I will be back in MN one month from today! According to mom, that puts us at 29 days and counting. I´ve been getting the "what´s next?" question a lot lately, so this is the plan for now: go home, live with mom and dad in good old Chanhassen, eat delicious food that I´ve been deprived of for the last year, spend major quality catch up time with friends and family, make some money at Deer Run golf course for a few months while I sort through the many opportunities out there...non-profit jobs, other kinds of jobs, jobs involving communication and nutrition, interesting jobs where I feel like I´m positively contributing to society, jobs in Minnesote, jobs elsewhere...the options are endless at this point. As our current favorite spanish phrase goes, vamos a ver (we will see).
I completed my third and (probably) final race at 10,000 feet yesterday. Two of my compadres and I ran a 15k, while one crazy volunteer opted for the longer marathon distance. Despite cramps, coughing and vomiting (oh yes, and the 5:30 AM start time), I ran my best per mileage time yet, thanks to Patrick and Chi running! I really hope to continue running back in the states, so if anyone knows of fun races or good running buddies, let me know. I did petition to get into the Chicago marathon in October, but we were not successful - very possibly a blessing in disguise. Maybe next year...
This morning, I stumbled upon a piece of paper tucked in my notebook titled, "Computacion Class: Day 1 Introduction." Needless to say, it was a full paragraph of what I was going to say to my very first class on my very first day of school. I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions as I glanced over the words...amusement and laughter, embarassment and shame(did I really say THAT?), and a good boost of self-esteem and pride at how "far" I´ve come. Really, I have to sound at least a little bit better than that today, after 10 months of agonizing spanish "oopsies." I´m not going to mention any names, but at least I didn´t argue about the bill with the chinese restaurant owner (turns out $2.50 times 5 IS $12.50, not $7.50) AND confirm our assignment to write a play full of jokes by saying "Sure! We will write a play full of sadness and have it ready for you tomorrow morning!" all in the span of 24 hours (payback time).
On that note, thanks for reading. I´ll be back soon. Love you all, and see you SOON!
Keely
lunes, 23 de junio de 2008
domingo, 1 de junio de 2008
Feliz Dia del Nino!
To all you kids out there, turns out they have here in Ecuador exactly what we've always dreamed of in the United States...Kids Day! And here I thought it was such a long shot when Mothers and Fathers Day would roll around and I'd whine about how there isn't a Kids Day. That's one thing I love about this country - they celebrate EVERY holiday, and they celebrate it good.
On a more serious note, I hope all you "faithful" readers notice that I'm writing for the second time in five days, despite the lack of comments on my last entry.
Here is a list of observations I've compiled over the last month or so, titled "Things that still take me surprise after living here for 10 months." Enjoy.
1. Kids sharpening pencils with a straight-edge razor in the middle of class.
2. I am not sick of rice and beans, even though I eat it for at least 1 meal a day.
3. The view of snow-capped volcano, Cotopaxi, that can only be seen on the clearest days.
4. I regularly get by, even function, on 5 hours of sleep.
5. I dislike most of the chocolate sold in this country.
6. I'm a teacher, I have students, and they still consistently show up for my classes.
7. People never fail to greet everyone in the room when they walk in, even if it means interrupting a meeting they are a half hour late for.
8. I like running, and do so regularly despite the altitude, hills, and pollution, and I've missed it a lot since taking a break due to illness.
9. The sun is SO hot, and when it's not out, it is SO chilly.
10. People who get on the public bus to sell ridiculous things like cookbooks and make-up. And people actually buy them.
11. I suddenly love coconut after despising it for the last 22 years of my life.
12. Seeing our shoe-shine boys out on the streets actually shining shoes.
And finally...
13. I am surprised that I was not surprised to find a bottle of ketchup in my goody bag from a recent 15k race.
On a more serious note, I hope all you "faithful" readers notice that I'm writing for the second time in five days, despite the lack of comments on my last entry.
Here is a list of observations I've compiled over the last month or so, titled "Things that still take me surprise after living here for 10 months." Enjoy.
1. Kids sharpening pencils with a straight-edge razor in the middle of class.
2. I am not sick of rice and beans, even though I eat it for at least 1 meal a day.
3. The view of snow-capped volcano, Cotopaxi, that can only be seen on the clearest days.
4. I regularly get by, even function, on 5 hours of sleep.
5. I dislike most of the chocolate sold in this country.
6. I'm a teacher, I have students, and they still consistently show up for my classes.
7. People never fail to greet everyone in the room when they walk in, even if it means interrupting a meeting they are a half hour late for.
8. I like running, and do so regularly despite the altitude, hills, and pollution, and I've missed it a lot since taking a break due to illness.
9. The sun is SO hot, and when it's not out, it is SO chilly.
10. People who get on the public bus to sell ridiculous things like cookbooks and make-up. And people actually buy them.
11. I suddenly love coconut after despising it for the last 22 years of my life.
12. Seeing our shoe-shine boys out on the streets actually shining shoes.
And finally...
13. I am surprised that I was not surprised to find a bottle of ketchup in my goody bag from a recent 15k race.
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