Una semana en Guayaquil

Lo siento que yo no escribí la semana pasada. Era muy ocupada. No puedo creer que hace solo 10 días en Ecuador… es increíble. Durante las semanas (lunes a jueves), tengo una pasantilla de 8 hasta 12:15, a Niños con Futuro. (http://www.ninosconfuturo.org) Es una escuela con mas o menos 260 niños. Los niños son adorables. Voy a enseñar una clase de francés a niños que tienen 5, 6, y 7 años. Yo no sé francés, pero Jeanne, mi amiga de Francia, necesita una ayudadora con su clase. ¡Aprenderé y enseñaré francés al mismo tiempo!

Después de la pasantilla, yo voy a mi casa, y como el almuerzo con mi familia. Usualmente es las 1:30. Es la comida mas importante del día. Narcisa hace un almuerzo fantástico cada día. También el almuerzo es de comida muy típico a Ecuador, con sopa, y arroz con pollo o pescado, con plátanos y jugo. No recuerdo los nombres de los almuerzos típicos, pero eventualmente puedo ponerlos aquí. Quiero aprender como cocinar, y Narcisa, y mi escuela (con clases extras) va a enseñarme. Después yo hago mi tarea o tengo una siesta.

A las 4:30, tengo mis clases. Tengo la clase de español, un descanso por una hora, y a las 7:30 tengo la clase “Andean and Mercosur Common Markets”. Me gustan mis clases. Hay mucho trabajo para las, pero no es muy difícil para hacerlo. Shelby esta terminado con clases a las 9 también, y vamos a la casa. Tenemos una cena ligera. Charlo con mi familia sobre el día, y después es necesario que yo vaya a la cama temprano, porque de mis mañanas tempranas.

Ahora es mi primer fin de semana en Ecuador. Tengo tres días de descanso y la diversión. Ayer fui al gimnasio con Kristi, Hayley, Belinda y Sarah. Después hice recados con Shelby, almorcé, y tome una siesta. A las 4, yo, Sussy, Kristi, Hayley, Belinda y Sarah fuimos al mercado. (no puedo recordar el nombre…. Ballia? No sé) Muchas gringas altas en un mercado llama mucha atención. Todos los hombres dijeron frases improcedentes etc. Afortunadamente, Sussy sabía el mercado y como negociar. Compramos relojes y jerseys de futbol. (Barcelona! =] )

Hoy necesito hacer mi tarea sobre las políticas comercias de Correa, y después, voy a ir a la piscina de Belinda con mis amigas para hacer una barbacoa. ¡Que chévere!

=]


Ok, en ingles.

Basically, I am sorry that I didn't write much last week. It was very busy, settling in and getting used to schedules/ how to get around. It amazes me that it has only been 10 days. Monday through Thursday, I have an internship at Niños con Futuro. (http://www.ninosconfuturo.org). It is a school made up of about 260 kids. It is privately funded by donations, and it consists of students from areas of poverty. The kids are absolutely adorable. I am teaching a French class with my friend Jeanne. Luckily, she is from France, and obviously knows French very well. She needed an assistant, so although I don't know French, I will learn as I go. It is very basic French, and we are teaching it to 5,6, and 7 year olds.

After the internship, I go home and eat with my family. Lunch is the largest and most important meal of the day. I love lunch here, not only because Narcisa makes amazing meals, but because it is something that we all eat together, talking and hanging out. Narcisa makes typical Ecuadorian meals, starting with a soup, then a meal consisting of a platano, rice, beans, chicken or fish. (And juice, yum!) I can't remember the names of of the meals at the moment, but I want to learn them. So eventually I will put them on here. After lunch I do my homework or nap. I now understand the concept of siesta. At home I couldn't really justify my naps, but here, it is because of the heat/ humidity! At least for me anyway.

I have class at 4:30. First is Spanish, then a break for about an hour, in which I go to the library. Next is Andean and Mercosur Common Markets. I get out around 9, as does Shelby which works out perfectly. We go home, and have a light dinner. I have to go to bed soon after because of my early mornings and long days.

While the weekdays are long, my weekends are as well. I have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off to relax, have fun, travel etc. Yesterday I went to the gym with Kristi, Sarah, Belinda and Hayley. It was so hot, and it has been a while since I have worked out. It was intense, but fun. I did some errands with Shelby after, then lunch and of course, a nap! Around 4 Sussy, Belinda, Kristi, Hayley, Sarah and I went to the "black market" in downtown Guayaquil. We attract a ton of attention as a pack of tall gringas... when we walked through literally every man had something to say, most of which we couldn't understand. Sussy could however, and filled us in later. It led to some good discussion about cultural differences. Thank goodness Sussy was with us. She knew how to bargain, and ended up getting us great prices on watches and soccer jerseys!! My family roots for Barcelona in Guayaquil, and I can't go against the family can I? I can't wait for a game!!!

Today we are going to Belinda's to have a barbecue by the pool. It is going to be a lovely day, just like every other day here in Guayaquil =]