Well, Friday, after many days of waiting and setbacks, we finally left the civilization that is Quito to take our posts in Bua.
We left from the Yanapuma office as part of a cavalcade of Gringos once again and were finally on the Santo Domingo bound bus, that had people sitting on stools in the aisles and standing in the aisles. When we finally got to Santo Domingo de los Colorados, I was kind of taken aback by the fact that it is the shithole that Andy said it was. To my eyes, it very much resembles the final outpost of humanity in a post apocolyptic world. All I saw was half abandoned, half constructed urban desolation and a road that was supposed to be worked on but was just in the stage between destruction and reconstruction.
A cab ride down a single road littered with potholes the size of bomb craters later, we reached the home of la familia Wilson, where we will be staying during our time in Bua.
They let us stay in their little Casita, and, with our own stove, they are letting us cook for ourselves at a discounted rate, because the last volunteers they had were vegans who refused to eat anything that was prepared. Score one for Monkey and Noodle.
Our stay in Bua so far has been pretty good for the most part, except for the torrents of mosquitos. On Saturday, we went to Santo Domingo to buy some supplies like pots, a pan, a mosquito net and pillows. Alas, the only mosquito net available is hot pink with flowers and smiling bees on it. I have concluded that this is from the Third World Barbie collection. Not too sure how well it works...
Saturday night was fun, we played some pool and talked with some of the locals. Things certainly are different here. People get married REALLY young, and it´s totally normal to have at least one kid by the age of 20. Craziness....
Anyway, Sunday, Michelle and I spent most of the day looking for and hanging out at the cultural center at Shinopi. We must have asked 7 different people where Shinopi was, and the second to last time that we did so, we found out that we had overshot our destination by a 20-30 minute walk, and our destination is an hour´s walk from our house. We gave up on trying to find it after being led to the 2nd river where everyone said it was- there was nothing that let us know WHERE the center was. So, we decided to find a place in the river to bathe.
As we were walking through the river, someone saw us and our pale skin and concluded correctly that we were looking for the cultural center. We followed him up the river bank to the cultural center and sat down to hang out.
After a while a truck load full of new volunteers, all English except for one from California, unloaded at the center, and we had a nice introduction and whathave you. In addition, we ate the best bananas and oranges I´ve ever had, mainly because they were picked fresh from the trees. After a while we walked back to the house.
Monday, we woke up and Michelle concluded that she was either getting a cold or allergies, and we decided that this would be a great day to visit the Shaman, after meeting with Guillermo, the director of the school.
After our meeting, we found a Tsa´chila man and he said that we could get a ride to the Shaman with someone. After 20 minutes of the men trying to decide how to write something on a poster or what pen to use, we were shown into a truck, and the truck dropped us off at a house. We asked what we were supposed to do at this point, and he just left. Great. Fortunately we caught the bus and took it to the cultural center where we found out that we WERE at the Shaman´s house (and turns out the Shaman is more of a Sham), but then someone said he would take us to a lady in the next town over who knows about medicine and herbs and could help her. We went there on the back of a truck, and she gave us some pills and a recipe to make a type of lemonade that would help.
We went back to the center and finally washed up in the river. It is very nice to be clean. also hung out a little bit with the other volunteers, and took the bus back to our house. We made the tea, and in addition to being really tasty, actually helped Michelle´s breathing a little bit.
Tuesday we went to the school for a round meeting with the director, and I learned the true depth of my project. I, along with a British flautist whose only here for 2 weeks and speaks like no Spanish, are building the music program from basically nothing, with the help of the few people who know how to play the instruments. It´s a little daunting.
Also, I really have no experience in teaching outside of my few months with HAP. So, I´m going to be talking with Hugh, a British teacher, about classroom organization, and researching stuff on line. It´s a little scary, but it´s basically what I signed up for. Don´t know how I feel about that yet, hahahaha.
We´re in Santo Domingo right now, researching, and we´re also going to be getting some more fruit and veggies, which aren´t really available (bananas excluded) in Bua. Looks like to buy food we´ll be coming out here 1-2 times per week, so it might be more frequent you read these.
¡TTFN!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Times in Quito
Hey everyone,
I know it´s been a while, I´m sorry, it´s been very busy.
Spanish lessons are going very well, my teacher is really good, and even took me and Michelle and her teacher into the city to walk around and see the historic sites. It´s such an amazingly awesome historical city that you can spend a long time there.
Then, Friday night, we hopped the trolley and then the bus and went out to Otavalo.
Otavalo is a mostly indigenous city in Ecuador that is best known for its world-famous artesania market. Sure enough, it deserves its world famous status. The market happens every day in the central town square, but on Saturdays, the market spills out for blocks in every direction, with people selling everything from handmade alpaca hats to jewelry to musical instruments.
Lots of fun practical things were bought (Including a llama sweater with hood), and I redeemed my Graduation present- Michelle bought me a guitar and a case for when we´re traveling. This guitar is very nice and was probably the least expensive guitar we found- yet it still sounded better than most other ones I´ve tried. It sounds fantastic!
We then went to a bar to check out some live musica foklo´rica. The band was really awesome, and the energy of such music reminds me a little bit of punk rock, if you can believe that.
We came back to Quito on Sunday, and resumed normal activities on Monday. Unfortunately, Michelle got sick that day. She´s better now, but we suspect it may have been food poisoning from the gringo restaurant downstairs. It figures...after all, they put the toppings UNDER the cheese...AMERICAN cheese...on the pizza...the one bloody gringo place we go to....
We went to the doctor on Tuesday, she got some medication, and she´ll be fine...she´s already better and even smiley :)
Anywho, we learned today that we might be going out to Bua by next Wednesday. It would be wonderful if this is the case.
The homestay is going pretty well, good for practicing Spanish, and for the occasional foray into trashy American TV. Rarely, but it´s there. Also, it´s good for the food. She´s a really good cook, and even lets us cook our own breakfast, but we´ve concluded that she doesn´t fully comprehend "vegetarian"- She´s offered us sausage at least once, and I found a piece of what appeared to be chicken gristle or something meat-like in my soup last night. That being said, we´ve actually eaten quite well, and I have few culinary complaints. I have concluded that a fantastic addition to a breakfast is a croissant with either this milk/vanilla/caramel type spread or jelly, with a banana. This is especially fantastic, because the only thing I need for lunch is a bag of peanuts...I feel as if I am turning into an elephant considering the amount of mani´ or cacahuates that I eat these days.
Anyway, I think that´s about all I have for this addition of...
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF EVERYWHEREEEEEEEEE (cue really bad dramatic music)
I know it´s been a while, I´m sorry, it´s been very busy.
Spanish lessons are going very well, my teacher is really good, and even took me and Michelle and her teacher into the city to walk around and see the historic sites. It´s such an amazingly awesome historical city that you can spend a long time there.
Then, Friday night, we hopped the trolley and then the bus and went out to Otavalo.
Otavalo is a mostly indigenous city in Ecuador that is best known for its world-famous artesania market. Sure enough, it deserves its world famous status. The market happens every day in the central town square, but on Saturdays, the market spills out for blocks in every direction, with people selling everything from handmade alpaca hats to jewelry to musical instruments.
Lots of fun practical things were bought (Including a llama sweater with hood), and I redeemed my Graduation present- Michelle bought me a guitar and a case for when we´re traveling. This guitar is very nice and was probably the least expensive guitar we found- yet it still sounded better than most other ones I´ve tried. It sounds fantastic!
We then went to a bar to check out some live musica foklo´rica. The band was really awesome, and the energy of such music reminds me a little bit of punk rock, if you can believe that.
We came back to Quito on Sunday, and resumed normal activities on Monday. Unfortunately, Michelle got sick that day. She´s better now, but we suspect it may have been food poisoning from the gringo restaurant downstairs. It figures...after all, they put the toppings UNDER the cheese...AMERICAN cheese...on the pizza...the one bloody gringo place we go to....
We went to the doctor on Tuesday, she got some medication, and she´ll be fine...she´s already better and even smiley :)
Anywho, we learned today that we might be going out to Bua by next Wednesday. It would be wonderful if this is the case.
The homestay is going pretty well, good for practicing Spanish, and for the occasional foray into trashy American TV. Rarely, but it´s there. Also, it´s good for the food. She´s a really good cook, and even lets us cook our own breakfast, but we´ve concluded that she doesn´t fully comprehend "vegetarian"- She´s offered us sausage at least once, and I found a piece of what appeared to be chicken gristle or something meat-like in my soup last night. That being said, we´ve actually eaten quite well, and I have few culinary complaints. I have concluded that a fantastic addition to a breakfast is a croissant with either this milk/vanilla/caramel type spread or jelly, with a banana. This is especially fantastic, because the only thing I need for lunch is a bag of peanuts...I feel as if I am turning into an elephant considering the amount of mani´ or cacahuates that I eat these days.
Anyway, I think that´s about all I have for this addition of...
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF EVERYWHEREEEEEEEEE (cue really bad dramatic music)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Ecuador time!
So, after getting bumped off our Ecuador flight, getting waylayed in Bogota and receiving a free flight voucher, we made it safely to Quito last night.
We took a cab to our homestay house, and today we are going to begin our Spanish lessons at the Yanapuma Spanish school.
Our homestay seems very nice, they let us cook for ourselves this morning, which is most excellent.
Anyway, we´ll be here for roughly a week, and there´s internet access at the Spanish school, so updates may be small but frequent.
Cheers!
We took a cab to our homestay house, and today we are going to begin our Spanish lessons at the Yanapuma Spanish school.
Our homestay seems very nice, they let us cook for ourselves this morning, which is most excellent.
Anyway, we´ll be here for roughly a week, and there´s internet access at the Spanish school, so updates may be small but frequent.
Cheers!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Ecuador Eve...
Well, here it is, the ass end of our Central American travels! Tomorrow, at 1025 in the morning, we take off from San Jose, Costa Rica, and should be landing in Quito, Ecuador by around 130...Pretty exciting, huh...
Let´s recap.
The show on Sunday was actualy pretty cool, it made me really happy to see that this music connects with people across linguistic barriers, like I know almost all music does.
It also made me feel like an old friggin´geezer!
Yesterday we walked around San Jose. It´s a pretty cool city, and MUCH more developed than ANYWHERE we´ve been so far.
Today we hit up a few museums, though the highlight of our excursion was by far the Children´s Museum. There were so many amazing, Hands-on exhibits, that, were I a mere 8 years old, I could have spent the whole day there and not have a care in the world. Exhibits included an AIRPLANE and a HELICOPTER. Jealousy from my internal 8year old rings loud...
Anyway, the Central American experience has been very positive. I definately feel more confident in my Spanish skills (but could always use more), and feel like I will do alright in Ecuador which has me really excited.
Anyway, there are lots of highlights and I will discuss them now...
Suchitoto, El Salvador- While looking for a hostel that may or may not still exist, we were approached by the matriarch of a new one. She gave us a good rate and cooked us some really excellent food. We also found bagels here, and hung out in a bar owned by a former FMLN guerila.
On a similar note is Perquin, the former FMLN headquarters, where we received a tour from a former guerilla, of the revolutionary museum.
Xela, Guatemala- The home stay made this a highlight, not to mention that the city as a whole radiates a really cool, authentic vibe.
Snorkeling in Bocas Del Toro, Panama- I snorkeled on a coral reef. That´s all I need to say. Add to that, running into two people that I had some degree of connection to- had a class with one of them, and shared a hometown with the other. Craziness.
Volcano boarding in Leon- I slid down a volcano. I SLID DOWN A VOLCANO. And hurt myself in the process...
Now lets talk about the food....
El Salvador had by far the best food all around. First of all, PUPUSA is the word. Greasy, yes, but cheesey and oh so delicious...get one with beans, add some hot sauce, and you just spent less than $.35 on food that will fill you for at least a few hours.
Also, the owner of our hostel in Suchitoto made quite possibly the most fantastic pasta sauce in the world. Simple, consisting solely of tomato and garlic, yet AMAZING.
Also springs to mind is the Torta de Chaco, which Rodrigo treated us to when we first arrived in San Jose...simply put, one of the best sandwiches I´ve eaten.
Gallo Pinto- let´s talk about this staple food throughout Central America...basically, it´s just rice and beans in some sort of mix, arrangement, or weird ass mold. Simple, but when you get it fresh and well seasoned, and maybe with a bit of salsa picante, delicious is the only word that comes to mind.
And, while I don´t really consider Bocas Del Toro part of the real Central American experience, we had some really tasty Carribbean style food, from Lili´s veggie special and veggie plate (with garlic bread) doused in their Killin´me Man! pepper sauce, to the vegetarian carribbean cuisine whipped up by some crazy rasta, Oh man, was it delicious.
And we never got sick, knock on wood. Also, America needs to do something about its juice problem. They make it much better here. They put fresh fruit, some water and maybe some sugar into a blender and make it into one fresh fruit licuado. And it´s cheaper than soda almost 100% of the time. And it´s better for you, none of those preservatives. Tamarindo and Pineapple, I think make the best licuados....
Anyway, that´s the roundup of Central America. WHen I can, I´ll begin to keep tabs on South America. Until then, I have to slog my way through airport hell tomorrow...
Let´s recap.
The show on Sunday was actualy pretty cool, it made me really happy to see that this music connects with people across linguistic barriers, like I know almost all music does.
It also made me feel like an old friggin´geezer!
Yesterday we walked around San Jose. It´s a pretty cool city, and MUCH more developed than ANYWHERE we´ve been so far.
Today we hit up a few museums, though the highlight of our excursion was by far the Children´s Museum. There were so many amazing, Hands-on exhibits, that, were I a mere 8 years old, I could have spent the whole day there and not have a care in the world. Exhibits included an AIRPLANE and a HELICOPTER. Jealousy from my internal 8year old rings loud...
Anyway, the Central American experience has been very positive. I definately feel more confident in my Spanish skills (but could always use more), and feel like I will do alright in Ecuador which has me really excited.
Anyway, there are lots of highlights and I will discuss them now...
Suchitoto, El Salvador- While looking for a hostel that may or may not still exist, we were approached by the matriarch of a new one. She gave us a good rate and cooked us some really excellent food. We also found bagels here, and hung out in a bar owned by a former FMLN guerila.
On a similar note is Perquin, the former FMLN headquarters, where we received a tour from a former guerilla, of the revolutionary museum.
Xela, Guatemala- The home stay made this a highlight, not to mention that the city as a whole radiates a really cool, authentic vibe.
Snorkeling in Bocas Del Toro, Panama- I snorkeled on a coral reef. That´s all I need to say. Add to that, running into two people that I had some degree of connection to- had a class with one of them, and shared a hometown with the other. Craziness.
Volcano boarding in Leon- I slid down a volcano. I SLID DOWN A VOLCANO. And hurt myself in the process...
Now lets talk about the food....
El Salvador had by far the best food all around. First of all, PUPUSA is the word. Greasy, yes, but cheesey and oh so delicious...get one with beans, add some hot sauce, and you just spent less than $.35 on food that will fill you for at least a few hours.
Also, the owner of our hostel in Suchitoto made quite possibly the most fantastic pasta sauce in the world. Simple, consisting solely of tomato and garlic, yet AMAZING.
Also springs to mind is the Torta de Chaco, which Rodrigo treated us to when we first arrived in San Jose...simply put, one of the best sandwiches I´ve eaten.
Gallo Pinto- let´s talk about this staple food throughout Central America...basically, it´s just rice and beans in some sort of mix, arrangement, or weird ass mold. Simple, but when you get it fresh and well seasoned, and maybe with a bit of salsa picante, delicious is the only word that comes to mind.
And, while I don´t really consider Bocas Del Toro part of the real Central American experience, we had some really tasty Carribbean style food, from Lili´s veggie special and veggie plate (with garlic bread) doused in their Killin´me Man! pepper sauce, to the vegetarian carribbean cuisine whipped up by some crazy rasta, Oh man, was it delicious.
And we never got sick, knock on wood. Also, America needs to do something about its juice problem. They make it much better here. They put fresh fruit, some water and maybe some sugar into a blender and make it into one fresh fruit licuado. And it´s cheaper than soda almost 100% of the time. And it´s better for you, none of those preservatives. Tamarindo and Pineapple, I think make the best licuados....
Anyway, that´s the roundup of Central America. WHen I can, I´ll begin to keep tabs on South America. Until then, I have to slog my way through airport hell tomorrow...
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Costa Rica
Hello,
I´m currently at an internet cafe in Guadalupe, Costa Rica, waiting for a hardcore show to get started, which is pretty exciting.
We´re staying at the home of Michelle´s friend´s father, and it´s quite a nice situation for us. It´s surprisingly cold here!!!
Anyway, Boquete and David, Panama both decided to be rather uneventful, but our hostel in David made it much more fun. We leave for Ecuador in just a few days, which is equally scary and exciting.
Isadora (Our friend/coworker)´s family is really nice, and have been taking care of us quite nicely. I´m really enjoying this time, it´s pretty relaxing in between two doses of potential insanity (the traveling down through CA and the volunteering). Other than that, it´s not too eventful, and everything is going pretty well. Ta ta for now!!!
I´m currently at an internet cafe in Guadalupe, Costa Rica, waiting for a hardcore show to get started, which is pretty exciting.
We´re staying at the home of Michelle´s friend´s father, and it´s quite a nice situation for us. It´s surprisingly cold here!!!
Anyway, Boquete and David, Panama both decided to be rather uneventful, but our hostel in David made it much more fun. We leave for Ecuador in just a few days, which is equally scary and exciting.
Isadora (Our friend/coworker)´s family is really nice, and have been taking care of us quite nicely. I´m really enjoying this time, it´s pretty relaxing in between two doses of potential insanity (the traveling down through CA and the volunteering). Other than that, it´s not too eventful, and everything is going pretty well. Ta ta for now!!!
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