Tour Day

Today was a busy day. Below the Center, there is a panaderia (bakery). Steve and I ventured down

this morning for coffee and pan (bread). We bought 2 coffees, 3  pans, and 1 soda for $4.80.

Everything was very delicious. While we were enjoying our sweets, Madre Miguel and Padre Juan

walked in, they welcomed us with hugs. While we were introducing ourselves and getting

acquintained, Victorina, Lauren and Katerina walked in. They were also welcomed. Madre Miguel

let us know that we would be meeting a little bit earlier than our planned 9:30 and asked that

we meet them in the library. I did my best to round up the group (Alex and Chris overslept a

bit) then we gathered in the main room. Miguel wanted to take our photo which we did then moved

to the library for our Orientation.
At the orientation, we learned a little more about the Center and it's volunteers. There are
young people here doing a year of student teaching or just volunteering, plus groups of

teenagers from all over the U.S. that have come to visit and help out. We are just one of the many groups to experience the care and compassion that this Center offers to the people of Ecuador.

The weather today started out nice, sunny, a few clouds. Now at 5pm, it's a little cooler, a little muggy and cloudy.

After Orientation, we met Vincente (our driver from last night) who took us to the downtown Center.

It took about 30-40 minutes to travel through the city, which just seems to go on and on, to get there. That center is much smaller than this one and no volunteers live there. We begin that tour by attending Mass. It is the end of the school year and the last school mass of the year. Mass was celebrated by Padre Juan but the 6th grade children had parts, all the readings, offertory procession, there was even a wonderful choir complete with girl drummer. Mass took place in a "multi-purpose" type room, all the decorations were made by the children.

During Mass, at the sign of peace, the children all came up to us to give us the sign of peace. They were practically climbing over each other to touch us, give us hugs and hold our hands. It was so touching! Following Mass, we meet our tour guide, Miriam who showed us all around the Center #1. She spoke almost no English so I was translator for the group. It was difficult, but I am very proud of myself for being able to communicate well enough to understand what she was saying and being able to tell the group.

She has been at the Center for 22 years, first she was a student, her brothers were shoe shine boys, she was educated there and now directs the Center. The Center offers the classical education for students, mathematics, reading, etc, but also art, religion, health, music, library. They have a day care center for little ones, plus programs for adults as well.

When the tour was over, Vincente, our driver was there to meet us. We drove back to WBC #2 and had a little bit of free time. It was about lunch time so we went to the restuarant downstairs. This was my lunch: stewed chicken, rice, cream of spinach soup, a roll and a drink, all for $1.85. 

At 2:30 we met Rodolfo and his wife Maria who gave us a tour of WBC #2 (where we are living). We started with the Beauty Shop and learned that young girls (12 and up) begin their training for 3 years, once completed, they can work in the Beauty Shop and earn a "titulo" a degree which they can use to secure employment throughout the city. Next was the restaurant, where we had eaten lunch, then the cafe, which we had frequented already too! The last place was the "gift store". They have toys "dedactilos" basically toys with moving parts that are made in the Center's carpentry workshop. They have furniture that is also made there, plus T-Shirts, CD's and other items made by the Center's participants. In the sewing workshop, the women were making men's Abercombrie & Fitch shirts! Rodolfo said that the WBC got a contract from them, they were supplied with the material and patterns. I asked about the working hours of the women - Ecuador has a 40 hour week, 8 hour day, legislated by the government. Someone else asked how much they get paid per shirt - Rodolfo said he wasn't sure, but that they got paid a set amount for the "contract", not a per shirt rate.

Our tour ended at 4pm and with an invitation to join the padres of the center vs. the volunteers in a pick up soccer game tomorrow at 3pm!

We had free time then until 7:30 pm when we would meet with the group to share about our experiences and pray together. (Dinner was at 8:40 pm). Everyone did different things, I relaxed in the living room, Chris and Alex played cards until they were inlisted to help in the kitchen preparing dinner. Katerina, Lauren and Victorina went shopping in the store down below. 

8:40 was dinner - tuna, noodle and cheese cassarole, peas, and califlower. oh, and some amazing soup - sort of a tomato based spicy soup. Not sure what was in it, but it was delicious. Here, people put popcorn in their soup, that was actually very good too, provided some texture.

After dinner - bed! I slept like a log. Tomorrow - we are going to the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World).