October 27, 2008

This past week has blown by so quickly that I think I have whiplash. I will do my best to recap. Wednesday I spent the afternoon with a friend who had offered to help me write out and practice exactly what I was going to say for the speech I had to deliver in front of my site on Friday. After we finished, he offered to show me around Machala a bit. He took me to the best (and only) bookstore is in Machala (people seriously don’t read here), and then to the pier. I had a lot of fun until I got a phone call saying that the computers were being delivered to my site’s library and I had to be there immediately with the other half of the payment. I made him drive me straight to the bank and then my site where I hit the ground running as soon as I was in view of my house. I felt bad for being rude, but I didn’t really have a choice.

That evening, after dance class I went to another volunteer’s house where we gossiped and she taught me the Soulja Boy dance. She and another volunteer know a choreographed dance that includes those steps and I was thinking of performing it with them for the cultural night. I wanted to share a little of American culture and we all know that it doesn’t get more authentic than Soulja Boy!!!

Thursday was spent getting ready for and carrying out the final dance rehearsal with the children. The rehearsal went alright, but I got a little frustrated because we had to take a five minute break after every run-through of the three minute song. The children were ‘tired.’ Sigh.

I spent Friday morning shopping in Machala with a fellow volunteer. We wandered around the market looking for things for our Halloween costumes. Five of us girls in the Machala area are going to be the Spice Girls. I am going to be Sporty Spice. I love this because it means I get to wear athletic clothes and tennis shoes. Eas-z!

In the afternoon, I returned to my site to help set up for our big cultural night. The entire shindig went down pretty well. I was really nervous when I had to speak and my hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Everyone says I did great. The children danced pretty well. I had to sit in front of them giving them directions, but overall, I’m really proud of them. They really are great kids! I decided not to dance with the other volunteers. We didn’t have time to practice much and… I admit… I chickened out. I would like to preserve a bit of dignity.

My friend and I then went out for drinks and a burger. It was great fun to complain about our frustrations, gossip about our lives, and celebrate our successes over rounds of strawberry daiquiris and beer.

Saturday morning was spent apartment searching (not much luck) and belt-buying (success!). In the afternoon I met up with my Ecuadorian friend and he introduced me to a friend of his who lives in my site and knows everything. She took us around to see a few more apartments. Nothing seemed like home, but at least I have a few more options.

My friend and I then decided to go see some nearby waterfalls. They were pretty remote and it took about an hour of off-roading to get there. Once we finally arrived, we spent about an hour wandering around the falls until we realized that it was really dark and raining. There was no way we could get back to the main road. Too risky. For the second time since I’ve arrived in Ecuador I found myself stranded in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately (or unfortunately… you decide), the two of us managed to rent a cabin. It had no electricity, running water, and one flee infested bed (I’ve got the marks to prove it). It was kinda awkward at first… neither of us intended to wind up there! Luckily, he was a perfect gentleman and we ended up talking for hours.

We returned home the next afternoon. As soon as I got home I showered and assessed my body for damage. It didn’t look great. After a quick phone call to the nurses and pit stop at the pharmacy, I went to the shopping mall to meet up with my PC friends and use the internet. We had a blast together. Finally, I’m starting to get close to them!!!