Week 5
4th - 10th October 2011
Buenos dias chicas! Our last week of spanish has been a most enjoyable time. For our last session we went for breakfast together at an indigenous organic chocolate caffe and then for a walk around parque metropolitano. During the week, thanks to Nina's impeccable spanish teaching skills, I have learnt vital words such as 'caca' (poo), 'busta' (boobs) and the phrase 'yo te lamo Robin' (I lick Robin). All incredibly useful in ones day to day discussions! Nina is a fantastic teacher and when trying to teach me phrases to do with illness went on to act out a patient and doctor scene where she promptly diagnosed my imminent death within a month (apparently with the symptoms I gave her the signs were not good).
Whilst out on our day trip it turned into a compteition with us 3 brits against the Ecuadorians. The scores where as follows:
1 to the Ecuadorian Spanish teachers for winning the arm wrestles against us Brits. Lizzi vs Nina ( Lizzi won), myself vs Zulma (Zulma won), Robin vs Alex ( Alex ......a girl.....won)!
1 to the Brits who managed to polish off their pancakes, pineapple, and hot chocolate whilst the Ecuadorian team failed leaving Robin much delighted at the prospect of left overs.
1 to the Brits as myself and nina competed in a fast walk/ run down the street after she complained about walking for 20 minutes to the park (this is the first day I haven't seen her wear heels). I won!
1 to the Ecuadorians: my one endearing feature my child size hands were beaten in their tinyness by Nina and Zulma whose hands were ultra small. Robin then classified us all as umpa lumpas making himself willy wonka.
In the cafe I tried hot chocolate con queso (with cheese) and have to say I think in future I will stick to the ususal hot chocolate as it was like finding random lumps of un-melted mozzarella in my drink. Whilst in the park we had great fun in the children's play area which had a slide in the shape of an elephant with a barrel for its body I stuck my head out of the barrel and to my delight was promptly called 'Elefante caca' (i knew that word would come in useful)!
On a more spiritual note we also had our Latin link conference in Cumbaya this weekend and it was great to meet the rest of the team and hear about all of their different projects. It deffinitly sounds as though there is a lot of potential areas to get stuck in and help out at in Santo Domingo with our own teaching project, the compassion project, Orph Aids (an orphanage for children whose parents died of Aids), a disabled school and a womens refuge. We were given talks by Pastor Galo which were really refreshing and encouraging and he welcomed us into Ecuador by washing our feet as a symbolism of Jesus washing the disciples feet and welcoming them. In the afternoons we went for walks and spent time together as a group. One particularly bonding walk was when the sun was so hot the roads were melting (leaving our foot prints in the tarmac) on this walk we got potentially attacked by some geese and deffinitly attacked by a dog which cut half our party off leaving Amy, victoria and Lizzi fearing for their lives. The food was delicious but every meal consisted of the usual 3 carbs diet of potato, rice and pasta! It was a fantastic time of bonding and laughter.
Other moments which have tickled our laughter boxes this week:
- How to send post, Ecuador style. Getting up at 3:45am to give some postcards to a chap who was heading back to England to post for us as post out here is a tad unreliable.
-Looking out the window of the apartment to see two men hanging out there washing absoloutly starkers from the waist down! I've always said the apartment has a great view!
-Getting smacked over the head repeatedly by wet bags and umbrellas whilst travelling on a packed bus.
-Seeing a ecuadorian chocolate sign which read 'snickers can suck on our cacao'. Very clever.
- The shop called 'doggy style'
-The fantastic son of one of the missionaries out here who at 4 years old unashamedly pulled his trousers down and went for a wee with the loo door open allowing all the group a view of his bottom whilst we were being preached to.
- The accomodation at the conference center consisted of simple rooms with single beds so on our 6 month wedding anniversary we slept in seperate beds........ surely not a good sign.
If we could again request your prayers for our accomodation as we have had to post pone our move to Santo Domingo for a week due to lack of accomodation but we have some deffinite leads so hopefully come friday/ Saturday we should be down there.
Mucho amor de Ecuador xxxxx
Look at this weeks photos by clicking on this LINK
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