So today we woke up to cars covered in ash from the volcano Tungurahua... just last Sunday I was driving to Baños on a road that passes right by the volcano. You can still see the devestation from the last time it erupted a couple years ago.
I´m still living in the house of the English school director, which has been good. I like spending time with her family and being more ¨on my own.¨
All last week I helped out at the Ark, taking care of babies and teaching preschool all by myself! It went really good even though the kids can get a little more out of control. I prepared all the lessons and used all the spanish I know! haha.
On Friday, I spent the night at Jessica´s and stayed there all Saturday. It was like a mini retreat. Then I went to the radio and then to street church. Last Saturday on the radio I was interviewed by a friend. One of the questions was if I preferred rabbit or guinea pig (which is totally normal to eat here). I had to say I had never tried either cuz I had both as pets! But just last Sunday I tried rabbit (conejo) and it was delicious! just like chicken! haha. Now I just need to try guinea pig (cuy).
Sunday was my laundry day on the roof of the apartment... there´s such a beautiful view. Then I attended a 5 year old´s birthday party. We had a turkey lunch with some chocolate and a yummy cake. It´s tradition to push the birthday person´s face into the cake, but the kid got really angry that we did it and he started to cry! He got over it fast though.
Tomorrow 5 volunteers from the States are coming and we finished making their room this morning. I was spoiled with my huge bed and room all to myself... now there´s 3 bunk beds and not a lot of space.
So I´m officially going to Colombia in March and will be buying my ticket soon. Dios les bendiga.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Feliz Navidad, Feliz Año Nuevo y mucho mas...
Hey everyone! The last little while has been pretty busy and I´ve had a lot on my mind. Now things have quieted down and it´s time to let you in on a few things.
Christmas: Last year´s Christmas was spent in Haiti where we were given $4 to spend on a present for the gift exchange, where there was no snow, and where we did a Christmas program for a bunch of Haitian orphans. This year I spent Christmas in Ecuador where I got a few more presents than last year (a cool scarf, earrings and a bunch of pens for example), where there is no snow (except on the mountain tops), and where I worked with orphans the whole day. It was great because there was a huge donation of toys for the kids just before Christmas, including Hannah Montana and Jonas Brothers dolls, Prince Caspian action figures, Nascars, and Pokemon stuffed animals. Also, we had crepes for breakfast with a good turkey dinner... Mmmm. Christmas Eve is when we finished picking the toys out and filling stockings!
The next day I went to Jessica´s where I had another amazing turkey dinner and the best mocha pie ever!
At street church we have a new member that I´d like to mention. His name is Bienvenido (meaning welcome) and he came to Christ recently. He used to rob people for a living and apparently the tattoo of 3 tear drops on his face represent the 3 people he killed. I think it´s so cool how the Christian youth here are preaching to gang members and thieves.
On New Year´s Eve I had quite the cultural experience. In the afternoon we made a doll (dressed like a skateboarder) and a gigantic light bulb for our Año Viejo celebration. At night in the Ark we had a huge bonfire where we burned the light bulb, symbolizing the burning of the old (having the power or ´luz´ turned off all the time). We also had fireworks that Jessica´s dad brought over. Then a bunch of us went downtown to walk the streets and burn our own ´viejo´(the doll). The streets were filled with cars and men dressed like women (called crazy widows) pestering the people driving be. At 12:00 there were lots of fireworks and smoke everywhere from people burning their own dolls.
This Saturday I ended up moving out from the Ark. Right now I´m living with the English school´s director and her family. I´m waiting until the apartment above the English school is free and then I´ll move there. It´s right downtown and I´ll be able to experience living on my own for the first time. On Sunday the family took me out to lunch to try rabbit. I was scared at first, but it´s actually really good. They also serve guinea pig there, but I have yet to try it. Then we ended up going to Baños: a major tourist city where there´s a lot of extreme sports and pretty waterfalls. We also went to this place where you can fill your water bottle with ´blessed´or ´holy´water. I thought it tasted funny (like Guitig: a type of water they sell here that´s carbonated), but I was super thirsty so I drank lots! haha.
The night before at the radio Danilu interviewed me on their radio program they have on the weekends from 6:00 to 8:00. I made Naomi translate though cuz I was scared enough as it was!
I also want to add that I applied to go to this Children At Risk school they have in Bogota, Colombia in March for 4 months. It´s with YWAM and seems really relevant to what I´m doing and hope to do in the future.
Christmas: Last year´s Christmas was spent in Haiti where we were given $4 to spend on a present for the gift exchange, where there was no snow, and where we did a Christmas program for a bunch of Haitian orphans. This year I spent Christmas in Ecuador where I got a few more presents than last year (a cool scarf, earrings and a bunch of pens for example), where there is no snow (except on the mountain tops), and where I worked with orphans the whole day. It was great because there was a huge donation of toys for the kids just before Christmas, including Hannah Montana and Jonas Brothers dolls, Prince Caspian action figures, Nascars, and Pokemon stuffed animals. Also, we had crepes for breakfast with a good turkey dinner... Mmmm. Christmas Eve is when we finished picking the toys out and filling stockings!
The next day I went to Jessica´s where I had another amazing turkey dinner and the best mocha pie ever!
At street church we have a new member that I´d like to mention. His name is Bienvenido (meaning welcome) and he came to Christ recently. He used to rob people for a living and apparently the tattoo of 3 tear drops on his face represent the 3 people he killed. I think it´s so cool how the Christian youth here are preaching to gang members and thieves.
On New Year´s Eve I had quite the cultural experience. In the afternoon we made a doll (dressed like a skateboarder) and a gigantic light bulb for our Año Viejo celebration. At night in the Ark we had a huge bonfire where we burned the light bulb, symbolizing the burning of the old (having the power or ´luz´ turned off all the time). We also had fireworks that Jessica´s dad brought over. Then a bunch of us went downtown to walk the streets and burn our own ´viejo´(the doll). The streets were filled with cars and men dressed like women (called crazy widows) pestering the people driving be. At 12:00 there were lots of fireworks and smoke everywhere from people burning their own dolls.
This Saturday I ended up moving out from the Ark. Right now I´m living with the English school´s director and her family. I´m waiting until the apartment above the English school is free and then I´ll move there. It´s right downtown and I´ll be able to experience living on my own for the first time. On Sunday the family took me out to lunch to try rabbit. I was scared at first, but it´s actually really good. They also serve guinea pig there, but I have yet to try it. Then we ended up going to Baños: a major tourist city where there´s a lot of extreme sports and pretty waterfalls. We also went to this place where you can fill your water bottle with ´blessed´or ´holy´water. I thought it tasted funny (like Guitig: a type of water they sell here that´s carbonated), but I was super thirsty so I drank lots! haha.
The night before at the radio Danilu interviewed me on their radio program they have on the weekends from 6:00 to 8:00. I made Naomi translate though cuz I was scared enough as it was!
I also want to add that I applied to go to this Children At Risk school they have in Bogota, Colombia in March for 4 months. It´s with YWAM and seems really relevant to what I´m doing and hope to do in the future.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Busy busy busy
Hey Everyone, I've been pretty busy lately so I haven't really felt like blogging. On Saturday we had the staff party here at the Ark, but just before that I had to go to the hospital to take 2 of the babies and the one toddler that were sick. It was freezing in the hospital and it ending up taking 3 hours because of the traffic (the parades make it crazy) and waiting to see the doctor.
On Sunday we went to Calshi (a little village) to sing some songs and do a puppet show for a Christmas program/beauty pageant they had. We didn't get back til late.
Then on Monday I got to go to the jungle (Macas/Sucua) with Isaac and one of the kids named Mariano. I loved it in the jungle... mainly the heat and vegetation... it really reminds me of the Dominican. It was about a 4.5 hour drive and we did mostly visiting people. We went to see Mariano's mom and brothers, a bunch of the old workers that used to work at the Ark home in Macas, and one of the toddlers that used to stay here. The toddler wasn't doing so well... he looked very lethargic and sick. Apparently he lives with his dad and all he eats is plaintain. We also did a mini Christmas program in that same village. We sang some songs, prayed and then gave out little candy bags for the kids. I really enjoyed it... felt like DTS. I got back yesterday late at night.
Today I worked here in the morning, then went to Jessica's to watch It's A Wonderful Life for the first time. Then I went to a Christmas dinner the street church was having. I ended up stirring the rice and veggies/meat altogether and washing a few dishes to help... It turned out I ate rice 3 times today (breakfast, lunch and supper!). Well, now I'm here at 12:30 and we're going to watch some TV shows before a truck load of toys arrives from Quito. Miss you all.
On Sunday we went to Calshi (a little village) to sing some songs and do a puppet show for a Christmas program/beauty pageant they had. We didn't get back til late.
Then on Monday I got to go to the jungle (Macas/Sucua) with Isaac and one of the kids named Mariano. I loved it in the jungle... mainly the heat and vegetation... it really reminds me of the Dominican. It was about a 4.5 hour drive and we did mostly visiting people. We went to see Mariano's mom and brothers, a bunch of the old workers that used to work at the Ark home in Macas, and one of the toddlers that used to stay here. The toddler wasn't doing so well... he looked very lethargic and sick. Apparently he lives with his dad and all he eats is plaintain. We also did a mini Christmas program in that same village. We sang some songs, prayed and then gave out little candy bags for the kids. I really enjoyed it... felt like DTS. I got back yesterday late at night.
Today I worked here in the morning, then went to Jessica's to watch It's A Wonderful Life for the first time. Then I went to a Christmas dinner the street church was having. I ended up stirring the rice and veggies/meat altogether and washing a few dishes to help... It turned out I ate rice 3 times today (breakfast, lunch and supper!). Well, now I'm here at 12:30 and we're going to watch some TV shows before a truck load of toys arrives from Quito. Miss you all.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sleepover and Community Christmas Party
Hello again.
So on Friday morning me and Zoe prepared most of the games for the Christmas party... we had bowling, limbo, a dress up as Santa Claus race, a fish pond and a ring toss. I also helped bake sugar cookies on Thursday so we can decorate them later.
Friday afternoon I went to Jessica's house to have a sleepover. Her family is in Quito so we had the house to ourselves. We ended up watching 4 Christmas movies and talking. It was really relaxing and I slept great.
Saturday morning I went back to the Ark to help with the Community Christmas Party. I was in charge of limbo (just like Vacation Bible School in Haiti). I ended up helping with the toddlers and cleaning up after.
In the evening I went to the Radio where I got to say Hi to everyone in English. Then I went to get something to eat with a girl I just met. Her name is Paola and she actually knows Lana (a volunteer from Kelowna that came here a few years ago). We had hamburgers, which came with fries on the inside (which always happens here in Ecuador).
Then we all went to Street church and I was all nice and warm with my new jacket. I am so thankful for it.
So on Friday morning me and Zoe prepared most of the games for the Christmas party... we had bowling, limbo, a dress up as Santa Claus race, a fish pond and a ring toss. I also helped bake sugar cookies on Thursday so we can decorate them later.
Friday afternoon I went to Jessica's house to have a sleepover. Her family is in Quito so we had the house to ourselves. We ended up watching 4 Christmas movies and talking. It was really relaxing and I slept great.
Saturday morning I went back to the Ark to help with the Community Christmas Party. I was in charge of limbo (just like Vacation Bible School in Haiti). I ended up helping with the toddlers and cleaning up after.
In the evening I went to the Radio where I got to say Hi to everyone in English. Then I went to get something to eat with a girl I just met. Her name is Paola and she actually knows Lana (a volunteer from Kelowna that came here a few years ago). We had hamburgers, which came with fries on the inside (which always happens here in Ecuador).
Then we all went to Street church and I was all nice and warm with my new jacket. I am so thankful for it.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Community Party Prep
"Hola a todos! Soy Anna." haha... my famous quote from the radio...
So lately, I've been helping out with Christmas and the community party we're going to have on Saturday. We've put together more than 300 gift bags for the kids that contain candy, animal crackers, a tooth brush, a stuffy, etc. We're going to plan some kids games (I really hope we end up doing the fishing game)... We're also going to buy some bread and Coke and I think the cook is making a pineapple cake or something.
I've also been wrapping presents and labelling 90 Christmas stockings.
Yesterday I got to go to Ambato because my friend goes every week to buy groceries there. So I go to the mall to buy "american" food meaning a hamburger, fries and a frappaccino kind of thing... Mmmm... so good!
Preschool has also been going very good and the kids are learning lots. We're mostly focusing on the colours, numbers and vowels.
And thanks to my parents I now have a nice warm jacket I can wear for Street Church and outings at night!
Thanks to everyone that has been praying for me and helping me financially. I really appreciate it!
So lately, I've been helping out with Christmas and the community party we're going to have on Saturday. We've put together more than 300 gift bags for the kids that contain candy, animal crackers, a tooth brush, a stuffy, etc. We're going to plan some kids games (I really hope we end up doing the fishing game)... We're also going to buy some bread and Coke and I think the cook is making a pineapple cake or something.
I've also been wrapping presents and labelling 90 Christmas stockings.
Yesterday I got to go to Ambato because my friend goes every week to buy groceries there. So I go to the mall to buy "american" food meaning a hamburger, fries and a frappaccino kind of thing... Mmmm... so good!
Preschool has also been going very good and the kids are learning lots. We're mostly focusing on the colours, numbers and vowels.
And thanks to my parents I now have a nice warm jacket I can wear for Street Church and outings at night!
Thanks to everyone that has been praying for me and helping me financially. I really appreciate it!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
More Photos!!!
Our trip to Guano for the Skateboard competition/concert... this is me in a little park me and Danilu found... Notice the Canadian flag on the map of Guano.
Danilu by a fountain in the park in Guano...
Danilu on this long, deserted road we found in Guano... we took a nice walk and had a nice chat too.
Isaac skateboarding in Guano.
This is most of the crew that went down to Guano... some guys came to do some graffiti and one of them that we hung out afterward was from Chile. I'm in the back with Naomi and Danilu doing an interview with this girl that also does graphic design... later we put the interview on the radio.
These next pictures are dedicated to my dad... he motivated me to take photos of my surroundings/Riobamba.
This is the entrance to the Ark... they have an intercom with a camera to only let certain people in... almost all properties have fences with broken glass on top like this one.
These are the hills that surround Riobamba... it really looks like Kelowna in so many ways... the hills, the trees...
This is one of the roads near our house... we're in the North and on the outskirts.
This is the main road (the Panamerican highway)... this is where I catch the bus to go into town.
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