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Entry: Another weekend in Quito Jun 5, 2004

Hello All,

Once again the plans for the weekend fell through. Next weekend I am sticking to my plans even if that mean I have to travel on my own! This week was a tough one. I got sick Wednesday afternoon and spent all that night and Thursday in bed. Got up Friday morning and felt better so I went to school and took my test. It was REALLY hard. I still do not understand the need for 2 different past tenses, but those that speak spanish do. Go figure. Anyway, after school went to the new job that I will do on Monday and Friday afternoons from 1:30-6:00pm.

I am teaching english to a class of young kids (maybe 8-10yrs) in a private school. For those in the world that think they have it bad, I took pictures. People in the US have NO IDEA how good they have it. Anyway, no one and I mean NO ONE in the school speaks english so it is a challenge. I have just about wore out the pages of my spanish-english dictionary. For a change this week I think we might just listen to country music and learn the electic slide. There is no ciricculm for me to follow so I am on my own. We might have to start with the Hokey Pokey and go from there. Who knows, I am sure that I can bluff my way through it and by the end of the month they should all be programmed that George W. is a GREAT GUY! (That ought to do wonders for the civil unrest!). We will be teaching on Mondays and Fridays and at the orphanage Tue, Wed and Thurs.

Classes are getting harder and harder. We do a lot of role playing which is actually really fun. Yesterday I had to be the mother (appropriate since I could be almost all the other students mother anyway), the father had passed away and the other kids in the group were my children and had to tell me their personal history and what things they wanted and why from the estate. It was a crack up! It some ways it was like being at home! The looks on their faces were priceless when I asked them questions like...Why do you think that I should give you the house, you have a job and can support yourself? One of the girls story was aweful. Several kids, no husband, etc. then she blammed me for all of it. (I am pretty confident that she is a democrat!) Needless to say, she did not get anything in the settlement of the estate.

Ecuador won their big soccer game the other day. They beat Columbia for the first time in 30 years. It was a bit wild. Today they are playing Bolivia. Pretty much the whole city shuts down and goes to the game. Everyone wears a jersey of their favorite national player and they shut the streets down for the party, venders, traffic, etc.

The school that I take classes in moves this weekend so just when I have learned how to get to school on my own it is time to change. I understand that I will have to switch buses for the next two weeks and anticipate that it will lengthen my travel time in the morning to over an hour. YAHOO!

OK - we found the mall today. THANK GOD! It was like being in Southern California. All the major name brands, Guess, Polo, Espirit, etc. and similar costs if not more. Needless to say I did not buy much, only a great book of the history of Quito. I did endulge myself with a Whopper Jr and fries at Burger King however and it was yummy!

That is about it for now. Other than house keeping....

Joe - I am confident that your comments regarding the kitchen cabinets are only in jest. But just in case they are not....I am sure that you will have no problem with me ripping out your new design when I return and ordering what we discussed prior to my departure and having them installed. After all, it sounds like you are making them out of scrap wood anyway so there would not be any loss...right?

Mom - It was good talking to you last night. I am sorry that your dresser smashed in the street but am sure that you will find another treasure somewhere even better. Hang in there with the cemo. Hopefully it will be over soon. I love you and am proud of you and your continual positive attitude!

Meg - I am soooo glad that the girls love their maracas. I can NOT wait to hear about the other little treasures I found here for them! It is amazing how dirt cheap hand carved flutes are!

KB - I am continually using the antibacterial hand crap but obviously it did not work or I would not have gotten sick. This is really not your kind of place and at times even I kringe at things I see. I am still looking forward to a really HOT shower with lots of water!!!!

Matt - Really excited that you are posting comments! Glad to hear that you are doing well. I understand that the job thing might start paying soon and that is great news. Keep doing what you love! Keep up with the e-mails I love hearing from ya.

Dad - Have not heard a whole lot for you lately. I know that you are busy and I hope that you are at least keeping up with what is going on through the webpage. It sounds like Manual and Joe are moving right along with the house. It is truely amazing that they can get anything done without my on site supervision, but then I did learn pretty detailed instructions...in english!

The boys...I spoke to them last night and both are doing well. Jonathan pitched a no hitter in his game the other night and they won 16-0. That is what I call a spanking! Doms team is also good and he is making money mowing lawns. Both sounded good and that makes me feel good.

OK - I need to get back to lesson plans for next week and homework. Miss you all and hope everyone is well. A little over 2 weeks and I will be home - YEA!!!

Love to all,
Amy

11 comments


	Randy June 9, 2004 09:42 AM PDT This Father-in-law and Son-in-law bonding is sickening!!


	LOT BOY June 9, 2004 09:13 AM PDT chris there is only 1 original portrait and anything else would just be a copy. Sad as it was I did my duty as the 2nd 3rd son in law and passed it on to its new rightful owner Jen. It would not be fair to her to start making copys of the original.


	Chris Layton June 8, 2004 07:39 PM PDT As I read some of the postings here I must confess that I am feeling just a little bit protective toward my first born who is trying to be an ambassador for her Country. Needless to say I am proud of her and acknowledge that she is doing something I would not be capable of doing. Shame on you guys who are giving her a bad time while she is away with this important work. She can't help the fact that her entire make up leads her to locate malls, potentially get lost trying to navigate bus routes and taxi locations, feels impulses to adopt refugee children, worry about cabinets at home, consider retaliation for offenses she considers significant and attempt to direct all activities from thousands of miles away. After all, she is FEMALE! And, for that we should all Thank God! To the Missouri Crew working on the Ponderosa, I am sorry I have not been able to visit and do my part to make the homecoming memorable with the achievements made while she is away. I can't help wondering however, if there has been any place saved for a portrait of a loving Father, Grandfather and Father-in-law that would make a nice housewarming gift?


	mlatplay June 7, 2004 11:52 PM PDT HI Hon, Glad to heat that you are better. Me too! I think I owe Kristi a new car!!!!! I'm concerned that Lot Boy and his gang if builder Bob wannabe's are stressing you. Do they NOT realize that you are in a 3rd world counrty in an orphanage and could bring home enough little people to double the popualtion of Buttwallup, Mo.?????? Be nice to aMY OR bEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!gOOD NEWS ABOUT THE BOYS. I still haven't talked to them but will try before Roid Rage kicks in on Thurs. Sorry to hear that they keep asking you to play "find the school"An extra hour sounds like serious get lost time.......sorry I forgot you are the one with the sence of direction. Thank heavens!!! Had tests today and should have the results by the end of the week and will let you know. Glad you located a mall but worried that it took you this long is your gene from me missing????????????????? Love you lots and look forward to hearing of your adventures. xxoom


	LOT BOY June 7, 2004 04:18 PM PDT WE don't use books we free hand as we go it works better that way


	Randy June 7, 2004 01:33 PM PDT Amy, I researched the internet and found some interesting home improvement books. I found one that I thought would be very helpful for Lot Boy and Manual. Designing a kitchen on a shoe string budget: Scrap Lumber Makes Excellant Kitchen Cabinets. I ordered a copy for Joe and Manual.


	LOT BOY June 7, 2004 09:29 AM PDT GOOD MORNING amy about that list we misplaced it some where so we just made a new one of our own it involved a lot more time on the porch. until you have mastered the art of speaking redneck don't try and teach it to someone else that cal accent you have will just screw it up better get back to the new list love you bye


	Manuel June 7, 2004 07:11 AM PDT Don't worry Amy the saw horses and 2x12's were stained to match the other wood in the house. Randy, since Amy has threatened retaliation thought it best not to post the picture. Should of thought of that before enlarging and hanging in her new living room. Maybe the wildlife mounting I found will make up for that error in judgement. Amy, the children you're teaching english to. Are you teaching them to speak proper redneck? Nothing like a little shopping to lift one's spirits. Remember, extra large. Have a good day.


	Randy June 6, 2004 11:08 PM PDT Hi Everyone, Just returned from an afternoon on the lake. Weather was perfect. Hope everything is working out as you anticipated. Hope your weekend was fun and filled with exciting adventures. Remember, you have to rise and shine 1 our early now that the school location has changed. Have a good week.


	Jen June 6, 2004 04:22 PM PDT Ok, so I just NOW figured out how to leave a comment..... this website while being very plain was kinda hard to navigate.... got it. Its fun to read your entries, and it sounds like the experience of a lifetime! Cant wait to hear more.


	Randy June 5, 2004 07:33 PM PDT Well, you know what they say about plans!!! Sorry the schedule did not hold. As for being sick, sounds to me like your sick of school!! As for the blamegame, you are a US Citizen, everything that goes wrong in this world is our fault. Deal with it!! The soccer game festivities sound a lot like our Superbowl. Were there any wardrobe malfunctions?? As for the new school location, maybe you could take the course from home via video uplink or internet! HA HA!! Most importantly, you did find a mall with familiar shopping goods. This is good. Well I must close. Pam and I, along with her kids, will be attending a concert at The Legacy. Deborah Coleman, a blues artist will be performing. Perhaps we will get around to a few tequilla shots before the night comes to a close. In other news, I grossed $48 US from sale of items at a garage sale. This is good.

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