Thanksgiving Day

Bendice estos regalos
El unico Dios afable

De quien toda la bondad nace

Limpia nuestros corazones y alimenta nuestros espiritu
Con cosas buenas y jubilosas.

-Oracion Tradicional en Engles

Carrot Cake

Although I'm not living with the nuns any more, I still have great affection for them and their kindness. So, I made them a carrot cake and while it was still warm, they wanted to have an immediate party! They sang, laughed and begged for the recipe. What a wonderful day!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a new concept for the kids but are loving the idea of a big meal for family and friends. So, the lesson on Friday was to create the invitations. All directions in English ... it was hard, concentrated work! This was a first time for pop-up cards. Awesome!

Thinking of Neal and Trey

This morning I woke up in the middle of a cloud. Banos is still considered a cloud forest and when we're socked in, it's cool, the birds are singing arias and the greens are greener. Last Sunday, I walked a bit around my neighborhood and these shots are for my brother and son who build things. The cane/bamboo is incredibly strong and they use if for everything! (including chewing for the juice then spitting out the pulp)

A week at Sagrado Corazon

The week was a flurry of schedule changes and confusion at the school. The French teacher needed to rearrange his classtime which changed our schedules, too. EVERYONE was confused, bordering on hilarity... But, by the end of the week, the newly elected class officers had their ceremony and the week ended with smiles and waves.

Montanita: I thought I was stuck, then I saw, the world before me--Sophie

After a 12 hour bus ride, we finally made it to the coast at days' break. Huevos y jugo; pan y cafe... entonces, listamos para una siesta!

This sleepy little town wakes up on the weekend and is exploding on a national holiday. Ecuadorians from all over visit, but mostly from Guayaquil. Street performers range from young boys to old men and their motorcycles; aged hippie types that are very content in making macrame necklaces and never bathing; families with small children living in pup tents behind hotels; tourists trying to find a bargain on stuff that's exactly the same at every table; sleeping beauties, standing beauties and dying beauties on the beach... But, the best is the fresh-out-of-the-ocean cerviche! At a crossroads, there's possibly 10 vendors all shucking oysters, clams, dorado, shrimp then the lime, tomatoes, onion, salt, toasted nuts... omg delicious! Soft surf, warm water gentle waves and no glaring sun made for a great birthday weekend!

Preparing for the play

After school programs are still popular, even in Ecuador! We made sure 18 pumpkins were created, paint was bought and brushes were brought. All had fun and wanted to take them home! Tomorrow is the performance for the parents...