Here in Ecuador they have an interesting New Year's Eve tradition that I found I really enjoy. Each family creates a large papier-mâché figure, kind of like a big piñata, called an Año Viejo (that's Old Year in Spanish). This figure can be in any form that they want. Some look like a family member or friend, some look like the president, some just look like an evil creature (yes, I saw a life-size Chucky doll). Whatever they are they represent something from the past year for the family. A memento to the year gone by. Then at midnight, to ring in the happy new year, they take these Año Viejos outside, everyone gathers around, and then...they stomp the hell out of them and set them ablaze while everyone watches them burn.
Okay, so it may not seem like the world's happiest form of new year celebration. Anyway, I found that I really identify with it. And it's not that I'm in the habit of holding a grudge against the past year. In fact, 2011 was a pretty darn good year. I graduated from college, saw several of my friends make big steps towards their grown-up lives, made a cross country road-trip with one of my best friends, moved to a new country, and have had some pretty memorable experiences since I've been here. However, as I watched this burning of the Año Viejos for the first time last night, I noticed that it's not an unhappy tradition by any means. It's more of a way to say, "What's done is done. Let's make this new year an even better one." It's a way of bringing closure to the past year and looking positively towards the new year all at once. And that's what I like about it.
So in the spirit of the Año Viejo tradition, I've been reflecting on what I've learned in the past year and how that guides my outlook for the new year, 2012. Essentially these are my New Year's Resolutions but with a little more depth than the standard, "lose 20 pounds, eat healthier, exercise more, etc..." resolutions that we tend to forget about after approximately 15 minutes (although I have discovered a pretty effective way to lose weight that involves living on the beach and having virtually no money to spend but that's a different blog...). So here they are. Drumroll please...
The first thing that I've learned about myself this year is that I LOVE to make plans. Okay, so this year is not the first time that I've noticed this. I probably noticed it a little further back. Let's say maybe...the first day that I learned to write when I was about three years old. I'd have to verify with my parents but I'd be willing to bet that the first thing I ever wrote was probably a to-do list. Anyway, it has been particularly obvious to me ever since I moved to Ecuador. Probably because I tried to fight it for a long time. I really tried to let myself go with the flow, Ecuador style, thinking that if I could break this habit of mine I would become a more relaxed and easy-going person. Wrong! I think I'm more likely to have a successful NFL career and star in the next James Bond movie than to break this habit. But is it really such a bad thing? I admit, it can get a bit carried away sometimes. Like when I catch myself planning details for the inside of my apartment... Yes, that would be the apartment that I don't own in the city where I don't live that I bought with the money that I don't have from the job that I have yet to apply for. That apartment. I agree. That kind of outrageous planing needs to stop. But general day-to-day planning isn't such a bad thing. It really helps me to organize my thoughts and, in fact, can be very calming for me. For that reason I am no longer fighting the urge to make plans and to-do lists. With one stipulation and this brings us to New Year's Resolution number one:
Take time each day to "enjoy the moment." It's okay to make plans and be looking forward but I don't want to allow myself to forget where I am and what I'm doing right now. So each time that I'm frantically planning the rest of my life, I want to make a conscious effort to take a few moments to enjoy my life right then and there.
The second thing I've learned about myself this year is that I love to read. Again, not so much a new revelation as a relearning of something that I used to know. I remember how much I loved to read when I was younger. I remember my first grade teacher, Mrs. Campbell, reading "The Trumpet of the Swan" by E.B. White to our class and I remember how happy I was when I finished reading it by myself for the first time that same year. Then over time as I got busier and busier, I failed to make reading for fun a priority. But over the past four months in Ecuador, and particularly over the past three weeks of vacation, I have remembered how much I enjoy reading. I've read fiction, non-fiction, travel writing, historical narratives, novels, politics, classics, and even a textbook and I've been absorbing the information like a sponge. So this brings me to New Year's Resolution number two:
Always make time for myself to read for pleasure. I realize that I won't always have the kind of time on my hands that I have while I'm here in Ecuador where I'm always working on at least two books at a time, but there is always a little extra time. Even if it's just a few minutes a day I'm not going to let myself forget the enjoyment that I get from reading.
The third thing that I've learned about myself this year is that despite my decision long ago to hate writing, it turns out that I actually really enjoy it. Starting in high school and carrying over into college I developed a list of about 10,000 things I would rather do than sit down and write. It's amazing how urgent some things became when I new that I needed to make some time for writing something. Suddenly my room needed cleaned, my car needed gas, pictures needed uploaded to Facebook, I needed to shave, I needed to buy groceries, I needed to buy a book that I new I wouldn't read, and I needed to search prices for airplane tickets that I knew I wasn't going to buy. Yes, writing would just have to wait with all of these important tasks waiting to be taken care of. Besides, I had at least four hours until that ten page paper was due and with any luck I could get a small extension... However, over the past few months of keeping this blog, I have found that I really enjoying sitting down to write. Granted, this is not a requirement and I get to write about whatever I want, but I enjoy the process of putting together these amateur story lines. Like my to-do lists, it is a good way to organize the mess of thoughts that are blowing around in my head and gives me the opportunity to reflect on ideas that I didn't even know I had. And while I have been doing all of that for myself I have also enjoyed the small bit of feedback that I've gotten from people letting me know that they also enjoy my writing. So, New Year's Resolution number three:
Continue to keep a blog even after my "Adventures in the Amazon" are over. Maybe it won't e quite as entertaining when I'm not living in the jungle, but let's be honest. I'm not exactly writing about hunting for jaguars or battles with Amazonian tribes out here. I'm simply reflecting and then putting it down in writing and that's something I can continue to do no matter where I am.
The final thing that I've learned about myself this year is that I really, really, really enjoy studying languages. From learning a new language to studying language development and linguistics, I can honestly say that it is one of the few things that I am really passionate about. In fact, one of my reasons for wanting to come to Ecuador was for the opportunity to be immersed in another language. I'm speaking Spanish every day and seeing definite improvements in my language skills little by little. I also recently read "Eat, Pray, Love" (don't judge me, just read it; I promise you'll like it) in which the writer takes time to learn Italian for no other reason than the simple fact that it makes her happy. A simple idea but one that really resonated with me. In addition I've also taken some time to read books on language and linguistics that fascinated me so much that I could barely set them down. This has led me to search for graduate school programs in these areas and I have found a few that really seem like they could be a good fit for me. Just one more option to add to my list of possible future plans. So, my final New Year's Resolution:
Always dedicate time to studying and learning languages. Whether it is a formal course of study or just because it makes me happy, I want to always make time for this. For now, I'm keeping the focus on Spanish. In addition to my daily conversations in the language I'm planning to spend some time on a more in depth study as well. And after Spanish, who knows? Maybe I'll take up another language. But as long as I enjoy this it's something that I want to keep setting aside time to study.
To wrap up this lengthy list of life lessons I think I can tie it all together with one fairly short thought: Take time to do what you enjoy doing. Seems simple but I bet if you think about it, just like me, you have let some of your favorite things go by the wayside for lack of time. Well I would be willing to bet that it's not actually a lack of time. It's "misplaced" or "misused" time. I know there are things that we have to do that we don't necessarily enjoy and that do, in fact, take up a lot of our time, but if we can just set aside a few moments to to enjoy ourselves each day we can bring a lot of balance and satisfaction to our lives. This might seem a little too idealistic to some people, but give it a try. You won't regret it. Trust me.
Happy New Year, everyone. Enjoy it!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Observations by Ryan (aka, "People Watching")
I have spent my past week in Canoa, a small beach town in Ecuador. Here I have had plenty of time to do...absolutely nothing. I don't mean to say that I have had no time but rather to say that there is absolutely nothing to do with the time that I have which is exactly why I chose this place to spend my Christmas vacation. You might think that sounds a little strange, but when I have nothing to do at all I can devote plenty of time to three of my favorite things. Thinking, reading, and observing. So when I sat down to write a blog my three options were, "Philosophy of Life by Ryan," "Book Reviews by Ryan," or "Observations by Ryan (aka, "People Watching"). Trust me, you should be glad that this one came out as the winner. Anyway, everyone who knows me well knows that people watching is one of my favorite pastimes. Airports, bars, sporting events, Wal-Mart, etc., etc., etc. You name the place and I will tell you that people watching is most certainly an option for passing the time.
I decided the best way to write this would be simply to profile some of my favorite specimens. Okay, so I'm not exactly Charles Darwin but you get the picture. I have to warn you, these are a little bit cynical (okay, a lot cynical) and a little bit exaggerated (okay, a lot exaggerated) but hey, what fun would people watching be if you didn't get to work in a little bit of your own creativity? Anyway, my hope is not to offend anyone because who knows, maybe you are one of these people? My hope is simply to entertain myself, and hopefully others too, with this caricature of the personalities that I've been observing over the last few days. I am not trying to pass judgment and these descriptions do not represent any one person in particular. Rather, they are archetypes of characters that we have probably all come into contact with at one time or another. With any luck, you will be nodding your head in agreement as you picture your own encounters with similar people. Enjoy!
Tribal Tattoo Guy
The Tribal Tattoo Guy is one of the most prominent of the beach town inhabitants. He can be found everywhere from the lazy little beach town to the large coastal city. I would venture to say that 90% of the time this tribal tattoo is located on the shoulder. In rare cases the tattoo may be located on the chest or back. Either way he will very likely have his shirt off as he is walking through town (usually barefoot) so that everyone can view his extremely meaningful tribal tattoo. (**NOTE: Just because the tattoo is extremely meaningful does not mean that Tribal Tattoo Guy will actually be able to explain what it means. Trust him when he says that things of this nature can not always be put into words.) If for some strange reason Tribal Tattoo Guy is wearing a shirt, he can be identified by his hair. It is ALWAYS long and wavy and streaked with blond. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Surf Lessons Bro
The Surf Lessons Bro is another easy to spot local. He can usually be found lurking around bars and restaurants that are geared towards tourists. Often he is also Tribal Tattoo Guy. In any case he wants first and foremost to be your best friend. Small talk is a must. Where are you from? What hostel are you staying in? How long will you be here? Have you tried the piña coladas yet? Etc., etc., etc... Then finally: Do you surf? After this he explains to you that he spends all of his time surfing (although he is never actually seen surfing) and that, as your friend, he would love to teach you to surf as well...for a small fee. It's totally worth it though because THIS beach happens to have the best waves in ________(insert country). Fortunately Surf Lessons Bro can be easily escaped as he is easily distracted by food, reggae music, alcoholic beverages, and shiny things.
Business Gringo
The business gringo is one of the hardest to spot from a distance as he is the chameleon of the people watching world. One day he may appear in professional attire and the next day he may appear in board shorts and a backwards baseball cap. His wardrobe conveniently matches that of the people he is doing business with. Up close, however, he is easy to identify. His conversations give him away. Within seconds his clients are also his best friends. They will have to excuse his language at times because he has no other way to describe this "f***ing awesome" deal, but it's okay because they are already practically partners. He will likely use phrases that are ambiguous enough to mean nothing and everything all at the same time (i.e., "We're doing this one Rio style," or "Just like California in the 90s"). On a particularly good deal he will pay for lunch. Don't worry; he'll just put it on his tab.
Divorcée
Her name is Marge...or Louise...or Loretta. She wears dark sunglasses. She smokes cigarettes (her voice indicates that this is not a new habit). She is almost always from New Jersey. She is not looking to get married again. She hasn't been here long. Just long enough to find a nice place to stay and invite the kids down. She is good friends with a local taxi driver although she can't remember his name. She doesn't speak the local language but she speaks very loudly and slowly so that the simple locals will surely understand her. Good help is hard for her to find. It's not the easiest life for her but she gets by. She is only as interested in you as you are interested in her.
Annual Visitor
This guy has ALL of the answers. He comes here every year so he knows everything about the area. And he is willing and ready to share all of his valuable information with anyone and everyone that accidentally forgets to avoid eye contact...For example, he can tell you which restaurant serves the best cheeseburgers, which hostel is showing the NFL on TV, which locals speak English, which market has the best selection of "American" food, where to best observe the "strange local traditions" like selling seashells and cooking a whole chicken! Clearly he has really immersed himself in the culture. So when he sits down next to you and starts talking away (despite your obvious lack of interest), consider yourself lucky to be gaining such priceless insight.
Local Shop Owner
(**NOTE: This one might be specific to Ecuador but I had to include it!) First of all let it be known that The Local Shop Owner is selling good things and they are absolutely NOT selling good service. Thus, it is a complete inconvenience for them when you walk into their store. And don't even think about asking a question. They are there to collect your money as you silently exit their store, not to engage in conversation. If, however, there is something that you absolutely cannot manage on your own, a battle of wills must ensue. You will politely try to make eye contact or some sort of motion with your hands signaling that you need assistance while they will impolitely ignore you and busy themselves with other important things such as snapping beans into a basket. If you are persistent enough (sometimes this takes several minutes) you just might elicit a head nod, an eye roll, or in rare cases the Ecuadorian mouth point to guide you in the right direction. Victory. you may collect your things, pay your fee, and exit the store. But you better have exact change...
So there you have it. That is what I've been doing with my time over the past week. Productive, right? Sure, I left out some of the usual suspects like "The Study Abroad Girls," "The Gringo That Married a Local," and "The Travel Bum," but those can always be amended later. I still have two more weeks here after all!
I decided the best way to write this would be simply to profile some of my favorite specimens. Okay, so I'm not exactly Charles Darwin but you get the picture. I have to warn you, these are a little bit cynical (okay, a lot cynical) and a little bit exaggerated (okay, a lot exaggerated) but hey, what fun would people watching be if you didn't get to work in a little bit of your own creativity? Anyway, my hope is not to offend anyone because who knows, maybe you are one of these people? My hope is simply to entertain myself, and hopefully others too, with this caricature of the personalities that I've been observing over the last few days. I am not trying to pass judgment and these descriptions do not represent any one person in particular. Rather, they are archetypes of characters that we have probably all come into contact with at one time or another. With any luck, you will be nodding your head in agreement as you picture your own encounters with similar people. Enjoy!
Tribal Tattoo Guy
The Tribal Tattoo Guy is one of the most prominent of the beach town inhabitants. He can be found everywhere from the lazy little beach town to the large coastal city. I would venture to say that 90% of the time this tribal tattoo is located on the shoulder. In rare cases the tattoo may be located on the chest or back. Either way he will very likely have his shirt off as he is walking through town (usually barefoot) so that everyone can view his extremely meaningful tribal tattoo. (**NOTE: Just because the tattoo is extremely meaningful does not mean that Tribal Tattoo Guy will actually be able to explain what it means. Trust him when he says that things of this nature can not always be put into words.) If for some strange reason Tribal Tattoo Guy is wearing a shirt, he can be identified by his hair. It is ALWAYS long and wavy and streaked with blond. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Surf Lessons Bro
The Surf Lessons Bro is another easy to spot local. He can usually be found lurking around bars and restaurants that are geared towards tourists. Often he is also Tribal Tattoo Guy. In any case he wants first and foremost to be your best friend. Small talk is a must. Where are you from? What hostel are you staying in? How long will you be here? Have you tried the piña coladas yet? Etc., etc., etc... Then finally: Do you surf? After this he explains to you that he spends all of his time surfing (although he is never actually seen surfing) and that, as your friend, he would love to teach you to surf as well...for a small fee. It's totally worth it though because THIS beach happens to have the best waves in ________(insert country). Fortunately Surf Lessons Bro can be easily escaped as he is easily distracted by food, reggae music, alcoholic beverages, and shiny things.
Business Gringo
The business gringo is one of the hardest to spot from a distance as he is the chameleon of the people watching world. One day he may appear in professional attire and the next day he may appear in board shorts and a backwards baseball cap. His wardrobe conveniently matches that of the people he is doing business with. Up close, however, he is easy to identify. His conversations give him away. Within seconds his clients are also his best friends. They will have to excuse his language at times because he has no other way to describe this "f***ing awesome" deal, but it's okay because they are already practically partners. He will likely use phrases that are ambiguous enough to mean nothing and everything all at the same time (i.e., "We're doing this one Rio style," or "Just like California in the 90s"). On a particularly good deal he will pay for lunch. Don't worry; he'll just put it on his tab.
Divorcée
Her name is Marge...or Louise...or Loretta. She wears dark sunglasses. She smokes cigarettes (her voice indicates that this is not a new habit). She is almost always from New Jersey. She is not looking to get married again. She hasn't been here long. Just long enough to find a nice place to stay and invite the kids down. She is good friends with a local taxi driver although she can't remember his name. She doesn't speak the local language but she speaks very loudly and slowly so that the simple locals will surely understand her. Good help is hard for her to find. It's not the easiest life for her but she gets by. She is only as interested in you as you are interested in her.
Annual Visitor
This guy has ALL of the answers. He comes here every year so he knows everything about the area. And he is willing and ready to share all of his valuable information with anyone and everyone that accidentally forgets to avoid eye contact...For example, he can tell you which restaurant serves the best cheeseburgers, which hostel is showing the NFL on TV, which locals speak English, which market has the best selection of "American" food, where to best observe the "strange local traditions" like selling seashells and cooking a whole chicken! Clearly he has really immersed himself in the culture. So when he sits down next to you and starts talking away (despite your obvious lack of interest), consider yourself lucky to be gaining such priceless insight.
Local Shop Owner
(**NOTE: This one might be specific to Ecuador but I had to include it!) First of all let it be known that The Local Shop Owner is selling good things and they are absolutely NOT selling good service. Thus, it is a complete inconvenience for them when you walk into their store. And don't even think about asking a question. They are there to collect your money as you silently exit their store, not to engage in conversation. If, however, there is something that you absolutely cannot manage on your own, a battle of wills must ensue. You will politely try to make eye contact or some sort of motion with your hands signaling that you need assistance while they will impolitely ignore you and busy themselves with other important things such as snapping beans into a basket. If you are persistent enough (sometimes this takes several minutes) you just might elicit a head nod, an eye roll, or in rare cases the Ecuadorian mouth point to guide you in the right direction. Victory. you may collect your things, pay your fee, and exit the store. But you better have exact change...
So there you have it. That is what I've been doing with my time over the past week. Productive, right? Sure, I left out some of the usual suspects like "The Study Abroad Girls," "The Gringo That Married a Local," and "The Travel Bum," but those can always be amended later. I still have two more weeks here after all!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Passing the Time...
Time in the jungle doesn’t seem to pass by in the same way that time passes in other areas of the world. Especially for someone like me who is accustomed to the steady passing of seasons and changing of weather that happens in the Midwest. Okay, it’s not always so “steady” in Indiana, but I can certainly tell a difference between summer and winter. Not here. I have been here almost three full months now and the only change that I’ve noticed is the daily change in the height of the Napo River; it’s not exactly something that marks the passing of time.
So whether it’s due to that or just due to the nature of the work that I’m doing while I’m here, it is sometimes very hard to think in terms of time. One minute I’m thinking, “It’s December already?!” and the next minute I’m thinking, “It’s only December?!” What makes it even stranger is that no one else around me seems to be that concerned about it. In the U.S. we are constantly surrounded by our “time is money” culture. Anyone who has visited Latin America will tell you that is not the case here. Here time is freedom. Do with it what you want. All of the work will get done…in time. It seems like such a liberating concept that anyone would love the opportunity to have. I’m slowly finding that it’s harder than I thought…
For my whole life I had been used to having a long-term plan; a plan with items next to little boxes that I could check off daily to show myself and everyone else that I was in fact making progress in my life. This mindset gets old. Yes, I was making progress, but towards what I had no idea. So when I arrived here three months ago I came with the understanding that I would have to adapt to a new culture of time and pace. I was eager for the change, and for the first few months I was thriving in my new approach to time. I had time to read the books that had been piling up during four years of college, time to write a blog, time to learn about a new environment, time to get to know my students, and time to take a nap in my hammock. It was great. However, I also have lots of time to think and therein lays the problem… What do I think of when I have time to think? I think about exactly what I have set out not to think of. I think about a plan. What’s next?
Fortunately, this check mark that I’m on currently lasts another seven months. Regardless of what happens I’m here until the end of June when the current school year finishes. What scares me is that at this point I don’t have another little box to check-off on my life plan after this, and I like to plan ahead. Yikes! That hasn’t happened for a long time and I’m realizing that it’s a difficult idea for me to face. So in the last few weeks I’ve been trying to fix it. Listing, searching, writing, planning, weighing pros and cons, researching, studying, etc… Old habits die hard. I can’t help myself. But while I thought I came here to get away from my old habits, maybe what I’m learning is that these habits are just a part of who I am. Maybe no matter what environment I’m thrown into I will always fall back into the same routines because that’s how I’m programmed to be. Is that the worst thing in the world? In all honesty, I don’t have an answer and if I can’t figure it out here then I probably never will. I am constantly reminding myself that for better or worse every experience is an opportunity to learn. Maybe what I am learning is that I can’t change who I am. Maybe I will always be a very programmed and routine driven person. It’s not for everyone, but maybe it is for me.
One excellent piece of advice that I received recently, was that every step that I take in my life does not have to be perfect. As long as it is in a generally positive direction I have nothing to worry about because there is always time for a change. With that mindset, I don’t have to worry about my experiences being right or wrong but only positive or negative. I think of this experience in Ecuador as an example. Maybe I will get to the end of the year and decide that living in the jungle is not what I want to do for the rest of my life and now it’s time to do something else. So what? Have I wasted a year of my life? No. I have gained invaluable experience and decided that this is not what I want to spend my life doing. When I look back on my experiences and choices, there are very few things I can think of that I regret having tried but there are a lot of things that I can think of that I regret having not tried.
So today I’m going to start a new list. A new plan. A new routine. I won’t think of it as a list of “things I have to do” but instead a list of “things I want to try.” This list doesn’t go one step at a time and it doesn’t have an end and instead of guiding the way that I live it will only serve as a reminder of the things I have experienced and learned from. I will still get the satisfaction of marking off boxes without the stress of worrying if I picked the right one. It’s the best of both worlds for me and if nothing else, it gives me another way to pass the time.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Thanksgiving in the Amazon
This jornada has been...well, let's say "eventful." After three months in the jungle, the honeymoon phase is long gone, and when the same group of people spends a significant amount of time together (especially in isolation), small issues are bound to arise. I don't mean to cause a panic for anyone. Things are fine. But, little by little, when these issues start to pile up, eventually they have to be dealt with.
All of these little things have left me feeling a little stressed, a little cynical, a little negative, and overall just in a bad mood. However, as I am trying to teach my students (and always trying to remind myself), life isn't always easy, but if we can learn from challenging experiences in our lives then they can still be worthwhile. Easier said than done.
So as we approach Thanksgiving I thought, "What better time than now to give myself a little shot of positivity...and maybe a little shot of something else this weekend in Tena if that doesn't work..." I have to admit, I've never been a big fan of the "sit around the table and say what you're thankful for one day a year" tradition. To me it seems like an excuse to be unappreciative every other day of the year. But sometimes it's a useful tool to remind yourself that you're actually pretty fortunate, so here it goes...
I am thankful for leftover coffee at the lodge. I know it's trivial, but this is one of those stream-of-consciousness lists, so let's go with it. Some days (like today) all I need for a little pick me up is a good cup of coffee.
I am thankful for Johnson's brand Baby Mosquito Repellent. It's the only thing so far that I've found in the jungle that keeps me from being eaten alive by bugs.
I am thankful for Internet in the jungle. Sure I complain a lot about how slowly it works but let's be honest. ANY Internet connection in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest is a pretty amazing thing.
I am thankful for hammocks. More specifically, Chris's hammock which I occupy about ninety percent of the time. Maybe someday he will get to it before me and be able to enjoy it too.
I am thankful for rain. Not exactly one of those things that you lack in the jungle but on the few days when it doesn't rain and the temperature rises to a point that seems almost unbearable, I remember how important it is.
I am thankful that I have never had to worry about when or where I would get my next meal. I just finished a book called "Endless Appetites" about global food politics and food security and it reminded me just how fortunate I have been in my life. Not everyone has it that easy.
I am thankful for the opportunities that I have had in my life. Whether it's working, playing, traveling, or studying, I recognize that I have had a lot of opportunities already that some people don't get in their whole lifetime.
I am thankful for the opportunities I will have in the future. I can't tell you what I will be doing one year from now, and sometimes that terrifies me. When I think about it, it seems like a daunting and insurmountable task to sort out what I'm going to do with my life. However, the fact that I have so many options makes it a very fortunate problem to have.
Finally, I am thankful for my family who has helped provide me with all of these opportunities. I like to think I am pretty independent, but the truth is everyone needs a support system. My family supports all of my crazy ideas and travels, all of my crazy habits and routines, and all of my crazy plans and choices without batting an eye. At the same time, I am thankful that they have raised me to also accept the consequences of all of these things and learn from them, good or bad. Support doesn't mean bailing me out whenever something doesn't work but rather helping me learn from it, deal with it, and move on. In this sense I am pretty independent but only because they have raised me with the tools to be that way.
I am not saying that I always deal with every situation in just the right way. I still have a LOT to learn. But what I have learned is that when everything seems to be going wrong, take some time to think of the things that you are thankful for. You don't have to wait until there is a perfectly roasted turkey on a silver platter in front of you. Chances are you are luckier than you think.
Happy Thanksgiving!
All of these little things have left me feeling a little stressed, a little cynical, a little negative, and overall just in a bad mood. However, as I am trying to teach my students (and always trying to remind myself), life isn't always easy, but if we can learn from challenging experiences in our lives then they can still be worthwhile. Easier said than done.
So as we approach Thanksgiving I thought, "What better time than now to give myself a little shot of positivity...and maybe a little shot of something else this weekend in Tena if that doesn't work..." I have to admit, I've never been a big fan of the "sit around the table and say what you're thankful for one day a year" tradition. To me it seems like an excuse to be unappreciative every other day of the year. But sometimes it's a useful tool to remind yourself that you're actually pretty fortunate, so here it goes...
I am thankful for leftover coffee at the lodge. I know it's trivial, but this is one of those stream-of-consciousness lists, so let's go with it. Some days (like today) all I need for a little pick me up is a good cup of coffee.
I am thankful for Johnson's brand Baby Mosquito Repellent. It's the only thing so far that I've found in the jungle that keeps me from being eaten alive by bugs.
I am thankful for Internet in the jungle. Sure I complain a lot about how slowly it works but let's be honest. ANY Internet connection in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest is a pretty amazing thing.
I am thankful for hammocks. More specifically, Chris's hammock which I occupy about ninety percent of the time. Maybe someday he will get to it before me and be able to enjoy it too.
I am thankful for rain. Not exactly one of those things that you lack in the jungle but on the few days when it doesn't rain and the temperature rises to a point that seems almost unbearable, I remember how important it is.
I am thankful that I have never had to worry about when or where I would get my next meal. I just finished a book called "Endless Appetites" about global food politics and food security and it reminded me just how fortunate I have been in my life. Not everyone has it that easy.
I am thankful for the opportunities that I have had in my life. Whether it's working, playing, traveling, or studying, I recognize that I have had a lot of opportunities already that some people don't get in their whole lifetime.
I am thankful for the opportunities I will have in the future. I can't tell you what I will be doing one year from now, and sometimes that terrifies me. When I think about it, it seems like a daunting and insurmountable task to sort out what I'm going to do with my life. However, the fact that I have so many options makes it a very fortunate problem to have.
Finally, I am thankful for my family who has helped provide me with all of these opportunities. I like to think I am pretty independent, but the truth is everyone needs a support system. My family supports all of my crazy ideas and travels, all of my crazy habits and routines, and all of my crazy plans and choices without batting an eye. At the same time, I am thankful that they have raised me to also accept the consequences of all of these things and learn from them, good or bad. Support doesn't mean bailing me out whenever something doesn't work but rather helping me learn from it, deal with it, and move on. In this sense I am pretty independent but only because they have raised me with the tools to be that way.
I am not saying that I always deal with every situation in just the right way. I still have a LOT to learn. But what I have learned is that when everything seems to be going wrong, take some time to think of the things that you are thankful for. You don't have to wait until there is a perfectly roasted turkey on a silver platter in front of you. Chances are you are luckier than you think.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Vacation?
"Get me out of the jungle. NOW." That's what I was thinking to myself four days ago as we sat at the port in Mondaña waiting for a canoe to take us up the flooded Napo River. We had been there for 21 days and we were on our second straight month with our youngest group of students. Yes, that's 21 straight days of sweating, itching, and living with a bunch of 16 year olds who were just as ready for a break from us as we were ready for a break for them. I needed my vacation.
I know what you're probably thinking... Ryan, you live in the rainforest, you have no expenses, your food is provided for you, and you spend a large majority of your time reading in a hammock and playing volleyball. Not to mention you technically only teach one hour of class a day... You are already on vacation. You make a good point. I shouldn't complain. I've got a pretty good thing going. However, I would argue that life in the jungle is not that simple. It's not for everyone. And as for the only teaching one hour a day thing, I would remind you that I live IN a school with my students. So while I am only technically teaching one hour of class I day, in reality, I am always teaching.
Anyway, I was sitting there at the port at 9:30am on Friday and I was ready to get out. Let me remind you, if you haven't read my other posts, that this is never a simple task. Add a flooded river to that equation and getting out of Mondaña can be nearly impossible. So after sitting there for almost an hour without seeing a single canoe go by, we finally convinced one of the community members to take us up the river to Los Rios in his canoe. The normal 20 minute ride up river took about 40 minutes because of the speed of the river, but nonetheless we arrived safely in Los Rios around 11:00am. We asked when the next bus left for Tena and received the standard reply, "Ya mismo." Technically this phrase means "right now" but anyone who has traveled in Ecuador knows that it actually translates to, "Whenever the hell I want." We were pleasantly surprised when the bus left only a half hour later at 11:30am. At 3:30pm we finally arrived in Tena. Our normal three hour trip to Tena had now had us on the road for six hours. We had not eaten anything all day and like any experienced travelers we had sufficiently dehydrated ourselves to avoid having to pee for four hours on a bouncing jungle bus. So far this was not feeling like vacation.
Things, however, were starting to look up when our favorite hostel in Tena had beds available for us and our favorite cafe was serving up ice cold guayusa tea and crunchy fried yuca. Followed by a nice afternoon nap, some reading, a warm shower, and cheap tacos and beer for dinner, my mood was as good as it had been for days. We should have stayed in Tena...
The next morning we caught the 6:30am bus out of Tena to Quito. Although this ride usually takes between four and five hours, the buses are comfortable and not too crowded and the views are absolutely breathtaking as you make your way up out of the Amazon rainforest and into the Andes Mountains. Really a pretty enjoyable trip. On top of that, we didn't even need to take the bus all the way through the city when we arrived since we were meeting our friend Megan in Cumbaya, one of Quito's outlying suburbs. We could see the city up ahead of us. We were almost there. Our trip seemed as if it was too good to be true. It was. The bus stopped. There was a bridge out up ahead. The bus would have to take a detour. Almost everyone else exited the bus. This was not a good sign.
Fortunately a kind Ecuadorian woman was nice enough to take the two clueless gringos under her wing and guide us into the city. We followed her like two lost puppies as neither of us had any idea where in the hell we were. We tried to call Megan to let her know that we were having some technical difficulties and would need to find a new meeting spot. Naturally, we were also having problems with our phones. We could receive calls from her but could not make calls. Thus, any time we needed to talk to her we had to text her and then she had to call us. Finally, after three bus switches, a trolley ride, a cab ride, and about thirty calls later, we met up with Megan around 1:30pm. Luckily our cab dropped us off in front of a bread shop as we were, again, both starved and dehydrated. I got some "pan de leche" and instantly felt better. Pan de leche can cure anything.
The adventure wasn't over though. Now the three of us still needed to meet up with our fourth friend, Stephanie, at the bus station to catch the 2:00pm bus to Mindo. We arrived without too much problem to the main bus terminal and went to buy our tickets. Little did we know that when the internet bus schedule says the bus leaves at 2:00pm it actually means 4:00pm. The woman at the ticket window insures us that there are no other buses. We will wait. We can't get ahold of Stephanie anyway. Maybe her flight was delayed? At 1:50pm we receive a call from her saying that she has gone to the other bus station because she didn't think we would wait until 4:00pm. She has a ticket for the bus that leaves at 2:00pm. We ask a taxi driver how quick he can get us there. He says 15 or 20 minutes depending on traffic. Megan explains to him that our bus leaves in 10 minutes and he needs to drive "como loco." He tells us he will drive like his mother-in-law is following him. We arrive in 8 minutes... Only to find out that the bus could not wait for us. Miraculously we wanted to be on the only bus in the history of Ecuador, and probably South America for that matter, that left EARLIER than scheduled. Fantastic. Luckily there was another bus leaving in 20 minutes so we bought our second set of tickets and loaded our things.
Two hours later we arrived in Mindo at a nice little hostel with private rooms and breakfast included. Well worth the steep $15 price per night. It was now about 5:00pm on Saturday. About 32 hours since we left from Yachana. I wad exhausted and needed to rest and that is precisely what I did for two days. We took a few short hikes, did some amateur bird watching and found a flock of parrots perched in a tree, drank good coffee in the morning, and thoroughly enjoyed two different local chocolate shops that made the best brownies I have ever had. Other than that I spent most of my time lounging in a hammock and reading a book. I was finally feeling like I was on vacation. Again, we should have stuck with a good thing once we had found it but decided to press on to Quito. This was a vacation after all and we would hate to sit still for too long.
Monday morning we got up early for a walk and a good breakfast in Mindo before heading out. Amanda had been a little sick all weekend but was beginning to feel better. Unfortunately Stephanie had now come down with the flu also and decided that the worst thing she could do was ride on a bus through the mountains for two hours. Upon finding out that the flu, or some kind of sickness, was spreading, Megan and I went on an immediate preventative excursion. We refused to be sick. We choked down some "sangre de drago" (yes, that translates to "dragon's blood") which is supposed to cure everything under the sun, loaded up on vitamins and pepto tablets, drank plenty of fruit juice, ate plenty of veggies, and finished off with another brownie for good measure.
Monday afternoon around 4:00pm, Megan, Amanda, and I made it back to Quito, all in relatively good health. Amanda and I said our goodbyes to Megan and headed to our hostel. Oh by the way, the nice hostel that we had planned to stay in for the week was all booked up when we checked the day before so we had to settle for one night in a cheap hostel in the Mariscal district of Quito where tourists come for cheap alcohol and wild dance clubs. Not exactly a place to just chill out. I would love to tell you all that our current vacation nightmare ended there and we got a great night of rest and everyone lived happily ever after. Unfortunately, I have one last story to tell...
Around 2:30am Tuesday morning, three of our drunk and stumbling roommates entered the room where Amanda and I and the other functioning member of society in our room had been sleeping peacefully since about 9:00pm. We were awakened by these three stooges as they attempted to climb into their beds. This is part of staying in a hostel. We were all experienced travelers and were well aware of that. So, we tolerated it and were even slightly entertained by it...until the puking began. Yes, two of the three goons that had woken us up began to vomit in and around their beds. That is where we drew the line. We got up and left the room to go sleep in some chairs downstairs. The very nice owner of the hostel was very apologetic and made up some beds for us on the floor in a common room on the main floor. Again we began to sleep peacefully for about an hour until the owner came in and woke us again and insisted that we move to another room that he had prepared for us. Finally around 5:00am I got to sleep and put together a record two hours of consecutive hostel rest.
I woke up around 7:00am. I was still exhausted. My throat and lips were dry from the arid mountain air in Quito. My eyes hurt both from lack of sleep and the pollution in the city. I began to think back over the events of the last three days. I remembered sitting at the port waiting for our canoe on Friday feeling ready to leave. I couldn't remember why we decided to come to Quito. What part of Quito screamed relaxing vacation week to us after all? All I could think at that moment was, "Get me to the jungle. NOW."
I know what you're probably thinking... Ryan, you live in the rainforest, you have no expenses, your food is provided for you, and you spend a large majority of your time reading in a hammock and playing volleyball. Not to mention you technically only teach one hour of class a day... You are already on vacation. You make a good point. I shouldn't complain. I've got a pretty good thing going. However, I would argue that life in the jungle is not that simple. It's not for everyone. And as for the only teaching one hour a day thing, I would remind you that I live IN a school with my students. So while I am only technically teaching one hour of class I day, in reality, I am always teaching.
Anyway, I was sitting there at the port at 9:30am on Friday and I was ready to get out. Let me remind you, if you haven't read my other posts, that this is never a simple task. Add a flooded river to that equation and getting out of Mondaña can be nearly impossible. So after sitting there for almost an hour without seeing a single canoe go by, we finally convinced one of the community members to take us up the river to Los Rios in his canoe. The normal 20 minute ride up river took about 40 minutes because of the speed of the river, but nonetheless we arrived safely in Los Rios around 11:00am. We asked when the next bus left for Tena and received the standard reply, "Ya mismo." Technically this phrase means "right now" but anyone who has traveled in Ecuador knows that it actually translates to, "Whenever the hell I want." We were pleasantly surprised when the bus left only a half hour later at 11:30am. At 3:30pm we finally arrived in Tena. Our normal three hour trip to Tena had now had us on the road for six hours. We had not eaten anything all day and like any experienced travelers we had sufficiently dehydrated ourselves to avoid having to pee for four hours on a bouncing jungle bus. So far this was not feeling like vacation.
Things, however, were starting to look up when our favorite hostel in Tena had beds available for us and our favorite cafe was serving up ice cold guayusa tea and crunchy fried yuca. Followed by a nice afternoon nap, some reading, a warm shower, and cheap tacos and beer for dinner, my mood was as good as it had been for days. We should have stayed in Tena...
The next morning we caught the 6:30am bus out of Tena to Quito. Although this ride usually takes between four and five hours, the buses are comfortable and not too crowded and the views are absolutely breathtaking as you make your way up out of the Amazon rainforest and into the Andes Mountains. Really a pretty enjoyable trip. On top of that, we didn't even need to take the bus all the way through the city when we arrived since we were meeting our friend Megan in Cumbaya, one of Quito's outlying suburbs. We could see the city up ahead of us. We were almost there. Our trip seemed as if it was too good to be true. It was. The bus stopped. There was a bridge out up ahead. The bus would have to take a detour. Almost everyone else exited the bus. This was not a good sign.
Fortunately a kind Ecuadorian woman was nice enough to take the two clueless gringos under her wing and guide us into the city. We followed her like two lost puppies as neither of us had any idea where in the hell we were. We tried to call Megan to let her know that we were having some technical difficulties and would need to find a new meeting spot. Naturally, we were also having problems with our phones. We could receive calls from her but could not make calls. Thus, any time we needed to talk to her we had to text her and then she had to call us. Finally, after three bus switches, a trolley ride, a cab ride, and about thirty calls later, we met up with Megan around 1:30pm. Luckily our cab dropped us off in front of a bread shop as we were, again, both starved and dehydrated. I got some "pan de leche" and instantly felt better. Pan de leche can cure anything.
The adventure wasn't over though. Now the three of us still needed to meet up with our fourth friend, Stephanie, at the bus station to catch the 2:00pm bus to Mindo. We arrived without too much problem to the main bus terminal and went to buy our tickets. Little did we know that when the internet bus schedule says the bus leaves at 2:00pm it actually means 4:00pm. The woman at the ticket window insures us that there are no other buses. We will wait. We can't get ahold of Stephanie anyway. Maybe her flight was delayed? At 1:50pm we receive a call from her saying that she has gone to the other bus station because she didn't think we would wait until 4:00pm. She has a ticket for the bus that leaves at 2:00pm. We ask a taxi driver how quick he can get us there. He says 15 or 20 minutes depending on traffic. Megan explains to him that our bus leaves in 10 minutes and he needs to drive "como loco." He tells us he will drive like his mother-in-law is following him. We arrive in 8 minutes... Only to find out that the bus could not wait for us. Miraculously we wanted to be on the only bus in the history of Ecuador, and probably South America for that matter, that left EARLIER than scheduled. Fantastic. Luckily there was another bus leaving in 20 minutes so we bought our second set of tickets and loaded our things.
Two hours later we arrived in Mindo at a nice little hostel with private rooms and breakfast included. Well worth the steep $15 price per night. It was now about 5:00pm on Saturday. About 32 hours since we left from Yachana. I wad exhausted and needed to rest and that is precisely what I did for two days. We took a few short hikes, did some amateur bird watching and found a flock of parrots perched in a tree, drank good coffee in the morning, and thoroughly enjoyed two different local chocolate shops that made the best brownies I have ever had. Other than that I spent most of my time lounging in a hammock and reading a book. I was finally feeling like I was on vacation. Again, we should have stuck with a good thing once we had found it but decided to press on to Quito. This was a vacation after all and we would hate to sit still for too long.
Monday morning we got up early for a walk and a good breakfast in Mindo before heading out. Amanda had been a little sick all weekend but was beginning to feel better. Unfortunately Stephanie had now come down with the flu also and decided that the worst thing she could do was ride on a bus through the mountains for two hours. Upon finding out that the flu, or some kind of sickness, was spreading, Megan and I went on an immediate preventative excursion. We refused to be sick. We choked down some "sangre de drago" (yes, that translates to "dragon's blood") which is supposed to cure everything under the sun, loaded up on vitamins and pepto tablets, drank plenty of fruit juice, ate plenty of veggies, and finished off with another brownie for good measure.
Monday afternoon around 4:00pm, Megan, Amanda, and I made it back to Quito, all in relatively good health. Amanda and I said our goodbyes to Megan and headed to our hostel. Oh by the way, the nice hostel that we had planned to stay in for the week was all booked up when we checked the day before so we had to settle for one night in a cheap hostel in the Mariscal district of Quito where tourists come for cheap alcohol and wild dance clubs. Not exactly a place to just chill out. I would love to tell you all that our current vacation nightmare ended there and we got a great night of rest and everyone lived happily ever after. Unfortunately, I have one last story to tell...
Around 2:30am Tuesday morning, three of our drunk and stumbling roommates entered the room where Amanda and I and the other functioning member of society in our room had been sleeping peacefully since about 9:00pm. We were awakened by these three stooges as they attempted to climb into their beds. This is part of staying in a hostel. We were all experienced travelers and were well aware of that. So, we tolerated it and were even slightly entertained by it...until the puking began. Yes, two of the three goons that had woken us up began to vomit in and around their beds. That is where we drew the line. We got up and left the room to go sleep in some chairs downstairs. The very nice owner of the hostel was very apologetic and made up some beds for us on the floor in a common room on the main floor. Again we began to sleep peacefully for about an hour until the owner came in and woke us again and insisted that we move to another room that he had prepared for us. Finally around 5:00am I got to sleep and put together a record two hours of consecutive hostel rest.
I woke up around 7:00am. I was still exhausted. My throat and lips were dry from the arid mountain air in Quito. My eyes hurt both from lack of sleep and the pollution in the city. I began to think back over the events of the last three days. I remembered sitting at the port waiting for our canoe on Friday feeling ready to leave. I couldn't remember why we decided to come to Quito. What part of Quito screamed relaxing vacation week to us after all? All I could think at that moment was, "Get me to the jungle. NOW."
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Adaptation
Asics running shoes do not adapt to jungle hikes. iPod batteries do not adapt to extreme humidity. Paper products do not adapt to rainy days. Inanimate objects do not adapt... Fortunately for us living beings adaptation is one of our greatest strengths. We can see evidence of it every day and it becomes increasingly evident as we venture into more extreme environments. But why? Why have some trees developed spines that cover their bark? Why do butterflies have such unique coloring? Why do parrots have such large beaks? How did monkeys learn to hang from their tails? And most importantly, why can all of my students climb a tree faster than I can climb a flight of stairs? Herbert Spencer called it "survival of the fittest." Charles Darwin called it "natural selection." I call it doing what we have to do. What other option is there?
Well, usually it's not an option at all. It's rarely a conscious decision. Every day a new adaptation appears without anyone blinking an eye, and it's not until much later when we look back and reflect on the changes that we realize that something very profound has happened. Today marks my one month anniversary of arriving in Ecuador and as I reflect back on the last month I am impressed by the changes that I have undergone.
Okay, so some of them aren't that impressive... Some of them are obvious surface changes that I have made as I become accustomed to a new lifestyle. An ice cold shower doesn't phase me. Sleeping under a mosquito net seems pretty standard. I can't remember why I ever needed to eat a meal with a utensil other than a spoon. Three hours of electricity a day is more than enough. Three and a half days does not seem like an unreasonable amount of time to download a two minute song. Continuing to sleep after the sun comes up seems like a ridiculous waste of time. These are all adaptations that happen quickly. A few days with these changes and it's hard to remember how things were before. What other option is there?
Other adaptations, however, are a little more subtle, they take a little more time, and they are a little more impressive. they aren't as noticeable but they are happening all the same. When I get a bug bite, my skin doesn't react quite as violently as it did a month ago. When I wear pants and long sleeves on a hot and humid day, I don't sweat quite as much as before. When in hike from the high school to the lodge, my balance is just a little better along the path than it used to be. The body is an amazing thing and I'm sure there are physiological explanations behind each of my examples, but the reasons don't really matter. Whatever the cause, the changes are happening. What other option is there?
Then there are the most impressive adaptations of all. They are impossible to see and impossible to quantify. Yet we look back, we reflect, and we know they have happened. They are the changes that happen within our minds as we are exposed to new surroundings. We become more open, more accepting, more grateful, more thoughtful, more aware. Little by little we become a different person all together. I know this sounds a little daytime-television-talkshow-ish, but if I look back at myself one month ago as I was boarding the plane to Quito, I know I was a different person. And I know one month from now I will have changed even more. The process of adaptation is continuous and it is not easy to explain. The combination of factors is complex. However, if we allow ourselves to adapt, the results will be very positive. Those that don't allow themselves to adapt will struggle. Only the strong survive. So, what other option is there?
Well, usually it's not an option at all. It's rarely a conscious decision. Every day a new adaptation appears without anyone blinking an eye, and it's not until much later when we look back and reflect on the changes that we realize that something very profound has happened. Today marks my one month anniversary of arriving in Ecuador and as I reflect back on the last month I am impressed by the changes that I have undergone.
Okay, so some of them aren't that impressive... Some of them are obvious surface changes that I have made as I become accustomed to a new lifestyle. An ice cold shower doesn't phase me. Sleeping under a mosquito net seems pretty standard. I can't remember why I ever needed to eat a meal with a utensil other than a spoon. Three hours of electricity a day is more than enough. Three and a half days does not seem like an unreasonable amount of time to download a two minute song. Continuing to sleep after the sun comes up seems like a ridiculous waste of time. These are all adaptations that happen quickly. A few days with these changes and it's hard to remember how things were before. What other option is there?
Other adaptations, however, are a little more subtle, they take a little more time, and they are a little more impressive. they aren't as noticeable but they are happening all the same. When I get a bug bite, my skin doesn't react quite as violently as it did a month ago. When I wear pants and long sleeves on a hot and humid day, I don't sweat quite as much as before. When in hike from the high school to the lodge, my balance is just a little better along the path than it used to be. The body is an amazing thing and I'm sure there are physiological explanations behind each of my examples, but the reasons don't really matter. Whatever the cause, the changes are happening. What other option is there?
Then there are the most impressive adaptations of all. They are impossible to see and impossible to quantify. Yet we look back, we reflect, and we know they have happened. They are the changes that happen within our minds as we are exposed to new surroundings. We become more open, more accepting, more grateful, more thoughtful, more aware. Little by little we become a different person all together. I know this sounds a little daytime-television-talkshow-ish, but if I look back at myself one month ago as I was boarding the plane to Quito, I know I was a different person. And I know one month from now I will have changed even more. The process of adaptation is continuous and it is not easy to explain. The combination of factors is complex. However, if we allow ourselves to adapt, the results will be very positive. Those that don't allow themselves to adapt will struggle. Only the strong survive. So, what other option is there?
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Jungle Life
My last two blog posts have been all about how I have been feeling while I've been here at Yachana, but I realized that I haven't talked much about what I'm actually doing. So this post os dedicated to just that. As we approach the end of our first "jornada" here at the school, I thought I would talk a little about what I am doing on a daily basis.
First of all, people in Ecuador love their titles. I currently have three. I am officially the "Coordinator of Mathematics," "Assistant English Teacher," and "Tourist Liaison" between the lodge and the high school. We are currently running on a five day schedule for our classes at the high school. We rotate through this five day schedule four times to make one twenty day jornada. Then we all get a week long break and start over again. During each jornada, I teach two math classes per day on days one through four at the high school. Two of these days I also teach one English class. In addition, I also teach two math classes per week at the lodge... Trust me, we have lots of schedules posted so that we actually know where to be and when. And if that doesn't sound confusing enough, anyone who has ever spent time in Latin America can tell you that posting a schedule here just doesn't mean the same thing that it means in the United States. This schedule is very "flexible."
Believe it or not, this schedule actually leaves us with quite a bit of free time each day. For me, this free time is primarily spent hiking back and forth from the lodge, reading, lesson planning, cleaning, washing clothes (by hand), or playing games with the students.
The lodge has been a nice little getaway for those of us living at the high school. There is a nice breeze there, Internet access (almost all of the time), and most importantly coffee. Sometimes a few hours of living in "luxury" at the lodge is just what I need to get myself through the week.
I've also been reading a lot. Lots of people here have suggested books that really interest me plus I'm finally getting around to reading some of the books that have been stacked in my room for quite some time. I just finished "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad and "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" by John Perkins which I HIGHLY recommend. Now I have started "Diarios de Motocicleta," the diary of Che Guevarra on his trip through South America, and "The War of the End of the World" by Mario Vargas Llosa.
Lesson planning has been quite an experience also. The initial challenge was preparing lessons for students that I had never met before. I had no ides if I was teaching addition or advanced calculus. There is no curriculum out here. That initial challenge has turned into a huge blessing. Lack of curriculum means I get to design my own curriculum and teach what is important and useful to the students. This past week I have been collaborating with the business teacher here to design lessons involving business math and I have been able to design problems that encompass all of the things that we have studied during this jornada. A "problem based approach" for those of you who have a background in education.
My other chores, cleaning and washing clothes, keep me busy as well. Sweeping my room is a daily chore that I have to keep up with. The dirt and bugs pile up quickly in the jungle. Washing clothes by hand is a skill that I have most certainly not mastered yet. Clean and dry are very relative terms out here. For example, I washed clothes four days ago... They are still hanging up and they are still wet. I'm hoping for a day of sun to dry them out soon.
The students occupy a lot of my time outside of class too. We play volleyball, we play soccer, and for the first time this week I went swimming in the Napo River with my friend Mauricio and some of the students from the lodge. We also spent a morning at small market in Los Rios, a small community up the river. Even when I'm not directly interacting with the students I really enjoy just observing their activities. They are masters at creating games and activities with very few resources and they seem to have an endless amount of energy. And like any good Latin American country there is ALWAYS music and there is ALWAYS dancing. A few nights ago we even had a small jungle bonfire which quickly turned into a large jungle dance.
I'm sure I have left out lots of things but essentially what I am trying to say is that there is NEVER a dull moment here. In a few days we head into our first week long break after we finish our first jornada. The time is flying by already and while I enjoy the constant entertainment, I am certainly looking forward to some down time.
First of all, people in Ecuador love their titles. I currently have three. I am officially the "Coordinator of Mathematics," "Assistant English Teacher," and "Tourist Liaison" between the lodge and the high school. We are currently running on a five day schedule for our classes at the high school. We rotate through this five day schedule four times to make one twenty day jornada. Then we all get a week long break and start over again. During each jornada, I teach two math classes per day on days one through four at the high school. Two of these days I also teach one English class. In addition, I also teach two math classes per week at the lodge... Trust me, we have lots of schedules posted so that we actually know where to be and when. And if that doesn't sound confusing enough, anyone who has ever spent time in Latin America can tell you that posting a schedule here just doesn't mean the same thing that it means in the United States. This schedule is very "flexible."
Believe it or not, this schedule actually leaves us with quite a bit of free time each day. For me, this free time is primarily spent hiking back and forth from the lodge, reading, lesson planning, cleaning, washing clothes (by hand), or playing games with the students.
The lodge has been a nice little getaway for those of us living at the high school. There is a nice breeze there, Internet access (almost all of the time), and most importantly coffee. Sometimes a few hours of living in "luxury" at the lodge is just what I need to get myself through the week.
I've also been reading a lot. Lots of people here have suggested books that really interest me plus I'm finally getting around to reading some of the books that have been stacked in my room for quite some time. I just finished "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad and "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" by John Perkins which I HIGHLY recommend. Now I have started "Diarios de Motocicleta," the diary of Che Guevarra on his trip through South America, and "The War of the End of the World" by Mario Vargas Llosa.
Lesson planning has been quite an experience also. The initial challenge was preparing lessons for students that I had never met before. I had no ides if I was teaching addition or advanced calculus. There is no curriculum out here. That initial challenge has turned into a huge blessing. Lack of curriculum means I get to design my own curriculum and teach what is important and useful to the students. This past week I have been collaborating with the business teacher here to design lessons involving business math and I have been able to design problems that encompass all of the things that we have studied during this jornada. A "problem based approach" for those of you who have a background in education.
My other chores, cleaning and washing clothes, keep me busy as well. Sweeping my room is a daily chore that I have to keep up with. The dirt and bugs pile up quickly in the jungle. Washing clothes by hand is a skill that I have most certainly not mastered yet. Clean and dry are very relative terms out here. For example, I washed clothes four days ago... They are still hanging up and they are still wet. I'm hoping for a day of sun to dry them out soon.
The students occupy a lot of my time outside of class too. We play volleyball, we play soccer, and for the first time this week I went swimming in the Napo River with my friend Mauricio and some of the students from the lodge. We also spent a morning at small market in Los Rios, a small community up the river. Even when I'm not directly interacting with the students I really enjoy just observing their activities. They are masters at creating games and activities with very few resources and they seem to have an endless amount of energy. And like any good Latin American country there is ALWAYS music and there is ALWAYS dancing. A few nights ago we even had a small jungle bonfire which quickly turned into a large jungle dance.
I'm sure I have left out lots of things but essentially what I am trying to say is that there is NEVER a dull moment here. In a few days we head into our first week long break after we finish our first jornada. The time is flying by already and while I enjoy the constant entertainment, I am certainly looking forward to some down time.
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