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Published: December 29th 2008
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Starting with the 10th of December, I jusdged many rounds of speeling bees for the classes from kindergarten until 7th grade. We had winners and losers, some poeple that took it well, others that were sore losers but generally both teachers and students had lots of fun, and so did I as a judge, although sometimes I would feel bad for some of the students. Especially watching how scared some of them were! I made a batch of banana bread/cake which I planned to share for the feast the next day the 11th in the evening, but then about 40 people showed up and I realized i definitely did not have enough and so we took it home with us and I shared it with my family. On the 11th in the morning I judged more rounds of spelling bees for the highschool students and then we played a soccer match of students against teachers (all female) and the teachers won 2-1 with my goals. Again it was a really fun game and both the students and the teachers came off the pitch smiling and happy for a good fun game. Later that day I called home to talk to Brucie
and wish him a happy birthday and talked to everyone else except my dearly beloved mama! Who I missed hearing her voice... After a 15 minute conversation that got pretty expensive it was time to sign off and get back to the Radio to help my dad make sandwiches for the feast and also practice with the band quickly before we presented our music in the feast. The feast was great, very happy and upbeat with lots of singing and dancing and fun! ON Friday the 12th we had an award ceremony in the school and our music group performed in front of the whole school which was a bit nerve-wracking but we got a lot of positive feedback afterwards. Then in the evening I had my weekly devotional and all my family and neighbors were over and we had tea and crackers and lots of fun conversation and talk about how Kendy and little Tamia are growing up so fast and how their vocabulary and want to talk is rapidly growing!
I spent Saturday morning with Fabiola and Claudia at Claudia's house, eating panckaes and watching cartoons with Yazid. Then we had lunch and some relaly nice fresh fruit
juice and I had to rush off to a soccer game in Iluman which we won 11-0! On Sunday I also had a match in the morning which we won 4-0 and then I hung out with the neighbors, reading stories to Mari all afternoon and spooning her carrot juice becuase she was sick in bed and wasn't supposed to move. Then later that night I went out dancing with Nancy and the two Fabiolas Mary, Joselito and Eduardo and we had lots of fun, all until someone thought it would be funny to throw a gas bomb and the disco had to be evacuated and we all walked home still trying to recover our breath and not cough to death!
On Monday I had a regular day of school, but it was made even more exciting becuase of the expectation of Noah's arrival later the same night. I had made all the plans of where we would stay the night, how to get to and from the airport and so all that was left was to make the trip in to Quito! I felt very antsy on the bus, excited for Noah's arrival and so even though we had
to wait a good long time for him to pick up his bags and clear customs (due to the fact that there were so many people traveling it being so clsoe to christmas) he finally walked through the doors and we started talking about his trip and what were his first impressions of Ecuador and Quito and the people, even though he had just gotten here!
And so the days from the 16th until today the 26th when we had to say goodbye and I watched him drive away at 5 in the morning in the taxi to the airport, were filled with many adventures! We did a lot of walking and hiking and trying new foods and shopping for presents and after having integrated myself as a local, I was able to "turn tourist" and visit all the local attractions and take lots of pictures and explore and learn more about the region, which has also helped me decide on some of the things I would like to do with my family when they come visit. All the people in the school and the bar and the Baha'í community of Otavalo were enchanted by Noah, and generally people here
were astounded by his height and lots of little children gawked and stared. Feeling tall myself, I can only imagine how out of place and large he must have felt also! IN quito on the 16th we visited the Panecillo, a huge statue of the Virgin Mary protecting the city and then had lunch with Rachel and her friends and visited the MItad del Mundo, the middle of the earth, also known as the ecuator. Then late that night we were back in Otavalo, meeting my family and our Otavaln adventures started! The first day (17th) we tried to hike to some lakes which were supposedly nearby, and after 45 minutes of walking we encountered a sign for the lakes being 15km away! So becuase it was late in the day, we decided to turn around and try a different route back home, which involved crossing a river and climbing on hands and knees and having a great time!
Unfortunately, I lost the text for all the rest of this and do not feel like writing it all up again, so in brief, the adventures involved walking to the Peguche waterfalls, San Pablo lake and after a lot of pondering
and asking of directions El Lechero (translation: the Milkman) becuase when you break off a leaf it milks. We got back frizzled and frazzled, I recieved many comments with respect to my appearance! We had a soccer game on Saturday which we lost due to disunity in the team and nerves becuase the other team was an hour late, and we also did a lot of present shopping in the morning. Sunday we had a unity feast and Noah helped me with children's classes. Generally throughout the week in the evening we had dance and band practice. Monday was a very frustrating day because I was in school for 12 yours doing teacher meetings and discussing certain students, 6 kids from highschool got kicked out of school after our meetings... and I didn't eat lunch that day so I left irritated, tired and generally not a very happy person!
Tuesday we had a school field trip to Cuicocha lake, which was created 4,000 years ago by the expolsion of the Cotacachi volcano, some more gift shopping in the center and made apple pie and chocolate chip cookies. Wednesday we went to Yahuarcocha, did a lot of walking and got a
little lost on the way there since we walked from Ibarra, but it was a great adventure!
Christmas day was as different as I have ever spent it! It was warm and sunny, t-shirt and suncream weather. My neighbors gave me a beautiful blue skirt that I absolutely adore and we taught them how to play Yatzee, which they love! After a trip to the market for last minute items Noah wanted, we had a farewell dinner with my family and then we were off to Quito and Rachels! Rachels parents came in that night and then at 5.00 on Friday morning I was waving goodbye to Noah as he drove off in a taxi for the airport... Sad really but left me with many good memories!
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