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¡Vive Guayaquil!
Today was the first day we celebrated Guayaquil´s Independence Day. (technically the 25th) And proudly showed our white and blue pride! I´m terribly sorry for so much delay in my blogging, but it seems like every time I go to login in my accont, it doesn´t work. Since it´s already late and I have a lot to tell you, I´ll begin. I start from where I left off on yesterday. And thanks to my parents who helped me out with the pictures!!
SUNDAY (7-2)
I woke up to a cloudy morning and since I don´t have a clock in my room I judge the time by the sun. Today I was a little off, so to make up for lost time I skipped breakfast. We all headed outside to go to church and this was the first time I could honestly say I was cold. I had taken a shower that morning, so my hair was still wet and after steping out, the crisp wind mixed with the misty drizzle, I was feeling like I was back home for a second. But then I looked around and picked out palm trees, exotic flowers, steep and defined mountains and realized I was very, very far away from home.
Church was nice and Señor Loyola delievered the message for
Aren´t They Sweet?
Our little actors and actresses in their costumes before they began their excellent, well-done production. Bravo! today´s service. I feel really awkward and a little left out when everyone´s doing their catholic things. And even more awkward since it´s all in spanish and I don´t really know what´s going on. So, instead when they recite their things in spanish, I recite the Lords Prayer or the Creed under my breath. They have a church bulliton similar to my church, so I always know where we are in the service. I can even follow along in my Bible when they´re reading. It´s not too hard, I just wish I could understand the lecture better.
We left the church at 8 and afterwards all of us (me, Sr & Sra Loyola, Dorita, Jorge Louis and his wife, Andrea, and Gigi) all went to breakfast at El Cafe de Tere where I had a big meal consisting of rice, meat, and plantanes. Along with my daily cups of juice and coffee. It was awesome. I´m going to be 100% honest when I say the food here is phenominal!
After our bellies were full and satisfied, we all headed back to the house to change. When we were ready for our outting, Jorge Louis toke his family home
Traveling Through
Got a shot while driving through Nobol. Those white specks in the background are
some kind of bird that remind me of white flamingos. and I went with the Loyolas to venture outside of Guayaquil. It was quite a sight! Nothing like Samborondon where all the rich people live in their nice houses all guarded up. The places we visited were beautiful and even though the people there didn´t have much, they were happy with what they did have and were determined to live a happy life. It´s sad to see that such hard workers like these people don´t get what other hard workers do because they didn´t go to school like the others did. What seems more crazy is the fact that they aren´t bothered at all by it. It´s truely admirable just how thankful and appreciative they are.
We entered Daule and visited three "recintos"--Santa Lucia, Magro Pertrillo, and the pueblo called Nobol. We visited Nobol and got to see where the body of Beata Narcisa de Jesus was. The place was crawling with people. Also in Nobol we went to a tourist location called La Garza Roja where we ate a great lunch. There was a poor little dog sitting by our table and I feed him the bones, fat, and skin from my chicken. It´s so hard to see
La Ganza Roja
A very tropical spot, filled with tourists and mosqitoes. The buildings and art were great, the water cold, and food to die for. these starving cute little doggies. I wish I could back to Ecuador with nothing but dog food and go around and feed dogs, but I know I can´t...and I should be thinking about the people here first anyway because there´s plenty who need some care.
MONDAY (7-3)
Like usual I drank my juice first thing in the morning. And, like usual, it was delicious. I got ready to go to school quickly and ate Capt´n Crunch for breakfast (mmm-mmm) before we all headed out.
Before school started, we had our normal morning assembly, only this time it was filled with white and sky-blue, the colors of Guayaquil. The month we´ll be celebrating the independence of Guayaquil, which is actually on the 25th of this month. Normally, on a Monday morning, the kids usually just do what would equal back home, saying the Plege of Alligence, and also singing the National Anthem while raising the flag of the United States of America-Land of the free, Home of the brave! At Escuela Semillita, this is done every Morning, only, of course, Ecuadorian style. This morning we got to see a little production from some of the
Farmer Shir
Pimp my ride, ya´ll! You know, I could even drive this sucker to school and no one would even notice...ya gotsta love du good ´ole Kuntry! kids in the 7th grade class and we marched afterwards around two blocks proudly displaying our white and blue ballons and flags. Usually the march takes place after break (10), only involves grades k-7, and is only around one block, though today involved 8th, 9th, and 10th grades too. Stilletoes wasn´t a great choice of shoe today...
Today I taught my awesome k-class who offically knows their colors both in Spanish and in English now. I was so proud of them! They even have a song that they sing in both languages and sang it individually! Precisous little cuties! Well, unfortuantly I was spoiled by those kindegarten classes, so when I went upstairs to the 6th grade class it was, to put nicely, different. Señorita Alexandra and I had our hands full. She, of course, had the lesson plan and I was to keep them focused on the task at hand and answer their questions as best as I could. Since both the sixth and seventh grade classes are huge (40s in 6th, 50s in 7th) my job is simple. Keep them quite, keep them attentive. They listen fairly well, but it is difficult. That´s why I like teaching
Driving
Probably the greenest grass I´ve ever seen, and closet to the road you have a nice little rice pattie growing. There were so many rice fields! the younger kids so much. So cooperative and obidient. They have a great sense of competition and they haven´t hit the point where knowing things and paying attention in class isn´t "cool."
Well, after that exciting morning at school, we came home to a tasty lunch and we were all so worn out from yesterday we all fell fast asleep. I slipped in part of a movie before I passed out in my bed and didn´t get back up until the sun was setting outside. What a great nap. I know, Mom & Dad, you must be thinking that it´s not good to do that because I won´t be able to go to bed tonight, right? Well, it turns out it´s about 11 here and I´m having a hard time keeping my eyes open. I´m not going to have any problem sleeping tonight!
When I did end up getting out of bed, Señor Loyola joined me and he had gone out to La Española and got us some food to eat. We split a very delicious sandwich and enjoyed a cup of coffee. Señora Loyola stayed resting in bed and while we were eating, Dorita came home. She´s
Rio Magro
Beautiful, big river. Period. back to work now and has English classes every night, so she doesn´t have a lot of free time on her hands anymore. Like my mom always says..."back to reality.."
Since right now I´m writing my blog, I´ve tried to login again and again but it´s just not working, so hopefully I can get this out soon for you guys to read. I´m sure you´re all dying of suspension waiting curisouly to find out what the past few days have been like under the equator, right?
Until next time,
Shir
<3
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Mommy
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Cool blog
You are never far from my thoughts and always in my prayers. Shir MaC, I was so looking forward to your blogs. I'm so happy now.... can't hardy stand it baby! Thank you gooser, enjoyed your articles very much. Keep it up my sweet angel pie! Throughout the day I think of you, and ask that you be blessed.