Hello friends and family,
Today was our first Free Day where we get to go out and explore Guaranda. We started the day off by waking up at 7:30 a.m. and headed over to Criss where we ate eggs and plantains to kickstart our morning. After breakfast we split off into groups and went around the city. Majority decided to have a fun day of games and photos at a park. We made our way there by climbing a huge flight of stairs and somehow survived.
A couple of Glimpsers decided to play basketball while others decided to play a casual game of volleyball. Some of the boys also had a blast playing soccer with our Program Coordinator, Camilo. Another group wanted to spend some time going to some internet cafés and reconnect with their families by calling home. Then, many Glimpsers took a trip to the supermarket and bought some delicious snacks such as: cookies, wafers, chips, and loads of ice cream to balance out the hot day. Some also tried some different local fruits at the open air market nearby. Following the exploration of the city, we headed out to lunch at our regular spot, Feroz, and had some soup that was followed by a meal of salad, rice, and chicken or fish omelette.
Soon after finishing lunch we headed back to the hotel and started our preparation for our presentation of our Community Action Project (CAP) tomorrow. Our CAP project is a community effort to help the Fundación Betesda build their sanctuary for people who are seeking help and treatment for various health issues. We are pitching the idea of using all our hands that our group of 35 can lend to help build the house as a community to benefit the people of Guaranda.
Afterwards we headed over to Verbo Divino, a local Catholic school in Guaranda, to start our first English tutoring lesson. We were quite nervous at first because we didn’t know what to expect or if we were prepared enough. However, we still had a great time and experience. We spent two hours teaching the students of all ages at Verbo Divino various levels of English; some started off the lesson by playing some games and ice breakers to get to know the students a little bit better. After the lessons we headed back to Criss, our regular dinner spot, and ate a plate of rice and vegetables with meat or beans.
We ended the day with our nightly meeting and passed over the torch to the new leaders of the day for tomorrow. And we are so excited and looking forward to going back to Salinas tomorrow so we can explore the Salt Mines and learn more about deconstructing poverty.
P.S. Hello Mama, Dede, Ayu, and Tooni. I am missing you guys very much, but I have been having a lot fun here in Guaranda. We have a very busy schedule, so sorry if I haven’t called yet, but it is very fun and I am having such a great time experiencing the culture and supporting the communities here. Love you <3!! Also say hi to Dorothy, and tell her that I miss her. OKAY BYEEEEEEE!
P.P.S. Hi Mom and Grandma!! I miss you guys so much. I’ve been having so much good food here in Guaranda!! I can’t wait to get into Quito to post all of my food photos. I figured out exactly what fresh fruits and vegetables should really taste like. Once I get back into the States I’m definitely going to miss the freshness that is only found here in Guaranda! Love you guys, tell Beignet I miss him!! <3 XOXO
So great to see you smiling and having a good time Quinn. Can’t wait to hear all about your time in Guaranda. We love you so much!!
Mom
Hola Malu!! Te amo y espero la sigas pasando muy bien. Me encanto que me llamaras hoy ?.
Sofia: te quiero mucho nana puedes venir ahorita ❤️
Hi Maria!! I just sent a comment in Spanish but I’m not sure if it will be posted. Love you Malu ? thanks for calling us today. We miss you a lot ❤️ And it was awesome to hear you. I’m glad you are having fun and enjoying a nice weather, delicious food and great company. Love you! ?
-mom
Oh my gosh I just wrote the longest, most heartfelt comment and I just deleted it on accident. I’ll try my best to recreate it.
Lizzzzzzyyyyy,
Guess who is now more than halfway through season 4 of “Jane the Virgin”! This girl – aka me. Wow the rest of season 3 and season 4 was a doozy. I was honestly so annoyed with Rafael and Petra I almost stopped watching, but I stuck it out for you <3. Anyways, I hope you're having a blast in Ecuador, everything I've read in the blogs sounds incredible!! I can't believe you were already LDD, I'm so proud of you!! I mean, I know everyone has to at some point, but clearly you crushed it, I mean you were photoshopped onto a sheep and if that's not a defining trait of fantastic leadership I don't know what is…
Anyways, I miss you so much, but I know you're in the middle of such an incredible experience I can't be too sad. Plus I know you'll tell me all about it when you come home – which isn't for awhile so try not to think about it, just focus on the precious present 😉 and staying in the moment. This trip is pretty special. Also, just want to say that your CAP project sounds amazing and I'm so excited to read about all your work in future blogs!
Ok, I should probably stop writing because Lulu is getting jealous because I could be petting her right now, but I love you so so much and I hope you're having an amazing trip so far and you're getting to learn so much about the world and yourself!!
Sending all my love and hugs from the Bay,
Emma (and Lulu)
PS. Just want to let you know that if you bought any chocolate from that chocolate place I will steal some if not all of it. You've been warned :).
PPSS. You're welcome for this essay <3
hey Scarelett at least you listened to my advice hehe hope English Class is fun for you. Things here are kinda bad and you need to come back so I can tell you about it. Hope you are eating lots of good food and enjoy everything about this trip see you whenever you get back hehe
Hi Antara,
Happy to know you all had a FREE day today!! You must have enjoyed teaching English to the local students – must be a fulfilling experience, keep up your good work.
Yes, we have been missing you!! And yes, we will convey your message to Dorothy.
Stay safe and have fun!!
– Dad, Mom, Ayush and Anisha
Your mom and grandma are here at aunties house we are looking at all your logins and we love you we miss you and I hope you’re having a great time love you with all my heart ?????
Hi Scarlett! We enjoyed reading the blog. I am so proud of you and you look so happy! I can’t wait to hear all about it. We are with uncle Paul and Auntie Bernadette. They say “Hi” and they love you and miss you too?❣️
Scarlett, it was so wonderful to hear from you. We are at Auntie Bernadette’s, and she is reading your blogs every day too.
It looks like you are having the time of your life! Yay!
So glad you are not starving to death.? Hope you are bringing home chocolate. ?
What did you do for your talent demonstration?
Love you and miss you.
?
Grandma
Hi Lizzy! You look like you’re having fun, brennen is intolerable as always but can’t wait for you to come home so we can hang out together! maybe without him because all he does is make fun of you for watching anime smh HECK ILL EVEN WATCH IT WITH YOU. enjoy every last second of this trip because it’ll be over before you know it! Keep making a difference cutie!
Very cool to see you playing soccer Adam. Have all the soccer balls that you brought found good homes? What about all the decks of cards? Owen and I have been playing lots of cards. We’re having fun, but he often sighs, “I wish Adam was here.”
He’s now in Arizona so his sadness of missing you will be derailed for the time being.
I guess my message to you yesterday never posted. – We’re all very jealous of cheese and chocolate day. Plus wool!! You know I would have loved that! Did the smell of the wool bring back memories of your childhood in the sweatshop? 😉
Love you bunches!!
Hi guys!!! (specifically Chloe, Camilo, and Steph!) I miss Guaranda so much already and I hope you all are having an amazing time! Whoever has Marco and Bryan as their students please tell them hi from their old teacher! Steph and Camilo, our crew misses you guys so much! To Chloe, I can’t wait to have boba when you get back, savor every moment there! Anyway, I hope you guys have fun tomorrow and keep the big loves going!
Anisha: I miss you so much ba (Antara)! I want to be surrounded in your big hugs, and sweet kisses!! LOVE YA!