4th of July, Workshops, and a Trip to Quito!

Happy very belated 4th of July! Adam and I spent our Independence Day with other volunteers from our cluster (region) in Vilcabamba, which is about 1 hour from Loja. Although there were no fireworks, hot dogs and hamburgers, or parades through the town, we went on a horseback ride through the mountains, ate watermelon and enjoyed a game of Risk. 

Miriam (who came to Loja on a tech exchange where she helped me with a workshop for the employees in MIES-INFA Centro de Protección de Derechos) enjoying an apple and the view!

Allison on her horse that left the pack to return to its owner's house!

Adam on his horse...everyone was stuck behind me and my slooooow horse =D

Playing the game of Risk...unfortunately not Justin's ULTIMATE RISK

A rare treat for us- watermelon!!

After our relaxing time in Vilcabamba, we returned to Loja where Nancy and Miriam helped me with a 2 day workshop for my counterpart organization MIES-INFA. A few months ago one of the women who is in charge of the office I work in asked me if I knew anyone who could help share some U.S. methodology of child protection social work. My friend and fellow PCV Nancy was a CPS social worker for 15 years so she came down to Loja with Miriam to share some of her experiences. It was quite a stressful few days, but we ended with some relaxation exercises using information from the UCI Health Education Center Relax Your Mind and Body workshops (thanks Leigh!!!)!!

Nancy and Miriam sharing to the group

Always have to have small group breakouts!

Group work always has to include markers and large sheets of newsprint

Eri leading the group in Radio Taiso...I love this!

More group work!

Guided imagery activity...I am sure a few people fell asleep!

In other news, Adam and I also went up to Quito last week to meet the new trainees during their picnic. Liz and I rode up together on the bus because Adam was already in Quito to see the PC doctor. For some reason I didn't think it would take us a long time to get to Cayambe...and Liz kindly reminded me that 14 hours is the norm! We had spent the entire day before making snickerdoodles, rice krispie treats and little snack packs for our "hermanitos" (some of the volunteers were paired with trainees just to provide support and answer any questions they have). I didn't get any pictures of the soccer game or of our "hermanitos", but I did take picture when we visited our host family and they had a group of trainees that came over to their house to make cheese. Pacha and Micaela are as ADORABLE as ever- now Mica has her two front teeth, but Pacha is missing hers. We had a great meal at their house (Magy is still as good of a cook as ever!) and got to chat with the trainee that is currently living there.

Since we had to pass through Quito to get back to Loja, Adam and I took advantage of our waiting time to go to the Quicentro Mall. It was totally bizarre being at a mall that has things like a Sunglass Hut, a United Colors of Benetton, and a Crocs store. Everything was priced the same as in the U.S. or more. I have no idea who all these rich people are that can afford this stuff in Ecuador!! We decided to splurge and ate at...of all places...TGI Fridays. $12 for a hamburger! What?!? So Adam and I shared one. Haha. And then we went to Dunkin' Donuts afterwards so I could get a coffee. Mmmm!

I love this. On their paper bags it still says "America Runs on Dunkin' Donuts" but at least their wallpaper was changed with a picture of Ecuador! I highly doubt Ecuador runs on DD though!

And of course when I saw the little sushi place in the food court of the mall, I had to get some sushi too! Again, this was also VERY expensive for Ecuador. $6.30. I can buy SOOOO much stuff for that price. But it was oh so worth it. Sushi is one of the things that I have cravings for all the time!

Other than that, I have been doing more origami with Eri at the centro comercial, and with teachers. This morning Eri and I went to this school in Loja to teach all the teachers about origami...as it turns out, our next door neighbor here in Loja is the director of the place (though I have never spoken to her before). Eri will be leaving next month (she is almost done with her 2 years of service with JICA) and I am really sad because I really enjoy working with her and she is just so great! It will be sad to see her go!

Next week Adam will be starting work with a summer camp put on by his counterpart organization. From what I can gather, it sounds like a lot of soccer and basketball! He also has some leads on projects with the technical university in town, so that is good! We like keeping busy!

Ok, well I will keep trying to post more photos and updates!!!