Days 21.5 & 22

6/29/13

Day before yesterday ended uneventfully; after Mateo's English lesson, Angelica's boyfriend took her and Matteo to a free concert at the mall, which proved to be unhappening, so the three went to watch Monster's Inc U in the theater instead. I was invited, of course, but still easily tired from the sick recoop, so I decided to stay at Magaly's, where a lot of re-directing happened. I decided that this restless feeling I've been having (despite acknowledging the slower pace of life here and my recent illness) is going to be put to best use by putting a hustle in the mural project, finishing in the next two weeks, and then going to Betsy Coello's house in another part of Ecuador for the following two weeks. I'd really like to invest a lot of time with this family because they were such a blessing to me last time, and because I'd really love the daily ministry dynamic of being part of a family that runs a church-- and in fact, lives on the top floor of the (narrow) three-story church. I'll come back to Quito and Andrea for my last week and a half. I also realized that I had lost my morning routine when I came to Ecuador. I resolved to recommence with the system that carried me through the last school year so well-- exercise, shower, Jesus time, and breakfast before my day starts. It involves waking up a bit ridiculously early, but I don't mind. Soo Maury (Mateo's awsome stepdad) took Angelica and I home, and in the morning, thanks to waking up early for my new routine, I finally got a chance to have a real conversation with Angelica, who I still don't understand, but it's nice to connect a little. Then, after failed attempts to get a taxi, Andrea helped me find a guy in the neighborhood who taxis from his personal car-- apprently she's ridden with him before and he otherwise has a good reputation-- to take me to the seminary where I met Josue for a day of playing tourist with the gringo group that was STINTing in Ecuador this week, for whom he had been translating. We went to a volcano, the Mitad de Mundo monument and shops (I picked up a sweet indian-style bracelet/ring hand jewelry thing and a plaque thing of a beautiful, sad Guayasamin-style face), and a museum where we learned about different indigenous groups (a little touristy, but still super interesting and educational). Because the big Southern Baptist group was hanging out according to their churches of origin for the first time that week, they were all very tight with each other, not rudely, but not super reaching-outy either (I don't blame them or feel hurt in the slightest, and they're awesome people) so Josue and I basically talked the whole time, sliding into Spanish when he got tired or we wanted to talk like Heathen Liberals. On the public bus back, I saw Anita, the woman whose family and ministry had hosted me three years ago, trying and failing to catch a bus. I've been trying to reconnect and make reparations with that family, not because anything dramatic or bad happened, but because I generally comported myself like a boogar three years ago and therefore left an unfavorable impression on them. It wasn't like I was purposely rude, but my aspergery introversion and culture shock (and personality incompatibilities with some of the family) often came off that way. But I've learned a heck of a lot since then and really want to see them. I sent them a message on Facebook telling them I'm in town, but they haven't responded, unfortunately. Anyway, I'm not worried about the once-again-missed connection; God always has something better in store when my plans are foiled. I took a taxi back home, where I realized I'd never picked up my keys from inside. But I'd learned from last time I was locked out that I could talk to the block's guard (not the creep up the street; a good guy), who, after talking to the neighbor who cleans to make sure she hadn't left the alarm on, went into the house from the back porch and opened the front door for me. I stayed inside reading BadCatholic's blog (I'm absolutely an addict, and have no shame), and my book of History Makers (also addicted) until it was time to go to Friday night bible study, for which Santi picked me up and which was particularly good. We played a group game in which everyone was assigned military ranks and had to stand when addressing (or being addressed by) someone above them-- if they didn't, or if they stood for someone below them, they were booted to the lowest rank. It was a pretty cool game, and while that's not what the culture is 'like', it's definitely what the US culture is not like, so I had a little sociological grin at myself. Began writing a poem from the perspective of someone who's praying to God about how she's been hurt by the church during the study (which was about modern idolatry). To give you a sneak peak and an idea of my inspiration, one of the lines is 'they called everything I love an idol'. I get myself into trouble with this kind of thing; I'm not being subversive or even arguing against the truth of what's being said, I just get, I don't know, subversively inspired in new directions. Which I don't mind. It's all love. Usually. Went home and had a sleepy philosophical talk with Andrea before going to bed, which was nice, even though I did too much of the talking. I feel like she didn't mind, though, so I didn't either.  

Day 20

Day 20

I can't believe my time in Ecuador is 1/3 over! I feel kind of restless-- the pace of life is generally slower down here, but I still thought I'd have done more by now-- not just yesterday, but in general. I get a pass yesterday cause it was sick recoop, part II. I stayed in bed in the other room and watched old movies that I'd brought from the states. The only really eventful thing was that the youngest came home with a boyfriend and friend, and as they didn't know I was there, I overheard more than I should. They didn't stay long, though, and I survived the awkward moment. I called Santi and he picked me up for the Wednesday small group. It was at the same house as two weeks ago, when I'd had my lil emotional day-- I was glad to have a chance to show up relatively functional. I was still tired from sick recooping, but over all, it was a lot better. Thank God, there was a new older lady in the group, so we didn't do any ridiculous games to start. I followed most of the lesson, but at one point tuned out to have a really important talk with God. It was a good moment. On the way home, I talked with Santi a lot-- I really like this dude, he's a good pastor. I got home and knocked out as usual.

 Today, Andrea's dad came over for breakfast and to take Angelica to her mom and Andrea to school. I decided not to go to the orphanage today (in place of tomorrow) as planned, since I still have a little bit of cold. If Josue wants to meet up tomorrow like we've talked about, I'll either just have a shorter time at the orphanage or stop by on Saturday for a bit. Instead, I accompanied Angelica and Nataly for the former's haircut, and now we're sitting in the living room of Magaly's as Naty puts blue streaks in her hair.The process involves pulling thin strands of hair through a holey shower cap designed for that purpose, so she now looks like she's part of a new age alt punk band or something. Weird life. Not what I had in mind, but it's kind of fun. English lessons with Mateo start soon.  

Ely Addison, over n out.

~Ely

Day 19

6/26/13

Least eventful day yet. Went to Magaly's with Andrea, where she worked on a powerpoint that she had to finish for class.  I called the church to ask Julio about the 'andamios'-- the risers for painting (FINALLY remembered the word!), and he said he'd talk to Santi when he arrived and that Santi'd give me a call. By the time it reached 1pm, though, I was feeling drained enough to be already set on lounging around with Magaly and Fany, the former still recovering from surgery, and the latter having taken a little fall the previous day that'd given her a sore arm and hip. So though Santi didn't call, we passed the rest of the afternoon in the big bedroom, them in the bed, me in the recliner, watching vacation slideshows, listening to tranquil music, and then watching a dubbed-over 'Lie to Me' and soap operas. Well, I wasn't really watching so much as snoozing. I was trying not to touch anyone and warned the family away from giving me the greeting kisses when they got home, which seemed strange to them-- I thought back to sociology class, how sickness can be a cultural phenomenon. Anyway, once the family all crowded into the main bedroom, I snuck off for a nap in the boys' room until it was time to go home. Though they insisted that I keep a jacket on all day and sleep under a mountain of covers, I just couldn't-- overheating is one of my worst discomforts-- so I did my own lil thang, downed some herbal tea and nyquil (SO glad I remembered to bring it-- it's not an international phenomenon!), and am feeling much better this morning. Still planning on taking the day off to watch the old movies I brought from home, at least until it's time to go tutor. Hope to be feeling better by then.  

Day 18

6/25/13

Day 18

Yesterday was relatively very uneventful-- I got up to clean around 9, at which point one significant thing did happen. I saw a text message on my phone that said a certain number had asked me to call it (meaning it was out of saldo, or calling money). I called and talked to Gloria Matute, who very almost-apologetically-bashfully asked if there was anyway if I could help with a computer for the kids to do their school work on. It's a good idea, I told her, but I want her to look around and give me a ballpark of how much something like that would cost-- I really don't want to spend all the money on a computer; I feel like the daily homework help is more important (as well as the psychological help for Jonatan, which I haven't told her about wanting to pursue yet, but I will soon). During the call, I tried to express my firm belief that I was here to bless her family not just because of my own will but because God has put them on my heart. She seems pretty overwhelmed by all of this, in a positive way. 

After the call, I got picked up by Santi to work on the walls around noon, and all of that's going well. Today we should be getting the risers to work on the higher parts of the walls. Later at Magaly's, there were three more visitors for Naty-- a woman that had lived and taught at the biblical institute with her family three years ago was among them. This woman had been a godsend when I was there before, as she had spoken with me in (learned) English when I was drowning in a sea of Spanish. She now lived with her husband and children closer to a foundation for special needs kids, where they now devote their full time. We'd visited once when I was there before, and it was great-- I'm excited to take her up on her invitation to visit again. After tutoring Mateo, Andrea and Angelica came, then their Papi came to take them home. He's apparently keeping the car for a few days, so I'm not sure how the sisters are getting to school-- though I assume friends and buses and taxis. I started getting a little bit of a cold last night, and it's a little worse this morning. Good thing I don't have to be social til Friday. I think it was also my cold that made me wake up to really, really strange dreams. First, at Magaly's, Fani was telling a little mystery girl who was attempting homework that she never, ever lives up to Fani's expectations, at which point I yelled at Fani. I realized during my dream that all of this was happening in English, but it kept going, me trying to make the girl feel better and get her homework done in another room. Then things got really weird— total scene change, a man whose voice sometimes went all weird turned out to have welcomed aliens into his brain, apparently connected to the cancer that gave him massive, ridiculous tumors that he carried around with him in a cart, much to his girlfriend's disgust-- she had left him, I think, because of it. Well, I am kind of happy to have had a non-literal-life-connection dream; for the past several years I've only had the first type I described, with people from my life living out my expectations and fears in exaggerated ways. It's nice to have a little bizarrity.

Today the Internet's not working at the house, Andrea and I are at Magaly's while she finishes an assignment. I'm awaiting a call from church to know what the plan is today. Plans. haha.

~Ely

Day 17

6/24/13

You haven't really lived until you've been lost in the midnight fog of an Ecuadorian jungle! Ok, so, we weren't REALLY lost and it wasn't a jungle like you picture when I drop the word jungle. We just made a few wrong turns in the maze of well-worn dirt roads that took us out to the tropical Ecuadorian countryside where Petato's family has built a little weekend house. We got there fine, though, and after parking, it was maybe a five minute uphill climb to the small building that carried the overwhelming scent of the musty (untreated, unpainted) wood it was made from. Petato's aunt and grandmother greeted us at the door, and we could hear more voices-- an uncle and young niece, I later learned-- from inside one of the little sleeping rooms. Petato took us out to the little back patio and promised that during the day, the view was incredible. His aunt soon called us back in to eat a dish of plantain and fish, cooked in large folded-up leaves that had probably been hand-picked by the family. Though I'm not the biggest fan of fish and the food was a little dry for my taste, I appreciated the experience. Andrea and I went to bed in the second little room, where a thin but comfy fullish-sized mattress had been laid out. In the morning, I was the first up, so I quickly got dressed and went out to the patio to enjoy the view. It was pretty fantastic-- we overlooked a valley and watched the green mountain tops fall away from us, filled with banana plants and other greenery, and speckled with houses and small buildings. The river in the near-distance was not the one we'd be visiting that day, but it was still lovely. Content with my glimpse at the view, I went to lay down for a few more minutes until everyone started waking up, and Petato and Andrea and I set out for an early morning trip to the nearby river. When the river came into sight, I saw a beautiful girl sitting on the river rocks on the shore-- when we got closer, I saw that it was Petato's four-year-old niece, whose parents (aunt and uncle? Not sure how everyone is connected!) were sitting at a place in the river where the water cascades over some rocks, a natural jacuzzi massage type of thing. The water was so beautiful and clear, and I was excited to go swimming. When I dipped my toes in, I found the water quite cold-- I knew I could adjust, but I was worried about the walk back, as the sun hadn't peeked its head out from the clouds yet. Petato and Andrea were already jumping into the deep part from a high rock, and I eventually got over it and let them help me walk into the water, and we got our own free massages on the river rocks. We went back for breakfast-- fishy stuff part II-- before Andrea and I took a quick nap. Then we sat on the front porch and sucked on fresh-picked sugar cane, which was a quintessential beautiful moment. Soon, we had tea and fried potato-shaped cheesy plantain creations that were delicious beyond description. It was around 11, and we decided to walk to a river that was not quite as close, but apparently very beautiful. While some of the locals said it was an hour walk to that little town, we were still on the road at the hour and a half mark and well past worn out (my hip was being cranky, too!) when we passed a sign that said the village and the river were 2 km (over a mile) away. We flagged down a pickup for a ride and hopped in the back. They were apparently going to the river too, so they dropped us quite close. It was a beautiful little spot under a high bridge-- a slightly wider version of the bridge Shrek took to the dragon's castle, which was kind of exciting. The entry point was a gently-sloping beach that was great for kids and therefore pretty crowded with families, but on the other, deeper side of the slow-moving river, there was a little rock about 12 feet out of the water that we began jumping off of. Petato even followed the example of a couple brave gentlemen and jumped from the bridge, which was about 30 feet above the water. Of course, I took video. Then we headed back into town and broke my 20 on waters and ice creams at a little store, where the same guy who picked us up sat and chatted with us.  He said he'd give us a ride back to the house for $8, and my cranky hip was killing me, so there's no way I could've walked the 3 or 4 miles back to the house. When we got back, the house was empty and locked. I'd been waiting for the bathroom, and had to pee outside, thus rendering the day an official adventure. We went to meet the family at the river where Petato knew they'd be; they were just getting back to the cars to get ready to leave when we got there. The ride back was long, but much more enjoyable because we could see the view, and while we got slightly lost, we didn't mind. We were playing games and practicing English, me translating English pop songs that played on the radio, etc. I eventually joined Andrea into a cozy state of half sleep until we arrived home, where I cleaned the river off of me and then went directly to bed.  

Day 16

6/22/2013

Day 16

Today we visited Nathalie at Magaly's house in the morning, as the whole family had plans that kept them away. Since Naty's sick and this culture is as beautiful as it is, I've gotten to meet more of Andrea's relatives and friends-of-family than I could possibly keep straight. I like some of them more than others, of course, but over all, they're good people. After spending time with the freshest batch of visitors, we took our long-awaited trip to the south of Quito to meet up with the Matute family. We went to the mall where we'd agreed to meet for lunch, where we grabbed some simple toys from the toy store near the food court before calling the mom to find each other. Seeing Josue, Jonatan, Ariel, and Julexi today was absolutely wonderful. Though I'm sure I'm an obscure resurrected memory, they didt recognize me-- as I approached, Josue begin pointing and telling his family, her, her! They look healthy and happy, and the family situation seems overall positive. Their faces have all matured over the last three years, except for Jonatan, who looks exactly the same, slightly taller, but shorter than his non-identical twin brother. They're struggling in school-- Jonatan David in particular is having trouble with basic skills (Mom says he can't read :/). Their mom works two jobs, but after a recent bad school report, she cut back on her work hours to be there with the kids, which means things are really tight financially. She looked like she was about to cry when I told her I wanted to pay for a daily tutor/homework helper. We talked about their time at the kid's home, and Josue in particular has really distinct memories of our times together, which is so encouraging-- that my work here had an impact on them and the others that I worked with, and will continue to impact the kids at the orphanage, despite their young age. After lunch, I gave them the gifts from the bag that they'd been eyeing the whole time we met up-- those gooey animals on a stretchy string that stick to walls and stuff, and mitts with velcro balls to play with at home. Mom got the camera I first tried to buy for my trip, but found that it was so particular about lighting as to not be adventure gear. It's great for still photos, though. Her face lit up when I gave it to her-- apparently she'd wanted one for awhile. In general, I think she was really overwhelmed today, but in a positive way. It is a weird thing to happen, and a redemptive thing. Those eight months that the boys were in the orphanage were really tough, though she had visited as much as she could. I really hope that it's becoming a positive, that the kids will now get the help they need because God brought us together in that unfortunate circumstance and kept them on my heart ever since. I really want to give them a chance at health, wellness, and success. I encouraged Mom to get plugged into a church that has good children's programs and good support for her-- it's tough enough doing it alone, and I'd really love to see the kids surrounded by people who will pour into them spiritually. We took them back to their house so they wouldn't have to bus-- they live in a very poor area, but the house looks adequate from the outside at least. It's painted a ridiculous shade of neon green, which kind of made me happy. On the way home, Andrea and I also talked about paying for a therapist for Jonatan David, as his school problems seem to be related with a general emotional unhealthy-- he always seems sad and disengaged. Her uncle is studying child psychology, so he can probably help us with his connections. We agreed to meet up in two weeks to take the kids to a pool or some similar kind of diversion, and I'm really excited for this. My weekends are filling up really quick, in the best way. I just hope I don't run out of time for everyone!

Tonight we're leaving to go to a river with Petato and his family. The little overnight bag is all packed and I'm very excited! As always, check back for the update!

~Ely

Days 14 and 15

Day 14

6/21/13

As I was beginning to get ready for yesterday's adventures, the other Ely, who cleans the house a few days a week, arrived for duty. I think I've mentioned my general discomfort about 'the help' as a middle-class Californian American, but she's really easy to talk to, and though she still addresses me with 'usted', it doesn't feel like she's creating some weird power distance. She performed one of the stereotypical hollywood 'maid duties' by filling me in on some of the situation in the family-- the marital split, all of the health trauma, the disconnect from the church. I thought back to Santi's mentioning over lunch the other day that God might have me here for this family. I don't really know how to help besides being a good family member, and  I've never really been able to do that before. Anyway, when I mentioned that I needed to run some errands, she said that her husband could taxi me, as he's a driver. He took me to get masking tape for painting, groceries, and the church keys before taking me back to the house, where we pulled up right behind Andrea, who took me to church on her way back to town. I got a lot of work done before Santi showed up and took me over to Magaly's, where her aunt and 20-year-old cousin arrived almost immediately. The cousin, Andres, sat in on Mateo's English lesson and played pictionary with us, taught me how to play a Spanish nursery rhyme type song on the piano, and then took Abuela and I to the store for bread, which we all gathered around the table to eat with coffee when we came back. As we finished up, Andrea and her dad called Angelica to say that they were waiting outside to take the sisters clothes shopping. On the way, the conversation between Angelica and her dad dissolved into an argument, over which Andrea and I small-talked. At the store, I was having an autistic moment, but a tranquil one; I just wanted to listen to soft sounds and touch soft things. Luckily the store owner was playing guitar behind the counter and singing with a sad, low voice, and I drifted around the store, touching everything, for the hour it took for the girls to spend their dad's money on several tops and dresses and such. I realized that the Ecuadorian middle class, though smaller, lives very much the same as their American counterparts. We then returned to Magaly's briefly and ate dinner before going home, where again, I was exhausted as heck and went promptly to sleep. I wonder if I will always be so tired by the end of the day. It may be a combination of the altitude and the mental effort of making myself understood. Anyway, it makes me sleep really, really well. Which I don't mind one bit.

Today I'm going to the orphanage, then going to watch Andrea do some kind of faculty prom queen thing, which should be quite interesting. More to come, of course.

~Ely

6/22/13

Day 15

Yesterday I went to the orphanage pretty early, so I got to see the older toddlers before they went off to their daycare. It was so crazy seeing my baby Brittany again! She's a real little person now! Karina, a toddler whose fetal alcohol syndrome had kept her with the babies when I was there, is also a full fledged little person now, still severely delayed, but talking and walking quite normally and everything. While the kids were still particularly crazy (they ran around a LOT, cried easily, and made a lot of noise, etc), the American woman (NAMES! Agh!) and two of her friends were also there, so things weren't too bad, especially when the older kids left for daycare. I slipped out right after the younger kid's lunch to head over to Andrea's cousin's, where she had advised me to meet her before two-thirty to go to some kind of department-beauty-queen type of event for her university. However, it seems there was a misunderstanding-- yesterday was a different event, and the real show will be next Friday. Andrea's sweet, old, plump great-grandmother came with her children and a great-grandchild (Andrea's young cousin) to visit Nathalie. They sat talking upstairs until it was time for 'coffee', which I've been enjoying helping Fany prepare for-- setting the table for bread with cheese and coffee, cocoa, or tea. We all gathered downstairs to enjoy it except for Naty, who still can't do stairs, but as soon as I finished my snack I headed back upstairs in order not to leave her alone and to avoid the crowded table. She told me that the visitors always forget to come back up after coffee, so I was really glad that I did. I'm learning that it's actually quite a good thing to have the kind of personality that drives me to intimate conversational settings, as no one gets left alone. I also got a chance to ask her about Fany-- every time I go to Magaly's house, I find myself really irritated at the way Magaly's mom is treated. I can come to terms with treating the maid like a maid, but not the mother. She does a lot and is so very rarely thanked, and, while she's stubborn and not always right about things, the frequency with which she's publicly corrected (or her orders are negated by mom's) is really sad. When I told Magaly that I don't think the family respects her, she nodded knowingly with a pouting lip, which somehow made me feel better. Sometimes just having someone agree with you that a problem is a problem is so encouraging. It lets you know that you're not alone in wanting it to change. After that, Andrea came, and we all sat talking with Naty for a little bit before heading to take the relatives home. Since Abuela needed something from Andrea's house, we stopped there, and I elected to stay and get ready for bed while she did the running around. I called my good friend Petato, who told me that his family is going on a trip to a river from tonight til Sunday night, and he'd love if Andrea and I could join. Of course, this sounds fantastic, so when Andrea got home I woke up long enough to tell her of this. The plan is that the two of us will go to the South on bus today, have lunch with the family, learn a little bit about their situation (to see how I can help), and then come back and get ready to leave with Petato tonight. I'm really excited for this. Stay tuned.

~Ely