I'm finally feeling like i'm really settled in, and that this is actually my new home for a while. I've spent a great deal of time in Latin America, but having so long in one place, and really getting to know the locals and this one little area of the world is quite a different experience. I teach until the afternoon on Fridays, and the last bus back to my house leaves Puyo at 8pm, so our weekends do not give us very much time to explore. This has obvious downsides...ie not being able to travel very much, or very far. On the other hand, we spend a lot of time hanging out together at the house, which is really nice and definitely helps my wallet! I do hope to do more travel...Ecuador is amazing and has so much to offer and tons to see...but for now, it is nice to really get settled in one place.
There are seven of us in the house now, five of us teaching and two working on the community development piece. Next week two more teachers come...its going to be a full house again! This means that Jess and I will be teaching less and observing and supervising more. It is definitely nice to have more helping hands and fresh ideas...its hard teaching so much, and in Spanish!! But its also a bit weird...I feel like these are my kids, and my classes...its odd to sort of be giving that up, especially when we are finally getting to know each other better and set up stronger relationships. Some of the kiddos are crazy though and hard to manage, and to actually have a day off once in a while does sound nice.
My birthday last week was lovely, albeit a bit strange to be away from home. My new little family here in Ecuador made it really nice though, and I had a good time ringing in my 23rd year. I spent the morning teaching at what is probably my easiest and calmest school, and after classes I discovered some of the cutest, most perfect, most adorable puppies to ever be created. Needless to say, I spent a great deal of time playing and cuddling them, and attempting to purchase/steal one. I am still hot on the pursuit, and am secretly hoping to bring one home when I go back tomorrow to teach again. I spent some time that afternoon dozing and reading in a hammock, and receiving phone calls from the northern hemisphere. Thanks to everyone who called me, its so amazingly nice to get calls from loved ones back at home. It really made my day. Then I was cooked a delicious Mexican-ish dinner, followed by some drinks, card games—we play a LOT of card games here—and general merriment. My friends also surprised me by turning on “in the jungle” and performing a dance for me, wearing nothing but leaves. I guess theres nothing quite like a birthday in the jungle.
We spent Saturday and Sunday doing a jungle trek with local guides who are students of ours at the adult english class. We trekked for a few hours each day, stopping to swim in some waterfalls and rivers, to pick and eat papayas and lemons, and to check out some cool snakes and other crawlies. Its a lot nicer to see insects outside, as opposed to your house, I can tell you that for sure. Spent the night camping out ...I always love roasting marshmallows and chatting around a fire, and this was no exception. We slept out under the stars...it was horribly uncomfortable and I kept thinking of my family sleeping that very same night at a Sheraton in Boston to celebrate MY birthday...but it was a good time all around. I was eaten alive by many creatures...I never in a million years thought that I would ever hate ants more than tarantulas, but I really really did for those two days. Your priorities change while living in the jungle! It was a challenging hike and we all returned muddy and sweaty and exhausted, but it was a really nice weekend.
What else is there to share....damn I was about to say that I finally found the question mark key on this computer...because I HAVE successfully used it in the past...but it just disappeared again. sad.
I am learning to drive stick...or manual, for those of you non americans who get confused when I say that. I’m very proud...still a bit shaky of course—literally—but ive put in probably close to 60 kilometers or so, maybe more, and im feeling confident that I will get better. Our truck is an absolute beast but I am learning to tame her. Terry, I look forward to trying to drive your car again when I get home, and we can see if i’ve really learned anything!
I have a new kitten named Medusa. She is tiny and, for the most part, cute. No one really wants her around, especially our other animals, but she is growing on me and makes pretty good and entertaining company. I think that I am slightly allergic to cats, but I choose to ignore that.
I am becomming a lot more self sufficient while living out here. You have to be creative and flexible, and need to rely on yourself and your wits a lot more. Ive learned so many little things and am learning to think much quicker on my feet...when you dont have a lot of resources, you need to manage somehow. Its still a learning process, but I should come back able to understand what i'm seeing under the hood of a car, how to change a gas tank, fix a generator, short wires and refuse them together, siphon gas from a car, cook meals with a great deal of improvization and great lack of ingredients...and thats just what ive been doing so far!! Im also hoping to learn to play poker, chess, and the guitar, and perfect the deceptive and seemingly simple art of cooking white rice--so much harder than it looks!! We've managed to make rice thats both mushy and crunchy all at once...and I even turned it a spectacular shade of purple once. Anyway, I hope to come home with lots of new tricks up my sleeve.
I miss you all loads. Is it a pretty fall? Step on an extra crunchy leaf for me! (ill step on an extra crunchy bug for you in return...)
