Return to Canoa

Canoa - The Beach
Originally uploaded by Fiwit

Last Thursday, after a hectic week of writing reports and trying to get some last minute knowledge into the kids before their SATs this week, I made my way back to Canoa.

This time I was travelling with Adriana and we had decided that the bus was not our chosen means of transport. We went in style by plane and taxi...well in reality we got in a tiny plane and then had a very hairy taxi ride to Bahia, from which we got a boat and then another taxi to Canoa.

We giggled loudly on the plane - I was fuelled by sleep deprivation and caffeine - always a fun combination! Later we were pretty terrified in the taxi and did not enjoy the smell of the many fish factories that we passed. However we did enjoy the glimpses we saw of Ecuadorian life as we whizzed through villages.

We arrived at about 9pm to Hostel Coca Loca and got our key from Mark who recognised me from the last time I was there. Tis lovely to return to places where people recognise you and know you!

We were knackered and didn't stay out too late - well that was my plan. However when Ursula reappeared at about 2am and woke me up, we ended sitting up till about 5am putting the world to rights!

Friday morning didn't really happen for me as I finally caught up with much needed sleep, but Adri went off to the local school to show some lovely people how to teach.

The school is non-for-profit and only recently been started. Some of you may remember me talking about it before. They have had real trouble attracting teachers as they can't offer much of a wage, so it is being run by people with good intentions and not much knowledge.

Adri returned wishing that she could parcel everything up in her classroom and send it to these kids. We have decided to go shopping next weekend to buy these kids some essentials like crayons, paint and paper.

Friday afternoon was spent lolling around on the beach and having a bit of a swim.

On Friday evening we wandered into several bars and I ended up having a 'dance off' with Elizabeth (lovely owner of Coca Loca) in the middle of the street! We had quite an audience of locals (local guys) and eventually decided we had both met our match and it was a draw. It was lots of fun!!

Yesterday, I woke up thinking that even if I'd had to go home then, I stil would have felt it had been a good holiday. Another relaxing day followed, with a spot of shopping, swimming, reading and eating.

Part of me felt like I should party last night, but the rest of me was very happy to have a few beers, good conversation and a relatively early night (well about 1am, I think).

Today we mooched up to the school where they were having a fundraiser. I donated $40 and was told that this will keep two kids in the school for two months - amazing, especially considering the amount the parents pay for kids to go to our school.

This afternoon, Adri, Liz and I went for a ride along the beach. I'm still a little nervous of riding, so wasn't overly happy when cantering early on. However we soon settled into a walk with a bit of a trot every now and again. I'm glad to be getting my confidence back after all these years of not riding.

At 4pm we headed back towards the airport. I was not looking forward to the taxi from Bahia after out 'grand theft auto' journey on Thursday night. However we had a much better driver and we got to see the beautiful countryside we were travelling through. I was mightily chuffed to see deciduous trees in this part of Ecuador. I have no idea what species they were, but just their presence made me feel good.

Got back home just before 10pm, feeling relaxed, sleepy and like I've had a proper break - marvellous!

A place to dream

my tree
Originally uploaded by Fiwit

Dreams, things I like, and hopes...

So yesterday I woke up after a bit of a dream that pushed me a little off centre. I guess it was my sunconscious' way of dealing with some things. I usually find with these kind of dreams that they tend to linger through the day and affect my mood.

A little after getting up I saw a photo that added to the feeling of being out of kilter.

However, luckily there was also a text from Yvette...a text chat ensued with an arrangement to meet for lunch. I already had plans to meet Adri, so we all had lunch in Cumbaya and afterwards we got the bus to Quito.

Once in Quito, the shopping began...a little slowly at first which started to make me feel despondent again, but I perked up no end when Adri passed me a very pretty dress to try on.

A new dress can do marvellous things...two and a half years ago in Copenhagen I found a dress that made me feel like a million dollars and I feel I may now have found the one to take it's place. It's pretty and sexy, can be dressed down with jeans or dressed up.

After the success of the shopping we went to meet some more friends - a couple of girls we met at a party about a month ago. On the way we decided more food was necessary(shopping is tiring work!) and we popped into a really good Mexican which also happens to have a seriously good looking guy working there.

It was lovely to catch up with the girls again and really good for both of us to be with people we don't work with! A few beers followed.

At about 8.30pm we headed towards home (well Adri did), I got dropped off to meet Ursula - where fun, more drinkies and some dancing commenced!

Jim (bless him) came to join us and I regaled him with what a marvellous day I was having!

In the end there was just the guys who own the bar, myself, Ursula and her fella - so we put on any music we liked, danced a lot more and chatted. I laughed loads and a huge grin in my face.

At one point though, the conversation turned to love. Ursula was adamant that the kind of love our parents share (in my case) and shared in hers, no longer existed. Her parents story is an amazing one of love and patience.

I, on the other hand, do believe in love. I have been lucky enough to love and be loved. I truly hope it will happen for me again and that the next one may be the one that lasts the distance - who knows? Even though my previous loves have not ended in marriage, they have all been important to my life in different ways. I don't know when love will come again and I'm not actively looking for it. I just hope that at some point in my life, the time will be right and I will find it again.

Stressed

Been thinking about why I don't write as much as I used to. I'm not entirely sure, but I think it's a combination of factors. Mainly that the things I do don't seem quite as exciting as when I first arrived and I'm tired.

I'm tired of the crap that bubbles not too far from the surface at school. I still enjoy my actual job of teaching the kids but the school is a frustrating place to be in. I ended up losing my temper with Justin yesterday which has never happened before, but I'm fed up. Fed up that I'm still doing SATs out here when I'd much rather be teaching other things. Annoyed that although we do them I'm told not to make too big a deal of them - I'm sorry but they are a big deal to the kids who take them and they are a big deal to me. I may not like putting kids through tests, but if I am to do it, then I will do it properly and professionally. I will prepare the kids so that they know what to expect and aren't terrified. I can't decided how much support should be provided within the tests. Back in the UK I would have readers for my lower ability kids - but here I don't know if I can trust the people who read not to tell the kids the answers. I know all of the kids are capable of accessing the tests at appropriate levels, so should I give them extra time or readers - I just don't know.

I'm pissed off that I have to write reports again in the next two weeks before I do the SATs - once a year is bad enough - thank god I've only got twelve kids. What can I write about them that I haven't already written? What can I say that hasn't already been said in meetings?

I'm unimpressed that the school sports day has been arranged for the Friday of the week that I do the SATs - this means I have to either carry them into another week or change the timetable and order of how they should be sat. Maybe I'm being too rigid in my thinking about the timetable, but it all just seems thoughtless and badly planned.

One of the things that bugs me the most is the lack of interaction and support between the primary and secondary school - we're on the same site, yet there is bugger all transition for my kids.

All schools have there problems but this one is really getting to me at the mo.

I know it's because I'm tired, stressed, homesick and fed up. Now that the end of the year is within my sight I just want to get back home and see all the people who are so important to me. I want to be recharged and renewed. I want to start thinking about my next move...wherever that may be.

Okay I think my rant is over now. Do I feel better? Yes a little.

An eventful evening...

It all started well...I was test driving my friend's beetle after school to see if I want to buy it. Been craving a car again since borrowing Ben and Claire's over Easter.

Adriana and I escaped from school (after a few stalling incidents - much to Justin's amusement) and headed to Cumbaya to have a massage. The massage was incredibly good and relaxing. Feeling rather molten inside we decided to treat ourselves to sushi.

All was going brilliantly - me and the car were getting to know each other and becoming more confident in each others abilities. Additionally, Adri and I were having a very nice girly time.

We took the scenic route home...not intentionally but it was rather good and I now know even more of my local area. After I dropped her off the trouble began...

First the car started to kangaroo, then it lost power and stopped - I managed to start it again (this occurred about three times). I decided to chance it on the main road and all was going well...car was revving and accelerating away...until it stopped, on the main road and wouldn't start again. Bugger!

Luckily it was in the evening so although there was traffic haring past me, it was totally jam packed. I was scared though - Ecuadorians are not known for their careful driving and I felt very vulnerable. I called Adri to go, 'What the fuck...?' Luckily she had Peter's number so I called him. Then I had to wait for him to come and rescue me...

Large trucks and buses thundered past me; cars hooted; all I could do was sit and wait.

We tried to restart the battery with jump leads, but it was to no avail. So...what to try next...well, Peter rang Andy to see if he had a tow rope. Thankfully he did and drove out to us - who would have thought Andy would be my night in shining armour?! (Well his car is white - so I guess that's a sort of modern day white steed!)

I was too nervous to sit in the bug as it was towed, so Andy let me drive his car. The difference between the bug and the 4x4 was incredible. I felt much safer and it was really easy to drive. We took the bug to Pete's mechanic and then he drove me home - very apologetically. Finally got in at about 10pm.

Major catch up time...

Don't seem to have had much time recently for writing. So I guess I need to summarise what's been occurring...

Mum and Dad left on Friday, having been back for another 5 days. They had an amazing time in Peru and came back very happy, relaxed and full of stories. We had a lovely few days where I got to enjoy Mum's cooking (as did Fritha and family); dinner with friends; shopping and lots and lots of hugs.

I really didn't want them to go on Friday...I've kept pretty busy all weekend and I guess the loneliness is starting to sink in. I have had fun this weekend though - I finally caught up with Ursula, someone I've been wanting to get to know more for ages. We had a very silly Friday night which ended with me staying at hers...Friday kinda rolled into Saturday with more beers and girlie chats. It's felt like a proper bank holiday weekend!

I really hate saying goodbye to people...apparently it gets easier with more practise. I guess that's something I'll find out over time.

I guess I need to think about what happened in the rest of the Easter hols which is already receding as life gets caught back in the work trap.

The rest of the Galapagos trip was amazing we visited Floreana where we saw flamingoes and learnt about Post Office Bay. The highlight for me on that day was snorkelling around the Devil's Crown. Having overcome my fear the day before, I was now in the middle of the sea snorkelling around a volcanic crater. The sea was beautifully clear and I saw masses of angelfish. We even saw sharks lurking down near the bottom!

I amused people in the afternoon of this day - we were all having some freetime in Post Office Bay and I decided to set up camp under some bushes. It was so hot and I really couldn't be bothered with the whole suntan cream palaver. I also wanted to continue reading my book, 'The Last Concubine' - I had had difficulty putting it down! I created my own little hobbithole!

Our penultimate day in the Galapagos was spent on Española. Many boobys of differing types; wave albatross; marine iguanas (looking like mini dinosaurs!) and lots of sealions. I really liked the sealions...the females and young all snuggle up to each other on the beach. The baby ones were particularly gorgeous. Sadly though, Dad refused to give in to my pleadings to be allowed a baby sealion. (Heehee - I had warned them that I would regress by being on holiday with them.)

The last morning was spent on San Cristobal before flying back to Quito. One of my favourite moments was when the Scottish lass stated on the last night that she thought I was getting quite a good colour on my arms...only someone from Scotland could have thought that!

Back in Quito we went out for curry with some of our companions and made our goodbyes (so much easier to say goodbye to people that you've only known for few days!)

We woke up on Easter Monday and decided to venture up to the Teleferico (a cable car that goes up the side of Pichincha). The views from the top were pretty stunning even though it was a hazy day! We decided that we liked this mode of transport for getting up mountians!

On Monday afternoon we made our way back to Cumbaya in the midst of a huge storm. Dad and I had gone back to the hotel to get our stuff whilst Mum sipped coffee and waited for us to appear with a taxi. We got utterly soaked - but did laugh all the way back to the hotel. I'm sure there were quite a few people who saw us who thought 'crazy gringos'.

The next day I braved driving for the first time in Ecuador. We headed for Ppallacta for some pampering and relaxation. The road was quiet which was good as I needed to reacquaint myself with driving after a break of 8 months, add to that driving on the wrong side of the road - luckily it is a road I know reasonably well.

In the spa Dad seemed a little confused, within 5 minutes of getting into the pool he was wondering what he was meant to do. Meanwhile Mum and I chatted and laughed! Luckily Dad did seem to get the hang of thermal pools later on when Mum and I were having a massage, he made friends with a Kuwaiti general!

Papallacta was definitely more of a Mum than a Dad day, so I promised we would go volcano hunting the next day!

Wednesday started fairly bright when we set off towards the route of the volcanoes. There were several things that would have made the journey easier:

1. A decently scaled road map
2. Regular roadsigns
3. Diversions in place when roads are closed due to roadworks
4. Better weather

However despite these hindrances and several detours when we couldn't go the way we hoped or weren't where we thought we were, we eventually found ourselves in Cotopaxi National Park. However by this time the cloud had descended and there was not a chance of seeing the top of Cotopaxi. In true British style, we had a picnic in the car by the side of a lake and then drove home.

On the way back another road was missed, luckily instinct and vague knowledge took over and I got us home. There were a few moments of nervousness on this journey - people, particularly buses cut you up all the time. However it reminded me of how much I enjoy driving and I'm now on the lookout for a car!

The last day before the parents went to Peru was fairly quiet and uneventful. It was strange when they left at 5.30am the next morning - I dealt with it using the same tactics as this time - I went out.

Okay...I think that's pretty much what happened in the right order!

My favourite quotes from Mum and Dad were:

Dad: 'Oh, I'm being silly!'
Mum: 'That's because you are silly!'

So I believe I've caught up on the past few weeks.

I'm off to Baños with my class on Tuesday, so I'm sure there'll be a few stories to tell after that!