11/11/11

I got an email telling me that today is a lucky day...11/11/11. It didnt exactly feel any different than any other day. I seem to lose track of days here...weeks...its been a month since I left home. Crazy...but good. At first I was disappointed since the house isnt done, I was/am really excited about getting things going...but things happen for a reason and in the right time. I am apparently supposed to be learning patience. Since up until now in my life I have had no patience maybe at 27 I will learn what it means to just sit back and watch things happen and not always be in such a hurry. One can only hope...

So the events of last week proved to be the same every day, we cleaned house, cooked, did laundry, all those sorts of things during the day and at night went out. Pimampiro was full! It was a great time of just getting to hang out with everyone and to experience the culture. 

Little did I know that I should have rested some last week, or the weekend cause this past week has been one of the busiest since I have been here. A friend of a friend arrived to volunteer, she is full of great ideas and enthusiastic to help get some things going. For instance, today we took 12 kids between the ages of 11 and 15 to Ibarra. Doesnt seem like a big deal, except for most of these girls have never been to Ibarra. Keep in mind that Ibarra is the closest city to us, about an hour away. Most of these girls are from areas in the mountains where they never get the opportunity to go many places. For this reason we collaborated with the school to take them to the University, out to lunch, to do some exploring, and shopping for things that are needed in the daycare in Paragachi. The goal of this trip was to 1. show these adolescents that there are other opportunities out there 2. help them get to know a place close to them so that they are not afraid to go there to continue their education 3. and to have a day away from the normal for them. We also talked to them about how hard that it is to finish school if they would have a baby. This is the age that we are trying to reach...kids who can make decisions and who we can educate to make the right decisions. 

We have spent almost every day in the daycare, the daycare lacks so much. There are 4 teachers and over 30 kids. The kids arrive about 7am and dont leave til about that time in the evening. These kids are fed 5 times a day (3 meals and 2 snacks), bathed, changed, played with, etc 6 days a week. I love just playing with them, feeding them, holding them to go to sleep...so many things that they dont get on a normal basis. The teachers have said that they send the kids home in the evenings and they come back in the morning with the same clothes. So sad. These kids are so happy and so full of love...and they have absolutely nothing. It breaks my heart to see dirt under their finger nails and their dirty clothes....

I have been doing some nursing stuff too! I live with a family and the mom was in an accident almost a month ago now, she has third degree burns on mostly her right foot/ankle. The first doctor that saw her told her that the black dead skin did not need to come off, for her to put vaseline and eventually it would just come off. Every day I cleaned her leg, scrubbed and tried to get rid of that dead skin. But, from the beginning I did not understand why the doctor did not remove the dead black skin so after some coercion I convinced her to let me talk to the doctor in town and have him come look at it. As soon as he saw it he told her that she needed to have it removed, so the next day she went to a plastic surgeon who removed all of the dead skin. Three days later we went to the hospital, to have the bandages changed and it cleaned. This doctor scrubbed her raw burned skin with no anesthesia with her holding her legs on the edge of a metal bowl. It hurt me, she was in so much pain that the whole way home she was moaning. So awful! I cant even imagine trying to do that in the states, Im pretty sure that most of us wouldnt be able to handle it, nor would we allow someone to put is through that torture. But, the good news is that she is walking some (which she wasnt doing just the other day) and soon she will be back to new! 

Update on the house...we have bathrooms! The guy went down to measure for the window frames, as soon as they are done then the windows go in! Step by step things are getting done...

Written 10/31

Happy Halloween! Not a holiday here but I know that everyone at home is celebrating. I cant remember the last time I was actually in the US for Halloween...I remember many more outside of the US than in. 

Life here is so nice, no time frames, no dead lines, no reason to set an alarm...just the way that I think life should be! Except when it comes to the house, these guys are taking their time...or so it seems. I will head down tomorrow or Wednesday to see the progress that has been made, Im expecting a roof on the second floor bathroom. The next big thing to get done is going to be the windows and doors, we talked to a guy today and he said he will go down and do some measurements on Monday. So hopefully in the next two weeks we will have windows. Then we just have to figure out doors. Then the floor on the second story. Once these things are done then we get to start the fun stuff! The fun stuff that will take some time to complete since things will get done as money allows. But, the most  exciting part is that once we get windows, doors, bathrooms, and floors we can start getting programs and classes together! This is what I am inpatient for!

Paraglyding, hurling yourself off of a 9000 foot high mountain landing on your butt in a field very far from where you started. Yes, this is what I did on Saturday...and now I am very sore. I believe that the soreness comes from the first attempt at ‘taking off’. We had a small mishap...I of course have an instructor flying with me...and when we tried to take off a gust of wind pushed us towards a tree. Mind you, we are a few feet in the air but heading towards a tree is no bueno so the instructor attempted to steer us out of the tree instead we landed on the hard ground. Him on top of me in a pile of kite and strings and appendages. After recovering and hiking back up the 40 feet that we had lost we attempted again. This time was a success, we flew for almost an hour! Not without insult to my body though, I am not sure if my ribs are so sore form the fall or from flying. Regardless my ribs are so sore that my stomach is upset and all night last night all I wanted to do was vomit. With the giant bruise that I have on the inside of my left leg, the pain in my ribs and back...it was all worth it!

I just finished reading the Lunatic Express by Carl Hoffman, amazing book about his travels around the world on the worst transportation he could find. He travelled many of the same places in the same buses and trains that I have being in South America! But, he said some interesting things...”When you travel you imagine leaving your old self behind. But hunger, fatigue, and the aches and pains of life in a bus seat, only show you the real you-there’s no escape from yourself. Out here I could just be myself, happy, self-reliant, content, exactly where I belonged. ...a reminder that happiness wasn’t all the  external comforts but just there, within myself.” He concludes that the reality about travel is that it , “shows you things in a starker way than you could ever see them at home.”

This week everyone has vacation...apparently everyone goes to the beach and its a time to relax. All my friends that live and work outside of Pimampiro will be home, and no one will work...I assume things will be closed and there will be lots of people out and about. We will see...

Written the other day...

As I sit here in my bed, I cant help but think of all the people so close to me, right here in Pimampiro who dont have a bed or who are sharing a bed with one, two, or maybe 5 other people. I pass these people in the streets, they dont have enough food, they dont have enough warmth at night. And then I remember I am here...I am here to help these people help themselves. 

I want to complain...about taking a cold shower but then I remember at least I have water to shower. I want to complain...about the 50 bug bites on my legs that are itching so badly Id rather scratch off my skin than have them itch anymore. I want to complain...that I cant find anything because some of it is in storage and some of it is here and some of it is in the 53 suitcases I have in my room. I want to complain...because my house is taking forever to get done. But then I remember, I remember what I am here for...why I love this place and these people so much. Life means so much to them...family and friends and happiness. I watch these very old men and women walking amazingly long distances uphill and am thankful that that is not part of my every day life. Though I do have to walk up the same hill every day, and I am winded and sweating every single time! 

Life is so simple, they wake up, they work, they buy their bread for the next morning, they go to bed and do it all over again. If only it was possible for everyone in the states to live just one day, and cut out all of the unimportant things that we do in a days time. 

I have arrived!

I have arrived back in pimampiro! How amazing to come back to a place with so many people who are so happy and so happy to see me! I love this place! 

After spending two days in Miami, where all I wanted was a little bit of sun, I arrived in Caracas where I was supposed to spend a mere 3 hours which turned into 7! I got to practice my spanish and meet a few nice people, other than that waiting was getting old. When we finally boarded...we sat on the runway for quite some time. I have no idea how long since I fell asleep almost immediately after finding my seat. I awoke when they fed me, by this time I was starving...the bagel that I had in Miami was long gone. I finally arrived in Quito around 11pm...only 5 hours after my scheduled arrival time. I was the last one to pass through the doors because one of my bags was/is missing. I went through the whole process of trying to locate it and placing a claim. Hopefully tomorrow it will show up somewhere. 

Luckily Paul didnt get tired of waiting for me....and was there when I got there. Also, a friend of mine who lives in Quito was there to meet me! I missed Ecuador and its people so very much!

I will never ever get used to taking a cold shower, I know it seems like something that I should just get used to but the water here is like ice!  I am more than thankful for the house that I am staying in, I have my own room and am living with a very nice family. I made a very good friend when I was here before and I am staying with her family. The deal with the shower, no one knows why its not hot but I pray that very soon it is hot again! 

Today I spent the day in Paragachi, hanging out with the guys that are building my house and looking at...doors. There is a man in town who is going to make the doors for us, this book that he gave me to look at has doors that you would imagine on a church or castle! I kept telling him, simple...I just want simple doors! I can live in the house once I have windows, doors, and at least a bathroom. Once those three things are complete then the rest can come as I live there. We are hoping that in less than a month that is possible. But...then comes the question of security, no one wants me to live there alone. So, I guess you can say that I am on the hunt for someone to protect me! Haha! And skilled construction volunteers would be nice too!!

I want to start getting things going at the house, classes and programs but obviously I dont want to get too far ahead of myself...and I have plenty of other things happening too. Im going to be working with another guy to teach some people in the far reaching communities some basic medical care. The concern is that when things happen in these remote communities no one knows what to do in the meantime, before help arrives or before they can be transported to the closest hospital. The government has granted us the ability to make available basic items in a central location in each community. 

Tomorrow I will be visiting the “old people” (the government provides a lunch 6 days a week to people 65 and older, they have a building and some land) and seeing the progress that they have made  with their gardens. They have planted and already harvested their first crops since I left! Cant wait to see their smiling faces! 

Paul is super busy with all of the projects going on, he just cant seem to share everything all at once, I keep learning more every day. So much has changed, not so much change, but advanced since I was last here. It is amazing how involved the community is and how much they are helping us help them! Speaking of which in Paragachi 2/3 of the people now have irrigation water! Only a little more time to go and the entire community will no longer be brown and dusty....but green! 

Such amazing things happening...

Bittersweet

First off I would like to apologize to everyone for my lack of blogging while in the states. This time at home has been great but very busy. The main objective of returning home was to make money, see my family, and work on paperwork to establish the foundation/organization/non-profit. Indeed those things have been accomplished and the time is nearing that I will return to Ecuador!

I am excited! Excited to see all of those beautiful faces! to hug all those kids and to just be and live such a simple life once again. But, I am also thinking of leaving home again. This time with my family has been great, being so close to my sister and being in the same house with my parents (which I have not done in more than 10 years!)...and missing my brother from far away.

I have had the opportunity to share with so many people what I/we are doing! I am amazed at the support and love that I have received from every single one of you. I am excited to see this project flourish and become exactly what it is supposed to become!

Yesterday I was informed that there are so many donations coming in we have nowhere to put them! Amazing! We are currently working on getting a container and having it sent down to Ecuador! With the help of some of our friends of course!

Please keep me/us in your thoughts and prayers over the next few weeks. We have a lot of decisions to make and a lot of things to take care of. Please keep the people that we will touch, as always in your thoughts.

Thanks again for your continued support!!

Home Sweet Home

I have arrived back in the good 'ol US of A...I am happy to see my family and my doggers Leila but I am missing Ecuador...the people...my friends the most. I know that this time is a time that I must take to plan for the future, to make money and to do all of the necessary paperwork. I have realized that this dream that Liz and I share is not going to be an easy feat...not that I ever expected it to be but as the days go by I realize how overwhelming the logistics of this project have become. Dont get me wrong, I am ready for them...for the ups and downs...the good and the bad...but I am ready to see some results!

Why is it so hard to throw toilet paper in the toilet? Instinctively I automatically attempt to throw it in the trashcan every single time...I have anxiety when I about drop it into the toilet. This is getting better every time that I use the bathroom but still not quite comfortable as of yet.

Why when I hear Spanish words or Spanish music do I automatically want to be back in Ecuador? There is so much to be done there...and I cannot wait to have all of my friends and family share in some part of this dream!

I am super thankful for my family, I appreciate that they support me in everything! Being home and being able to hug them and tell them that I love each and every one of them is a feeling that I will never get tired of. I cant wait til the day that each of them can be a part of my dream in Ecuador! 

PS...we have put together a powerpoint presentation introducing our project if anyone would like to see it please Email us at serviva2011@gmail.com and we will get it to you ASAP! Thanks for all of your support!

Getting ready...

So today I realized the short amount of time that we have left here...I cant believe that in only a few short days we will reenter the United States. I have mixed emotions about this event...of course I want to see my family and friends but my work here has only just begun. I feel like this is home, I love the people...I love being involved in the lives of these families. I am not ready to reenter the world of materialism and fast-pace life.

I was told the other day by an Ecuadorian that...Americans think with their heads and Ecuadorians think with their hearts. How sad of a realization this is for me. Good in some senses but in most senses Id much rather be thinking with my heart!

Last night we went with some friends to the Inti Raymi festival-Inti Raymi is Quichua for ¨festival of the sun¨-it is held in alot of places all over Ecuador but we attended in a town called Otavalo. The event takes place near a waterfall, Peguche, where there are shamans who perform a ritualistic ceremony by bathing in the waterfall. This takes place around midnight, an amazing experience to see so many people in that frigid water in the dark! But it truly was an amazing experience, they prepare all year for this festival. All of the food is a gift to each person who participates in the festival, no you do not have to get wet to ¨participate¨. Lots of dancing in circles and stopping of feet...all night long.

Unfortunately we had to be up and at em at 8am this morning, not pleasant after being up all night dancing! We were asked to become godmothers for a school by the director of one of the community schools. We were not exactly sure what this would entail but kids were involved so we agreed. Apparently in the Catholic religion everyone gets a madrina (godmother) and in this case we became the godmothers of 65 kids in a school in a poor community. It was a beautiful symbolic event and then afterwards we got to play games with the kids and have lunch. Basically we are godmothers for life to the children of this school, so from time to time we will be checking in on them and getting to celebrate all their accomplishments in life!

Im not sure if i mentioned before but Ramiro, a guy that we work with at the foundation, who also works with Child Fund from the US identified two kids who supposedly have no parents. They live in this community that we visited today and go to the school that we became godmothers for. Once we got up there and started talking to the teachers and people around we found out that they have an older sister who is 21, who also has a 4 year old child and a grandfather that lives in the house with them. We pulled the sister aside to see what the situation is, apparently the parents left her with her siblings 9 years ago, the mom would come back every so often over the years but not recently. The sister leaves every day to look for work and the grandfather works in the fields whenever he can. The sister, Maria, started crying when she was explaining their situation and how hard that it has been for her to provide for them and to be their mother for all of these years. Then the grandfather came over and got teary-eyed while he was explaning how dire their situation is. Let me tell you about these children, the little girl who is 13, her name is Diana, she is the school president, super smart and very motivated. She is constantly smiling and has a very positive outlook on life. On the other hand her brother who is 10 has caused alot of problems, he has been caught stealing stuff from people at school and just being a general pest to the other kids. This has landed him in some trouble but recently he has been doing better. I got to spend most of the day with Diana, either holding her hand or having her sitting next to me, she truly is an amazing little girl with her whole life in front of her. In the end we left some food that we had purchased for them, we will definitely be checking in when we get back and hopefully building a strong relationship with each of them.

Currently we have two new faces in our apartment! Stef who was one of the students that we worked with in Lima and Gina who is a friend of Paul´s from home. They are both university students looking into all of our projects here. The first thing that we did with Stef was a card project with the elderly. The government supports a ¨kitchen¨ where people over the age of 65 can go and have a good lunch six days out of the week. They can go a few hours early and work on arts and crafts, so we took advantage of this time and had them color/draw for us. The colorings and drawings will be used to make thank you and happy birthday cards to be sold (or given as thank you for donating) to support projects here. The elderly have so many stories to tell and so much knowledge, it is truly amazing to sit and just listen to their life stories.

Last week was spent mostly in Quito working on our visas. Boy was this an experience, I think Liz said that we were lied to 15 times and sent to 32 different offices before we actually got to the right place. After we found the right place and submited all of our paperwork we were told to go back in two days to pick up our passports with our visas. Of course, it wasnt that easy!! When we arrived, with my new passport I might add, (with 52 pages!!!) the guy tells me that we must go to another office that is ´poco lejos´ (not too far) and get my entry stamp placed into my new passport since it was currently in my old one. So, once again we taxi to another unkown office where I take a number...this number taking business is overrated! It tells me on ¨the number¨ that there are two people ahead of me....so I sit down and think that this wont take too long considering. Well, more than an hour later and one simple stamp and signature I leave this office and head back to sit in front of my man Fernando with hopes of walking out of there with my/our visas. After we finish everything, and he changes all of the mistakes that he made the week before, he tells us to come back at 2pm and we can pick up our passports and visas. Hahaha...funny how we thought that this might actually be possible. At 5pm, when everyone else had left and they were ready to close down for the day the security guard asked what we were waiting for...our visas of course. He just laughed and told us to come back tomorrow...we told him that was impossible and he better go figure out where our visas and passports are. He returns and says that they dont know where our passports are and the guy who has them is gone for the day...with our passports?!? Then a lady comes out and tells Liz that her visa will be ready soon and that no one gave her the paperwork so she hadnt been working on them for the past 8 hours that we had been waiting. Ridiculous! only in Ecuador! After telling Liz that hers will be ready she points one finger in my face and tells me that ´mine has a problem´.  What exactly could that mean? After sitting there for another 30 minutes she reemerges and gives me my passport with visa and says that the ´major problem´ is that Mr. Fernando put an ´N´ for my gender...meaning ninguno (nothing)...unstead of ´F´ for feminino!

Im about to fall over in my chair from exhaustion but one last hilarious Ecuadorian incident...boy will I miss these adventures while in the states! We were on the bus to Ibarra, about an hour ride, there is a ´control stop´where police are supposed to be checking documents. Well, we have passed this place more than a thousand times and never have we had to show any documentation. We do not carry our passports with us every day since Id like to leave the country whenever I would like and not be stuck here if it is lost of stolen. So, she asks for our passports and of course we dont have them...so then she tells us to get off of the bus and that we must remain at this place in the middle of nowhere until our passports arrive. Interesting seeing that we told her that our passports were at our house and that there was no way for us to get them, she quickly told us that she would take us ´somewhere else´ if we didnt get them to her soon. Who do we call, no one else but Paul, he had a few words with her and we were back on the next bus that passed. Almost detained...in Ecuador.

You know you have been in a third-world country for quite some time when you spend an evening drawing a map of the US and naming all of the states and capitals! Yes, it really did happen...and the best part is that we didnt even think that there was anything strange about it until we were telling Paul and his only comment was to Gina...´they have been here longer than you will be, so dont worry!´ Hahah! Mrs. Root (my 4th grade teacher) would be so proud...we got all of them except for two!

Life here is amazing...I cant wait to get back!