It's a bit odd having someone else try to find you a place to live. I love my host family, but their idea of "nice" is much different than mine. They seem dead set against me living in Quito, and not enthused about the same places that I am, and yet they are the ones setting up the appointments and who will negotiate for me. A certain portion of my experience of living with a host family for me has been one of powerlessness. I can't leave the house on my own, they don't have a car, we are miles from anywhere, there isn't much food, and I can't communicate or research getting an apartment very well. And my pillows are both lumpy and hard.
Alas- I broke down Monday and got a taxi after school to get groceries for Uma and I as it seems that they are always "going to go to the market tomorrow" and it was getting dire. It was after I laid in bed one night- starving- and tried to fall asleep as they were just beginning their dinner at 11:00pm- with a lumpy pillow. All this said, they are lovely people- truly lovable- it just sucks not being able to take care of things for yourself. (However, someone at school sent me a posting today what might be my perfect place to live today- more info on that is forthcoming hopefully.)
Coming back to school on Monday after the weekend, I had to learn to navigate the labyrinth hallways of the school all over again. It is massive. All of the classrooms in the elementary are in open courtyards- I get a whiff of the most gorgeous tropical flowers as I speed-walk by, trying to get everything organized while running to meetings. Remembering everyone's names is a real struggle too. Most everyone goes by two names- like Maria Jose, but then there are so many Maria Joses that you have to learn their third names too.
I finally got the "complete meal" at the cafeteria today and it was incredible. I got a delicious soup with some variety of yummy yellow potatoes garnished with avocado, a plate of chicken and rice, a salad with all kinds of weird things (including ham which they are CRAZY about here), a corn muffin, and a huge glass of guava juice for $2.50. That was certainly a highlight of the day.
I'm finding that although the principal and director are really on board with my particular teaching philosophy and practices, much of the staff is in another realm entirely. There are worksheets everywhere- EVERYWHERE. All of the teachers are running to the lamination office- where someone's full time job is laminating and color copying for teachers- and making bulletin boards that say cheesy things like "Everyone's a star!" or "The sky's the limit!" or something dorky like that.
I have to keep reminding myself that I was hired to teach the way I told them I taught, and not to get caught up with all of their textbooks and worksheets. Hopefully, the Ecuadorian parents will see value in inquiry and constructivism and not see my lack of worksheets as a weakness.
Another interesting thing is there are a whole fleet of "workers" at the school who stand out because they are wearing a kind of airplane command control attire. They are the ones who move things, clean things, etc. It's odd because they are equally men and women, and the women are just so beautiful. I just can't seem to figure out the class system thing here yet. Everyone seems really respectful and friendly to each other, but there is a clear distinction.
Lastly- Uma is doing wonderful. Her daycare before school begins is entirely in Spanish and I can just see her mind reeling. She has been exhausted from all of the mental processing and the altitude but is as well adjusted as I could have hoped for. Soon she will begin her Pre'K which will be in English, but most of her classmates will only really know Spanish. Then her afternoons in aftercare will be in Spanish again...it's only a matter of time before she surpasses me in- I give her a month at most. I can't wait for her to teach me!
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