Hola Amigos! I arrived in Quito around 10 pm on Saturday the 18th after quite a long day! I am not sure I would recommend flying on Delta for those planning a trip overseas. After half of the bathrooms broke, they burned 21 of the dinners so I had a salad, and then when we arrived in Quito (wearing our masks to prevent the spread of H1N1 or Swine Flu) they had lost my luggage (along with about 12 others). Not a great start!
My first day in Quito was spent getting to know my host family and waiting for luggage. My host parents (Juana and Cesar) are two of the nicest people I have ever met! Their home is about 15 minutes by bus and 30 minutes walking from my school. On my first day, we went to the grocery store where I bought shampoo (Herbal Essences) and toothpaste (Colgate). The store was fairly typical of an american grocery store...with the exception of the chicken heads and feets in the deli section....yummy! I help Juana cook a traditional Ecuadorian dish for lunch and then the most typical Quito dish for dinner...its called Humitas and you eat them with Cafe. We bought fresh corn, milled it our selves with some onion. We added a little water, milk, and yeast, and sliver of cheese and then scooped the mixture into corn husks. We then rolled them like burritas and cooked them in a steam pot. Delicious! At lunch we also had plantanos...fried plantanes. yum again!
I began classes Monday with a visit to the plaza gobierno where we watched a weekly tradition of the Changing of the Guards. The president or in my case vice president, watches from the second story balcany of his palace while the guards march around to the military band playing patriotic music. At the end of the 30 minute ceremony, new guards are put in place to guard the palace and the president for the next week. It was a nice ceremony which was followed by demonstrations. People yelled chants, some of which were taken from Che Gueverro, in favor of the current president. A few dissenters yell liar in return. It was interesting to see...long live the freedom of speech I guess!
Today I attended my first meeting of my sponsor Rotary Club in Quito. The people in Ecuador are amazingly friendly...for the most part...and my club was no different. After many hugs and kisses, the meeting began. We had a lunch meeting the local Hilton Hotel. My sponsor counselor, Maria Ellena, is president of her club. After the meeting she invited me to visit local schools with her (a speech therapist) and a doctor who operates on children with cleft palate and a dentist (all club members) when they visit a school next month. She also invited me to spend the weekend with her and her family in Porto Viejo, a city on the coast in the South of Ecuador, during the weekend of August 10th which is a big holiday here. I met another Rotarian who attended USC in the late 1980s as a Fulbright Scholar! He majored in international studies and had two of the same professors that I had! What a strange coincidence!
Officially, I begin my volunteer work on Thursday with an organization call the Fundation Salesiano for Street Children. On the weekend, I hope to travel to Otovalo, where the largest indigenous market in South America is located, about two hours north of Quito. After, a friend from school and I plan on taking another 20 minute ride to a crater lake, which formed when a volcano collapsed! Next week I am visiting FEVI to learn about their projects in Lumbisi, an indigenous community about 45 minutes outside of Quito. I cannot wait to visit Lumbisi as well!
I hope to post pictures soon and Id love an email or two as well! Thanks guys! take care!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Help me fulfill the Rotary Mission of Service above Self in Ecuador!
Background:
One of the biggest problems facing the developing nation of Ecuador, where 60% of the population lives in poverty, is a lack of access to adequate education for children. Many of the children, referred to as “street children,” do not attend school because they are forced to work—picking bananas, cutting flowers, collecting garbage, and as street vendors—rather than attend school. Education, however, is essential to overcoming not only poverty, but the myriad of obstacles faced by people in low income countries. Education leads to better jobs, economic advances, religious and cultural tolerance, environmental conservation, and sustainable development. Without a doubt, children are our future, and to be successful, children need to be educated and empowered to make this world a better place.
The Project:
FEVI, the Fund for Intercultural Education and Volunteer Community Service based in Quito, is constructing a library in Lumbisi, Ecuador, a rural community about 45 minutes outside of Quito. So far, the land, the majority of the building materials, and the efforts of an architect have been donated. A Rotary Club in Quito has supplied windows for the building. Now, FEVI awaits provision of wood for flooring and supplies to build bathrooms before breaking ground on the project. Once completed, the library will need to be stocked with books and school/art supplies. As a Rotary Cultural Ambassador, I have volunteered my time and efforts for this project. Before departing for Quito in mid-July, I will collect books, supplies, and financial contributions to deliver in person to the FEVI President.
How you can help:
Those interested in helping with the project can donate books or supplies or make a financial contribution to FEVI for the library. Any supplies or financial donations can be mailed to FEVI or to me for personal delivery. Checks can be made out to Fundación FEVI. For mailing addressing, contact me via email: Gibsonc2@mailbox.sc.edu or check out FEVI's website at www.fevi.org
Why this project:
In addition to the great and obvious need that the children in Ecuador have for such a facility to promote education and literacy, this project will benefit Rotary as well. FEVI is a non-profit organization that hosts volunteers from around the world. Future Rotary Scholars, Rotarians desiring service opportunities, students, or other volunteers will forever be able to contact FEVI and offer their volunteer service at the library that they helped create. Rotary’s name will be recognized within the community where the library will be located, and there is a potential for a lifelong relationship between the Rotary Club sponsors in South Carolina and in Ecuador that will help promote good will and understanding between the two countries.
One of the biggest problems facing the developing nation of Ecuador, where 60% of the population lives in poverty, is a lack of access to adequate education for children. Many of the children, referred to as “street children,” do not attend school because they are forced to work—picking bananas, cutting flowers, collecting garbage, and as street vendors—rather than attend school. Education, however, is essential to overcoming not only poverty, but the myriad of obstacles faced by people in low income countries. Education leads to better jobs, economic advances, religious and cultural tolerance, environmental conservation, and sustainable development. Without a doubt, children are our future, and to be successful, children need to be educated and empowered to make this world a better place.
The Project:
FEVI, the Fund for Intercultural Education and Volunteer Community Service based in Quito, is constructing a library in Lumbisi, Ecuador, a rural community about 45 minutes outside of Quito. So far, the land, the majority of the building materials, and the efforts of an architect have been donated. A Rotary Club in Quito has supplied windows for the building. Now, FEVI awaits provision of wood for flooring and supplies to build bathrooms before breaking ground on the project. Once completed, the library will need to be stocked with books and school/art supplies. As a Rotary Cultural Ambassador, I have volunteered my time and efforts for this project. Before departing for Quito in mid-July, I will collect books, supplies, and financial contributions to deliver in person to the FEVI President.
How you can help:
Those interested in helping with the project can donate books or supplies or make a financial contribution to FEVI for the library. Any supplies or financial donations can be mailed to FEVI or to me for personal delivery. Checks can be made out to Fundación FEVI. For mailing addressing, contact me via email: Gibsonc2@mailbox.sc.edu or check out FEVI's website at www.fevi.org
Why this project:
In addition to the great and obvious need that the children in Ecuador have for such a facility to promote education and literacy, this project will benefit Rotary as well. FEVI is a non-profit organization that hosts volunteers from around the world. Future Rotary Scholars, Rotarians desiring service opportunities, students, or other volunteers will forever be able to contact FEVI and offer their volunteer service at the library that they helped create. Rotary’s name will be recognized within the community where the library will be located, and there is a potential for a lifelong relationship between the Rotary Club sponsors in South Carolina and in Ecuador that will help promote good will and understanding between the two countries.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Pre-Departure Preparations
I cannot believe how fast time is passing and how soon my departure for Ecuador really is! Less than two months to go, and I am busy preparing! In addition to the required paperwork and travel arrangements, I have begun reading about Ecuador, keeping in contact with the Academica de Espanol in Quito, and designing a volunteer project for while I am in Quito. There is much to be excited about these days!
First, I received word from the Academia where I will be taking Spanish courses that I am enrolled in classes beginning July 20th! They also sent me information about my host family, with whom I will be living for three months. I will be living with the Veteri family--a stay at home mother and a father who works with the local government. They have one daughter who is 34 and stops by for visits frequently. Their home is only a twenty minute walk from the Academia, so I plan on walking to class most days, and taking a 15 minute bus ride on the others.
In addition to contacting the school, I have been in contact with various organization that will allow me to volunteer with them. I am currently filling out paperwork and recommendor forms so that I can volunteer with CENIT (Centre for the Working Girl http://www.cenitecuador.org/) to work in afterschool programs (or after-work programs for some) to help street children with school work. I have also contacted FEVI (Fund for Intercultural Education and Community Volunteer Service http://www.fevi.org/) and am working with the organization's president to design a project of my own. They recently (last week) received some great news! They have had plans (but not enough financial resources) to build a library/community center in Lumbisi, a rural indigenous community 45 minutes outside of Quito. They had received enough financial and resource donations to aquire land and some supplies, but needed funds to purchase building materials. The local government contacted the organization and agreed to pay for the construction of the building. They are now anxiously preparing to break ground, and I am happy to be a part of the project. In the time remaining before I leave, I will be collecting books, coloring books, school supplies, and art supplies (used and new) to donate to the library. I will deliver the materials in person and post pictures of the construction progress. I hope to volunteer with the construction during the weekends.
Well that is it for now! I am currently reading the Lonely Planet's Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and learning tons about the history, geography, and climate of Ecuador. I am just about to start the culture section of the book--I will post interesting facts as I find them! Until next time...cuidate! (Take care)
First, I received word from the Academia where I will be taking Spanish courses that I am enrolled in classes beginning July 20th! They also sent me information about my host family, with whom I will be living for three months. I will be living with the Veteri family--a stay at home mother and a father who works with the local government. They have one daughter who is 34 and stops by for visits frequently. Their home is only a twenty minute walk from the Academia, so I plan on walking to class most days, and taking a 15 minute bus ride on the others.
In addition to contacting the school, I have been in contact with various organization that will allow me to volunteer with them. I am currently filling out paperwork and recommendor forms so that I can volunteer with CENIT (Centre for the Working Girl http://www.cenitecuador.org/) to work in afterschool programs (or after-work programs for some) to help street children with school work. I have also contacted FEVI (Fund for Intercultural Education and Community Volunteer Service http://www.fevi.org/) and am working with the organization's president to design a project of my own. They recently (last week) received some great news! They have had plans (but not enough financial resources) to build a library/community center in Lumbisi, a rural indigenous community 45 minutes outside of Quito. They had received enough financial and resource donations to aquire land and some supplies, but needed funds to purchase building materials. The local government contacted the organization and agreed to pay for the construction of the building. They are now anxiously preparing to break ground, and I am happy to be a part of the project. In the time remaining before I leave, I will be collecting books, coloring books, school supplies, and art supplies (used and new) to donate to the library. I will deliver the materials in person and post pictures of the construction progress. I hope to volunteer with the construction during the weekends.
Well that is it for now! I am currently reading the Lonely Planet's Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and learning tons about the history, geography, and climate of Ecuador. I am just about to start the culture section of the book--I will post interesting facts as I find them! Until next time...cuidate! (Take care)
Monday, May 18, 2009
Two months: the Countdown Begins!
Today, May 18th marks the two month countdown until my departure as a Rotary Cultural Ambassador to Ecuador! I am busy completing paperwork, arranging travel details, and beginning to construct my PowerPoint presentations I will deliver in Spanish to Rotary Clubs in Quito. I have also been contacting different volunteer organizations, such as CENIT, the Center for the Working Girl, and UN Volunteers investigating ways I can get involved in Quito. I am setting up this blog so that family, friends, and Rotarians can keep up with me as I travel to Quito to study Spanish, volunteer in the community, travel, and fulfill Rotary's Mission of "service over self" so I can help promote good will and understanding throughout the world.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
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