Blenheim WCE Ecuador Blog

Catherine’s entry

Well sleep last night was pretty poor cos someone *coughs* (Louise) cept kicking me in the head ‘accidentally’, but the day has been another brilliant one.

We started painting classroom divisions + teachers desks @ 8, with breaks for lunch, and sacrificed our planned trip to local hot springs so that everything would be ready for the kids return to school tomorrow.

I am really pleased because I learnt to mix/thin paint today, something I’ve never done before. However in the process I have managed to stain my hands with grey-ish paint (which no amount of paint thinner will remove), thus earning the nickname corpse-girl, and resulting in many odd lookcs from locals. Ah well, it’ll come off ewith the skin… in about 3 weeks.

Today we treated ourselves in a restauraunt meal which was delicous + only $1.50 per head. Afterwards a few of us socialised with some local children which was very enjoyable.

All in all a great Day.

ED’s Entry

What a brilliant day! The satisfaction of a job well done is unbelieveable. The team worked like a well oiled machine and churned out 15 sanded and painted divisions for the school classrooms, and did some other jobs, like fixing the baskedball nets.

We then got ready for dinner and had a proper meal (no pasta and sauce of your choice for us today). Chicken, rice, chips and veg! Yum! Then we came back where I am sitting now, under the stars, writing this entry.

Most memorable comments of my day:

“I Hacked into the school computer system”

- GazzaT on being asked about one of the most reckless/daring things he has ever done.

“I am pregnant”

- Charlie telling an Ecuadorian in spanish about a little problem he has.

“CHRIS STOKES”

The Ecuadorians hail Chris as their new King!

Monday 24th – Louise

Today everyone was happier after the night before! Everyone put a lot of effort in to make the day go well. Catherine was leader and did a wicked job.

First we set off on a walk up a really steep zigzaggy hill by our campsite. James did overcome his fear of heights and everyone showed we could work as a team when people struggled.

[FIND AND INSERT PIC OF TREK/HILL]

Matt found a lot of insects which were very alike.

When we got to the top we ate then stayed to play with the children who were really excited to meet us especially when John gave them sweets.

Personally it was my favourite part of the trip so far.

Here are a few peoples comments:

I was extremely moved and excited as well as proud of the team – it was wicked good fun teaching them games like duck duck goose and It.

- Yasmin

Today has been the best day so far. It started off with a long trek up the mountain which was very rewarding when we got to the top. To our amazement there was a school up there and all the children were fasinated by us and our cameras, and stole Stephans game boy. Later we played games with them which was really fun. Their favourite was duck duck goose which was brilliant. Then when the bell went and the kids went back to class we were all a bit upset. Finally we had to make the long and dangerouse trek down and I saw lots of massive spiders. Great!

- Matthew [insert snake sig here]

The trek down was hard & everyones feet hurt but we washed in the stream then came back to start our project work. We began by sanding & painting the dividers between the classes. After we were knackered so ate, had a quick meeting & slept. But it was really hot.

X Louise X

SORRY IF YOU [can't read] THIS I WRITE LIKE A TIT

Sunday 23 `inches` Chris

Today was our lucky day we got up at 8 which is realy late. We had our breakfast and saw a huge moth so Stephan (bi) shit himself.
Then we found a rock hard football to play with that ripped the top of my toe nail off and had a small match with the local kids.

Football match with local Ecuadorians

Later on we had a match with the other World Challenge team which got really competitive but we finally lost 1- 0 on penalties after it finished 3-3.

At 3 we went to see bull fight we weren’t sure what to expect but had heard stories of people getting mangled the day before. It started off a bit dull but then a fat drunk guy got in and got hit really hard and then got up and got hit again.

In the evening we hit our lowest point so far but it was sorted out by a group which helped raise our spirits to end what I though was a the best day so far.

22nd July – Ruby again.

Waking up relitivily early we had to get ready to move on from our hostel, Posada del Maple, to Otavalo and then Apuela where our project phase is situated.

This journey include two very long bus journies.
This first to Otavalo was better than expected despite being trapped into our seats by bags!

When finally at Otavalo a group of us set off to get the last DIY bits for the school. Once again the problem was language. But once again John and Catherine sorted it out.

Before our next bus arrived we just had time to buy some presents such as glue and pens for the school children. Anneka being such a good person ended up helping behind the counter!

Waiting for the bus with our bags

On the second bus to Apuela we found out what a packed bus was truely like.
- from men with unbelieveable B.O to an old lady practicaly sitting on Nicola’s lap.

Yasmin however had a better journey, meeting two children a boy who was 7 and a a girl who was 4 and who sat on her lap.

The journey for those next to a window wasn’t quite as good as we were able to see how close we were to the edge and how steep the drop was down.

When we arrived we met Elliot who took us up to the school where we were going to stay at and help in. Walking round the little town we saw a totaly different side to Ecuadorian life, compared to Quito.

That night we went to the towns festival of crowning a Queen, though who actually won was rather confusing to find out.

Our first nigh in Apuela was one with too much noise because the festival carried on late into the night.

In Quito.
Well we have been having fun. We paid for our guides, got the maps, some meths for our stoves, picked up some more kit etc. For lunch, we stopped at a cafe which was interesting becuase our Spanish was waaay inadaquate, but luckily a cool dude translated for us. About half of us ordered fish and chips. and ended up with soggy chips and an entire fish including head. Most of us had a good go of it, but it freaked some of us out (the boys more than the girls lol).

We went shopping for our food for the next week and couldn’t believe how cheap it was! It was like $58 for loads and loads of food (wer having trouble packing it all!) we reckon in England it would have cost about 100 pounds or more!

AMAZING!

Won’t be able to post for a while, we are just about to embark on our project phase in a small village so ther prob wnt be computers or internet. We will be working in a high school and doing som woodwork which will be interesting since none of us have much woodwork experience.

Oh well. We’v got a long two bus rides to go, and iv gotta pack.

Bit worried about me GazzaT leading today, cos its gonna get hectic with all the people and buses (EDIT: And huge sheets of plywood, paint and thinner, see pic below) to make sure everythigs ok!

Me ‘leading’ the DIY purchases
The gang hauling the plywood back to the coachstation

Oh well.

Buenos Dias to you all!
(Goes off to pack and make packed lunch)