COUNTRY: Ecuador
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching & Care Work
WRITTEN BY: Roxanne Vuurman
Buenos tardes! My sincere apologies for the lateness of this blog post, things can get a little crazy when you’re you spend your days either covered in glue, paint and children, or when you’re jumping off a bridge in an adrenaline filled (very safe) weekend in the town of Baños.
The past few weeks have been nothing short of amazing. Volunteering never fails to occupy our weekdays with entertaining stories of trampoline woes and classroom activities. The five of us manage to spend our break time at school just like real teachers, sitting around drinking coffee in the staff room and talking about anything and everything.
We have all managed to get so close to the staff and students at the INSFIDM, it definitely feels as though we are part of a family here. Katharine has an undeniable talent when it comes to compassion and recently managed an entire class of 5-6 year olds on her own for a day as her teacher mourned the loss of a family member, not only was she able to keep the children under control, but also managed to bring in new ideas to the classroom that were adopted in by the teacher upon her return.
In addition to this, Tom has managed to form an incredible bond with his class, and is an indispensable part of their daily activities, particularly trampoline time (much to the delight of the children whose ability to do flips on the trampoline has greatly improved). Emma brings so much to her class, particularly with her incredible Spanish speaking skills, and her unconditional adoration for these children while Duncan brings immense positivity to his class, and has similarly formed a great relationship with the little faces that smile back at him everyday. I do not know how we are going to be able to leave these gorgeous people in four weeks time.
On a brighter note our weekend travel has been extraordinary. Nothing could prepare us for the indescribable nature of Baños, a stunning town surrounded by mountains, as well as an active volcano! It really was something else to ascend the neighboring mountain of the volcano on horseback and watch as ash and smoke rose from the peak of the Tungurahua. Furthermore, Baños saw four of us faithfully leap off a very high bridge (ropes attached) and swing down to the ground below. Never a boring day here in Ecuador! Baños was not only a place that allowed us to push the boundaries of our comfort zone, but it was also a place that inspired each and every one of us. This country is beyond anything you could imagine.
Back in Quito the five of us also managed to ascend to dizzying heights as we rode the scenic TeleferiQo, a cable car system that allows people to witness the profound size of Quito from a look out on the east side of the (very dormant) Pichincha volcano. While Tom and Duncan made their way to the peak on foot, Katharine, Emma and I found our own entertainment in the form of two some-what friendly llamas resting near the look out.
Our time in Ecuador seems to be drawing to a close much quicker than any of us would like, and with our fair share of Pilseners, lollypops and long bus rides, we intend to make the very most of it.
Ciao
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