And so my travels take me to another new experience, volunteering. Bringing about a longer length of time in one place. Back in August amongst the final planning, flight bookings, vacinations and importantly.. budgeting for the year ahead I began searching for a place to volunteer later in my year away. I found a place in Ecuador within a small community in Salasaka, the main project being a primary school with other opportunities to help in different ways as well. I now find myself, after six months of constant travelling about to head to Salasaka and begin giving my time to the projects there.
Semana 1 - Salasaka
(Sabado 28 de febrero - Domingo 8 de marzo)
One final breakfast at the hostel, and then I am packed, showered and set to make my way to Salasaka. I am slightly apprehensive, as I will be taking a bus for the first time in Ecuador, a different setting to Chile. First I take the trolebús from closeby to the hostel to La Terminal Terrestre Quitumbe, which takes around 50 minutes. I then get a ticket for a bus leaving straight away for Baños via Ambato.. I will jumping off in Salasaka.. a 3 hour drive ahead of me. I put my guitar and bag next to me, and around 2 hours into the journey I have fallen asleep.. I awake to the movement of my bag under my legs.... it is open ? .. but the zip is together.. the bag has been pierced on the side and unzipped.. my camera case has been pulled out.. and the camera is gone.. I scramble my bag back between my legs in a state of shock and more so disappointment... Thankfully only the camera has been taken (plus all my photos have been backed up before leaving the hostel..) I still have my GoPro and tablet.. I am awake for the rest of the journey.. a feeling of wanting to fly home hits me/not continue travelling after my volunteerng stint.. but soon find myself in a cheerful mood at the fact that I could have lost a great deal more..
Soon I am told of my imminent arrival in Salasaka, where I jump off the bus street side.. Next I locate a Caminetta (open back truck) to take me to the volunteer´s home. On arrival I meet Arne, who I have been making contact with since August.. I find out that he has been here since July! I am shown into La Casa... communal area/kitchen and meet many of the other volunteers. Later I chat with Robert, the main organiser of the school and projects.. an 82 year old American who has lived in Central and South America for more of his life than in USA. After close to 3 hours chatting away.. and hearing his life story and many views on different situations I meet Raphael (a new German volunteer) in the kitchen who had been waiting outside shouting for someone to let him in!! We eat food cooked by some of the other volunteers, being made to feel very welcome.
On sunday it is the Carling Cup Final.. in the morning before the game, Robert and Arne take me and Raphael into central Salasaka to see el vivero where we will be working initially for the next few weeks. Back at the home I attempt to watch the game but only manage to find bad buffering streams.. after the unfortunate loss for Spurs, me, Raphael and Arne head back into Salasaka to have some lunch..chicken and rice. During the afternoon more new volunteers arrive, I am one of seven new volunteers starting this weekend (Me, Raphael, Neomi, Aini, Christina, Lea and Eliane).
Lunes 2 - Viernes 6 de marzo - Salasaka
A shock to the system on monday.. 6.30am alarm.. here we go.. back to some kind of reality/routine! Every morning Robert makes porridge for the volunteers, then at 7.30am we depart. Those working at the school walk together, me, Arne and Raphael take the caminetta to central where we then walk down to the Vivero.
On my first morning, Raphael goes to the market with Arne so I meet Lorenzo (the worker at the nursery) and I spend the morning shovelling gravel into a barrel.. moving it, emptying it and repeating the process (hard work at last you´ll be happy to read). At midday each morning we head back to the volunteers house for lunch and then from 4-8pm me and Raphael work in the library.
Ouch.. my body is aching in the morning on my second day.. and already I dont want to get up! The week´s work in the vivero consists of painting and helping out with small DIY type jobs. In the library we start a homework club from 4-6pm.. and we begin to have the same students come for support. In the evening we set up English classes.
On wednesday afternoon I head to the school for the first time in order to see and take part in the music classes. The kids are adorable!!
By Friday I am ready for the weekend!
Semana 1 - Salasaka
(Sabado 28 de febrero - Domingo 8 de marzo)
One final breakfast at the hostel, and then I am packed, showered and set to make my way to Salasaka. I am slightly apprehensive, as I will be taking a bus for the first time in Ecuador, a different setting to Chile. First I take the trolebús from closeby to the hostel to La Terminal Terrestre Quitumbe, which takes around 50 minutes. I then get a ticket for a bus leaving straight away for Baños via Ambato.. I will jumping off in Salasaka.. a 3 hour drive ahead of me. I put my guitar and bag next to me, and around 2 hours into the journey I have fallen asleep.. I awake to the movement of my bag under my legs.... it is open ? .. but the zip is together.. the bag has been pierced on the side and unzipped.. my camera case has been pulled out.. and the camera is gone.. I scramble my bag back between my legs in a state of shock and more so disappointment... Thankfully only the camera has been taken (plus all my photos have been backed up before leaving the hostel..) I still have my GoPro and tablet.. I am awake for the rest of the journey.. a feeling of wanting to fly home hits me/not continue travelling after my volunteerng stint.. but soon find myself in a cheerful mood at the fact that I could have lost a great deal more..
Soon I am told of my imminent arrival in Salasaka, where I jump off the bus street side.. Next I locate a Caminetta (open back truck) to take me to the volunteer´s home. On arrival I meet Arne, who I have been making contact with since August.. I find out that he has been here since July! I am shown into La Casa... communal area/kitchen and meet many of the other volunteers. Later I chat with Robert, the main organiser of the school and projects.. an 82 year old American who has lived in Central and South America for more of his life than in USA. After close to 3 hours chatting away.. and hearing his life story and many views on different situations I meet Raphael (a new German volunteer) in the kitchen who had been waiting outside shouting for someone to let him in!! We eat food cooked by some of the other volunteers, being made to feel very welcome.
On sunday it is the Carling Cup Final.. in the morning before the game, Robert and Arne take me and Raphael into central Salasaka to see el vivero where we will be working initially for the next few weeks. Back at the home I attempt to watch the game but only manage to find bad buffering streams.. after the unfortunate loss for Spurs, me, Raphael and Arne head back into Salasaka to have some lunch..chicken and rice. During the afternoon more new volunteers arrive, I am one of seven new volunteers starting this weekend (Me, Raphael, Neomi, Aini, Christina, Lea and Eliane).
Lunes 2 - Viernes 6 de marzo - Salasaka
A shock to the system on monday.. 6.30am alarm.. here we go.. back to some kind of reality/routine! Every morning Robert makes porridge for the volunteers, then at 7.30am we depart. Those working at the school walk together, me, Arne and Raphael take the caminetta to central where we then walk down to the Vivero.
On my first morning, Raphael goes to the market with Arne so I meet Lorenzo (the worker at the nursery) and I spend the morning shovelling gravel into a barrel.. moving it, emptying it and repeating the process (hard work at last you´ll be happy to read). At midday each morning we head back to the volunteers house for lunch and then from 4-8pm me and Raphael work in the library.
Ouch.. my body is aching in the morning on my second day.. and already I dont want to get up! The week´s work in the vivero consists of painting and helping out with small DIY type jobs. In the library we start a homework club from 4-6pm.. and we begin to have the same students come for support. In the evening we set up English classes.
On wednesday afternoon I head to the school for the first time in order to see and take part in the music classes. The kids are adorable!!
By Friday I am ready for the weekend!
Sabado 7 - Domingo 8 de marzo - Ambato, Baños & Salasaka
Kelly has her TOEFL test this morning so at midday a group of us meet her and Liz in Ambato and head to a chinese restaurant for lunch. We then have a wander around the artisan market which happens to have live dancing/show.. we stay and watch. In the evening we eat and drink, then me, Raphael and Kelly head to Baños for a night out. We meet up with Neomi and Aini who have spent the weekend there. It is a funny night and plenty of dancing. We take a bus back to Salasaka in the early hours of the morning.
On Sunday we all have to be up at 9am because we are going on a Salasakan Tour organised by the towns museum. Raphael, who kept buying drinks throughout the night is not in a good state this morning..
The tour begins in the museum where we are given a brief history of the Salasakan people and are then taken on a guided tour of the 5 storey musuem.. finding out about the culture of the community and festivals. I manage to understand parts of what we are told but my tiredness soon has me switching off from listening..
On the roof of the building we get to see views of Salasaka and the surrounding areas. Our next stop is to the nearby river/valley.. an important route passes through here which leads all the way to the Amazon. We eat corn and beef, and are then shown how they make natural shampoo..Raphael (still in a state of recovery) has his hair cleaned using this shampoo!
Our final stop is to a house closeby to the volunteers home. Traditional music (drum and pipe) is played to welcome us. Before our traditional meal (most of us have chosen Cuy...guinea pig..which we see cooking..) we are shown tapestry being made and are told about the plantation used here.
The meal is delicious although the Cuy is disappointing due to the lack of meat! The rest of the meal includes potatoes, salad and corn in a satay sauce.
Before leaving we are treated to some more music.. and this time we dance along.
Semana 2
Lunes 9 - Viernes 13 de marzo - Salasaka
Another week working in the nursery and the library. On monday morning I am up at 6am in order to head to the market in Ambato with Arne to do the food shopping for the week. The market is huge! We have some breaky and then begin locating the ingredients needed for this weeks meals. After buying the initial lot, I wait with the food whilst Arne heads off to continue buying the rest. We load everything onto a caminetta and journey back to Katitawa (the school in Salasaka). Despite being technically illegal to travel on the back of a caminetta the police pass without taking a second look.. At the school we unload everything and have Colada (milk based powdered drink) during the morning break at the school. It is great to see the kids again. I have the chance to look around the school, in the classes before we head back tothe volunteers house with the rest of the food.
In the library this week I continue to teach classes, more students turn up making it busier in the evening.
On Wednesday I again head to the school in the afternoon and this week the music teacher, Renato, doesn't turnup. We make drums using recycled water containers and make rhythms games with the kids. A tiring few hours!
By Thursday flea bites have shown up on my feet... either from the dog or kids.. I'm not too sure! Teaching in the library is proving to be an enjoyable experience.
On Friday afternoon I will be heading on a weekend trip to Quilatoa with a group of the volunteers. I am packed in the morning and after working in the nursery during the morning, me and Raphael head to the school in the afternoon to help out with the P.E classes. I'm looking forward to a trip out of Salasaka and a chance to see more of Ecuador.
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