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Published: March 1st 2011
Hello folks!
Since my last update I have been settling in well to life on the farm and in the mountains in general. On the farm I have been helping to set up a new irrigation system (finally putting all that Plumb Center knowledge to some practical use) which has been very interesting and the English teaching at the high school has been going well, although I'm convinced they keep sneaking more students into my classes - my 10th grade class had 51 pupils at last count!
I've also managed to take in some of the local countryside. A week past on Saturday I spent the day at the famous indigenous market at Otavalo...the sights and smells were incredible though most striking were the colours of the hand woven, scarves, hats, ponchos and jackets. After some bartering I managed to net myself a mulit-coloured knitted jacket...this item might even be able to compete with Robin´s eccentricity!
The following day I spent hiking around the volcanic lakes at Lagunas de Mojanda close to Otavalo. The scenery was breathtaking (as was the altitude!) and after 5 hours of hiking we managed to hitch a lift back with a local farmer
to the nearerst village. The ride was in the back of a pick-up truck - Ecuador's preffered mode of taxi. There is something quite surreal about travelling along the the Pan-American highway in the back of a pick-up with nothing but the stars above you...and being on the Equator, there are so many more stars visible here...it's quite a spectacle!
Last Saturday I attended a meeting of the local council in the village of Picalqui. Myself and a colleague were to introduce ourselves and speak about the computing classes we are about to begin with the locals. What an eye-opener! Talk about small time politicians...these guys could have kept Michael Portillo quiet! After sitting through 90 minutes of intense debate, primarily focused on the purchase of a volleyball net for the local park, we finally got the chance to say our piece. To be honest, the most entertaining part of the meeting were the two dogs rolling around and fighting in the middle of the the meeting hall...so that was council politics in Ecuador!
Thankfully the walk home proved far more exciting. We were passing a modest village house where we could hear loud music and dancing. A
young chap who was already slighlty the worse for wear (bearing in mind this was only 10pm) ushered us into the house. The three rooms; bedroom, kitchen and living area, were crammed full of the entire village population (apart from those who hadn't already fled the meeting in a state of chronic boredom!). We were sat down and given food and partygoers were constantly coming round and topping up our glasses with beer. We were then ushered on to the dance floor to try out the local dances! As the night wore on, the grannies were coming around topping up our glasses with the local "jungle juice" which was just a tad more potent than the beer...and they would not take no for an answer!
It was great to experience a typical Ecuadorian fiesta and their kindness was humbling. A fantastic night was had.
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Julie
non-member comment
Congratulations
Well done on giving such a fantastic account of all your adventures! Spent today in Largs with your Dad .I had baby James with me and we enjoyed our walk with your Dad and seeing Martin too.