Blogs from Tabacundo, North, Ecuador, South America

What a fanatstic 2 months spent at the Hacienda Picalqui...can't believe it has gone so quickly. I left the farm 2 weeks ago but have been so busy since, I haven't managed to update the blog so I am now doing it from just over the border in Peru where I arrived early on Easter Sunday. I left the farm with many happy memories and many new friends and in particular Fred, the French American volunteer coordinator, and the Ayala family; Edwin, Maggie, their cute little daughters Michaela and Pachita, their Minnesota volunteer Justin, four dogs (though the unfortunate puppy Cannabis was stolen) 5 cats, a pig, countless chickens and the endless stram of colleagues and visitors that seemed to arrive. Needless to say Edwin likes a busy house! I spent many happy days at Edwin's ... read more

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 ... read more