am getting a little better. I didn´t go to the orphanage today beacuse of it and I really hope that tomorrow brings better news so I can go. Katie wasn´t well and ended up leaving early and then Melissa and Chelsea stayed but got lost on the way to the Hostel for the spanish lesson. It´s been a day for all of us.
On a good note, Baby Sarah was brought back to the orphanage today, yes!! Our prayers have been answered!
I am out now to go to the pharmacy and back to the house. Will check in later!
On a good note, Baby Sarah was brought back to the orphanage today, yes!! Our prayers have been answered!
I am out now to go to the pharmacy and back to the house. Will check in later!
Monday, April 26, 2010
By myself in Quito isn´t so bad
Today I don´t feel well at all. I have a very sore throat and a really upset stomach. I have had a slight upset stomach since I have been here along with a slight headache. Patrick says that it is altitude sickness. I think it is a mixture of that and the fact that Aunt Flow is visiting. Ugh. I am not worried at all being by myself here...it feels very safe, especially where we live in La Floresta. The kids play soccer in the street in front of our house...very peaceful with the views but the dogs barking sometimes is crazy!
We went to the Santa Maria store to buy baby wipes, shampoo and conditioner for the orphanage. We then walked to the project and I was feeling even worse. I took a taxi home and the others are at the orphanage. I feel really guilty that I didn´t stay but Melissa is right, I can´t do much good when I am sick there...plus, what if I get them sick...I didn´t realize until I got home that I forgot to get the house key from Melissa. The host family is not home so I am locked out. I am at a small internet cafe by the house for only a little bit because I hardly brought money with me today...of all days. Oh man!
Patrick brought us a power drill today to fix the playground but there are no drill bits in it. Tomorrow I might check at the store for some drill bits so we can actually use it. Without this, we cannot finish the playground.
I am heading back to the house and hopefully someone will be there so I can lay down. Will check in tomorrow probably!
We went to the Santa Maria store to buy baby wipes, shampoo and conditioner for the orphanage. We then walked to the project and I was feeling even worse. I took a taxi home and the others are at the orphanage. I feel really guilty that I didn´t stay but Melissa is right, I can´t do much good when I am sick there...plus, what if I get them sick...I didn´t realize until I got home that I forgot to get the house key from Melissa. The host family is not home so I am locked out. I am at a small internet cafe by the house for only a little bit because I hardly brought money with me today...of all days. Oh man!
Patrick brought us a power drill today to fix the playground but there are no drill bits in it. Tomorrow I might check at the store for some drill bits so we can actually use it. Without this, we cannot finish the playground.
I am heading back to the house and hopefully someone will be there so I can lay down. Will check in tomorrow probably!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Art and handicraft market shopping
Today was relaxing. We walked in the park and through the art and handicraft market. I really want to come home with a painting so I searching for a good deal. There were some creepy men there but it was fine and we held on to our bags a little tighter. We actually feel really safe here, especially at home. When we were in La Ronda yesterday, a random man stopped to tell us to watch our bags because they are likely to be stolen there. La Floresta in Quito is where our home is and apparently, it is the nicest part of town. We are starting to learn the streets a little better and it´s getting easier to tell the cab driver how to get us home. Thank goodness for Katie because she understands spanish.
It looks like rain today and we are about to head home. Everything is pretty much closed up on Sunday´s but the internet cafe is open, yay! We are about to head home and get ready for dinner and then church. I think Alejha said she was making spaghetti tonight...so now we are rethinking what we will be making them for dinner on wednesday...we were going to make chicken parm. Tonight, after dinner we are going to church with Alejha. I don´t know if anyone else from the house will be attending. They are catholic, just like 80% of Ecuadorians are. The churches here are amazing...huge cathedrals. I can´t wait to see Alejha´s church!
Tomorrow starts week 2 at Remar...we are just now recovering from last week!
It looks like rain today and we are about to head home. Everything is pretty much closed up on Sunday´s but the internet cafe is open, yay! We are about to head home and get ready for dinner and then church. I think Alejha said she was making spaghetti tonight...so now we are rethinking what we will be making them for dinner on wednesday...we were going to make chicken parm. Tonight, after dinner we are going to church with Alejha. I don´t know if anyone else from the house will be attending. They are catholic, just like 80% of Ecuadorians are. The churches here are amazing...huge cathedrals. I can´t wait to see Alejha´s church!
Tomorrow starts week 2 at Remar...we are just now recovering from last week!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Old Town, Quito
Today was a great day! We went down to Old Town, Quito to explore. We got to see all of the amazing buildings and the Palace where the president lives. We posed for pics with the palace guards and they were very nice. Old Town is packed with people and traffic. There are tons of food vendors, beggars, street kids and shops in Old Town. We even got to ride on a horse drawn carriage for at least 30 minutes and it only cost us $4.00!! We had great views of the mountains, old european buildings and the famous statue of the Virgin Mary. After walking around all day, we had a really hard time finding a cab...we tried for over an hour but finally found one. I am not sure what the plan is for the rest of the day but tonight I think we might watch some movies we got at the store...new movies for $1.50!
We are off to get lunch...
Chao!
We are off to get lunch...
Chao!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
