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Proud Indigenous Women
Dona Fanny (center) is one of my favorite ladies in the village. Love their felted wool fedora hats -- attractive and practical ! Once again I returned to Malingua Pamba, the indigenous village high in the Andes where I've been working with Engineers Without Borders for the past four years. This was my 12th visit to this village. At the end of March I met Pam and the first group of volunteers at Quito airport, along with 25 boxes of donations. We spent a couple of days in Latacunga, a town halfway to the village, where we met with the Provincial director of the Department of Education as well as the Rector of the Universidad where several graduates of the village high school are now studying on scholarship. Although Pam's Spanish has improved greatly since I first met her in 2003, she still likes to have me along to interpret for these official meetings.
We then headed up the mountain in my trusty pick-up. Along with Pam were three great guys (Mike, Chris & Daniel -- in their 20's, 40's & 60's -- alas, none of them single!) As always, our arrival in the village was greeted with music, dancing and much joy! A group of women who had been sent to learn about organic gardens showed Pam
Paulino & Elvia, Our Hosts
This is the couple who came down to visit me on the coast last fall. He's the president of the community and his wife is our cook. the vegetables they'd produced in their kitchen gardens. Now that each home its own water tap, they can grow crops to feed their families (as well as bathe and wash clothes more easily!) The next day I was on hand to help run and interpret for a meeting of the 104 residents who benefit from the water project.
During her stay Pam had dozens of projects planned. Chris overhauled the computer lab, a mish-mash of donated computers in various states of repair. Mike & Daniel did some electrical repairs, and all three taught courses in electricity and computer maintenance. Pam gave sewing lessons, taught English, tutored math. I helped unpack & sort the contents boxes of donations. More than half the boxes contained children's clothes and shoes so we decided to set up a "freebie garage sale" --based on the water users' participation and attendance in community water meetings and maintenance of the tanks, they would be permitted to select a certain number of items.
After just a few days in the village I headed back to Quito (a four hour drive) to
Fruit Stand at the Crossroads
Before heading up to the high Andean village, we stopped along the Panamerican Hwy to buy fruit near the road that leads up from the coast. take Daniel to the airport and to pick up three more volunteers, Suzal, Lark & Drew. The plan was to take the new arrivals on a short sight-seeing trip before heading up to the village. We enjoyed the colorful Saquisili market and set off on the backroads to reach the village. Unfortunately, it began to pour down rain and after several hours' drive up and up our progress was thwarted by a massive mudslide at the summit of a steep slope. I had to back down the hill gazing nervously at precipitous drop-offs. The mud pulls and sucks the wheels into the ditches and it was a pretty intense moment for me. Drew guided me over a narrow bridge to a spot that was wide enough to turn around. He tested the mud and helped me maneuver without getting stuck. Whew!
We went back to the main road and drove several more hours to take the standard approach to the village but alas, this route was blocked as well. They've been working on improving this road and the heavy equipment had just finished for the day, leaving a 300 meter stretch of deep,
Local Musicians
As part of the welcome festivities, the local band struck up a chord (the same chord over and over!) The flute is just a piece of PVC tubing with holes! rutted mud with slick edges. A bus had just backed up and warned me that there was no way I could pass, so fortunately I had advance warning and could hang back in a wide-ish curve in the road. We decided to return to the town, 2 hrs away and spend the night. I had spent over 7 hours driving in rough conditions, unable to reach the village.
That night we contacted Pam up in the village. She had a stellar suggestion and I whole-heartedly agreed. We contacted Marcelo who agreed to drive us up the next day in his 4WD vehicle. Morci was to stay garaged in town. It was actually fortuitous that we were staying in a hotel with a good WiFi signal. (Needless to day, there is no internet in the village)With Chris's help (via an expensive cell phone call), Drew was able to use my computer to download a driver for one of the donated printers that hadn't arrived with an installation disc. Because of our long-distance teamwork, the computer lab now has a working printer!
Marcelo had made some calls and
Celia & Her Harvest
A group of village women was sent on an organic gardening wkshp in a town several hours frm the village. This lady proudly shares her produce. found out that the only way the roads were clear was via a long-roundabout route. Four hours of twisty cobbled road and a bit of carsickness later (I often get nauseous when I'm in the passenger seat!) we finally arrived in the village! Drew & Lark have long supported Pam's school project (sponsoring students with donations) and they were eager to see the village. Suzal had begun a mural-painting project a year early and was all ready to continue work on it. Alas, it rained most of the time that the second group of volunteers was in the village. Marcelo came to pick us up (the road work on the direct route was now complete) and we were reunited with Morci. Pam and Suzal headed up to Quito and Drew, Lark and I went south to Banos.
I was hired by Drew & Lark to show them around for the next week. We spent a few nights in Banos, staying at one of my favorite guest houses in Banos. After the "rustic" accomodations in the village, we all enjoyed the good food and comfortable digs. I knew it would be long drive from
Come Shop For Free!!
I spent a day sorting through the donations and the next morning displayed them for easy selection. Click on next at the end for more photos of this event! Banos down to the coast, but we had to deal with a flat tire (and my spare had gone flat as well!), so we lost two hours. Having said that, everyone who helped us along the way was so helpful. As they gave us a lift back into town with the two flat tires, they offered us bananas and oranges. Once the tires were repaired, the bus who gave us a lift refused to accept a dime. I realize that sometimes tough situations emerge just to remind us to appreciate the kindness of strangers.
I am now with Drew and Lark in Puerto Lopez, staying at Hosteria Mandala as a guest! This is the hotel were I've filled in as substitute manager several times in the past few years. It's such a treat to enjoy this beautiful place and not be working! I've caught up with a few friends, visited the little school where I'm the godmother, checked in on my cabanas, swum in the lagoon and enjoyed yummy seafood. Tomorrow I head back to the village, this time to act as interpreter for volunteer American dentists who are setting up a 2-day
Computer Maintenance Course
Chris taught basic computer care, for example how to clean a mouse or properly shut down the CPU. clinic. Drew & Lark will stay on at Mandala to enjoy the beach for a few more days. Let's hope that my long drive up the Andes is uneventful!
I'd like to thank Chris & Mike & Pam for allowing me to use some of their village photos in this blog entry. It was hard to decide which pix to include -- I hope you enjoy the ones I have chosen! Be sure to scroll down to the bottom and click on next for the last few photos. In just 10 days I'll be back in the US, helping my dad to celebrate his 85th birthday. I look forward to visiting family and catching up with old friends!
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Rachel
non-member comment
So fun to see everyone through your photos and to read about the trip! Did you get to meet Willian's new wife, and do you have a picture you could send to me? She must be due very soon (if I remember correctly), or has she already had the baby? Hope you're well!