I have had several topic requests for the blog - and I would just like to say keep those comments and requests coming. This is my main way for keeping in touch and it always makes me feel good when I hear from someone. One of the topics several people have requested is information about faith practices.
Quito, like the rest of Ecuador, is predominately Catholic. I am not quite sure how this interprets to day to day life, other than all the beautiful Catholic churches, cathedrals, etc. I know that legal abortion is practically non-existent and only available when the health of the mother is threatened or when the pregnancy is a result of a sexual crime against a woman who is mentally disabled. However, you can get birth control and the morning after pill easily over the counter and I believe you can get the morning after pill and condoms free at hospitals and clinics. And while the official percentages would have Catholic dominating the woman I live with is Muslim, knows a lot about Baha'i's, and I have met several Jehovah Witnesses in the park where I ate my lunch last week.
Last week I visited a place which I think fall into the category "faith in Ecuador". l I visited the Basilica del Voto Nacional which is a very large Catholic Church in Quito, and is the largest neo-gothic church in the Americas.
You can see it from anywhere in Quito. My favorite part is the gargoyles of animals found in Ecuador. I have read that it is still not finished - (started in 1800's) and that they say that if it is ever finished the world will end. The places where I read that were not dated so it could be finished.. I did not notice construction.
I am doing ok - have had two minor bouts of What the Heckador stomach -and am finding it difficult to adjust to the noise in my house. Many people live here - and tend to talk on the phone a lot using speaker phone. Not sure what the appeal for speaker phones is -but people do tend to shout when using head sets and/or speaker phones so it is not unusual for there to be 3 conversations going at shout level. As there is no wall between my room and the kitchen -(the hub of activity) there is no where for me to go but outside to catch a bit of quiet. The worse is very early morning when the extra-loud blender is going -(albeit to make me fruit juice for breakfast) -about 6-8 ft. from my head AND a conversation with the volume to be heard OVER the blender. I have always prided myself on the ability to sleep through anything.. but I think I have met my match. I am hoping that next week - when we start our teaching routine - I will be more able to strategize the situation.
The Ecuadorians I live with are very kind. Yesterday I have an extremely bad headache and I think I looked like someone who had an extremely bad headache. Sandra ( the owner of my house ) provided two types of ointment that she rubbed on my head, changed my sheets, and sprayed a scent on my sheets to help me relax. It was wonderful. Since I have lived alone for 25+ years it was almost worth the headache to experience someone looking after me and to remember what it is like to be a caretaker as opposed to a caregiver. It also reminded me of my mother whose first response to all illnesses was to take a shower and change the sheets.
I FINALLY!!!! start teaching on Tuesday. It will be over a month since I got here and we are finally getting the show on the road. I am very excited to get on with it! We do not get our final assignments until Monday but as of right now I am teaching Level 9 (advanced) from 4-8. Keep your fingers crossed that this doesn't change over the weekend. I like the level and schedule.
Quito, like the rest of Ecuador, is predominately Catholic. I am not quite sure how this interprets to day to day life, other than all the beautiful Catholic churches, cathedrals, etc. I know that legal abortion is practically non-existent and only available when the health of the mother is threatened or when the pregnancy is a result of a sexual crime against a woman who is mentally disabled. However, you can get birth control and the morning after pill easily over the counter and I believe you can get the morning after pill and condoms free at hospitals and clinics. And while the official percentages would have Catholic dominating the woman I live with is Muslim, knows a lot about Baha'i's, and I have met several Jehovah Witnesses in the park where I ate my lunch last week.
Last week I visited a place which I think fall into the category "faith in Ecuador". l I visited the Basilica del Voto Nacional which is a very large Catholic Church in Quito, and is the largest neo-gothic church in the Americas.
You can see it from anywhere in Quito. My favorite part is the gargoyles of animals found in Ecuador. I have read that it is still not finished - (started in 1800's) and that they say that if it is ever finished the world will end. The places where I read that were not dated so it could be finished.. I did not notice construction.
I am doing ok - have had two minor bouts of What the Heckador stomach -and am finding it difficult to adjust to the noise in my house. Many people live here - and tend to talk on the phone a lot using speaker phone. Not sure what the appeal for speaker phones is -but people do tend to shout when using head sets and/or speaker phones so it is not unusual for there to be 3 conversations going at shout level. As there is no wall between my room and the kitchen -(the hub of activity) there is no where for me to go but outside to catch a bit of quiet. The worse is very early morning when the extra-loud blender is going -(albeit to make me fruit juice for breakfast) -about 6-8 ft. from my head AND a conversation with the volume to be heard OVER the blender. I have always prided myself on the ability to sleep through anything.. but I think I have met my match. I am hoping that next week - when we start our teaching routine - I will be more able to strategize the situation.
The Ecuadorians I live with are very kind. Yesterday I have an extremely bad headache and I think I looked like someone who had an extremely bad headache. Sandra ( the owner of my house ) provided two types of ointment that she rubbed on my head, changed my sheets, and sprayed a scent on my sheets to help me relax. It was wonderful. Since I have lived alone for 25+ years it was almost worth the headache to experience someone looking after me and to remember what it is like to be a caretaker as opposed to a caregiver. It also reminded me of my mother whose first response to all illnesses was to take a shower and change the sheets.
I FINALLY!!!! start teaching on Tuesday. It will be over a month since I got here and we are finally getting the show on the road. I am very excited to get on with it! We do not get our final assignments until Monday but as of right now I am teaching Level 9 (advanced) from 4-8. Keep your fingers crossed that this doesn't change over the weekend. I like the level and schedule.
I believe they must have completed the cathedral . . . that's the only thing that could explain the crazy politics here in the US! (I won't name names, but it rhymes with rump!) The beginning of the end?!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, so good to hear that teaching is starting up. I am always so grateful in my travels overseas to find others speaking english. I plan to show my appreciation by bringing lots of US$ to spend when I come visit!
Hope you stay feeling better!
Joel
My request for a topic is Halloween or All Saints Day or Day of the Dead or Dia De Los Muertos and how Ecuador celebrates/commemorates this.
ReplyDeleteHope teaching went well! Sounds like you got a good schedule.