Last days in Otavalo – moving on to Quito

I have finished the project this Friday, 7th January. Unfortunately the last 3 days have been spent more in bed and doctor´s visits, as it turns out I have bronchitis. Had fever for a couple of days but hope I will recover soon. I have missed the last days in school as well… GVI have been very good, they brought me to the doc on Friday and accompanied me to the follow-up consultation the next day, although technically I was no longer part of the project.
Also, I was returned money from a trip that was included in the project, but which I never did, so that was a nice surprise. Spent it all on doc and medicines, but the point ist, it was nice to see the right thing being done.
Moving on to Quito today, I have an interview for a teaching job there on Tuesday. Hopefully all goes well and I can get paid work for a while. If it doesn´t work out now, I still have the volunteering option in Mindo, which will give me more time to look for something…
Fingers crossed!

Well, 3 days have passed (today is Wednesday 12th), things have happened, but not quite as I hoped for.. Maybe it is still too early. I have placed and sent CVs in the last few days, but the one job I have now was acquired by “walk-in”, by chance. I have 2hrs German tutoring in the evenings. This pays 200 USD per month and it would be great, if I had another job or two during the day to make a little more than that, so that my staying here actually has an advantage. I had an interview yesterday and there is a chance for a paid job from March-December in Machala; I will know in a couple of days. I think I can commit to this time, especially since I got nothing else to do, pay is good and they offer accommodation as well. In the 9 months I could save enough to be able to move on and continue as planned to Chile. If this should work out, I can take the volunteering offer in Mindo til March 🙂 and not spend any money till then. It is not economical to earn 200 USD and spend more just to stay in Quito.
Anyway, a lot of thoughts going through my head.. A friend of mine told me it looks like this experience is doing me good (not sure what he meant, but at least it´s positive.. :). My friend left yesterday, so I am again alone.. I feel quite lonely and sometimes I wonder what the hell I´m doing.. For the first time in my life I got no plan, I feel like I am running around like a headless chicken. I am not scared, just a little worried and insecure.. Well, maybe it´s all part of what I am supposed to learn on this trip, they say nothing happens by accident and there is a reason for everything. Keep you all updated.

Christmas and New Year´s

It´s finally confirmed! My friend from Dublin (Joanna) is coming over. We will be in the Galapagos from 25th to 31st December. New Year´s will be spent in Mindo.
I am back in school on the 3rd January.

Well, a little addition here. I would definitely not recommend the company we booked our tour with. I hope the tour will be ok, as so far we had a few hiccups with the booking process.
If you pay by credit card, they charge an extra fee which is 60 USD. The alternative was cash, deposit or transfer. Because I couldn´t do a deposit in Otavalo, as I was still working, they suggested a transfer. I had to do 2 different transfers, so in fairness the payment was delayed. However, although I transferred the full amount, they did not receive the same amount on their bank account. I could prove black on white the amount that was debited from my account (less charges) and for each transaction they were missing 40 USD. After an hour of debating and suppositions on where the money could be (of course the suggestion was my bank charged something and therefore they did not receive everything, instead of phoning their bank and see why the full amount was not received) we unfortunately got into a heated discussion where I was detailed all the little “extras” we are getting and the favours they are actually doing for us and explanations on how they lost a lot of money on the transaction etc.: one free night in the hostel offered by them because they initially confirmed the outgoing flight for the 24th, but could only book the 325th, the missing money, the fact that we changed the booking from 2 persons to 1 and then again for 2 (true, but this did not affect them financially in any way).. After half an hour of going nowhere and the agent repeatedly saying, well, I am not going to ask you to pay any more, but consider that you transferred, so you should pay the fee for booking by VISA, and we are offering you a free night and we had to wait for the money etc. I decided to cough up another 30 USD just to close the whole thing off and finish once and for all.
The funny thing is, he himself confirmed they are often missing money on the transactions and they don´t know why, because people keep saying they are transferring the full amounts but they get less!!! Daaaaaah!!! Obviously there is something funky going on with their bank. I am sure a German, French or Dutch customer would not pay any cent extra and now I am starting to regret I did. It just felt like I was talking to a gypsy and didn´t want to be a b.. get up leave and let them sort it out themselves..
In any case..
So, probably the best thing is to pay cash and avoid all the mess.
They also have a hostel, where we are staying for 2 nights before the flight to the Galapagos. It´s not the best I´ve been in, it´s not the worst.. Room is a bit cold and dark. Breakfast in theory is from 7.30. It was 8.40, we were looking forward to some nice food and the owner was going out shopping for the food!! Then why not say breakfast from 9.00 am and save everyone the trouble.. They made up for it with great fruit salad and eggs. But, as for me coffee makes or breaks a breakfast I am going to deduct more points for yet again, in the country of coffee, INSTANT COFFEE!!

I have also found another volunteering opportunity in Mindo, working in a hotel for food and board for a month. I will start on the 11th or 12th January. It´s a good opportunity to explore a beautiful area almost for free and it gives me a chance to look for a proper job.
In addition I have met a lady who works in the Wall Street Institute here in Otavalo who gave me her contact details, as they are looking to hire new people in February. Fingers crossed I can get an interview and a job!

May be taking a break for the holidays but looking forward to resuming more exciting (hopefully) entries in 2011!

All the best, have a wonderful time, hugs & kisses from a distance!

Last day in school

Today was our last day in school. We had good weather until lunchtime, which gave us enough time to do the program, games and have some fun. All the guys dressed up as Santa (you will see kids trying to see inside the classroom while they changed), we had songs and fun games. It was well organised, one thing I got to give to our intern, she is organised and very creative. The downside of it is that everything ha to be “just so”.. Overly organised, always tied up in something to do and uptight, everything is about rules and how to do things “properly”.. Even today poor kids couldn´t get a break and fully enjoy and just be … Lines had to be “lined up”, nobody could start until she gave the signal etc. Kinda like taking the caffeine out of coffee, the cherry away from the top of the cake or going to the candy shop with your mum; always wants to have the upper hand, always wants to feel in command etc. It doesn´t make for a nice working atmosphere but we all pulled together and it was a good day.
Until one of the volunteers said he would not chip in for the Christmas tree she apparently bought from her own money for the school.
Two days ago we suddenly got the message “you owe” me such and such amount for the christmas tree (?).. None of us was asked if we want it, if we agree, how much we are prepared to put in etc. None of us has seen a receipt for this purchase either. This is the kind of thing that makes us wonder, what if we are overpaying, what if they are keeping the money for GVI, what if she didn´t even pay, because our amounts more than cover the expense etc.
There was a little discussion going on after school btw. the guy and our intern, not sure what the outcome was…
We all agree, it´s the principle that counts and we want visibility on what we pay: a receipt or similar etc.
Anyway, it all ended on a sour note for her…
Attaching a few pictures: we had theatre, donut competition, tomato dance, pass the parcel, chair dance, pull the rope etc. Finished with lunch for everyone. After I saw how the dishes were washed I started having second thoughts about having lunch but it was too late.. I hope my stomach is strong enough and besides, I´ve been vaccinated as well:).

PS – We are constantly being told (as it is one of the organisation´s principles), that GVI does not want to change things or influence them, but support the communities with whatever they need. However, it is very clear to all of us, that GVI is actually running the school! All decisions are made by the intern and probably project manager. It wa also very clear today. The Christmas celebration was all “European”, with English Christmas Carrolls, a Christmas tree, snow flakes on the windows, games we chose etc. Why, why, why not see a local celebration (they only had one song in Kichwa), why not celebrate in their own way and experience something different and let them do their thing? Why not discuss and look for suggestions? Everything was organised, tasks assigned and we had to do whatever it tool for the program to come out great!

Second week in Ecuador

Second week in Ecuador now. Got a cold, so feel pretty low. To add to that, a few weird things going on on the project.
We had a weekend trip on, and two people who had originally booked it could not come. Two others came instead, and, of course, we all thought they would not have to pay for the trip, as it was already covered. But, here it comes, because the money had already been “invested” (?) they had to pay. Nobody got a refund though, so the story in the end is that the people who initially booked it did not want the money and it went to GVI instead.
Other thing: on Wednesdays we have dinner together; last week dinner was in the GVI house, the interns and project manager cooked for us. All nice and well, and when we left we were asked for a “donation” of 1.30 USD. Not that I am getting any poorer but it was a bit surprising. The cost of dinner for all was definitely less than what has been gathered, so again, the question, where did this money go?
Also, GVI is sponsoring a “highschool project” here, by which kids who start highschool are able to buy the materials they need for that. Funny thing was that we were asked to make a donation for this as well!.. Of course its optional/voluntary etc. But it´s funny they should even ask, after we already paid good money and invest our time to be here. As one guy said, “they are trying to suck us dry” :). It is all for a good purpose, but everybody agrees that the cost of the projects is quite high compared to other organisations and a few “weird” things are going on as far as money is concerned. We are all asking ourselves the same question, where does the money go?
The other thing is, whenever interns are being asked about how things are being done, who goes where does what, it is very clear that they see themselves in a “higher” position: it´s always “the volunteers” on the one hand and “us” on the other hand. When talking about things should get done it´s always “I would prefer if”, “I would like to” etc. Feels like in school or like having a really annoying boss.. Guess they were taught a lot of things, except for “people skills”, or, as we used to say in HP “soft skills”.. Everybody knows that once a sentence starts with “I want”, “I prefer” (work-related), the motivation and mood of the “little people” (it´s what we are obviously) drops to zero.

Anyway, Friday is the last day in school. It is nice that kids have prepared a play, we will have food and games, so it will be a fun day.

A friend of mine was supposed to come over this weekend and Galapagos was planned for both of us. However, she is not coming so it seems I will be travelling on my own yet again….

The project here is a bit different from Peru. We finish at 1.00pm come down by 2pm but then we are expected to hang around our Casa and do lesson planning. When finished you are free to go.. Well, it`s not a rule, but everybody goes back together and hangs around. Not my thing, I want to have a bit of time to myself, internet, call my parents, get coffee and food, do some shopping and then get on with lesson planning in my own time..
I had to switch family (again) the first house was worse than my first one in Peru, very damp, damp spots everywhere, clothes got damp and a bit smelly and I had no window to my room!! I spend two nights in there and wanted out..
I felt really sorry for the mom, the family has got 3 kids, they can use the money, but on the other hand I have worked and paid for everything here so I deserve better. I don´t understand why the standard in housing for the project is so different..
Anyway..
Nothing new, just tired all the time, no time for me, no time for Jim, :), getting even fatter by the day, just want to get over with it at this point. School is better though, more organised, kids are more receptive, volunteers are free to design the classes. I got 1st grade again, 5 year olds and only 3 of them, we learning by playing, it´s all good.
This weekend they have planned a trip to Mindo, there are about 6 or 7 of us going, so that should be good fun.
After this I am really looking forward to a quiet weekend in Otavalo. I am very tired, my body aches, I got to get up before 6 am and that doesn´t help either :). I have got no plans for Christmas and New Year´s, I might be going to Quito if I can book accommodation in time. I am thinking of going to the Galapagos after I finish the project. If only I had time to shop around for deals!!