The days are FLYING by. Part of me wants someone to pump the brakes and part of me wants to press the accelerator. I do not want to leave this freedom but I am excited to see so many people and be back in my community both in Nashville and at UNC. So this post will certainly be long as I recount multiple days.
Friday our entire group met at Amauta and hashed through the APF’s (consultations) we had had in the past few weeks. We shared the information we had gathered with the other half of our groups and made recommendations for them for their APF’s with the same groups in the next two weeks. It was a very productive time and I loved it because now we have much more information to work with on our upcoming APF’s this week. Operating with more information definitely is helpful for me and I am thankful for the chance to talk with the groups in the days to come. I went home for another delicious lunch and then returned to the city. Six members of the large intern team volunteered to prepare an APF for a group outside of Cuenca on Saturday morning. Therefore, these brave six met and planned a consultation on sales and marketing, especially in regards to making a logo, slogan, and promotional materials. Planning went really well and this group of individuals was engaged and committed. There is something wonderful about self selection and having a group of people who chose to participate in this activity. After we finished our preparation we busted a move home to get ready for a night out together.
Our entire group met at a delicious dinner place called Teistos that was recommended to us by some Americans during our first week there. Boy, did it live up to its recommendation! The way the meal works is that a group of four people share a meat dish and several side items. My side of the table got a steak dish with blackberry sauce. Our sides were potatoes, couscous, rice, salad, and bread. This meal was the BEST meal I have had in Ecuador, full of flavor and perfectly filling. It was also just a blast to have everyone together celebrating a great 5 weeks together and all the work we have done. After dinner we explored multiple bars all over the city, making our presence known wherever we went because of our sheer volume and white skin. Bar owners would always welcome us enthusiastically and play whatever American pop music they had in their repertoire. We ended up at the apartment of Liz Thurber and Sarita, two of the overseers of our program and enjoyed one another’s company while looking at the gorgeous view of Cuenca they have from their back porch.
Saturday morning came very very early as half of our group met at 8am to go to Paute for this APF. Paute was a quaint little town that sat in a valley surrounded by towering mountains. We were ushered to a school building where we would deliver our APF to about 20 small business owners in the city. This APF was the most successful APF I have been a part of so far due to the combination of engaged and invested community members and motivated and caring interns. We helped them develop logos, bulletins, and marketing tactics. Afterwards we ate lunch at a pizzeria and then headed back to Cuenca in the late afternoon.
Elizabeth Smith and I were lucky enough to spend some quality time together talking about everything from UNC, to life goals, to this summer program. We went on a run/walk up to a church called Turi on the top of a massive hill with a breathtaking view of the entire city. After climbing up at least 300 stairs we were in awe of this city we have come to call home. We both agreed that we are so thankful that we have had each other this trip to process everything and have a taste of home and the comfort of being known. I really adore her and I am so grateful for her friendship.
After a quick shower we walked into the city to get what we had hoped would be a quick bite to eat at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants here. However, before we even got our food, two guys walked into this hole in the wall joint. Chaco wearing, blonde hairs, plaid shirt clad, I immediately told Elizabeth covertly that these guys were most certainly from the South. After sitting at the table diagonally behind ours, they asked us what was good. This led into two hours of story sharing about our time spent in Ecuador. These boys were from Texas, went to school at Oklahoma state, and have been volunteering with an agency in Quito that loves on, teachings, and cares for street kids. Now they are traveling around the country for their last few days in the country. It was so wonderful to share stories, laugh about experiences, and feel like I was back in the states catching up with old friends. After this epic dinner we went to a coffee shop for a bit and then met the boys at our favorite hostel/bar la cigale. It was a fun night.
The following day the majority of our group met at 8:15am to be picked up by a tourist agency to hike in Cajas national park. We went on a 1.5 hour hike around a lake and learned about the plant and wildlife from our English-speaking guide. We then went up to one of the highest points for a quick photo before embarking on another 2.5 hour hike. We saw some of the most gorgeous views I have ever seen and enjoyed the beautiful landscape. Afterwards we enjoyed fresh steamed trout at a lodge in the park. Perfectly timed, it began to rain outside as we got our fill of warm tasty food after a satisfying hike.
Returning to Cuenca we capped the afternoon off with my favorite frozen yogurt in the city with coconut and chocolate chips. I bought 4 roses for a dollar at the flower market and placed them on our kitchen table as a thank you when I returned home. After a quick shower I went back to the city for internet at a coffee shop. It was such a treat to begin to respond to the multiple emails that have been piling up in my inbox. I put new photos on facebook (check them out!) and drank a strong cup of coffee.
Being in Ecuador for Independence Day is almost as hard as not being home on Thanksgiving. To compensate, our group ate dinner at a restaurant that serves burgers and tacos. We took up the entire 2nd floor and played our favorite music with a patriotic, “we miss America” theme. Singing and eating burgers, we felt at least a little bit like we were back in the states. Our 3rd of July celebration will have to suffice for now. I then had to return to my house to pack up and get ready for an early departure to Riobamba tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment