http://www.usembassy.org.ec/

The MC

August 10, 2006
So I went to my site in Mercedes Cadena. It was good. But I think this only because the volunteer who is already there was with me the whole time. I could speak English to her whenever I wanted. She and I could cook something other than potatoes sans spice to eat. But anyhow, I started last Saturday morning by taking a my luggage out to the road in hopes of catching a bus. Instead, there was a truck in which Becca and I threw our bags ad climbed onto the bed. It was extremely uncomfortable. We were hanging on to the sides of the truck, holding on for dear life as well as trying to make sure that our bags wouldnt bounce off. But we didn{t have to pay the driver anything, so that was a savings of about 20 cents. Then we caught a two hour bus to Quito. At the bus station, we bought tickets to Riobamba. Three hours later, in Riobamba, we met all of the current voluteers who were going to show us around Riobamba and our sites. Kristy Romeo is the volunteer who showed me around and is currently in my site. She and I took an hour long bus from Riobamba to the entrance of Mercedes Cadena. From there we walked for half an hour to her house.
As soon as we got there a neighbor invited us over for dinner. After dinner, we were on our way back to Kristy{s house when We were invited to a town meeting to introduce me to the community. So Kristy dressed me up in an indigenous outfit and we went. She explained that I am different from her and that I have skills that she has not yet demonstrated.
That night I stayed at Kristy{s house, but the next night I stayed with a family across town. During the time I spent with them, I peeled potatoes, shelled peas, planted potatoes in the field, went to a school parade in the nearby town of Guamote, and milked the cows. (I know! Finally!) Their names, if they are older than me or my peer always begin with Tia or Tio, meaning aunt and uncle. So I stayed with Tia Rosa and Tio Oswaldo and their 8 year old son, Danny. Danny{s favorite musician is Delfin Quishpe. I know this because he played Delifin{s music videos in my room at least once a day. My favorite video became Delfincito.
I also got a chance to see what Kristy does as a volunteer. She took me to Guamote to watch and help her teach shampoo-making and English. She also teached little kids how to bake.
I really like the site. But my main problem is that all the people there speak Quichua as their first language and Spanish as their second. So, unless they were talking to me or wanted me to understand, I couln not participate in many comversations. But I will take more Quichua classes to try to remedy this. After living there for two years, Kristy still is not fluent in Quichua, so I am not too worried. I will get along just fine.
The title of this email is basically quoting Ecudorians trying to get the attention of Kristy in Guamote. She wears the indigenous garb here. One part of that outfit is the skirt, the anaku. So when someone yelled out to her, {Mister con anaku,{ we busrt out laughing. Also, I bought some indigenous garb for myself to wear in town. I really like it. I{ll send a picture as soon as possible.
Ratocama! (That{s how people in the MC say see you later)
Manisha