I can't think of a clever title

This past week one of the eigth grade girls, Amelia, invited all of the teachers over to her farm. We all piled into a bus after school to go to her family's farm. I figured if her family was inviting all of the teachers over to their house they must be wealthy. When we were in the bus, Amelia told us this is the start of our property. Her family has rose farms, broccoli, and cows.  Her father, who was incredibly hospitable, showed us all around the farm. The farm was inheirited from his parents, and their house was approximately 150 years old. The house was decorated with ornate furniture and art. I was talking to the mother about how much I loved the art in their house, and she showed me all the rest of the paintings in the bedrooms. After touring the farm, they lit a fire for us and fed us snacks including some amazing chocolate cake. Amelia's cousin and his friend (both around our age) came over and visited with us. They were talking to us about all the cool sites to see in the area. We exchanged information and hopefully will be able to travel together.  The family gave us each a head of broccoli from their farm to take home and a huge container of honey (straight from the hive...not as sweet as what I'm used to but it's still delicious).  The family was so refreshingly warm and inviting. It was a very nice evening.

The more and more I'm at the school and around the kids, I learn more about their families. I get to meet some of the parents after school when they pick their kids up. Most of the parents who come seem to be responsible, caring people, but I wonder about my other students' parents. I wondered about one in particular...one of my second grade boys who seems to have some emotional issues/ADD. I asked Yasser, one of the teachers who has been at the school for about a year if he knew if most of the kids eat dinner at home and about the particular second grade boy.  Yasser told me that there are about 8 boys in the family, and they often put the kids to work carrying heavy rocks. Many time they have to go to bed early because there is nothing to eat for dinner. It made me sad hearing this, and it gave me a better understanding of what life is like for him. I am glad though at the school the kids have plenty to eat. We eat breakfast, fruit, lunch and then yogurt right before the kids leave. Another thing that is different about the school but good is that the kids shower every morning. A lot of the kids come from farms and have to trek a long way to get to school in the morning, so they are pretty muddy from the walk alone.

This weekend, the other volunteer teachers and I went to Latacunga, a town about a half an hour away, for La Mama Negra festival. We all were unclear what the festival was about before going to it. I heard from someone it was a celebration of the freedom of slaves. The only thing we knew for sure that there would be lots of dancing and lots of alcohol. We arrived early and unsure what time the parade started. We asked around and a woman told us there was a mass and then the parade goes through the town after that. We found the mass in the center of the town. It was outside and many people were gathered around for it. We only stayed for a bit of it, but there was a band and they played a beautiful song about the Virgin. I later found out the festival is about thanking the Virgin for protecting Latacunga from Cotopaxi, the active volcano nearby that has destroyed the city many times.  Throughout the festival, people give offerings to the Virgin. Most commonly a pig carcass adorned with other foods and alcohols. In the parade there are men who carry this pig offering on their backs. Looks very heavy and they have someone behind them in the parade to carry a table so that they can rest it on there when they get tired. La Mama negra is a man dressed up as a black woman, usually on a horse. La mama negra sprays sugar cane alcohol on people in the crowd. I loved seeing the dancing and costumes in the parade. Very different from the parades I'm used to! No dancing grannies in this one. :)

As all the guidebooks said, there was a lot of drinking. It started early. There were vendors on the streets selling Pilseners left and right for $1. A 40 oz. beer for $1. Heck yes. After the parade, we went searching for some dancing. We met two americans that are volunteer teachers as well in a town about 45 mins from us. They were cool and we plan to travel with them soon. We talked to random Ecuadorians on the street as well. Some were great to talk to, but some of them were so drunk I couldn't understand them. I kept saying "I don't understand you" and walked away from the drunk ones. All in all it was a fun day. Lots of people, drinking and crazyness. Next weekend we plan to travel to Mindo, near the jungle. Excited for warm weather! I'm definitely sad I'm missing fall in Wisconsin. Apple picking, leaf piles, pumpkin flavored foods....yum! Please do all of these things for me while I'm gone :) Love you guys!