Today was Global Business Day! We started our day early at 7:00 am, got breakfast, and hopped on the bus to the beautiful Salinas: 11,660 feet above sea level (and 2,907 feet higher than Guaranda). Salinas was originally known for its salt production until the 1970s when the community began producing cheese and chocolate (the chocolate is now internationally renowned). Both communities’ brand is known as Salinerito, a name derived from the unity of the cooperative companies from the Andean Mountains in the Salinas area. After arrival, we toured the cheese factory and learned about their daily process: suppliers waking up around 3:00 am, milking their cows, and walking two hours to get to the factory. The cooperative receives about 5,000 liters of milk a day during the winter! After touring the cheese factory, we were tasted the cheeses, admired a 37 pound wheel of Gouda, and learned about the growing distribution of the product throughout Ecuador! Additionally, we learned about the development in employment in communities that have been underserved for a long time. We are looking forward to meeting Padre Antonio Polo in a couple days, who actually helped found the Quesero factory.
After the Quesero tour, we hopped on the bus once more and split into two groups: one to tour the chocolate factory, and another to explore the artisan wool and alpaca wool goods cooperative. Once each group finished, they switched places. At the chocolateria, we learned about the specific process that the cocoa beans undergo to become internationally renowned chocolate: harvest, quality control, roasting, grinding, separating the shell from the bean, and finally mixing and heating to create the base chocolate paste. We had the chance to taste both the milk and dark chocolates, and they were delicious!
At Arteselinas, a fair trade artisan shop, specializing in the wool store, we perused the various selections of keychains, sweaters, ponchos, gloves, and several other goods. This store was originally opened in order to give the women of the Salinas community a place outside of the home where they could earn income for their families. All products in the store are handmade by these women, and we had a lot of fun supporting the economic strength of these communities while trying on and purchasing all of the cozy items!
For lunch we went to a pizzeria, where even though we received no pizza, we had a delicious meal nonetheless! Quinoa soup, chicken, rice, lentils, and oatmeal juice! After an exciting morning we headed back to Guaranda, rested up, had dinner, and prepared for our first English tutoring class tomorrow evening. Each of us met with our fellow Glimpsers in groups to make sure we are ready with learning activities for our local students.
During our nightly meeting, we surprised the birthday girl Amie with a cake and a song (in both English and Spanish). Feliz Cumpleanos, Amie!
“I miss you guys so much, but am having a blast! I’ll call as soon as I can, and will bring you all back some souvenirs. Sending all my love to Mom, Dad, Rachel and the KitKat. -Xoxo Jordan
“Hey fam, I miss you all and am thinking of you, but am distracted with chocolate, fruit juices, and delicious meals! Hopefully I’ll get to call you soon and catch up! Mom, enjoy your free time and Dad and Nans, enjoy jetsetting (bring me back cool snacks and I might do the same).” –Lizzy
“Hey Mama! I miss you so much and hope everything is going well at home. You’re comment on the blog from the first day really made me happy, so keep it up! I love you! (And if you were to bring Gregoire’s to the airport I might cry from joy).” -Sarah
Aww Sarah, I miss you too! All is well at home; happily uneventful. I sent you a couple of emails but it sounds like you haven’t had time to check them? I hope you enjoyed meeting the alpacas; sounds like a fun day overall. I’ll see what I can do for Gregoire’s. Love, Mama
Wow, what a great day, three of my favorite things!!! Chocolate, cheese, and wool!!! Love to Chloe! xoxo, Mom, Dad, Jonah, Oliver, Moose, Crazy Fran (still crazy), Grace, Gucci, Tippy, Eagle, and Duck
Hi Maianh, Mai-Khanh and Glimpsers,
We can’t wait to read every new blog that comes out every night just to see your pictures and to keep up with what you do each day. It seems your daily schedule is always fully packed and there is so much to learn and enjoy from this trip. Hope that all of you will enjoy the rest of your stay and soak in this beautiful experience as much as you can!
Maianh and Mai-Khanh, from the oldest, grandma, to the youngest at home, Mai-Lan, and everyone else in between, we all missed you very much. We can’t wait to hear stories from you at home later on. Love you!
Mai-Khanh Mom & Dad
Chloe we missed your call!!! I had do not disturb on my phone.
Chocolate and cheese?! Adam, we’re all so jealous! Plus wool! You know I would have loved that part of the day. Did the smell of the wool bring back memories of your childhood? We love reading your adventures. – Would love it more if you were smiling in more of the pictures. Love you bunches!
Hi. Jocelyn I love to see pictures of you having a good time a learning so much…. I love you.. have a fun.. take care see you soon.. so happy to heard from you today..
Hi Antara and Glimpsers,
I’m sure it was an exciting day to tour a cheese and chocolate factory in Salinas!! Hope you have taken enough pictures – can’t wait to hear your stories and the pictures.
Stay safe and enjoy your rest of the trip!!
– Dad, Mom, Ayush and Anisha
LIZZY SAN!! It looks like ur trip has been going great! I bet that it must be hard for u to survive in Ecuador without ur daily dose of anime. Hopefully u haven’t been drinking too much tap water?! I hope the rest of your trip goes really well and you takes lots of photos! Justin and 4C like hella miss u! Have fun!
– Brennen
Hey Lizzy, I’m so sorry I couldn’t pick up the phone when u called , I literally heard my phone buzzing and as I swiped to answer, the call just ended. But I listened to your voicemail and I know you’re having fun, especially because the food there is delicious 🙂 I miss you so much and I can’t wait to hear all about your trip! Sorry again for not picking up 🙁 I hope you enjoy the rest of your time there and write down all the memories you make!
I’ll see you soon, I love you booboogirl <3
Love,
Justin
P.S. I cooked dinner last night ?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMIE (Again in case you didn’t see my messages last time).
We miss you tons. Angelika says “Happy Birthday and I hope you’re doing great! I can’t wait to see you when you get back. I’m excited to hear all about your trip. I hope you have/had a really great day/night, I miss and love you more than Sarena does!!”
That was rude, but anyway, I’m glad we talked for a little bit. Hope you’re learning a lot! You can teach me when you’re home!
Hey Lizzy, I’m so sorry I couldn’t pick up the phone when you called, I literally heard my phone buzzing and as I swiped to answer, the call ended. I listened to your voicemail and I know you’re having fun, especially because the food there is delicious. 🙂 I miss you so much and I can’t wait to hear all about your trip! Sorry again for not picking up. 🙁 I hope you enjoy the rest of your time there and don’t forget to write down all the memories you make! I’ll see you soon, I love you booboogirl.
Love,
Justin
P.S. I made dinner last night 🙂
Malú,
Nos emocionamos mucho al conversar contigo por teléfono! Todos los días leemos los blogs y vemos lo feliz que estás. Disfruta mucho y aprende bastante! Prueba el queso verde (de albahaca)- dicen que es rico.
Un beso y abrazo-