Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003 - 10:03 p.m.
Upcoming entries
OK. So I'm a month behind in my journal. So shoot me. I also have 3 months missing from May to August that I plan to fill in once I finish my travels (Not to mention describing my 5 days in the Galapagos!). No te preocupes! Don't worry. Eventually I'll get caught up. In the meantime, here's a list of upcoming entries (from late May to August):
* My birthday in Ecuador (May 19th)
* Watching rugby videos with my friends in Cuenca. My English friend Jayne brought them back with her during her breif visit home.
*Attending David's 10th birthday party (Jacky's nephew). Back at home we blow out the candles in the cake. In South America, your face gets shoved into the cake instead.
* Visiting Judy & Carole's future bed & breakfast country home in the picturesque Yungilla valley, near Cuenca.
* Saying goodbye to my Irish housemate Frank, after 8 months.
* "Graduation" from Salsa class.
* Summer vacation, 2 weeks. From Quito to the beaches of Atacames, I traveled with my friends (fellow teachers) Jayne, Louisa, Newley and Jill.
* Corpus Christi (June 19th to 29th). This was a crazy weeklong celebration where Ecuadorians like to shoot off random dangerous fireworks into the crowd.
* New housemates move into the Luis Cordero house! Nina from England, Kathryn from Tennesee and Bruno's girlfriend Anne from Minnesota.
* Intensive summer term started (June 23rd). I had 2 classes during this 5 week term. One ninos class with only 3 students (all boys) and one advanced level class of about 10 young adults. They were my best class all year and a lot of fun to teach!
* I started jogging with Katherine about twice a week after she moved in. I joined her on her regular route along the main river in Cuenca, also passing some small Incan ruins.
* I visited the Catacombes of the main Cathedral in Cuenca (July 3rd). This was a rare opportunity, especially as a gringa and not something the average tourist gets to see.
* 4th of July parties!
* Before taking off to be a nanny in the US for a year, my Ecuadorian friend Jackie had a going away party (July 11th).
* Bed Bugs! They mysteriously appeared about the beginning of June and kept me company for the remainder of my time in the Luis Cordero house (early August).
* The favorite local hangout for CEDEI teachers, "El Ache" bar hosted a cultural dance performance, blocking off the street from traffic one crazy evening (July 18th).
* The end-of-term party (and my last teaching term at CEDEI).
* Saying goodbye to Nina, Katherine, Bruno and Anne.
* Getting ready for my almost 4 month journey around South America, I discovered I had a foot fungus the night before I was supposed to leave. I went to the doctor the next day to learn that I'd aquired it from the shower at my house. The doctor prescribed me antibiotics after I told her which ones I'm allergic to (6 different kinds, including Penicillin). The next day after developing stomach pains I discovered she'd prescribed me one I'd told her I was allergic to! Yet another reason why, living in South America, you have to have a sense of humor!!!
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So, anyways, in case you're wondering, I'm currently in Punta Arenas, Chile...on my way to Ushuaia, Argentina in Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia is known as "The Southernmost City of the World" (although everyone seems to overlook the fact that it's not, since Puerto Williams, Chile is about a degree farther south). I think Argentina just has a more developed tourist industry!
