No te preocupes?

My weekly responsibilities as a teacher and as a year of service youth.

1. Lesson plans (English + Art) for the entire week due Mondays.
2. Prepare art projects (four times a week).
3. Memorize 20 Hidden Words each week.
4. Deepen on 5 chapters of the Dawn Breakers (book will change once we finish that) each week.
5. Accompany and support the junior youth groups. (6 or 7 times a week)
6. Cook meals for 6-7 people.
7. Sleep?

Breathe, breathe, breathe.

Joys of my life

Have you ever watched a five year old day dream in the back of a small-van school bus? The hazy eyes with the open mouth and the drool seeping out from the corners. I swear, I'm going to have laughing/smiling wrinkles by the end of this year from these kinder and pre kinder bundles of JOY.

Every Monday morning, I take the little school bus to school. It leaves a bit later (=20 min of sleeping in, score!) and it picks up the kinder and pre kinder students at their houses. Today, the radio was on the american station and for some reason it was only playing Black Eyed Peas songs (hit after hit after hit... loved it) so I started moving my head side to side to the beat and the kids just started craaaaaaaaaacking up. Then Martin and Andre started wildly strumming their air guitars, shouting "TOCA MI GUITARRA" and then the entire van turned into a crazy air band jam out session... minus Pablito, of course, who was too busy pointing and shouting "VACA" at every cow he saw.

Pablito had a bit of trouble this morning. He did not want to get into the van. He was crying, pulling, pushing, whining and his dad was trying so hard to get him into the van when I finally pulled out my handy dandy KAZOO, and said "Pablito!! Mira!!!" Pablio stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes grew inches and he reached out, grabbed my kazoo, stuffed it in his pocket, and took a seat on the bus in silence. About five minutes later I asked to see the kazoo. He cautiously handed it over and I showed him how to use it. I'm pretty sure my humble kazoo changed his world.

They also call each other chimilingo or chimilinga (kinda like saying 'hey kid' in English). Andre is usually the one who starts the rounds of "hola chimilingo, hola chimilinga!!!" Andre has eyebrows permanently painted in the angry position and it's HILARIOUS. This morning I looked at him and smiled. He stared back with his v-brow for about 30 seconds and finally broke out into a smile. It was the best moment of my life.

I am so happy here.

Also... congrats to my dearest loves, Robbie and Paula, on their engagement!!!!!!! YAY WEDDINGS

Don't underestimate underestimation

"I think you think people underestimate you. And I think you underestimate yourself."
It's true.

She's the best.

A wise shower head once told me...

Written at 10:45PM 10/7/10

I'm pretty sure my body is falling apart. Either that, or I'm a hypochondriac… which, at this point, is an entirely valid thought.

1. I have 19 bug bites. On my feet.
2. I have a bump on the back of my left heel that is tender. It hurts to wear shoes with a back. I'm pretty sure it's because I have high arcs and little support.
3. For the first time in my life, I'm experiencing seasonal allergies. And since the seasons here never change, that means I'm experiencing permanent allergies.
4. I tried experimenting with the different laundry detergents here (they don't have Tide, my regular) and I'm developing hives over my body.
5. My knee is clicking overtime I bend it.
6. My scoliosis is… well… my scoliosis.

On top of that, I have two art classes tomorrow to prepare for, but the internet isn't working… so I can't do my awesome Michelangelo project tomorrow where the kids draw underneath their desks like Michelangelo drew the Sistine Chapel. And I'm nervous about Miguel tomorrow, my high schoolers still don't have their books, I'm frustrated with my Spanish, and I'm exhausted, tired, grumpy, moody, and irritable.

I went to take a glorious hot shower. I entered the shower with those boohoo-sob-story-pity-party-feeling-sorry-for-myself tears, when the water decided to go cold and stay cold for a bit. I looked up and said "Really? Really?" Looking back down, my eyes fell upon the front of the shower head. There on that stupid, annoying, never-working, shower head was a sticker, a word (in English too btw): Relax.

My four/five-ish word recipe to a meaningful day:
Relax, Pray, Trust, Dried-Mangoes.

Caro Emerald

Just because the seasons don't change in Ecuador doesn't mean I can't still mentally get in the mood for Fall...

I've never been a scarf wearer (hello, I live in AZ)... but that might change after stumbling across the scarf shop.


I even found something autmun-y for my dear iPhone.

Fall food? COOKIES

Elanee recommended Caro Emerald to me, and I love it. Tru wov. Perfect way to start off my October playlist :)

En el jardín de tu corazón

Mi clase de arte de tercero es una clase del Cielo. Hemos creado pinturas inspiradas en esta cita:

"En el jardín de tu corazón no plantes sino la rosa del amor"

Y también, les enseño sobre los colores primarios y secundarios. Les anima a mezclar los colores.

Some really understood the concept...

In that first picture, Pablo (different Pablo, not from Kinder) wrote his name as Llostin Biber. Here, they pronounce a double 'll' as a 'j'. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Ramsi took a more abstract approach... with his fingers.

I think it's my favorite.

Ayer fue una día mas duro. En mi clase de arte de segundo... Miguel tenía problemas. The water jug was empty, so he decided to try to open the new jug with a can opener, then some box cutters, then with a pair of scissors, and then finally my pen. BOX CUTTERS?????????? Where did they even come from???? Needless to say, I was flipping out. I tried to keep the other students away from his arm (which was waving allll over the place, by the way). I finally grabbed his wrist and wedged the box cutters from his hand. I picked him up and dragged him (kicking and screaming) to the principal but the principal wasn't there and my arms were tired and my legs were hurting from his kicks so I brought him back in class and put him in time-out (which he abandoned to continue his quest to open the jug with scissors then my pen). On top of all that... he punched Dana!!! The cutest, sweetest, little girl.

Miguel is from a foster home. He acts out for attention I suppose. I try not to give him the attention he wants when he acts badly, especially because I have 10 other students I need to teach... but I have no idea how to discipline this child. He doesn't respond to any of the disciplining techniques (happy/sad faces with names on the board, etc). I need to call my mama. If there's anyone in the world that can discipline a child, it's my mom. Or Nana.

Say hello to Charis, MY LOVE (from Pre-Kinder)

Dreaming of oceans of water

I have now lived three days with out running water. It's actually not as bad as you think... minus the oily hair, the gross toilet situation, the half-brushed teeth... it's pretty manageable. But, I would love to wake up to running water tomorrow. That would be glorious. But not as glorious as making music with Val's uke and my kazoo.



I think coming to Ecuador has been the best decision I've made in my life so far. I'm learning so much about "the world"... which is that I know nothing about the world.

And to all my friends and family (well... those who even read this): thank you so much for keeping in touch with me while I'm here. It honestly means the world to me. The police situation has gotten a bit worse... but I am safe.

Shout out to Meghan! Haaaaay!